She’d been a stray(走失的) cat in the warehouse where I worked and was different from other cats we owned. Minx was happy as long as we were around—she would even go sailing with us. If she accidentally scratched us when playing, she would lick(舔) us as if to apologize.

   There was an old stray cat in our neighborhood and Minx always left some of her dinner for him. Her best friend was a cocker spaniel, and she would wait for the dog each day outside our front gate. When the owner walked the dog, he would wait while they rolled around, played a bit and cleaned each other. At night, she was always happy to wait for her dinner as long as we gave her a touch and a hug.

   As Minx’s delivery due date drew closer she began looking for places to give birth. I cleaned out the bottom of my cupboard, put some rags down and showed her the little bed for her. After a short inspection, Minx purred, rubbed my leg and continued on her way. I thought there would be little chance of its being suitable but I always left the door slightly open like in case.

   One night soon afterwards, my husband and I had been out late and were chatting in the kitchen when she came in, meowed and ran out again. We thought it strange, but kept talking. Once more she came in, meowed and left. After a third time, we realized she wanted us to follow her. She led us to my cupboard where, with a lot of loud purring, she presented two tiny new kittens. She brought the pair out of the wardrobe and placed them at our feet. She was a very good mother.

Cacao, a 16-year-old dog, from Milan, Italy, has become a local celebrity (名人) after he appeared in local papers for his regular habit of taking the bus to his favorite place in the city.

Almost every day for the last few years, Cacao leaves his home and heads for the bus stop on Arrgone Bouleverd. There he sits alongside the other human passengers, waiting for bus 54.

But Cacao will only board the bus if it’s driven by the driver he’s known since he first started his secret trips. After he makes sure he’s got the right driver, Cacao gets on the bus and waits quietly until he reaches his favorite destination — a public park close to Lambrate Station, in north-eastern Milan.

While he is there, he likes to wander around the gardens, walking up and down in the public space for a few hours, enjoying the afternoon sunshine. When he’s tired, he walks back to the station and takes the same bus home.

Cacao’s owner, Nicoletta, a local bar owner adopted Cacao after she saw him wandering the streets. He was a quick learner, however, and in just six months of living with her, Nicoletta had taught him to cross the street on a green light and know to walk only on the pavement. She had so much confidence in his skills that she allowed him to walk around the neighborhood while she was at work.

When Nicoletta first heard about her dog’s unusual habit, she couldn’t believe it. One of her regular customers in the bar said that she had seen Cacao take the bus. Nicoletta then decided to follow her dog, seeing him get on the bus at the station close to her home. She believes he must have memorized the route that they take every Saturday on the way to the markets.

Thankfully, she did not stop Cacao from enjoying his routine, and the driver carried on turning a blind eye to the rules. The happy dog continues to be a regular on the number 54 bus.

A      
   When I was laid off (解雇) from Intel Corporation two years ago, I felt very sad. I’d been with the company since 1996 and had poured a lot into my work. I was afraid that I would not find a better job.
    Several years before, I had taken a comedy class to conquer (克服) my fear of public speaking. Like many other performers, I seemed shy in front of people, but after a show, people said, "Hey, you’re amazing on stage."
     So I thought it was a chance for me to take up comedy now. It would pay very little. Luckily, I had saved a lot during all my years at Intel.
    I made up jokes while taking the subway, walking around, and talking on the phone. I made efforts to practice, improved myself on the Internet, and performed whenever I had a chance. My new career took off. I’m a frequent flyer, and I get upgraded (升级) to first class on every flight.
    Recently, I made $12,500 one night. I’m making more than double what I made at Intel. I’ll probably earn about $275,000 this year, not counting the advertisements I was involved in for a computer company. I also have a role in a movie next summer. I’ve become pretty well-known.
    In this business, there is no greater excitement than thinking of a joke that makes you laugh out loud, practicing it for a small audience, and then performing it in a theater of 2,000 people. Getting laid off is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

B

Arlena Labon is celebrating her 108th birthday this week. She’s never had children, but she has been a mom for about 50 foster(收养的) kids over the years, and her unique outlook(见解) on life may have helped her reach the age of 108.

