English fiction 9

love

Brandy is very outgoing and makes friends easily. She received a lot of assistance form friends when she moved from one apartment to the next.

Brandy's new boyfriend is handsome and very charming. She said the food here is delicious. And indeed, it is! She loves ice cream, but she's trying to eat less of it because it's fattening.

It's a nice date Brandy never forgot. The restaurant's boss is growing plants atop their apartment building. The lovers can move up the roof to watch the shooting star in the sky. But the moment of loving just passed by. The memory just like the leaf fly by the wind. Every time Brandy hear that song, it evokes memories of our first date.

When one boy pursue Brandy, She didn't have the self-confidence. She have no more courage.

Some say patience is the best virtue of all. Waiting the one is long and lonely. The warm air and sunshine at the beach were good therapy after the long, cold winter. Jeremy left the restaurant and went home because he assumed that Kathy wasn't coming. She is really hurt his heart.

Why Brandy didn't keep an appointment Jeremy? Because fear the next breaking heart.
"Why you to try," her friends just told her.

I don't had got thousands of wound-cut in my body, then I give up. Then you just know who I love. you realize the one you love in your life. I don't like the experience like this.

Jeremy bored in the poor street. It maybe is that Brandy undervalue Jeremy. But his' friends wanted him to steal, but he virtuously decided not to. Sometime Ben envy his friend spend money like they have no care for the future. But he really know their behavior is absolutely  criminal. He is active and enthusiastic instead of poor. He is the baseball coach in the element school.

He yelled, "Cheer up!." After multiple tries, the little boy finally hit a home run. He is the respected teacher in the group of children.

Jeremy's story is very motivational. He makes you feel like you can do anything!

A way to show that something belongs to you or has your unique quality. You just do yourselves.

Changed lives
David - born in 1983, lives in the USA
Sports, band and singing in high school productions marked David's youth. His acting and singing were amazing. At 17 he visited his birth family with his adoptive parents, and they all found out why. His birth mother, a professional performer, was a member of a tribe noted for its performance abilities.

Alison - born in 1984, lives in the USA
With a junior high school education, Alison's teenage mother left home to work and live in a factory. It was fun and exciting at first to be away from her parent's supervision. However, she soon found herself pregnant. With he help of a CSS counselor,  the young mother and her parents placed her baby in a loving and prepared home. A common story in the 80s for many, including Alison's mom.
Alison does social networking and design for a network of children's clinics and hospitals. Her passion for dancing has led to her involvement in many productions. One production in particular, coordinated by multiple dance studios, uses its proceeds to make the wishes of seriously ill children come true.

Roel - born in 1991, lives in the Netherlands
Roel was born with on left arm and only three fingers and no elbow on his right arm. His birth  parents did not feel capable of meeting his educational and medical needs, so at 1 1/2, Roel was adopted. He went to many doctors and received lots of treatment, and despite his handicap, he tried everything. Roel has a prosthesis for his left arm. He swims, plays table tennis and collects coins.

school

Why Community College?
Why did we make this choice? Many think community colleges are only for senior citizens after retirement. Well, yes and no. Most community colleges provide lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. They offer some non-credit courses like art and computer skills for those interested in personal enrichment. But in America, a community college is also a perfect place to earn an associate's degree. You can also get a certificate for a career or improve your job skills. And you can transfer credits to a four-year university.
There are several advantages to attending a community college. First, the tuition is lower than a four-year university, especially if you're a resident. residents pay the in-county or in-state tuition rate. Second, the credits are mostly transferable to a four-year university. You transfer in as a sophomore or junior. Last, smaller class sizes mean students have more chances to talk with their professors.
After admission, Michelle, along with most other international students, took tests in English, reading and math. The advising department then reviewed the test results. They then put the students in an English language program to prepare them for an American college. The courses include writing/grammar, reading, speaking/listening and note-taking.
Registration is completed, the tuition is paid, and an official student ID card is in hand. What's next? Attending new student orientation!

