Beijing
How much do you know about Beijing? Let's see.
The four seasons in Beijing are very different. In spring, it is warm, dry and usually windy. It is very short too. In summer, it is hot and rainy. In autumn, it is cool and often sunny. The winter in Beijing is not pleasant because it is both cold and dry.
Beijing has a long history, so there are many old buildings, such as the Palace Museum and the Summer Palace. These places are always full of visitors. Beijing has many new buildings too, like the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest. They are also very popular.
Lots of visitors also come to try Beijing food, like the pea cakes and Beijing noodles. There is also the world-famous Beijing Roast Duck!
In Beijing, there are many great universities. Peking University and Tsinghua University are the best ones in China. Many scientists, writers and leaders have studied in them.
Pandas
We call the panda “Da Xiong Mao”. Pandas are black-and-white Chinese bears. These large animals have a big head, a heavy body, and a short tail.
Most pandas are about 80 cm tall and weigh about 80 kg. Pandas have 42 teeth. They have very thick fur. It keeps them warm in cold weather. Their fur is waterproof.
Pandas eat about 18 kg of food each day. Bamboo is their favourite. In zoos, pandas eat bamboo, carrots, apples and sweet potatoes. They spend about twelve hours a day eating bamboo. Pandas do not hibernate. They must eat all year round.
At birth, cubs are tiny and blind. They can't walk by the age of four months. They begin eating bamboo by the age of one year. They grow to be adults by the age of three. Pandas begin having cubs when they're five or six years old. Most pandas can live to 20-25 years.
Wild pandas are in danger. There are about 1,000 pandas living in the wild today. They mainly live on bamboo, but the number of bamboos is becoming smaller and smaller. Pandas don't have many babies, and baby pandas often die. Some hunters also want to hunt the pandas.
Look Smart
Mum had been shopping.
Biff had a new dress.
Chip had a shirt and Kipper had a new top.
Biff looked at the dress.
“Put it on,” said Mum. “I want you to look smart.”
Kipper looked at the top.
“Put it on,” said Mum. “I want you to look smart.”
“Come here, Chip,” said Mum.
“Put on this shirt.”
“I know,” said Chip. “You want me to look smart.”
Dad came in with a tray.
He fell over a bag.
A cup fell over.
Some chocolate went over Kipper's top.
“Oh no!” said Kipper.
“Chocolate all over my top.”
Biff sat down. She sat on Mum's lipstick.
“Oh no!” said Biff.
“Lipstick on my dress.”
Floppy ran in with muddy paws. He jumped up at Chip.
“Oh Floppy!” said Chip.
“Mud all over my shirt.”
“I can put on my old top,” said Kipper.
“No,” said Mum. “I want you all to look smart.”
“Smart clothes,” said Mum. “Put them on.”
The children put them on.
They set off for the party.
A lorry went by.
Splash!
“What a good job!” said Dad.
“Nobody looks smart.”
Handa's Surprise
Handa put seven delicious fruits in a basket for friend, Akeyo.
She will be surprised, thought Handa as she set off for Akeyo's village.
I wonder which fruit she'll like best?
Will she like the soft yellow banana ...
or the sweet-smelling guava?
Will she like the round juicy orange ...
or the ripe red mango?
Will she like the spiky-leaved pineapple ...
the creamy green avocado ...
or the tangy purple passion-fruit?
Which fruit will Akeyo like best?
“Hello, Akeyo,” said Handa. “I've brought you a surprise.”
“Tangerines!” said Akeyo. “My favourite fruit.”
“TANGERINES?” said Handa. “That is a surprise!”
Little Red Riding Hood
When Little Red Riding Hood comes to the grandma's home, the big wolf already wears the grandma's clothes and lies in bed. Little Red Riding Hood asks: “Grandma, why your ears are so big?” The big wolf says: “I can hear you with the big ears.” Little Red Riding Hood asks again: “Why your hands are so big?” The wolf says: “I can hold you in my arm with the big hands.”
But Little Red Riding Hood is still surprised. She asks: “But why your mouth is so big, Grandma?” The big wolf says: “I can eat you with the big mouth.” It jumps down from the bed and swallows Little Red Riding Hood. Then it sleeps in bed.
A hunter comes to see the grandma. He sees that a big wolf sleeping in bed and something is moving in its belly. So he gets some scissors and cuts open the wolf's belly. Then Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma come out of the belly. Because the wolf swallowed them, they don't get hurt. The hunter put lots of stones inside the wolf's belly and sews up the belly. After the wolf wakes up, he feels thirsty. So he goes to the river to drink water. Because his belly is so heavy, he falls into the river and drowns.