【推荐1】Jim, an out-of-work mime actor (哑剧演员), had to make money by giving some shows on the street. One day, a zoo keeper came to him. He said the most popular animal of the zoo, a gorilla (大猩猩), died suddenly. He gave Jim a job to dress-up as (装扮) the gorilla until they could get another one. Jim agreed.

The next morning, Jim put on the gorilla clothes and got into the cage (笼) before the visitors came. He thought that it was a great job. He jumped, played and made people laugh. After a while, he became more popular than before.

However, soon he found that visitors were not interested in his shows anymore, so he wanted to make some changes. He climbed to the top of a lion's cage and danced there. That made the lion furious, but the visitors got excited. Again, the visitors loved the cute and brave “gorilla”. Of course. the zoo keeper gave him a raise for doing a good job. More and more people came to watch his shows and he made too much money. Then one terrible day when he was dangling (悬荡) over the lion, he fell into the cage and the lion began to run after him in the cage. Jim was so scared that he shouted.

“Help-me! Help me!”

But voice from the lion came to his ears, "Stop shouting! Do you want both of us to lose the job?"

【推荐2】Old Dawson had the best apples in town, but kids knew they mustn’t go into his yard to pick a delicious apple, even off the ground, because Dawson, a bad­tempered (坏脾气的) man, they said, would come after you with his gun.

One Friday, 12­-year-­old Janet was going to stay all night with her friend Amy. They had to walk by Dawson’s house on the way to Amy’s house. Like most of the children, Janet was scared of the old man because of the stories she’d heard about him.

Amy said that Mr. Dawson wouldn’t hurt anyone. Still, Janet was growing more nervous with each step closer to the old man’s house. When they got close enough, Dawson looked up with his usual frown (皱眉), but when he saw it was Amy, a big smile changed his whole face as he said, “Hello, Miss Amy. I see you’ve got a little friend with you today.”

Amy smiled back and told him Janet was staying overnight and they were going to listen to music and play games. Dawson told them that sounded fun, and offered them each a fresh picked apple off his tree.

As they walked on, Janet asked Amy, “Everyone says he’s the meanest man in town. Why was he so nice to us?”

Amy explained that when she first started walking past his house, he wasn’t very friendly and she was afraid of him, but she always smiled at him. It took a while, but one day he half­ smiled back at her.

After some more time, he started smiling real smiles and then started talking to her. Just a “Hello” at first, then more. She said he always offers her an apple now, and is always very kind.

We’re always trying to achieve so much, and it’s so easy to get caught up in (被卷入；陷入) everyday life that we forget we can bring cheer to ourselves and others simply. Giving a smile takes so little effort; let’s smile to others.

There was magic in the secret garden that spring and summer. At first, everything turned green. Then the green changed to colours—blue, purple and red. There were flowers everywhere.

Dickon and Mary’s seeds (种子) grew and the roses—the roses! From small buds they grew into large flowers and filled the air with their perfume.

Colin saw it all. He watched the changes as they happened. Dickon pushed his wheelchair to the garden every morning and he spent the day there. Sometimes Colin sat on the grass watching the insects. One day, he watched a mole (鼹鼠) digging a hole. He learnt a lot of things about the ways of these insects and animals. And Dickon taught him about the animals in the wood.

One morning, the children were in the secret garden as usual. When Ben Weatherstaff arrived, Colin said, “Good morning, Ben Weatherstaff. I want you and Dickon and Mary to listen to me because I’m going to tell you something very important.”

“Yes, sir!” answered Ben Weatherstaff.

“I’m going to do a scientific experiment (科学实验),” he said. “When I grow up, I’m going to make scientific discoveries about magic and I’m going to start with this experiment. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir!” said Ben Weatherstaff, but he didn’t really understand.

“I believe that there is magic in everything.” continued Colin. “Dickon knows some magic. He chams animals and people. Mary also knows a bit of magic because she was born in India. There’s magic in the garden, too. I’m going to try and put some in me because I want to be well and strong. I’m going to say—Magic is in me! And you must all say it, too. That is my experiment. Are you going to help, Ben Weatherstaff?”

“Yes, sir!” answered Ben Weatherstaff.

They sat down in a circle. The crow, the fox, the squirrels and the lamb were very curious.

“Now, let’s begin,” Colin said, and they all started chanting (吟唱).

“Magic is in me. Magic is in me. Magic is in all of us.”

Then Colin stood up and walked round the garden. He went in front with Dickon on one side and Mary on the other. Ben Weatherstaff walked behind.

Colin walked a bit then rested. Then he walked again and rested again. At first, he held Dickon’s arm, then he walked a few steps alone.

“I can walk! The magic worked!” he cried.

“What is the doctor going to say?” asked Mary.

“Nothing.” Colin answered, “because we aren’t going to tell him. No one must know that I can walk and run. It’s a surprise for my father when he comes back to Misselthwaite.”

“He’s going to think it’s a dream,” said Mary.