Joey wants to go to school in Australia, but his parents are opposed to it. Finally he win the contest with his parents. He finally go to Australia. Following her admission to the university, Joey was so excited that he  threw a party.

Enrich Joey's life in an afterschool club. During the afterschool club meeting, Skipper and his friends are training intensively for their extracurricular activity presentation.

Skipper: I'm a nervous wreck. The presentation is next month and there's never enough time to practice.
Joey: That explains why you're gone in a flash after school. What kind of club are you in?
Skipper: I'm in a dance-for-fitness club and the latest "popping steps" are now included in our routine. I'm really worried about my poor coordination.
Joey: Take it easy! Here's "Relax Your Mind" coffee-flavored milk. It has 50% of milk and It's very smooth to the taste. Also, I have a joke for you to soothe your nerves.
Skipper: I love the combination of coffee with milk. So, go ahead with your joke.
Joey: Do you know who makes a lousy liar?
Skipper: No...
Joey: It's a ghost! Because you can see through it right away!
Skipper: That's cute! Thanks for the joke and "Relax Your Mind!" I feel better already!

In the beginning, Joey found it difficult to plug into her school's social activities at first. But he used the bribe of milk to enjoyed himself in his college life.

Joey hopes to receive his associate's degree from the local community college his summer. He receive credit for the classes you take when you're studying abroad. More students from that high school are pursuing higher education now more than ever before.

Joey: How to choice the class of our college?
Casey: The advising department can help you decide which classes to take.
Joey: But I don't know what can I choice.
Casey: For starters, you need to turn in all your homework. You also need to attend all the lectures. I show you some books to read.
Joey: I really enjoyed the book that Iris recommended.

Students can acquire information online about the schools they're interested in. All schools are required to instruct students in the country's history. Joey also enjoy the history.In her art class, he carved a dog out of wood. He is going to try out for the school play. His many accomplishments include singing and playing the piano. He also has a collection of coins from around the world. He is good at chess, so he's  entering the school's chess tournament. He just learn everything and has ability of everything.

Likewise, in daily life, par for the course refers to things or people meeting expectations. For example, one could say, "Joey usually gets good grades. Her high score today is par for the course."

One day Joey met Casey. Casey was surprise for his progressing. So Casey invite Joey to study together.

Handwriting: Necessary or not?
Is the pen mightier than the keys?
Casey writes down the name and address of a restaurant he is recommending to Joey and gives it to him.
Joey: Thanks, Casey. I can't wait to go. Wow - your handwriting is so beautiful!
Casey: Thanks! You know, many schools don't spend much time instructing students in handwriting anymore. It's kind of sad, isn't it?
Joey: I've heard that, but handwriting isn't as valuable now that everything is done by computer. When I write, I use a keyboard much more often than a pen.
Casey: Call me old-fashioned, but I still write letters and cards by hand. Besides, everyone needs to write things by hand sometimes, so it's important to make sure your writing is legible.
Joey: Yeah, but I think most people's writing is legible already. At least it's good enough for small amount they have to write. For anything long, printed papers usually look neater. Plus, when we type we can use spell check to make sure our spelling and grammar are correct.
Casey: That's exactly why students should write by hand! How can they learn to spell if the computer always does it for them?
Joey: I see your point. But is it really worthwhile to make kids practice a skill they'll hardly ever use? Wouldn't those hours spent copying letters every week be more profitably spent on a typing class?
Casey: Not necessarily - I've read that writing can improve one's motor skills and coordination.
Joey: There are other ways to improve those things. And what about the other benefits of typing?
Casey: What other benefits?
Joey: Well, a typed document is much easier to share with others - you can just attach it to an email. Plus, typing helps us keep in touch with people through next messages, emails and social - networking sites.
Casey: Certainly, typing has its uses, but teaching kids to type doesn't mean we can't  focus on handwriting. And don't forget its historical significance.
Joey: What do you mean?
Casey: Well, if you aren't familiar with handwriting, it's difficult to read historical documents or even old letters from your grandparents.
Joey: How often do we do that, though?
Casey: You'd be surprised. Wouldn't it be a shame if that skill died out and no one could read them?
Joey: I guess. But I still think typing should be the priority for students.

family

Lauren decided to make spending time with family her priority. She loves her children.
There is only one cookie left. Let's wrestle for it. When the older brother as commander issued orders, the naughty children fought each other.

