【推荐1】Emma was hanging the colorful papers. But she was a little unhappy. After all, it was her birthday too and (A) nobody of her classmates had even said “Happy Birthday”. They were all busy planning the surprise party for their headteacher Mr. Smith.①

Sure Mr. Smith was great. He knew everyone’s (B) ________ and make cards for them. He high-fived you when you got an A on a test, and encouraged you when you failed. ② But she wished just one person could (C) ________ it was her birthday too!

Emma looked at the huge card the class had made. “Emma, will you (D) switch off the lights, please?” Ms. Clark said. “I’m going to call Mr. Smith now.” Ms. Clark called Mr. Smith, saying the lights in the classroom had gone out.③

After a while, the door opened and everyone shouted, “Surprise!” (E)史密斯先生走向那个巨大卡片. “This is the most beautiful card I’ve ever seen.” Then he turned to Emma and handed her the card. “Happy birthday, Emma.(F)I feel excited to share the same birthday with you.”

“Me, too,” Emma said, smiling at Mr. Smith.

My grandson Jason was nowhere to be seen-normal behavior for a ten-year-old. I sat down on a chair and noticed the ladder (梯子) lying on the ground under the big tree beside the driveway. It seemed that Jason was up in that tree and had accidentally kicked the ladder away. He wasn’t about to come down, and he wouldn’t let me know he was trapped (被困). I could put up the ladder and rescue (拯救) him, but then I recalled an event in my youth.

Mr. Cutting was a white-haired gentleman, who entered my life when I was Jason’s age. One afternoon I went out with some older boys, who later left me alone in the mountain. I tried for an hour to find my way home. When climbing over fallen trees I got stuck in the bushes. Being afraid, I cried.

Suddenly I heard someone whistling (吹口哨). “Hello,”   said Mr. Cutting. “Out for a walk?” I nodded, “I’ve just been out exploring (探索) the old quarry (采石场), but I’ve got to go home now. If you’d wait a minute, I’ll walk back to town with you after I finish this wood whistle.”

So we walked back home together, and the wood whistle was mine, sounding loud and clear. Now I suddenly realize what an unusual act of kindness that was—Mr. Cutting had heard me crying, but he didn’t play the role of a rescuer (救赎者). Instead, he whistled so that I could find him.

I got up from the chair and parked my truck right under the big tree, where Jason was. I picked up the ladder and carried it to the back of the house. When I returned, Jason was sitting in my chair.

“Where have you been?” I asked.

“Exploring,” Jason said. “I am a Cub Scout (童子军), you know.” “Yes,” I smiled and said, “I know.”

Uncle Wang works in a bookshop. The shop is not far. It is only about one kilometer from his home. So Uncle Wang seldom goes to work by bus. He usually goes there by bike. It takes about twenty minutes to get there by bike. Today his bike is broken (出故障的). He needs to walk there. Now he has some milk and an egg for breakfast. He leaves home at ten to eight and he walks to work twenty minutes earlier. His work starts at half past eight in the morning and finishes (结束) at a quarter to five in the afternoon.

【推荐3】Jim’s home is about 10 kilometers from school. He usually gets up at six o’clock every day. He takes a shower and has breakfast quickly. Then he leaves for school at about six thirty. First, he rides his bike to the bus station. He thinks riding a bike is good exercise. That takes him about 10 minutes. Then the early bus takes him to school. The bus ride takes about 25 minutes. He likes to take the bus because he can meet and talk with his friends on the bus.

A long time ago in a rich and beautiful country, there lived an unhappy king. He slept badly and didn’t feel like eating. His face was always pale as chalk. He often cried for no reason. This made the queen and his people worried.

One day, a doctor was called in to examine the king. But he found nothing wrong with his body. “It’s all in his mind. Neither medicine nor rest can help him. What he needs is the shirt of a happy person to wear. That’ll make him happy.”

The prime minister was called to the palace. But when they explained the king’s situation to him, he said, “Although I have a lot of power, it doesn’t make me happy. I’m always worried about losing my power. Many people are trying to take my position.”

Then, the king’s banker came to the palace. “Oh, I’m afraid I’m not happy, either,” he said. “I have a lot of wealth, but I’m always worried about losing my money. Someone tries to steal my money every day.”

Next, the palace singer came to the king’s room. But this was what he said: “It’s true that I’m famous and everyone loves my songs. But I’m not happy because I’m always worried about being followed by others. I cannot be free!”

Finally, the king’s top general was told to go out and find a happy man in three days’ time.

【推荐2】Should friends be different or the same? Different people have different ideas. The following is what four of my classmates say.

My name is Susan. I am outgoing. I like to have friends who are similar to me. Both my best friend Linda and I like traveling. We went to Italy with our families last summer vacation. We stayed there for a month. Next year we want to go to Paris.

My name is Mary. I like to have friends who are different from me. My best friend Betty is shorter and more outgoing than me. I am quiet and I like reading very much. Betty likes sports and she plays ping-pong well.

I am Peter. I like to have friends who are like me. It can be very helpful. I a little quiet and my good friend Rick is quiet, too. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with my problems and he can tell me what I should do, because he knows about me better than people who are different from me.

I’m Bill. I have both kinds of friends. I think it is important. That makes my life more interesting.

【推荐3】It was nine on a cold winter night. I was going home from work on my bike. At the last crossing, while I was waiting for the green light, I saw an old man walking to me. “Excuse me,” the old man said. “Could you please help me, young man?” I looked at him. He seemed to be about 70 years old.

Hearing “yes”, he took out 10 yuan and said to me, “Do you see the old woman selling baked sweet potatoes over there? Could you use the money to buy one from her?” He pointed at the old woman about fifty meters away.

“Why don’t you go and buy it yourself?” I was puzzled and asked. “She is my wife and it’s her first day to sell baked sweet potatoes. Just now I called her. She told me that there was only one baked sweet potato left. She won’t go home until she sells it out. But her legs hurt. I’m very worried about her.” The man said to me.

At that time, I understood everything. I was very moved (感动的) by his words and felt warm. Without taking the money, I rode to the old woman quickly and bought the last one.