In recent years, with more and more cars on the road, flying robots are used to deliver(递送) mails. Flying robots can 1mails to people's houses without having to deal with heavy2.But they will spend too much time in returning. A research center is trying to improve its flying robots with the3of homing pigeons(信鸽).

    Homing pigeons are pigeons that are4trained to fly home from somewhere else. In tests, researchers5that homing pigeons were6efficient(高效的) than flying robots at returning to their home. So the research center is trying to use a flying robot, together with a7, to deliver mails. After the robot finishes its tasks, it can8the pigeon back in the shortest possible time.

    Although it will cost more money to9pigeons, the research center says that it can10time. And the time it saves will make up for the cost.

    Cowboys have lived and worked in the west and south—west of the United States for over three centuries and they are a famous symbol of the USA. When you watch those old Hollywood cowboy films from the fifties and sixties, you see a job. You see a 1 of freedom and adventure (冒险). However, the real job of an American cowboy has always been 2 and sometimes dangerous. It is physical with long hours and low pay.

    Life hasn't 3 much for cowboys since the early days. Cows walk across huge plains (草原) to 4 the grass and the cowboy rides on his horse to bring 5 home. Like the cowboys of the past, a 21st century cowboy 6 gets up early on freezing cold mornings and makes breakfast over a fire.

    So why does a man—because it is usually a man—become a cowboy? For some, it isn't a 7, because they are born into the life. They have worked with 8 since they were children. They 9 the traditional cowboy culture: "It's a real life about you, your horse and the open 10."

    Some people choose the job 11 in life. Pat had an office job with the US government with high pay, 12 he didn't like city life and spending all day inside. So one day, he 13 his job and moved to a ranch (牧场) in Texas, making much less money 14 a cowboy. He wanted job satisfaction. And for a cowboy, job satisfaction doesn't come from the money or a comfortable office. It comes from being 15 to wake up under the sky and being your own boss.

    Mary's birthday is coming. Her uncle told her that he would send some1to her as a present. Mary likes chickens very much, 2she was very happy. "I'll keep the chickens for eggs," she thought.

    Then the chickens arrived on3birthday. They were put in a4. Mary carried the box to the garden, but it was so5. She dropped the box onto the ground and it was broken. All the chickens went out and6here and there. Mary spent hours trying to7them that morning.

    A few days later, her8came. He asked Mary, "Where are the chickens? Do you like them?"

    "Of course, though I dropped them and had some9finding them. Anyway, I caught ten of them," Mary said.

    "That's very10. But I only sent you six," Her uncle said with a laugh.

    Home Alone is a very funny 1990 American film. It tells us a story about a boy who is accidentally left alone at home.

    One night1Christmas, the McAlister family meet at their home. They're planning to2to Paris for the coming holiday and are busy getting ready. 8-year-old Kevin is the youngest child and is fighting with his brothers, sisters and his cousins. When he goes to bed, he is so mad that he wishes all his family would3. In the morning, everyone wakes up very4. They are all in a hurry to get to the airport, so they forget Kevin and he is left alone at home by accident.

    Although Kevin is alone, he is very happy at first. His terrible family has gone—his5has come true. He watches TV, eats lots of fast food and plays games. He has a good time. But later on, he goes out and hears two6men called Harry and Mary planning to steal from his house. He goes home and plans some very funny ways to7them. Many things in the house get broken as Kevin tries to stop them. Finally, the8come and the men are taken away.

    The house is now a mess, 9Kevin tidies it up and waits for his parents. They get back from Paris and are very happy to find that Kevin is10.

    Today, I want to introduce a man to all of you. He is Charlie Chaplin. Everybody knows Charlie Chaplin, a world funny 1. People everywhere laugh at his films until tears run down their 2. From his appearance they know 3 will happen. The little man is always 4 black moustache, wide-open eyes, round black hat and shoes too 5 for his feet. He will struggle through snow, and fall from windows. He will fight with men who are twice his size and 6 notice him.

    The poor man that Charlie Chaplin 7 in hundreds of films makes all kinds of mistakes. He is always in 8, but he never gives up. He dreams of 9 a great man.

    Even people who don't understand English can enjoy his films, because they are mostly silent. It isn't what he 10 that makes people laugh. His comedy doesn't depend on words. It depends on little actions which mean the same thing people all over the world. This is secret of Chaplin's great success.

    "Everything happens for the best." Whenever I faced 1 , my mother would say so.

    After I 2 from college in 1932, I decided to find a job in radio as a sports announcer. I went to Chicago and knocked at the door of every station. But 3 , I was refused every time.

    At one station, a kind lady told me that big stations wouldn't want an inexperienced person and suggested that I try my luck at smaller stations. Following her 4 , I went back to Dixon, where I grew up. There were no radio—announcing jobs in Dixon, and my father said a newly—opened store wanted a local sportsman to work for it. I asked for the job, but I was 5 again.