While Lauren was sick, she alternated between sweating and feeling very cold. Lauren's uncle, a retired doctor, gives me a lot of tips for staying healthy.

While cleaning her house, Lauren can talk on the phone and watch her favorite TV program - all at the same time! Ultimately, She am looking for an easier way to fix the sink. She also like to cook. She'd love to make those cookies, but some of the ingredients are kind of expensive.

adventure

The motorcycle policeman came alongside me and informed Rick that my back lights were not working. Rick didn't notice. Rick experienced a great deal of trauma to his left leg in the car accident. Tony still has scars on his arms from his car accident.

We went rafting on Saturday. I got really wet. Penny enjoys pedaling her bike along the river. We played all day. I feel like a beached whale.

We climbed to the mountain ridge and took pictures of the beautiful scenery. You can watch so many animals. The lion observed its prey for a long while before finally attacking. The eagle is a predatory bird that kills fish and small mammals for food. The American paddlefish is an ancient and elusive river fish. The giant panda's habitat is decreasing because of the loss of forest land. If you feel a thirst, don't drink the water in the river. This device filters and traps bacteria, making your drinking water safe.

At night you can hear the wolves that live in the hills around my grandfather's house. I remembered someone told me, "Don't venture into the woods after dark. It's too dangerous." But I didn't obey it. I got lost because the directions Julia wrote down weren't legible. Julia's handwriting can be quite messy and hard to read. Call me silly, but I am scared of the dark. I can't move ahead anymore.

This beautiful, young actress never stops reaching for her goals. Charming and talented, Carey Mulligan appears almost everywhere these days. The dancers glided beautifully around the room.

Mulligan was born in London in 1985 but moved to Germany when her father transferred jobs. The 6-year-old caught the acting bug while performing in plays at her international school.

Her parents, however, were opposed to her acting and wanted her to go to university. When her father took a job in Vienna in 1999, Mulligan returned to Britain for school.

Actor/director Julian Fellows spoke at her school, and she told him about her dream. He responded by telling her to forget about acting and marry a banker. But that didn't discourage her.
At 17, without her parents' knowledge, Mulligan applied to three drama schools. All rejected her, but she still wasn't ready to give up her dream.

She never went to university or acting school; she said she learns from the actors she works with.
Mulligan decided to write Fellowes, and his wife answered her letter. She invited Mulligan to a dinner with a few other young, hopeful actors. After meeting Mulligan, Fellowes' wife arranged for her to try out for the film Pride and Prejudice. She got the role of Kitty Bennet, and the rest, as they say, is history.
A bright future

With over 20 roles to her credit, Mulligan says she is happiest when she's working. She must be very happy these days as her future looks bright, and the opportunities are plentiful.

Whales: The Giants of the sea

Discover more about the world's biggest mammals. "There she blows!" That famous line from Herman Melville's famous 1851 novel, Moby Dick, evokes images of Captain Ahab and his sailors on their search for the great white whale.

Today people still go in search of the great whales, hoping for a glimpse of them in their natural habitat.

A mystery
These giant marine mammals have always fascinated humans because of their enormous size as well as their mysterious ways.

The sperm whale, for example, is an elusive creature that lives in remote waters and has rarely been tagged with long-distance tracking devices by researchers. For that reason, not much is known about these whales.
Researchers have discovered that sperm whales are the largest toothed animal, reaching 18 meters, and that they have the largest brain of any animal. It is believed that while foraging they can dive to a depth of 3,200 meters and stay under water for at least 90 minutes.

