at　all.　It　is　a　bat.　But　this　bat　looks　like　a　fox.　A　flying　fox　is　very　big.　It　likes　to　eat　fruit.　Sometimes　the　flying　fox　is　called　fruit　bat.

    The　flying　fox　flies　into　fruit　trees.　The　eats　all　the　fruit.　So　fruit　farmers　do　not　like　the　flying　fox.

    Passage　27.Flying　Birds

    Birds　don’t　fly　high　up　in　the　sky.　The　air　is　too　thin.

    It　is　hard　for　birds　to　breathe　in　thin　air.　Thin　air　doesn’t　hold　them　up.

    Birds　fly　he　ground　so　that　they　　see　where　they　are.　The　birds　look　for　pces　they　know.　Then　they　do　not　get　lost.　Some　birds　fly　so　low　over　the　o　that　the　waves　often　hide　them.　Many　birds　fly　a　long　distan　the　spring　and　autumn.

    Passage　28.Air

    Air　is　all　around　us.　It　is　around　us　as　we　walk　and　py.　From　the　time　we　were　born　air　is　around　us　on　every　side.　Whe　down，　it　is　around　us.　When　we　go　to　bed，　air　is　also　around　us.　We　live　in　air.　We　　live　without　food　or　water　for　a　few　days，　but　we　ot　live　for　more　than　a　few　minutes　without　air.　We　take　in　air.　When　we　are　w　or　running　we　need　more　air.　When　we　are　asleep，　we　need　less　air.　We　live　in　air，　but　we　ot　see　it.　We　　only　feel　it　when　it　is　moving.　Moving　air　is　called　wind.　How　　we　make　air　move?　Here　is　one　way.　Hold　an　open　book　in　front　of　your　face，　close　it　quickly.　What　　you　feel?　What　you　feel　is　air.

    Passage　29.Clocks

    There　are　many　clocks　in　the　Brown’s　house.　They　are　in　different　rooms.A　big　clock　stands　in　a　er　of　the　sitting　room.　It　is　a　very，　very　old　clock，　but　it　still　keeps　good　time.　Mr.　Brown　winds　it　once　a　week.

    Passage　30.　Swimming

    Swimming　is　a　good　sport.　It’s　popur.　People　like　swimming　because　the　water　makes　people　feel　cool.　But　if　they　swim　in　a　wrong　pce，　it　is　very　dangerous.　These　years，　some　people　died　when　they　were　enjoying　themselves　in　water　and　most　of　them　were　students.　Summer　holiday　will　be　there　again.　I　want　to　give　you　some　advice.　First，　don’t　get　into　the　water　when　you　are　alone.　Sed，　don’t　get　into　the　water　if　there　is　a　No　swimming　sign.　Third，　you　should　be　careful　ier.　If　you　remember　these，　swimming　will　be　safe　and　it’s　good　for　your　health.

    Modern　Teologies

    We’re　all　enjoying　the　veniences　and　happiness　brought　by　modern　teologies.　We　use　telephones　and　mobile　phoo　call，　emails　to　write　and　vehicles　to　drive；　we　go　to　ary　by　air　pnes；　we　see　what　is　happening　in　the　world　by　TV　programs　and　I，　and　we　even　watch　spames　on　live.　Nowadays，　without　these　teologies，　I　’t　imagine　what　my　life　could　be.

    I　used　to　read　an　article　describing　the　modern　lives　of　human　beings.　It　says　we　will　have　many　phone　numbers　if　we　want　to　search　for　one　person；　we　send　emails　and　cell　phone　messages　to　our　friends　in　stead　of　visiting　them.　More　and　more　people　would　rather　sit　in　front　of　a　puter　than　a　TV.　And　we　seldom　go　to　libraries　to　ation　now，　because　the　I　would　do　all　the　jobs.

    We　use　digital　cameras，　sers，　photocopiers，　blue　teeth　teology　and　digital　signals　for　our　cell　phones…　It　seems　as　if　we　were　living　in　a　real　digital　world.　Actually　I　guess　we　are，　though.　Since　we　are　so　developed　and　advanced，　why　we　are　less　civilized?

