“Oh, boys, don’t throw stones at the poor bird,” said an old grey-headed man.

“Sir,” said a little one,”she makes such a loud noise that we can’t bear her.”

“I am afraid the stone will rebound (反弹) and hurt you as long as you live!”

“Rebound! We don’t understand you, sir!”

“Well, I will tell you a true story.”

“Fifty years ago, I liked throwing stones because I had no other boy to play with and I became very skillful. One day I went to work for an old couple who were very friendly to everybody, even to the birds. And the birds seemed to love the old couple, too. For seven years a bird had come and built her nest (鸟巢) in the same place. She and her mate had just returned on the day I went to work and the old couple welcomed them happily. During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her. Suddenly the bird flew to a tree near me. I found a nice stone, and I threw it with my best skill. It hit the bird on the head and she dropped dead！

“I was sorry the moment I saw her fall off the tree. But it was too late. All day long her mate flew about, and chirped (发啁啾声) so sadly that he made my heart ache.. I said nothing to the old couple but one of their grandchildren told them about it. Though the old couple never said a word to me, I knew that they were very sad. I could never look them in the eye and tell them how sorry I was. They have been dead for many, many years, and so has the poor bird. But don’t you see how that stone rebounded, and hit me? For fifty years I have still remembered it though I have never spoken of it before. But if what I have told you will stop you, I will be happy.”

The boys at once dropped the stones in their hands and the bird had no more trouble from them.

Every living thing needs to reproduce. Reproducing means creating more members of your group. In order for plants to reproduce, they have to spread their seeds (种子) to other areas. Plants have developed all kinds of ways to do this.

The simplest way is gravity. Many seeds are inside of fruit. When a piece of fruit gets too heavy, it falls from a tree to the ground. Sometimes animals will pick up the fruit and drop it in another area. That helps move the seed even farther away. Apples spread this way.

Other plants use wind to spread their seeds. Dandelions are a good example of this. Dandelion seeds are so light that when wind blows, it carries dandelion seeds to new places. Maple (枫树) seeds also use wind. Their seeds are connected with long, thin leaves that look like wings. When the seed falls from the tree, its “wings” help it fly farther from the tree.

Some animals help plants spread their seeds. The animals eat the seeds. While the seed is in the animal’s body, it stays whole. When the seed leaves the animal, it’s in a new place.

Ants also help spread seeds. Some seeds have a special smell that attracts ants. The ants bring the seeds back to their home, which of course is underground. They only eat part of the seed. They leave the rest of the seed underground. After that, the seed can start growing.

A mind map is basically a tool that connects information around a central subject. It can help you make a knowledge bank to solve problems. A student recently said, “I thought mind mapping would take a lot of time to do but in fact it saves me time.
16．

How to make a mind map? Now follow these steps for making wonderful mind maps.
17． Why? Because starting in the center lets your brain spread out in all directions and express itself more freely and naturally.

Use a picture for your central idea. Why? Because a picture is worth a thousand words and helps you use your imagination.
18． It helps get your attention and makes you work   excitedly!

Connect your main branches (分支) to the central picture and connect your second-and-third-level branches to the first and second levels, etc. Why? Because your brain works by connection.
19． If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily.

Use one key word every line. Why? Because every single key word can make you learn more clearly and easily.

20．Why? Because each picture, just like the central picture, is also worth a thousand words. So, if you have 10 pictures in your mind map, they are already worth 10,000 words of notes.

Try to use more colors. Why? Because colors are as exciting to your brain as pictures. Color adds great energy to your creative thinking, and is fun!

“I don’t want to go, Miss White. I’m frightened (害怕的), very frightened,” Monica told her teacher.

Monica was a very ______ girl. She always sat at the back of the classroom, ______ or taking notes. Every Monday morning, there would be a special show in her class and one student would be _____ to make a speech about his or her dream. Miss White hoped that Monica could have a try the next week. But she refused.

“I know that it seems ______ for you, but it will help you build up your confidence,” said Miss White. Monica was lost in thought.

The next day, Monica came to Miss White’s office. Miss White was ____ that she would take the chance. Miss White red-penciled her manuscript (手稿) of speech, corrected her _____, and even helped with her body language. She advised Monica to practice, to ______ that she was speaking confidently in front of her class. ______ a whole week, Monica practiced speaking in font of her imaginary friends and teacher. Behind the locked door of her bedroom, she told them about her ______.

Finally, Monday arrived. ______ Monica was called upon to give her speech, she ______and walked to the front of the class without any notes, in a show of confidence. Monica’s successful performance brought everyone a great ______. The whole class clapped (鼓掌) for a full minute when she completed her speech. Miss White ______. She had known that Monica would make it when she ______ took her first step to overcome (克服) her fear of speaking in public.

From that day, Monica’s life changed for the better. At the age of 23, she became a news reader. People who see her on television now will find it hard to ______ that she was once a shy girl who refused to speak up in class.

There are lots of places of interest to visit in Henan. One of the
36． famous places is the Red Flag Canal (红旗渠) in Linzhou which was
37． on the side of cliffs (悬崖) of the Taihang Mountains.

    The area was very dry with low rainfall because of
38． geographical conditions (地理条件). The local people used to live a hard
39． because of the shortage of water. So they decided to dig a canal to change the situation. They planned to take water
40． the Zhang River to Linxian county. The Red Flag Canal was started to build in the 1960s. The whole project took ten
41． to complete. It was really hard work. People used
42． tools to dig the canal, completely by hand. Now it has
43． helped the local people by bringing water to them and serves as the lifeline for the county.

    Nowadays, some parts of the Red Flag Canal are open to tourists. Every year thousands of students
44． the Red Flag Canal Museum. While they move along and cross over the canal, they will learn
45． the spirit of “Red Flag Canal” is and know how great the Chinese people are.

水滴石穿，绳锯木断。坚持做好一件事情，成就更好的自己。请以“One thing I keep doing every day”为题，根据以下要点和要求，用英语写一篇发言稿，参加学校的英语主题演讲活动。

One thing I keep doing every day

Good morning, everyone!

I am very happy to be here to make a speech today. The topic of my speech is one thing I keep doing every day.

That’s all. Thank you!