Squid is their favorite food, and sperm whales have been known to fight fierce battles with giant squid. Battle scars in the form of permanent squid sucker marks provide evidence of deep-sea battles.

Blue whales
Blue whales are the largest animals in the world, many weighing up to 180,000 kilograms and reaching lengths of over 30 meters. They are long and slender with a bluish-gray color and a heart that weighs as much as a small car.

These sea giants are baleen whales, meaning they have a comb-like ridge on the top and bottom of their mouths where teeth are normally found. These whales take in water as they swim, and the baleen, equipped with bristles, filters the water and catches small ocean creatures called krill. These whales eat around 40 million krill per day, totaling over 3,600 kilograms.

Blue whales once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but over-hunting has nearly driven them to extinction; today it is believed that only a few thousand remain.

Gray whales
Gray whales are another kind of baleen whale. They typically swim along the ocean bottom, using their mouths to suck up mud and their baleen to filter their prey.
With heads usually covered in barnacles, gray whales are easy to recognize and not shy, often swimming alongside boats and watching the people aboard.

Orcas
These stylish black and white mammals are probably the most easily identifiable whales in the sea. Also called "killer whales" because of their aggressive predatory style, Orcas prey on seals, sharks and even other whales.

Orcas often travel, live and hunt in groups called "pods," which are somewhat similar to a pack of wolves. Killer whales can be found in every ocean around the world and have on natural predator except humans.

Moby Dick tells the classic story of a whaler named Captain Ahab and a great white whale named Moby Dick. The whale took Ahab's leg in an earlier encounter. Because of his injury, Ahab has sworn to sail the oceans until he finds and takes revenge on Moby Dick. He does, indeed, find wht whale, and their encounter is one of the greatest battles to ever take place between man and beast.

The tale of tolkien
Learn the stories of middle earth.
The Hobbit and The Load of the Rings delight book and movie lovers alike. These great stories sprang from the mind of one man - J.R.R. Tolkien.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in 1892. He spent much of his childhood in the beautiful English countryside. He enjoyed studying and learning languages from a young age. And his mother taught him the strong Christian faith that he believed his whole life.

But Tolkien's early life was also touched by tragedy. His father died when Tolkien was 4. Then Tolkien's mother passed away when he was 12.

Love, War and Studies
As a teenager, Tolkien fell in love with a girl named Edith Bratt. But his guardian forbade him to contact her until he turned 21. Tolkien obeyed and focused on school. But he didn't forget Edith, and he contacted her on his 21st birthday. His patience paid off. They were married in 1916.

But soon Tolkien faced his darkest trial - fighting in World War I. Life as a soldier was difficult, painful and dangerous. Tolkien became sick and had to return to England. Others were not so lucky. "By 1918, all but one of my close friends were dead," Tolkien later wrote.

Back in England, Tolkien became a scholar. He taught literature classes at Oxford University, did research and wrote several influential papers. He continued to love languages, studying Greek, Anglo Saxon, Finnish and more.

But Tolkien didn't just study languages; he invented his own! They added to the rich setting of the fantasy stories he had been writing for years.

The Hobbit

One day while grading tests, Tolkien found a blank page. He wrote the sentence, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." This began his children's story The Hobbit. When it was finished, a friend gave it to publisher Stanley Unwin. Unwin's 10-year-old son, Rayner, loved the book, so Unwin  published it in 1937.
The Hobbit enjoyed instant success, and the publishing company asked for a sequel. So Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings, a longer, more complex tale. Rayner Unwin, now an adult, helped publish The Lord of the Rings. It was so long that it came out in three parts in 1954 and 1955.

Tolkien's Legacy
Tolkien died 40 years ago this month. He was a committed father to his four children. He received an honorary degree from Oxford for this studies. But his greatest legacy is his stories.
Tolkien wrote many tales besides The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. They tell about good and evil, the importance of friendship and making right decisions.

