41. A Cockroach in Our Classroom (1)
What would you do if you found a cockroach in your classroom? Would you cry? Would you laugh? Or would you just sit there and do nothing? In my class we did all those.
Suddenly I heard a terrible cry from one of the girls. My heart missed a beat. I heard another cry. I am now thinking to myself “what is going on”! Then there it was! It was at least an inch and a half long, just a little cockroach! Now this was the first time I had seen in real life, but from all the pictures and the movies I had seen in the past, I could tell it was a cockroach.
My teacher quickly ran to fetch some paper towels. To be honest, I didn’t think that window cleaner could help. I was wrong. The little cockroach got a big drop of “The Window Cleaner”, and lying on the floor, did not move.
41. A Cockroach in Our Classroom (2)
Well that was just the beginning. Ok, here is the whole story. My teacher walked over to the, now not moving, cockroach. If you have a weak stomach I am warning you now... she stepped on it.
I don't know if you have seen the movies where someone steps on the cockroach and you hear a loud “CRUNCH”(嘎扎嘎扎的压碎), but I can tell you right now that those movies are one-hundred percent true.
I was laughing hard that I was crying. I looked around the classroom Some of my friends were laughing too. Of course the girly girls were crying and some of the other kids thought it was no big deal and just sat there reading their books.
My teacher was not very happy to find out that she was the one who had to clean up the dirty place.
Most people will not realize that when you step on a cockroach it will make a terrible sound you may not want to hear. So when you ever go to kill a cockroach, watch out for “THE CRUNCH”.
42.This Is My Supper
Miss Green ate a lot for every meal, and she liked eating meat, especially pork and beef. So she was very fat. She weighed 100 kilos and she got heavier every month.
One day she went to see a doctor. The doctor said, “You have to go on a diet(节食), Miss Green “He gave her a small book and said, “This is a book on how to lose your weight. Please eat the things on page 11 every day. Then come back and see me in two weeks.”
Miss Green came again two weeks later, but she wasn't thinner. She was much fatter. The doctor was surprised and said, “Are you eating the things on page 11 0f the small book?’’ ‘‘Yes, doctor. “She answered. The next day, the doctor visited Miss Green when she was having her meals. “Miss Green,”he said, “Why are you eating potatoes and dumplings? They are not on the list of your diet.”“But doctor,”Miss Green answered, “I ate my diet at lunch time This is my supper.”
Funny enough! That's why Miss Green is getting fat. But since then, Miss Green has made up her mind to lose weight, and she has made an effort to follow the doctor’s advice
43. Two Travelers
Two men were going along a lonely road and talking of what they would do if a bear or wolves attack(进攻)them. “Never fear,”said the larger one, “I can protect myself and you too, so there will be no danger. There is nothing in the forest for any man to fear, except a hungry bear, and I'd like to meet the bear that could be a match for me.”
Just at that time, a huge bear appeared in the road and moved towards the two men.
The two men ran for a tree. The one who had spoken so bravely reached it first and climbed to safety. The smaller man. being left to face the bear alone, threw himself on the ground and lay as if dead. When the bear came up, he smelt the man on the ground and went away. Then the larger man came down from the tree and said, “What did the bear say in your ear? You seemed like old friends.”
“Oh,”the other answered, “he told me never to trust a boaster(自夸者)”
44. People Around the World Communicating in English
In only fifty years, English has developed into the language most widely spoken and used in the world. English is the working language of most international originations(组织), international trade and tourism (旅游业).
Businessmen and tourists often come to China without being able to speak Chinese. Chinese businessmen, taxi drivers and students talk with them using English. English is also the language of world culture, such as pop music and the Internet You can listen to English songs on the radio or use English to communicate with people around the world through the Internet. With so many people communicating in English every day, it will become more and more important to have a good knowledge of English.
45. Travel Diary
Saturday, March 24th
We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. This is our first trip to Thailand. All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel room we booked is cheap, but very clean and tidy. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places like the Palace in the city and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.
Tuesday, March 27th
Bangkok is wonderful and surprising! The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have already taken hundreds of photos with our new cameral Later we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.
Friday, March 30th
Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life——no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.
46.The Blue Pig with a Black Tail
Once upon a time(从前) a certain king sent a message to another king, saying, “Send me a blue pig with a black tail, or else——”
The other replied, “I haven't one; if I had——”
Both kings were so angry that they went to war with each other. They collected all their soldiers and fought with each other. Brave men were killed, and women and children died because they could get nothing to eat.
