On Christmas Eve a few days ago, an English couple, the Hardens, got a very special call. It was only a 20-second call but it was very1. The Hardens' 15-year-old daughter has gone away six months before. On Christmas Eve she rang them. "I'm phoning to wish you a happy Christmas," she said, "I love you."

    Ronal's and Edwine Harden were so2that they started a special telephone service (服务) called "Alive and Well". The service helps parents to get in touch with children who have run away from home.

    Young people can phone "Alive and Well" and leave a message for their parents. The telephone are answered by answering machines. So3can speak to the child or make him return home. Parents of runaway children who are under eighteen can ask the police to bring their children home. So children do not want to tell their parents where they are. Through "Alive and Well" they can telephone their parents and they do not4about this or giving out their addresses.

    The Hardens and their helpers5the telephone messages and connect the addresses given. About 30,000 British teenagers have left home and many of them are probably in London. For only two pence (便士) they can go into a telephone coin box and call their parents. They can dial 5675 339 and6a parent worry: is he dead or alive?

    Every year people in many countries learn English. Some of them learn at school, and ostudy by themselves.

    Why do all these people dto learn English? It's not easy to athe question. A lot of boys and girls learn English at school or at university because it is one of their s. They study their olanguage, Maths and English. Many-grown-ups learn English in their work. Because it is uin their work.

    They want to read newspapers, books and some other things in English. And that is wmore and more people in the world will learn English.

    There was an old pear tree in a man's garden. In the past, the tree fruited every year, so the man would get many pears. But now, the tree got old. There were no more pears for the man. So the man decided to cut the tree down.

    When he walked toward the tree with an axe in his hand, the tree said to him, "Please don't cut me down. I have born so many pears for you in the past years."

    "I'm sorry, but I have to do so," the man said, "because I need wood to make a chair." Then he began to wave (挥动) his axe. At that moment, a bird in the old tree shouted at him, "Don't cut it down! Every time you go out and your wife feels lonely, she will come out to the garden and sit under the tree to enjoy its cool shade (树萌), and I sing songs to make her happy. We give much pleasure to your wife."

    The man didn't listen to the bird and drove it away. Just as he was about to cut the tree, some bees flew out of it and said, "Listen! If you agree not to kill this tree, we will give you delicious honey every day. Would you please leave the tree with us?"

    The man got moved. He said, "You are so kind to the tree, although it has become old. Now I see that I shouldn't cut it down. It has done so much for me and my wife. Let the tree stay here, and let the bird continue to sing songs here." With these words, the man left.

    What will you do if you meet an alien? Here are some different opinions from the teenagers.

    Jenny: Aliens are always mysterious (神秘的) to us. In my mind, aliens are very dangerous because we don't know them very much. So, if I meet an alien, I will run away from himI can. I don't want to be killed by him. If I'mand get caught by him, I will keep cool and then try my best to. I won't risk my life to get along with the alien, even if he seems. I am too frightened to meet them.

    Tom: If I have a chance to meet an alien, I will feel very lucky. I believe that everyone hasliving on other planets. I want to make friends with the alien. I want to know more about the life on his planet. I will ask him about thebetween the Earth and his planet. Maybe it is crazy, but I willthe alien to my best friends. I think we will learn manythings from talking with the aliens. We will become friends.