Tolkien's life shaped his stories. The peaceful, beautiful Shire resembles the English countryside where Tolkien's war experiences. His relationship with his wife inspired the love stories he wrote. Through his work, Tolkien has brought joy, hope and encouragement to millions.

Business

Kyle transferred to a different department and now works weekends. We asked to meet with the boss, but he responded by saying he was too busy. In his deep mind, he want to quit the job. But his collage said, "Jobs in your field are plentiful. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a new one." That company only hires people with a bachelor's degree or higher. He plans to retire at the end of this year. But it's impossible.

Kyle decided to stay home and rest to preserve his energy for the busy week ahead. After a long week at work, Grace likes to indulge in an evening at the movie theater.

The business made a point of donating half of its profits every year. Joe had many financial challenges when he started his own business. I think we should get together and generate some new ideas. The idea of starting a new company sprang out of a discussion John had with Mark over coffee. The conclusion: If there is a problem with your pay, you need to call human resources.

New Employees?
Hiring new employees isn't as easy as it seems.
With his company growing, Ben thinks it might be time to hire some employees. But hiring employees is a big step, and Uncle Bob has some important words of warning for him.
Uncle Bob: Hi, Ben! How are you today?
Ben: I'm great! Thanks for asking.
Uncle Bob: How's the business coming along?
Ben: Well, it's growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, I'm having a hard time getting all the work done, and I need help.
Uncle Bob: I thought you had some help. Don't you have a few people working for you?
Ben: Yes and no. We have a few freelancers we use on projects, but I need some full-time help.
Uncle Bob: Wow. Hiring full-time employees is a big step for a young company. Are you ready for it?
Ben: Sure. How hard can it be to hire a couple of employees?
Uncle Bob: I'm not saying it's hard. But employees can induce big changes in the way your company works.
Ben: How?
Uncle Bob: Well, there are lots of ways. Take costs for example. The cost of an employee goes far beyond pay.
Ben: I guess that's true. I'll need to pay for things like benefits and payroll taxes.
Uncle Bob: That's right. And there are other indirect costs, too. You'll need to buy office furniture, computers and a lot more stationery for your employees to use.
Ben: And parking. I'll need to get more parking spots.
Uncle Bob: Exactly.
Ben: OK, so there will be some hidden costs, but those won't change the company that much.
Uncle Bob: They will mean huge changes to your job, though.
Ben: Yeah, I hope they'll make my job a lot easier!
Uncle Bob: They might. But remember, employees need to be managed.
Ben: That's true.
Uncle Bob: The time you'll spend doing the things you're used to doing will also diminish. Instead you'll spend time overseeing employees.
Ben: I guess that will be a big change.
Uncle Bob: Ultimately, hiring employees is about growth. And good growth is done in a balanced and controlled way.
Ben: How do I do that?
Uncle Bob: For starters, you need to realize that growth can make some things easier, but it also generates problems in other areas.
Ben: I see. You mean hiring employees might make production easier, but it might make things like accounting and human resources harder. Maybe I should put some more thought into this.
Uncle Bob: That's a good idea. But I'm not saying you can't do it. Snd hiring employees is a good thing.
Ben: Because it means the company is growing?
Uncle Bob: Exactly? Let's go celebrate your growing company with some coffee.
Ben: You're on!

When a golfer begins a game, he places a golf ball atop a tee before hitting it. So teeing off refers to beginning a golf game, but it can also refer to starting other kinds of activities. For example, your  bass might tee off a meeting by telling a joke.

While teeing off refers to making a start both in golf and in life, teeing somebody off is quite different. When you tee somebody off, you make them angry. Causing a friend to miss a golf shot would undoubtedly tee her off!

Hole in one
Making a hole in one requires hitting the ball into the hole - 365 meters or so away - in a single stroke. Talk about accuracy! A hole in one can also describe something that is successful the first time. Someone who acquires a great job on their first interview just got a hole in one!