    We　are　easily　mad　with　our　broken　puters；　we　fed　up　with　things　we　don’t　like；　we　call　our　lovers　to　say　“farewell　and　good－bye”　and　we　are　afraid　to　face　the　facts　which　are　cruel　and　real.　We’re　led　to　a　trend　that　there　will　no　more　face－to－faunications.　I　would　rather　chat　with　my　friends　with　OId　emails　these　years，　instead　of　seeing　them　iy.

    I　hide　myself　inside　my　car　so　that　I　　flee　away　from　dirt，　air　pollutions，　robberies，　thieves，　winds，　rains　and　snows.　However，　I　could　not　taste　the　spring　rain　and　the　winter　sher.　The　nature　is　fleeing　away　from　me　too！

    Should　I　thank　modern　teologies　or　bme　them?　I　wonder　if　you　have　got　the　right　answer.

    My　Journals　7

    June　22，　2005..　I　bought　a　525　ml　bottle　of　Vaseline（a　brand　of　lotiora　Strength　lotion.　It　was　on　sale，　just　3　bucks，　like　RMB　20　kuai.　That　was　a　really　good　deal.　I　　use　it　for　365　days.　Saving　is　my　premier　job，　　not　rid　also　couldn’t　buy　luxury　products.　One　of　my　friends　who　is　in　Australia　only　love　Louis　Vuitton（　a　luxury　brand　of　leather　products　from　France）　Last　time，　she　sent　me　some　pictures　about　her　Louis　Vuitton　colle.　It　was　huge！　Everything　of　hers　is　Louis　Vuitton，　even　her　underwears.（　Does　Louis　Vuitton　produDERWEAR?）　She　probably　bought　a　Nissan（a　car　brand　from　Japan.）　350z.　Wow！　I　love　that　car　very　much，　but　I　’t　afford　it.　When　we　were　in　the　same　senih　school，　she　told　her　friends　she　liked　me，　but　she　never　said　it　to　me.　When　I　k，　she　is　already　living　in　Australia.　We　chat　sometimes　on　MSN（a　message　software　which　is　extensively　used　all　over　the　world），　but　we　are　just　on　friends.　Speak　it　like　it　is，　I　was　never　in　love　with　her，　coz　I　didn’t　have　that　feeling.　Maybe　she　was　seeing　me，　but　I　was　not.　Yesterday，　I　mentioned　about　a　Korean　girl.　She　was　rich　as　well.　She　has　a　BMW　X5　and……　I　think　that　car　is　enough　to　prove　everything.　How　e　those　girls　who　liked　me　are　much　richer　than　me?　Im　poor　and　still　suffer　the　poverty.　When　these　2　girls　are　eating　delicious　food，　I　m　eating　instant　noodle　soup.　When　they　are　driving　on　the　road　etedly，　Im　walking　to　uy.　I　really　wanna　find　a　pirl　to　be　my　galfriend，　coz　I　could　also　find　the　bance.　My　ex－girlfriend　is　living　in　Japan.　She　is　ok，　not　that　rich.　Sometimes，　we　talk　online，　and　she　still　calls　me　SWEETIE　and　regards　me　as　her　husband.　I　　see　through　she　wants　to　get　back　our　retionship.　Ha，　that　is　okay.　But　it　doesn’t　make　any　sense.　She　woo　ada　for　me.　She　has　a　good　job　and　family　there.　That　was　why　I　did　not　wao　tag　along　with　me　and　stick　with　me.　We　are　hopeless　although　our　love　sted　almost　4　years.　I　just　wa！　Now　Im　a　100％　single　man.　I　live　by　myself.　Everyday　I　keep　being　busy.　I　do　believe　that　sometimes　girl　is　nothing　but　troubles.　Today，　I　bought　a　ee，　the　words　printed　on　the　shirt　are　“adian　Girls　Drinking　Team”，　I　just　felt　it　was　iing　and　bought　it.　Maybe　some　of　my　friends　see　it，　they　probably　scream　“are　you　gonna　ge　your　sex　and　join　that　team，　man?　You　look　weird　and　freak！　”　Ha，　who　cares！

    I　just　tried　to　use　very　very　basid　easy　words　here　in　order　to　make　each　sentence　more　uandable　and　　out　any　vocabury　blocks.　I　just　hope　you　enjoy　it　and　keep　reading　it　day　by　day.　Today，　my　test　was　fabulous！　Tomorrow　there　is　another　one.　Im　gonna　prepare　it.　Cya.（　See　ya）

    My　Girlfriend　is　Cat－－－－　By　smellycatty

    We　knew　each　other　on　the　forum　of　New　Oriental　School.　That　time，　we　both　had　been　hurt，　drifting　in　a　lonely　city　for　a　long　time，　yearning　to　fly，　and　craving　for　true　and　forever　love.