     "Everything happens for the best," Mom 6 me. Dad offered me the car to look for a job. I tried WOC Radio in Davenport, Iowa. The programme director, Peter MacArthur, said they would hire an announcer.

    As I left his office, I felt a little sad. "How can I become a sports announcer 7 I can't get a job in a radio station?" I asked aloud.

    While I was waiting for the lift, I 8 someone calling my name. It was MacArthur. "What was that you said about sports? Do you know anything about football?" Then he asked me to broadcast a game. 9 with my performance, he offered me a chance to work there.

    On my way home, I thought of my 10 words: "Everything happens for the best. If you carry on, one day something good will happen."

    Many people are interested in star signs. Some people 1 that some star signs get along better with each other than other star signs.

    Perhaps we should first start 2 those star signs that are incompatible（合不来的）. Aries and Leo are not a 3 match. It's believed that both of them are 4. Aries is energetic and is not compatible with Leo because Leo is strong and 5. Also, Pisces and Taurus are not a good pair. Taurus is practical and will not be 6 enough to wait for Pisces to stop 7!

    Perhaps the best choice of friend for Taurus is Capricorn. Taurus 8 be stubborn and Capricorn is patient and would be prepared to wait for Taurus to change his or her 9. Aries should get to know Pisces. Aries is active 10 Pisces is gentle and easy-going. They are a good match. Leo would be 11 matched with Libra. Leo likes to give gifts and Libra likes beautiful things.

    The perfect pair is Libra and Scorpio. Libra does not like to 12 and loves peace. Libra will never ask Scorpio about his or her secrets. Sagittarius and Gemini are also a perfect match. Sagittarius loves to 13 and Gemini loves to discover （发现）new things. Sagittarius has a good 14 of humour and will enjoy listening to Gemini talk.

    Virgo and Aquarius are a good match too. Sometimes, however, there can be 15 in their relationship. Aquarius has many friends but Virgo worries a lot about meeting a lot of people.

    Amy did not have any friends and felt sad. All the girls in her class were 1 with a best friend or in groups, and she always felt left out. So, Amy just walked around2instead of playing with anyone. She wanted to seesaw(跷跷板), 3 that is something you need to do with a friend. Also, she liked to swing(荡秋千)and 4 someone would push her to get her started.

    One day, the teacher, Mrs Gibbs. walked up and put 5__arm around Amy, "What's the matter, Amy? Why don't you 6with other children?" She asked kindly.

    Amy replied, "Everyone has a 7 except me. I don't have anyone. "Mrs Gibbs smiled and said, "Amy, the 8 to get a friend is to be a friend." Amy asked, "How do I do that?"

    Mrs Gibbs answered, "9 around the playground. There are three classes of third-graders out here during this break time. 10 someone who is alone and then go to ask them to play." Amy said she would think about it, but she was 11 she would be refused. She wasn't sure she could do it.

    The next day, Amy noticed a dark-haired girl all alone on the playground. She worked up her 12and walked to the girl. "Hi! My name is Amy. Do you want to play with me?"

    "Okay, "the girl said shyly. As they took turns pushing each other on the 13, Amy found out that the girl's name was Ming. Her family had just moved from Japan and she also 14 a friend.

    "Want to seesaw?" Amy asked. Ming smiled and nodded. Paired up with each other, they played so 15.

    Amy finally had a friend!

    Once there was a young man. He walked each day to the marketplace to sell his wares (货物). It was a hard life, but the young man was still1. He worked from sunup until sundown. He knew that one day his hard work would2.

    One day, as the young man made his way to the marketplace, he could see a large wagon (马车) filled3goods. The young man set down his bundle (捆) of baskets. Greed (贪婪) began to4his heart.

    "I could buy those flowers in the wagon and sell them for a5price. The land is too poor for planting flowers, and I know I could sell them6." he thought.

    So with that, the young man offered his goods in exchange for the flowers. The young man and the seller made their7.

    The young man made his way to the marketplace. He laid out his flowers and waited for the ladies to come to buy his flowers. But the hot sun shone down on the flowers, and without any water nearby, they soon dried up. The young man8his mistake. He looked over at the man selling his goods.

    The next day, the young man saw the man with a wagon full of fruit. The man asked the young man9he wanted to trade. The young man saw money in the man's eyes and said simply, "It is better to work for10than to wish it away."

    When I graduated from university, I decided to make my life a different. I became a volunteer1and was sent to Ghana(加纳). So 2a group of helpful young volunteers, I went on my journey. I was very 3 this great chance.

    The schools there were quite poor. The students had to walk miles to 4 their schools. They had lots of work at home. Though they had 5 days these children were joyful.

   This was my 6 time, living abroad in a different culture. I had to get used to the 7 conditions. There was no electricity, running water, phone or the Internet. There was no air-conditioner (空调) at a place where the 8 often goes over 38℃! It was too hot to move. Before coming here, I 9 thought I could live in such an environment. However, I could end each day with a beautiful African sunset. At night, I could 10 the whole Milky Way (银河)

    That is my experience, which is unforgettable and worth the time and energy!