（一）

Urban Life and Rural Life

The difference between our towns and the country has tapered off， but there is still distinction between them.

People who live in cities can enjoy the coveniences of hospitals， schools and colleges， places of entertainment， various shops， and modern means of transport. But they have to endure noise， dirty air， traffic jams and crowded housing conditions.

People who live in the countryside can enjoy the green fields， fresh air， spacious houses and unsophisticated folkways. But comparatively their life is somewhat dull， and there are fewer schools and hospitals. The youngsters have to go to somewhere else to attend college.

If it is up to me make the choice， I prefer the urban life. Because I think there are more opportunities and challenges for young peple in cities. Besides， we can live a more exciting life which is full of change and variety.

（二）

Mr. Smiths Office

Mr. Smiths office is located on Ninth Street to the south of see Mr. Smiths big desk and chair standing on the left. Beside that is the secretarys smaller desk and chair. On the right， a supply cabinet stands at the corner and there is a bookcase by the side of the wall. A picture hangs on the wall facing Mr. Smiths desk. In front of the picture are a sofa and a coffee table. There is a chair on each side of the coffee table. The storage room is in the southwest of the office. There are three cabinets in which files are kept. The office is neat and clean. It is a good place for work.

（三）

A Sea Shore Picnic

After an hours sailing， we reached our destination. We saw a range of shops and houses with one or two storeys by the sea shore. They were not newly built. We also saw quite a number of dead fish which were going to be dried in the sun distributed on the ground. We got to the beach. There were many fishermens huts and little houses built on idsused sampans.

We crossed the beach and went up the slopes. At last， we reached famous cave. Carrying ta torch， each of us was very excited. We carefully slipped into the dark cave one by one. It was very narrow and we found it difficult to walk through. We could not see anything but the cave. However， we ventured inside the cave. The opening was so small that we could hardly get through.

Everyone was tired and hungry， so we went to eat all the food we brought with us. The food seemd to be more tasteful than usual. After that， some of my classmates went to fish and others went to travel round the island in a boat. We were not on our? way home until it was five oclock in the afternoon， and the sun would set very soon.

（四）

My wish

If I had a boat， I would sail away across the seven seas， wandering and drifting as I went to see the world. I have loved the sea ever since I was a small child. I often strolled along the beach， all alone， and gazed into the blue horizon， wishing that I could be there.

Some day， if my wish came true， I would sail alone on a never-ending journey， with only the sunny blue sky and the peacefully calm sea as my companion. I knew I would not be lonely， because there would be the sea breezes bumming me a lullaby and carrying a salty spray on to my face.

And even when there was a storm， I would face it bravely as if with a challenge;I should prove myself a man of strong will and power. Oh， life should be an adventure！

（五）

A Water Clock

The water clock has three parts. On the left is a tank holding water. This tank has a narrow opening through which water drips into a second container， also a tank. Inside the second tank is a floating object， to the end of which is attached a long pole with an arrow. On the right is a cylinder with the numbers one to twelve written on it. As the water from the tank on the left drips into the second tank， the level rises and with it the lfoating object. This causes the arrow to move from one number to the next. One thus has a twelve hour clock. After twelve hours the second tank is emptied and the process is begun again.

（六）

A Person I knew

Loose， wavy brown hair hung down to her waist at the back—she had a fringe over her forehead that almost hid her pale eyes. The nose—not her best feature—was long but not ugly. She had a regular set of white teeth and was full-lipped.

Her round face often looked rather sallow in complexion; she wasnt very tall or slim， and she walked with slightly-rounded shoulders. When I knew her， she must have been in her early thirties， about thirty-fifth even-and she even had one or two tell-tale wrinkles round the mouth.