    I　studied　GMAT　by　myself　in　a　rented　small　ft，　she　was　w　hard　to　go　abroad　as　a　post－doctor.　Studying　for　the　test，　writing　her　emails，　and　having　long　talks　over　the　pho　night　became　a　habit　as　well　as　the　happiest　moments　of　my　otherwise　b　and　lonely　life.　Before　long，　I　found　myself　attached　to　the　sweet　void　the　gentleness　of　the　girl　I　had　never　met.

    One　night，　before　I　hung　up　the　phone，　a　sadness　and　romance　surged　up　in　me.　And　I　said　to　her:　“I　want　to　sing　a　song　to　you.”　I　used　to　be　a　big　musi　in　college.　I　listeo　music　as　a　way　of　dealing　with　the　bnd　school　life.　And　I　also　liked　to　yell　some　tunes　in　the　corridor　or　on　my　way　bay　dorm　at　night.　Some　people　beled　my　style　“street　singer”　who’s　from　the　suburb　of　Hong　Kong.

    The　song　I　sang　that　night　is　the　inal　Japanese　version　of　an　old　song　by　the　name　of　“Half　Full　Moon（月半彎）”.　As　I　already　said，　I　sang　it　thousands　of　times　oreet，　in　corridor　and　Karaoke　Bars.　But　my　performance　has　never　been　that　good　this　time.　I　didn’t　know　or　wasn’t　sure　what　kind　of　person　she　would　be　in　my　life.　Maybe　a　friend　oer，　maybe　just　an　ordinary　friend，　or　even　my　future　girlfriend，　I　had　absolutely　no　idea.　She　was　some　girl　I　hadn’t　met，　so　I　just　treated　her　as　a　listeo　my　heart.

    What　happeer　was　an　abrupt　twist.　One　dark　and　windy　night，　our　friendship　became　a　love　caught　on　fire　because　of　my　not　bad　singing.　On　an　impulse，　I　whispered　to　her，　“Tell　you　the　truth，　all　my　life，　I　am　looking　for　someone，　with　her，　we　could　bee　happy　for　the　rest　of　our　life.”

    Oher　end　of　the　phone，　she　choked　up　and　started　sobbing.　All　of　a　sudden，　I　realized　that　both　she　and　I　wished　t　the　other　happiness.

    From　my　past　experiend　instinct，　I　thought　that　I　should　do　something　immediately.　So　a　few　days　ter，　driven　by　curiosity　and　passion，　I　decided　to　visit　her.　My　surprise　visit　indeed　shocked　her.　It　seemed　to　me　that　she　still　wao　keep　on　our　retionship　by　telephone　and　I.　Later　she　told　me　that　this　gave　her　lots　of　romand　fun　for　imagination.

    Urged　by　my　pleading　and　threatening，　she　showed　up，　a　small　girl　with　embarrassme　all　over　her　face.　I　was　more　than　oall　than　her.　Walking　beside　her，　I　turned　my　head　and　couldn’t　see　her.　Her　hairs　were　blown　up　by　wind，　brushing　against　my　fad　making　me　very　itchy.　I　was　trying　very　hard　to　figure　out　some　topics，　suddenly　my　hand　was　in　her　hand.

    This　could　be　the　greatest　embarrassment　of　my　whole　life.　Never　before　had　my　hand　been　hold　by　a　girl　first.　In　a　sed，　I　felt　like　that　I　became　a　girl　walking　oreet　with　hand　hold.　We　walked　and　walked.　A　long　time　passed，　we　tried　to　loose　each　other　up　by　talking　about　some　funny　things.　She　was　much　easy－going　than　I　thought　she　would　be.　But　I　was　much　shyer　than　I　used　to　believe.