When it seemed that neither side could win the war, the kings began to talk about peace. First of all, it was necessary to explain the two messages. Each king was angry at what the other had said.
“What did you mean,”Asked the second king, “by saying, ‘sending a blue pig with a black tail, or else——’?”
“Why,”said the first king, “I could mean only one thing. I meant that I wanted you to send me a blue pig with a black tail, or else a pig of some other color.”
“Oh, that was all, was it? I did not get the whole of your message,”answered the second king. “What a pity! “He added.
“Ah, but I must know what you meant by your reply to my message,”asked the first king. “You said, 'I haven't one; if I had——”'
“Why, my answer is very clear. I meant that I hadn't one; if I had, I should have sent it to you.”
“Well, well! “said the first king, “We have been fighting about nothing. If we had only explained these things before the war started, then this bitter war must have been avoided.”
So the great war of the blue pig with the black tail was recorded in the histories
of the two countries in order to prevent such a war happening again.
47. A Girl's Smile
About ten years ago when I was a student in college, life was hard for me then. Both my parents had lost their jobs, so I worked at my University's Museum in my spare time. One day while working in the gift shop, I saw an old couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.
As I looked closer at this girl, I found that she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso(躯干). She was wearing a pretty white dress, also a little red cap.
When they came closer to me, I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink(眨眼). As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me the prettiest, largest smile I had ever seen.
All of a sudden her handicap(残疾)was gone and all I saw was this perfect girl. I was deeply moved by her smile, and almost immediately she gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world: a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was ten years ago. I'm a successful business person now and whenever I am in low spirits and think about the troubles of the world, I'll think about that little girl and the lesson about life that she taught me, so I will never lose courage.
48.Take Our Daughters to Work Day
On April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Brkain. Started in America and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15. On that day thousands of girls take a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places. The purpose of this day is to open up girls' eyes and get them to believe in themselves
For many years people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But in fact girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a manager. On this special day, girls can have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help girls to believe in themselves when they need to choose their work.
Schools and many companies also think this activity useful. Green Middle School for Girls, in north London has made the day a necessary part of education.
Zarina, 15, studying in Green Middle school, went to her mother's law office. She found it interesting to see her mother at work She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks maybe she will does the same work as her mother later.
If parents believe in their daughters and show examples bath at work and at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls. Take Our Daughters to, Work Day is certainly a step in the right direction.
49. Aunt Frankie (1)
Aunt Frankie is a fun, busy and caring lady! She is always ready to have fun. After a long day at work, she usually comes in the door singing some songs from the80s. Sometimes she has a new dance step to share. Aunt Frankie and her husband own a candy shop. That shop has brought in some money for them, but they don't buy much furniture. Aunt Frankie enjoys having more space in her house.
When Aunt Frankie stays at home, she likes to be comfortable, and she almost always wears a big white T-shirt, old pink shorts, and no socks or shoes.
49. Aunt Frankie (2)
I love to visit Aunt Frankie. There I can always please my stomach Aunt Frankie has the ability to bake(烤) different kinds of pies and biscuits. They all taste very delicious. Eggs, milk, butter, and salt all become wonderful in her kitchen. She promises to teach me someday.
When I've come to eat some bananas and pears, she will sit next to me at the table She puts her hands on mine and asks me how my day was, how my classes are going, what new friends I've made, and whether I've made progress in my grammar and composition Aunt Frankie also has many tales and funny jokes to tell me.
50. A Flying Sail
That summer was a hot one in Boston Almost every afternoon, I Went swimming in a nearby swimming pool with my best friend, Ben Franklin We loved those long, hot days.
On one pleasant afternoon, Ben was late I went to his house and climbed upstairs to his small bedroom He was sitting there making a kite
“What's with the kite?”I said, “I thought we were going swimming.”
Ben smiled at me and said, “We need the kite for swimming.”
“Who goes swimming with a kite?”I asked
“I do,”Ben said. His blue eyes were shining.
With such a clever friend, I got used to hearing crazy ideas. I just shook my head, “I'd like to see how you do it.”
Half an hour later, we were standing on the bank of the pool. Ben held his crazy kite in one hand and a log(圆木)in the other. He sat on the bank, took off his shoes, and tied the end of the kite thread to his foot. Then he flew the kite into the air and let the wind catch it. The kite rose over the swimming pool.
“This is fantastic! “I shouted
Ben smiled at me and jumped into the pool. He threw one arm over his log,
leaned(倚靠) back, and let the kite pull him across the pool. “Oh, I get it ! “I cried,
“It's a flying sail!”