When my son, Mark, was in the third grade, he saved all his pocket money for over three months to buy holiday presents. The third Saturday in December Mark said he had made his list and had twenty dollars in his pocket.
I drove him to a nearby supermarket. Mark picked up a hand basket and went in while I waited and watched in the car. It took Mark over 45 minutes to choose his present. Finally he came to the checkout counter and reached into his pocket for his money. It was not there! There was a hole in his pocket, but no money! Mark stood there holding his basket, tears falling down his face.
Then a surprising thing happened. A woman came up to Mark and took him in her arms. “ You would help me a lot if you let me pay for you,” said the woman. “It would be the most wonderful gift you could give me. I only ask that one day you will pass it on. When you grow up, I would like you to find someone you can help.When you help others, I know you will feel as good about it as I do now.”
Mark took the money, dried his tears and ran back to the checkout counter as fast as he could. That year we all enjoyed our gifts almost as much as Mark enjoyed giving them to us.
I would like to say “thank you” to that very kind woman, and tell her that four years later, Mark went house to house to collecting blankets and clothes foe the homeless people in the fire. And I want to promise her that Mark will never forget to keep passing it on.
【小题1】When did the story probably happen?

What is your wish for the New Year? The following is some children’s ideas.

Lots of people make it as their aim to get to the top of Mount Everest. Mark is one of them. The difference between Mark and other climbers is that he lost both his legs when climbing. New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook. He was caught in a big ice hole and he had to have his legs cut below the knees after he was saved. But that couldn’t make Mark lose heart, who has become the first person with man-made legs to reach the top of Mount Everest.

From the top of the world’s highest mountain, Mark called his wife to say he made it. His wife, Anne got the phone when she was sleeping. She couldn’t hear him clearly on the phone. She was unable to say when he reached the top but thought it was around mid-day. She also said his “legs” didn’t work well sometimes, so her husband was carrying a spare leg and repair tools.

Mark used to be a mountain guide before his accident. He said it was not important that no one like him had ever reached the 8850-meter mountain.

“I’m not doing this to be the first. I have been climbing most of my life and I just feel Mount Everest is really a great aim. I want to send a message that I can do-anything better.”

1.What was the difference between Mark and other climbers?

    A. He went mountain-climbing with his wife.

    B. He climbed mountains with man-made legs.

    C. He was the first to climb Mount Everest.

    D. He was the best guide of the world.

2.Mark’s wife thought is was ________ on Mount Everest when Mark reached its top.

    A. noon         B. morning      C. mid-night        D. evening

3.Which of the following is the correct order in Mark’s story?

    a. Losing both of his legs.

    b. Working as a mountain guide.

    c. Falling into an ice hole on Mount Cook.

    d. Reaching the top of Mount Everest.

    A. c a b d          B. c a d b          C. b c a d          D. b a c d

4. Mark’s story makes us believe that he is a _________ man.

    A. polite           B. brave            C. kind         D. clever

5. Mark told us that he cared much about __________.

    A. being the first  B. climbing higher  C. keeping healthy  D. being a guide

Many children go to the zoo on October 4 to see elephants,monkeys and tigers because that day is World Animal Day.

Now,more children like animals and want to make friends with them.In the zoo,they learn about animal life.They don’t need to go out to show their love of animals.They have pets(宠物)at home.
Mark is a middle school student.He has a black cat.He gives it milk to drink and meat to eat.The cat is his true friend.Jane is also a middle school student.She has two tortoises.They are as big as her hand.Every day,she changes(换)the water for them.She likes to watch them.
【小题1】October 4 is______.

All the children had a good time at Mark's birthday party.