    A　red　dragon　in　the　global　ey

    Many　ese　believe　that　for　a　to　be　strong　its　trade　at　must　not　be　in　the　red.　It　must　have　a　trade　surplus　to　grow　prosperous.　So　if　we　look　back　at　5000　years　of　ese　history，　it　would　be　surprising　that　the　time　a’s　trade　was　in　the　red　was　also　just　when　the　‘middle　kingdom’　was　at　its　peak　during　that　dynasty.

    For　example，　during　Han　Dynasty，　a　ran　a　trade　deficit　for　turies　with　neighb　tries，　and　it　was　also　the　time　a　became　the　ter　of　the　Asia.　Another　obvious　example　is　the　Tang　and　Song　Dynasty?。╢rom　7th　tury　to　11th　tury），　when　a　was　again　in　a　trade　deficit　with　nearly　all　its　neighbors.　a　was　then　experieng　shes　of　gold，　silver　or　even　bronze，　but　none　of　this　had　blocked　the　red　dragon　from　being　the　stro　nation　at　that　time.　But　at　the　end　of　Song　Dynasty，　just　decades　before　the　ese　were　invaded　aed　by　Mongolians，　a　became　the　main　exporter　in　Asia　and　it　was　one　of　the　several　periods　when　a　was　weak.　Historians　ot　simply　clude　this　as　ce.

    Ret　history　tells　the　same　story.　The　end　of　19th　tury　was　a　nightmare　for　the　a　nation.　Many　bmed　the　trade　deficit　that　resulted　from　opium　trade　as　the　pgue　which　caused　the　weakness　of　a’s　ey　ie　Qing　Dynasty.　However，　if　we　put　opium　trade　aside，　a　was　still　a　rge　exporter　in　the　world　while　it　imported　little　from　the　outside　world.　At　some　point，　a’s　trade　partners　had　to　use　opium　as　a　way　to　pay　for　their　trade　deficit　with　a.　Earlier，　in　the　middle　of　the　18th　tury，　a　could　produough　opium　for　domestic　market　and　also　bee　an　exporter　in　normal　definition，　but　it　didn’t　help　a　to　be　a　stronger　nation　at　all.　When　a　us　first　industrialization　campaign，　it’s　trade　soon　turned　into　red　again，　but　this　happened　during　the　st　struggle　of　Qing　Dynasty　in　its　dying　years.

    After　its　opening－up　in　1978，　a　was　in　the　red　again　for　eleven　years，　with　the　exception　of　1983.　The　gover　is　implementing　of　a　strategy　of　stimuting　exports　initially　from　a’s　opening－up.　It　is　a　reasonable　policy　for　a　post－unism　ey　which　is　ck　of　a　fiancé　system　and　a　minimum－required　fn　currency　reserve.

    Since　1990，　a　has　been　chalking　up　trade　surplus　with　the　exception　of　1993.　In　2004，　the　trade　surplus　of　a　amounts　to　＄70　billion，　of　which　＄58.6　billion　from　Sino－US　trade.　With　its　expanding　of　trade　surplus，　its　eic　rapid　growth　tinues　for　decades.　At　the　same　time，　ese　factories　are　famous　for　dumping　cheap　goods　from　advantages　of　its　low－cost　bors　and　poor　enviro　standard.　After　all，　a　is　developing，　much　faster　than　EU，　US，　Japan　or　any　other　major　power　of　the　world.　There　is　no　doubt　that　a　is　regaining　its　strength　and　will　be　a　major　eic　power　in　the　21st　tury.

    What　will　a　bring　to　the　globalization　of　ey?　Even　for　a　try　of　1.2　billion　popution　and　960　square　kilometers，　there　is　no　unlimited　supply　of　cheap　bor　or　unlimited　tolerance　of　enviro　pollution.　However，　the　demand　of　the　1.2　billion　popution　market　in　a　fast－growing　ey　could　be　the　powerful　engine　of　the　global　ey　in　human　history.　Some　of　ese　key　officials　and　schors　has　turo　pro－deficit　attitude　on　this　debate　and　more　and　more　people　realize　that　a　has　no　responsibility　to　supply　the　world　with　cheap　goods　while　the　living　standard　of　ese　people　are　below　average　level.　While　those　booming　ese　panies　have　shown　their　appetites　for　raw　materials　on　the　global　market，　the　extravagance　of　ese　wealthy　family　in　cities　has　given　hopes　to　global　manufacturers.