     “She is the most remarkable woman.” LaBon’s sister’s daughter Claudia Martin told the reporter this Wednesday, adding that they had another cousin who lived to 114, so longevity (长寿) runs in their genes.

     Arlena told the newspaper that she doesn’t have any healthy eating secrets, but she does have a caring attitude that has served her well over the years. That may be the reason. As a foster parent, LaBon wanted the kids in her home to have a good life and a strong education. “I gave them what I didn’t get before,” she said.

Arlena Labon grow up in North Carolina, where her family raised cotton and tobacco, and she attended “the little red schoolhouse in Snow Hill”, according to a 2014 interview. She left school at 16 and went to Norfolk, Virginia, where she found cleaning, cooking, and restaurant jobs. “I was tired of farming,” she said.

     When she married, LaBon and her husband settled in Ohio. Over her many years, the value of her life has been one of kindness and generosity (慷慨). “Just love each other; treat each other good,” she often says to her children.

     The newspaper posted lots of comments about LaBon. “What an angel(天使)! I wish

more people would think this way,” wrote one person. Another commented. “What a great difference you’ve made in the lives of those kids! Happy Birthday, sweet lady!”

Thomas Hart Benton was born on April 15, 1889 in Neosho, Missouri. He grew up going to boarding schools and spent much of his early years during his father’s four terms as a US Congressman. Benton’s first art job was as a cartoonist for the Joplin American in Missouri.

In 1907, when he was eighteen, Benton began his serious art training at Washington DC’s Corcoran Gallery School. Later on in 1907 Benton studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but left out of dissatisfaction with the school’s teaching techniques. In 1908, Benton went to Paris and studied at the Academie Julian for three years. It was here that he learned of modem European art styles such as Post-Impressionism (后印象派). Benton’s early works followed these European styles. More of his early work would be available except that it was destroyed in a fire in 1917 in Neosho, Missouri.

In 1918, Benton became a draftsman for the US Navy and worked out of the Norfolk, Virginia Naval Yard. This draftsman experience also led him away from the European influences he had gained in Paris. Benton began working more in the form of realism in his work. In 1923, following his naval duty, Benton moved to New York City and taught art at the Art Students League for twelve years.

In 1935, Benton moved back to his home state of Missouri and taught at the Kansas City Art Institute. He also directed the institute. Benton would stay here the rest of his life. His most famous student was Jackson Pollock, the Abstract Expressionist. On January 19, 1975, he died at the age of eighty-five in his studio.

For Juan Manuel Pineda, it was a long way to succeed.

    His story began in El Salvador, where he was born with something wrong with his mouth. He had great difficulty in speaking. At age 2, his family's home burned down. Pineda was injured, and his legs needed to be cut. His mother died when he was 8, and he spent years on the streets before he was taken in by an orphanage(孤儿院).

Finally, at the orphanage, Pineda began to receive support and encouragement. He taught himself to play the guitar. He began to perform with other musicians. Then the group went to Chicago, where Pineda, then 18, caught the attention of many people, who wondered what they could do to help him.

Shriners Hospitals offered him free medical care. A group called the Mulliganeers agreed to pay for Pineda's flights to and from El Salvador.

    When he was in the hospital, Pineda began writing music, and wondered if he might be able to record his own album. Soon with the help of a musician, “The Sound of Gratitude(感激)”, was born. On October 15th, Pineda went to a Chicago club to play his new songs to strangers, and to the friends who had helped him come so far.

Pineda was amazed that he had come into such a good luck, after having so many years of hardship. “We have a saying in El Salvador, ‘Suffer first, then enjoy.’ I guess that's what's happening,” he said.

       There was once an old wise man living on the top of a mountain. Wherever the villagers had a problem, they would climb up the mountain and ask the old man for advice.

       One day a young man arrived. “Wise man,” he asked, “what makes a man truly great?”

       The old man said, “Do you sincerely want to know?”

      “Yes, yes!” the young man replied.

       “Well,” the wise old man said to him, “let me tell you in the form of a story.”

