I was very nervous as I waited to interview one of the most successful women of our times: Kathy
Howe. I was just a young reporter and she was not only a popular singer but also a famous actress,
staring in many movies.
     As soon as the door opened, however, and her slim figure appeared, I immediately relaxed.  She
looked great, with her kind brown eyes, her excellent black hair, and her beautiful smile. I looked for
bags under her eyes, but there were none. "How do you manage to look so good and live life in the fast
lane at the same time?" I asked her.
     She laughed, and her whole face shone. "It's tiring to be famous. You have to work hard, be on time,
and take care of yourself. Also, you have to go to Hollywood parties, be taken photos for magazines,
and give interviews!"
     As we talked, I found out that Kathy is a very warm and kind person, and that her family is more
important to her than being a star. At the same time, she wants to do everything as well as she can, so
she can sometimes seem to be hard.
     When I asked her if she thought of herself as lucky, she didn't answer immediately. Then she said.
"Well, perhaps I'm lucky, but I also work very hard, and being famous has weak points, too.  In fact,
I've missed out on lots of things I really enjoy doing, like spending time with my daughter."
     I felt sad when it was time to leave, as Kathy is a wonderful woman.  I have never met anyone else
who has such a life, and still manages to look so beautiful.

1. How did the writer feel before the interview began?
    ______________________________________________________________
2. What did Kathy Howe look like when she entered?
    ______________________________________________________________
3. Kathy Howe thinks being famous is tiring, doesn't she?
    ______________________________________________________________
4. What does Kathy Howe think of her family?
    ______________________________________________________________
5. Does Kathy Howe have much time to spend with her daughter?
    ______________________________________________________________
6. What kind of person do you think Kathy Howe is?
    ______________________________________________________________

     When I was seven years old, my family made me an ant farm. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass
box. Then we waited for the ants to arrive.
     After the ants were in the glass farm, they started to make tunnels. I was very surprised that each one
knew exactly what to do. Each had its own job.
On the fifth day a tragedy (悲劇) happened. I put my face so close to the glass farm that I knocked it
over. All the tunnels fell down. Although the ants remained alive after the earthquake, one by one they
began to die. I was scared as I watched them give up building their tunnels to carry bodies to a corner
of the farm.
My mother said that the ants were dying of sadness. They simply could not understand why their tunnels
were gone.
     Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about
the natural world, but it taught me much more.
Over the years, I came to realize the importance of teamwork. Working together, the ants were able to
make an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work.
     But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity (逆境) is a natural
part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, we cannot give up when we are sad. We have to
realize that if a tunnel is gone, we must build another.
Giving up, I say, is not a good choice.