    Most　of　the　pressure　to　grow　imports　es　from　a’s　trade　partners，　especially　US　and　Japan.　A　strong　wind　calling　for　the　revaluation　of　RMB　has　been　blowing　sihe　beginning　of　2003，　and　some　even　criticize　a　as　an　exporter　of　deftion.　At　the　same　time，　huge　amounts　of　hot　money　flow　into　a　despite　capital　trols　that　strictly　limit　money　flows　into　this　try.　ese　officials　have　openly　refused　to　revaluate　RMB　under　pressure　and　some　even　say　that　its　a　spiracy　to　sacrifice　a’s　ey　without　bringio　the　global　ey.　But　those　strong　words　against　the　revaluation　of　RMB　were　more　or　less　for　internal　politics.　The　goverhen　began　to　boost　the　imports　to　ease　the　pressure　on　the　currency.

    Domestically，　there　are　more　and　more　criticisms　against　the　stimuting－export　policies，　especially　the　tax　reimbursement　policy.　The　tax　reimbursement　to　exporters　has　aggravated　the　fiscal　deficit　of　the　tral　gover.　The　gover　has　paid　125　billion　RMB　and　115　billion　RMB　for　tax　reimbursement.　This　appropriation　was　far　from　the　amount　incurred　every　year　and　up　to　the　end　of　2003，　the　tax　reimbursement　in　arrears　reached　to　340　billion　RMB　（＄41.06　billion）.　The　profit　margin　rates　of　many　exporters　are　below　the　reimbursement　rate.　As　the　default　of　payment　accumuted　year－by－year，　some　exporters　have　fallen　into　liquidity　problem　while　waiting　for　the　payment　of　tax　reimbursement　in　arrears.

    So　a　should　not　be　afraid　to　bee　red　in　trade，　like　it　has　during　many　periods　of　greatness.　If　the　dragon　bees　be　red　for　years　or　even　decades，　the　most　foreseeable　sequence　is　that　RMB　will　be　an　iional　currency.　To　support　an　iional　currency，　a　should　build　‘a　stable　macroeiviro，　a　market　meism　and　a　healthy　banking　system’　as　ese　Premier　Wen　Jiabao　mentioned　as　the　preditions　for　a　revaluation　of　RMB.　It　is　easy　to　say　what’s　good　but　it　is　difficult　to　identify　the　problems　and　solve　them.　When　the　growth　is　still　enough　to　sustain　the　system，　who　will　be　brave　enough　to　cut　the　mess　behind　the　rise?　a　should　not　be　afraid　to　bee　red　again.

    Make　your　fate　in　trol

    Fate　is　determined　by　character，　and　character　is　determined　by　knowledge，　desire　and　habit.　If　a　person　wants　to　ge　his　fate，　he　has　to　ge　his　character　first；　and　if　he　wants　to　ge　his　character，　he　has　to　ge　his　knowledge　or　his　desires　and　habits.　pining　to　other　people　or　the　enviros　makes　no　sense.

    Actually，　everybody　in　this　world　will　know　about　the　meaning　of　life.　It’s　just　the　matter　of　time.　A　worker，　who　had　just　lost　his　job，　met　a　uy　professor　one　day.　He　admitted　that　he　didn’t　love　to　study　when　he　was　a　student.　He　just　hated　to　study　no　matter　what　and　how　his　father　asked　him　to.　Whe　a　job　and　became　a　worker，　he　realized　how　important　to　have　knowledge　in　this　world.　But，　it　was　too　te…

    There　are　no　parents　who　don’t　think　studying　is　important　for　their　children，　and　all　the　parents　tell　their　children　to　study　hard.　We，　however，　still　have　so　much　differen　different　children，　on　the　results，　that　we　finally　will　know　it’　is　the　matter　of　self－trol.

