My mother was a fussy ferret. She liked everything to be tidy and couldn't stand it when it wasn't.My dad was the opposite. His hair was always messy, and he loved wearing his tatty old clothes and floppy slippers.Dad loved collecting things. His tool shed was like a junk shop. There were bits of old cars and motorbikes fighting for space. There were boxes full of treasures stacked everywhere.Mum never went in Dad's shed. She just spoke to him through the keyhole.Jack HigginsJack is a tall, thin boy with long skinny legs. He has light brown hair that looks like a shaggy mat. He has bright blue eyes and glasses as round as owl eyes.Jack is a very fast runner. His dad says he can run as fast as a cheetah. He loves soccer. He always wears his soccer shirt and takes his ball with him everywhere, even to bed.Al JenkinsAl is a short man with a wobbly tummy. He has big bushy eyebrows and tufts of black hair sticking out from behind his ears. He has no hair on the top of his head and a gap where a tooth fell out. Al never worries about anything. He loves pulling silly faces like a clown and making everyone laugh.My mother was a fussy ferret. She liked everything to be tidy and couldn't stand it when it wasn't.My dad was the opposite. His hair was always messy, and he loved wearing his tatty old clothes and floppy slippers.Dad loved collecting things. His tool shed was like a junk shop.Mum said I was like my dad and that my room was as untidy as his shed. I did have a bad habit of throwing my clothes on the floor, but it was my room so why should it worry her? I told her not to go into my room." you don't go into Dad's shed, "I said "you can talk to me through the keyhole. "But she said his shed was not in the house.4. The want-toI remember the night in Miami when our son, Ian, was just five years old. We were staying with relatives and it was his bedtime. When I looked at the living room floor, I knew we had a problem. Toys were all over the place."Ian, "I said, "you need to pick up all those toys before you go to bed. ”“Daddy, ” he said, " I'm too tired to pick up my toys. ”My first thought was to force him to clean up the room. Instead, I went into the bedroom, lay down, and said, "Ian, come here. Let's play Humpty Dumpty.”We can finish any job when we have the “want-to"!MondayI’m sitting by Suzi in school now. I just copied what she put down. I felt a bit of a cheat though when Mr Zimmons said I had done well. Lori Lee gave out invitations to her birthday party. I didn’t get one but I don’t care. Who wants to dress up as an ali en?TuesdayI don’t know why Lori Lee is so mean to me. She told Mr ZimmonsI had copied off Suzi.Mr Zimmons said if I didn’t know how to do something I had to ask him. He said, “Cheats never get anywhere.”I didn’t really know what he meant, but I guess cheating is not a good idea.6. A hobby becomes a businessDebbie and David Sainsbury started making rocking horses as a hobby. They spent hours carving and shaping wood into horse shapes.Other people saw the beautiful rocking horses they had made. They also wanted to have a special toy for their children. People began to order their very own rocking horse. They could get special colours and designs made.In the first year of their new hobby, Debbie and David made thirteen rocking horses. Each one had to be made using blocks of wood. The wood was carved and shaped. They sanded them to make them smooth. They painted them with interesting designs. Each customer could then have their very own special rocking horse.7. Kids speak outI love my soccer team, but there’s one player who's not very good all. He always lets the team down. The problem is, he's the coach's son! I think he shouldn't be on the team. What do you think?I agree. The team want to be able to play their best every game. To do that, they need their strongest players on the field.If the coach wants the best for her team, she shouldn't let him play.-DillonI disagree. In my opinion, winning isn't everything. If everyone is having fun playing the game, that's what really matters. The others in the team should help the coach's son with the soccer skills. They should encourage him, instead of just saying that he makes them lose.As long as he tries his best, the coach's son should stay on the team.