        There was once a Greek man who suffered from a deadly disease. Knowing that he would die soon, he was the first to join the army when his country was in a battle with the enemy. Hoping to die in the battle, he would fight in the front line, risking himself without any worry for his life. Finally they won the battle and he was still alive. His general(将军) was so impressed with his bravery which contributed much to the victory.

       The general decided to promote him and award him with medals of bravery and honour. On the day of presentation(授予仪式)，he was looking very down and sad. Curiously, the general asked him why he was so sad on a day he should be so proud. The soldier told him of his deadly disease.. “How could I let such a brave soldier die?” the general thought. So the general hired the best physician and finally cured the soldier. But from that day on, the once valiant soldier was no longer seen at the front. He would always avoid danger and try his best to protect his life.

       “Young man,” the wise man said. “if you want to be truly great, you must not be afraid of dying, and you must be daring.”

An Unexpected Storm

This is a story about an extreme storm in Moscow. It happened two and a half years ago. It was the first time in my life that I saw such a strong storm. For Moscow, it was very unusual, and nobody predicted this storm before it happened.

It was a sunny day in July, and I was at home alone watching TV. The windows and the door to the balcony were wide open because the weather was so hot.

Suddenly, I felt a strong wind from outside. I wanted to close the window and came near. I looked out of the window and saw a blac k sky and trees blowing over because of the strong wind. I tried to close the window, but the wind made me fall down. I was afraid that the glass might break.

I stood up and tried to close the window again, but it was not possible because the wind was now stronger, and it was pushing the window open. I ran into the bathroom and took the mop to close the window. It worked.

When I looked outside, the tree in front of my window was fiat on the ground, and there was strong thunder and lightning. I decided to pull out all the electrical plugs, which took about 10 seconds. A sportsman would have envied my speed.

When I finished, I looked outside. It was terrible, and I understood how people are helpless compared to the power of nature.

Suddenly, the wind stopped, and it began to hail (下冰雹). The ice was the size of grapes. After 10 minutes, everything stopped, and the sun shone as before. It was strange. A few minutes later, the phone began to ring every five minutes. It was my friends or relatives. We asked each other how it was and how we felt after the storm.

Many trees died because of the storm. For a few days, the people helped clean parks and gardens. Some people’s cars were damaged by trees falling on them.  After one week, it was history already. This is my story about an extreme storm in Moscow. It shows us that we are children of nature, and we must respect her.

Henry Ford was the first person to build cars which were cheap，strong and fast．He was able to sell millions of models because he could produce them in large numbers at a time；that is，he made a great many cars of exactly the same kind．Ford’s father hoped that his son would become a farmer，but the young man did not like the idea and he went to Detroit（底特律）where he worked as a mechanic（机械师）．By the age of 29，in 1892，he had built his first car．However，the car made in this way，the famous “Model T” did not appear until 1908--five years after Ford had started his great motor car factory．This car showed to be well-known that it remained unchanged for twenty year．Since Ford’s time，this way of producing cars in large numbers has become common in industry and has reduced the price of many goods which would otherwise be very expensive．

    B

    When Cole was born, he was blind, which made his father Frankie Moran’s heart sank. When Frankie Moran first saw his son, he could not imagine ever sharing his love of music with the boy.

But Cole was not deaf. He quickly showed an interest in music. Mr. Moran is a singer and songwriter. He says his son liked to be nearby when he was making music at home.

    When he was just one year old, Cole started playing notes(音符) of simple songs on a toy piano. “That is about the same time we discovered he had perfect sense of pitch(音高). Because when he would miss a note and hit the wrong notes in a song like ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,’ he would go back and find that note. So that’s how we realized he knew what he was hearing.”

    Cole Moran is now 12 years old. Cole plays music every day. He records his performances and listens back to the sound.

    Cole’s choice of instrument since he was four has been the harmonica(口琴), which he often plays with his dad. Last year, the father and son won second place at a Fiddler’s Convention in their hometown.

    The 12-year-old released his first CD recently. His mother, Jenny Moran, was excited. “It is wonderful that he has something that he can do for the rest of his life that he will always enjoy.”

    Cole attends Maryland School for the Blind in Baltimore. There will be lots of time for music when classes end for the summer break. Frankie Moran says he and Cole plan to do a series of Blind Wind performances around the country.