    When　we　are　kids　in　a　primary　school，　we　see　no　difference　from　each　other.　We　just　know　somebody　is　good　at　ese，　Math　or　Sports.　We　just　know　that　the　teacher　likes　him　or　her.　Nowadays，　we　differentiate　our　cssmates　by　their　parents.　We　say:　oh，　god，　his　father　is　the　vice　mayor，　his　father　is　very　rich；　his　mother　is　the　dean　of　the　biggest　hospital….　This　is　definitely　not　a　good　sign　for　a　and　the　ese　people，　because　it　makes　ion　for　the　youngsters，　who　are　having　a’s　future　in　hand.

    The　poor　always　hate　the　rich，　because　they　see　the　rich　driving　all　the　luxury　cars，　living　in　iniums，　vils　and　spending　money　like　they　are　tless.　And　the　poor　see　the　rich　always　on　vocations，　always　so　rexed　and　enjoyable.　So　the　poor　are　jealous　and　they　wonder　how　　the　rich　be　so　rid　the　poor　are　so　poor.　Well，　the　poor　obviously　fet　ohing:　When　the　rich　are　w　hard　and　smart　to　collect　mohe　poor　are　lying　somewhere　and　making　pins.

    Make　your　fate　and　success　in　trol；　you　　make　a　differeure，　unless　you　want　to　a　poor　person，　both　mentally　and　physically.

    Love，　love，　love

    Please　five　me　because　I’m　not　talking　about　the　popur　song　here.　I　really　love　that　song，　though！　What　I　want　t　to　you　people　here　is　something　I’d　like　to　discuss　with.

    Love　is　indeed　a　big　cept.　Thus　it　makes　some　people　fused　or　feel　blur.　As　I　have　mentioned　before　in　this　forum，　I　don’t　even　differ　“love”　from　“like”　sometimes.　　you?

    I　know　nobody　who　doesn’t　want　his　life　filled　with　love.　One　is/has　been/will　be　receiving　love　from　his　parents，　retives，　friends，　colleagues，　lovers　and　whatsoever　living　creatures，　including　animals.　Fully　enjoying　love　from　around　me　is　what　I　always　long　for.　Hoy　and　joyful　I　would　be　if　I　could　have　love　everywhere　in　this　p！

    Love　quers　everything　in　human’s　world.　The　more　civilized　and　developed　a　try　is，　the　more　love　you　will　see　in　there.　I　saw　many　charity　anizations　in　Singapore　and　ada，　and　I　believe　there　must　be　many　in　other　developed　tries.　There　is，　however，　so　few　in　a.　Even　though　there　are　some　simir　anizations　in　a，　I’m　afraid　they　are　not　doing　their　jobs.

    The　most　popur　case　we　　see　in　a　is　Leukemia.　I　have　all　along　been　donating　moo　those　patients，　since　I　was　a　student.　I　just　feel　that’s　the　only　way　I　　use　to　help　them.

    The　other　case　is　raised　by　baggers，　who　are　wandering　ireets　all　the　time.　They　are　everywhere　iies.　They　are　annoying　sometimes，　because　they　would　even　pull　your　pants　to　hold　you　back　if　you　refuse　to　give　them　cashes.　I　pay　more　respect　to　those　who　would　rather　go　colleg　rubbishes　at　nights　than　being　criminals　to　steal　or　rob，　or　it　whatever　bad　things　against　the　local　citizens.　Once　a　80　over　years　old　woman　was　seen　lying　on　the　side　of　a　road.　I　saw　her　too，　for　several　times.　She　seldom　bagged　for　money，　she　wanted　foods　and　clothes　more　than　cashes.　Each　time　I　passed　by，　I　would　give　her　10　Yuan，　not　for　pitying　her，　but　do　what　I　could　to　be　of　help.　She　died　oer.　I　was　sad　when　I　heard　the　news　because　I　couldn’t　imagine　what　kind　of　children　she　had　would　abandon　their　parents！　She　must　be　very　sad　and　desperate　when　she　left　her　home；　she　must　be　tough　and　strong　to　survive　in　such　a　big　cold　city　alone　for　years；　she　must　be　thinking　about　something　before　her　death；　she　must　be…

    If　there　is　another　life　for　this　wretched　poor　woman　after　her　death，　I　hope　she　would　have　a　much　better　life　by　then.　May　her　soul　rest　in　peace.