-Sandi8. Do as the Romans doTravelling to different countries is exciting. People in other countries are different in so many ways. As a tourist, it is important to remember this.The idea of "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" was first written about in 390 AD. It means you should abide by the customs of a country when you are there. You should not offend people when you visit their country. You should follow some of their practices and ways.This has become very wise advice for any traveller. It is a good idea to respect the different cultures around the world. If one understands the customs of a country, it is easier to get around without upsetting people.“I will never find time to learn this difficult lesson, "said Robert to Frank as they left school. “I can't do it by tomorrow.”“You have ten minutes now before lunch. Why not begin immediately?”asked his brother.“Ten minutes! That’s nothing. Besides, I must have a run with rover now,” replied Robert, whistling to his dog.After lunch, the two boys walked off to school again. Frank took out his book and began to learn p art of it as he walked along. “What a bookworm!” said Robert, laughing. He looked out for birds' nests in the hedge all the way to school.10. Best Christmas markets in EuropeIn Europe, Christmas is a very special time of celebration. Christmas markets are an important and enjoyable tradition at this time.The famous German markets can be found in Aachen, Cologne, Dresden and Leipzig. London and Manchester in the United Kingdom have big markets. France, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland all have beautiful, busy Christmas markets.The streets are filled with stalls. Christmas lights brighten up the streets. There are Christmas trees decorated with sparkling ornaments along the streets. Town halls and city buildings around the markets are decorated with lights. Christmas carols are played, with groups singing happily.11. A shopper who never buysMy friend Beth loves to go shopping. But she NEVER seems to buy anything. This is the sort of thing that happens: Shop assistant: Can I help you?Beth: I'm starting a new job. I need a new suit. I want to look efficient and smart. Shop assistant: You are come to the right place. We have lots of suits. What about this nice yellow one?Beth: No. I need a suit that I can wear year after year. Yellow is fashionable this year, but next year...Later...Shop assistant: What about that one? That looks lovely. It is very smart, very business-like.Beth: I'm not sure. I don't think I have any shoes that go with it. I think I will just keep wearing my old suit.12. Eating healthilyWe know what food is good for us, but it isn't our favourite food.Our favourite food isn’t , h s e u a c l h t a h s y hamburgers, hot dogs, chips. Vegetables and fruit are healthy food, but that is not what we want to eat.I eat an apple each day because my mother gives it to me.I eat vegetables for my dinner because my mother cooks them. She wants me be healthy. Your mother wants you to be healthy. She probably cooks you healthy food, just like my mother cooks it for me. I want to be healthy but I want to eat hamburgers, not fish!13. Polluted PlaygroundsPlaying in a Rubbish DumpThe rubbish dump is a playground for some children. They look through the rubbish to find things they can make. Sometimes they make huts in the rubbish.A rubbish dump Is a very dirty place to play in. It is also dangerous.There can be glass or old cans in the rubbish. There are flies and rats there, too. Swimming in Dirty WaterSome people don't have clean beaches or rivers where they can swim.Their swimming places are full of rubbish.The water in some places is very black. It is black because of all therubbish in it. When children swim in dirty water, they can get very sick.14. Climbing a Rock WallMost rock climbers use a rope because it can help them get to the top.A rope can help save them if they fall.Climbing ropes are as strong as steel and they stretch.Climbers tie their rope on to their belt. They tie the rope in a figure-of-eight. This knot grips tight.Rock climbers have to wear special light shoes. The shoes have sticky rubber soles to help grip on to the rocks.A helmet is important because it protects the climber's head in a fall.It also protects the climber from falling rocks.Climbing can be hot, sweaty work. It is easy for a climber to slip.Climbers use chalk to keep their hands dry.Climbers also wear a climbing belt, which is put around their waist.TuesdayI don’t know why Lori Lee is so mean to me. She call ed me Baby Abby and she told Mr Zimmons I had copied off Suzi Chang.Mr Zimmons said if I didn’t know how to do something I had to ask him. He said, “Cheats never get anywhere.”I didn’t really know what he meant, but I guess cheating is not a good idea.ThursdayLori Lee was really mean today.She told all the kids about me coping off Suzi Chang. Suzi Changsaid it didn’t matter,I might not be that good at maths but I was better at kicking soccer balls.She always finds something kind to say.I told Mum about Lori Lee and she said I should invite her for a sleepover.I think Mum has “knots in her noodle!”16. Climbing a Rock WallHow Climbing Places Are DifferentIndoor rock climbing gyms are safe places for people to learn to climb.But many climbers like to explore real rock faces. Sometimes the rock faces are very steep and dangerous. There can be overhanging rocks.Rock climbs are given a number to show how tough the climb is.How Climbers Can Keep Themselves from Getting HurtRock climbers need to stay relaxed because if they make their body stiff they could get hurt even more. This is a hard thing to do for someone who is about to crash into a rock wall.Climbers need to trust their rope too.This is an ocean, but it could be called “a junk dump in the sea”. In this ocean, people have put junk, like plastic bags and bottles. The ocean is not the place for junk.People must get this message ........Don’t put junk in the ocean!So, some people made a raft out of junk from the ocean.They wanted to help other people get the message.The journey was very dangerous.Sometimes, there were big storms.If you were on a little raft in a big storm, that would be scary. Sometimes, there was no wind at all.Then the raft couldn’t move.One day the teacher said, “We will be having a maths test after lunch.”Ruby felt like a moth was moving its wings inside her. “Can I copy off you?” she whispered to Ollie.Ollie thought for a minute."What will you give me? " he whispered back.Ruby showed Ollie a stone she had. It was round and smooth and the colour of the sea.“OK!" he said.“ Give me the stone, then you can copy me."Ollie Simmons got one hundred percent in the maths test and so didRuby. Their names went on the top of the maths champs chart.19. Different, but the Same TooOne day in Africa, a hunter found a baby gorilla with no mother.But this gorilla was not like other gorillas.Its fur was all white. The white gorilla looked very different, andpeople everywhere came to see it.But it was just different in the colour of its fur.It liked to do the same things and eat the same food as other gorillas.It was still a gorilla.This peacock has beautiful blue, red, green and gold feathers.It walks around, showing them off.This is a peacock too, but it is different.Its feathers are all white.It does the same things and eats the same food as other peacocks.It doesn’t have blue, red, green and gold feathers, but it is stil beautiful.20. The Bedroom SwingOne wet Saturday I had nothing to do. Then I thought of a good idea.My bed could be a trampoline.Mum heard the thumping and she shouted , “What are you doing in there?”“Nothing,” I said.I always said that.I was jumping really high on the bed, when I saw the big hook in the ceiling. It was there when we bought the house. Dad said there would be a big hole if he took it out. But the hook gave me my next good idea.I could hang a swing from it. I went out to the shed and found a strong piece of rope. Mum saw me dragging the rope like a long, dead snake into my room.21. A Suit for Space WalkingA spacesuit is a very thick suit that astronauts must wear if they go walking in space. The spacesuit is like a spacecraft for one person. It has a tether hooked on to the shuttle so the astronaut can't fly away into space. There are many different pieces to a spacesuit because each piece is made for the different parts of the body.There is a very hard chest piece. There are gloves with mini heaters in each finger. These fingers get locked into the arms. The pants and boots are all one piece.Then there is the helmet and the very important backpack.The Great White MonsterAn AvalancheIt was a beautiful morning. The sun touched the snow-covered mountains and left a warm glow.Small, light snowflakes drifted down from the blue sky. There was just a gentle breeze. It was a beautiful morning.Then dark clouds came and nudged away the sun. The wind began to howl and heavy snow began to fall. Soon the snow was falling like sheets of icy curtains. Suddenly, above the sound of the wind there was a loud crack and a huge bank of show began to tumble down the mountain.The snow tumbled faster and became like a huge white river. It sounded like the rumble of twenty trains。
