My Reading Journal 7 H組 陳宜平

       I had finished the book-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,and this time I choose another book-Knights of the Round Table.This book is about 110 pages,adapted by Gwen Gross,and illustated by Norman Green.Gwen Gross is a freelance writer and editor.She began reading the tales of King Arthur as a child,and as research or Knight of the round table she read almost every book on the subject,from the earliest medieval versions to the most recent.She is married and lives in New York City with her 2 childen.
       There are many tales of a wonderful king named Arthur.And of the brave knights of Round Table.The tales are very old,they have been told by many different storytellers in many different lands,and each told the stories in his own special way.Arthur,who ruled in England about fifteen hundred years ago.He won many battles.And he was a king no one could forget.
      The whole book explains and discusses the adventure of Round Table,included the life of King Arthur,the story of merlin...etc.And Merlin is the crucial person in the story.He is the teacher,abecedarian,adviser,friend and subordinate of Arthur,and Arthur guide the Round Table to complete the mission.The book starts from the birth of Arthur,and the process that how Arthur becomes the King,and narrate the Roun Table.In the end,Arthurwins the last battle and gets on the boat,disappeareing in the mist.The last words he says is:"I am going to a magic land.There I will be healed.Unless it si too late.But if England has need of me,I will come again."Some say Arthur died,some say he is sleeping an enchanted sleep,and some say he lives on in a land of mists and magic.And there will be a new kingdom of the good and the true.

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My reading Journal 7 H組 韓佳恩

I am so glad that I finished this book in the course of past two weeks! Read up to the final page, I am even reluctant to finish this story and astonished by this ending—that's beyond my expectations.

Continued from the preceding reading journal, Ramon Salazar goes out the lagoon to find "the great Pearl of Heaven" alone because the old Indian— Soto fears that the Monta Diablo would blame him. He sinks into water, discovering the largest shells, making a hard effort to pry it and drag the shell ashore. He wrestles a long time with the oyster; then, he finally pulls a hard and monstrous lump— the great Pearl of Heaven! Witnessing everything, Soto just frightens and warns Ramon︰ throw it back to the Monta Diablo or someday the Monta Diablo will have it back with his life!

After Ramon comes back to the town, told his father, they give rise to a big storm— a boy finds the biggest pearl! And because other four pearl dealers are not to appreciate it and want to bargain with Ramon's father, the great Pearl of Heaven is delivered to the church in the end by Ramon's father with rage. However, the tragedy of the shipwreck cause Ramon having a thought about returning it back to the Monta Diablo. So, one day, he steals it from church, and takes a boat to the lagoon. Suddenly, a man's voice comes from the hissing of the tide— it's him! The Sevillano! He threatens Ramon either gives him the pearl or tell him where to find it.

Ramon at first throws it into water, but The Sevillano sinks and finds it back… Ramon can't help but allow his introduction— rowing toward the City of Guaymas to sell it with great price. Nevertheless, there is a big manta swimming behind them day and night. Afterwards, the manta swims in a wide circle around them, the circle getting smaller and smaller, and the boat begins to rock as well as water comes in. They decide to go on "Island of the Dead" rather than stay here. Later on, they are chased by crowd of Indians, and again go back to the boat, row far from the island. The ending is that The Sevillano draws his cork-handled knife from his belt, landing upon the broad platform of the Monta Diablo's back, and plunges the knife deep into the monster's neck with all the strength again and again. Finally, he goes down with the Monta Diablo. The black pearl is the only thing still stay in the boat. After Ramon sailed into the harbor, he places the black pearl in the Madonna-of-the-sea in the church.

When it comes to talk about my efficiency, I read it about 20-30 minutes every time on average and I can even more concentrate on my reading time without other disturbance. This is the last time reading journal, but it doesn't matter. I think I will keep reading more interesting book, and this time I start a new book"The Scarlet Letter." I have more confidence on reading English book— that is the motivation supporting me to read!

H組報告文章

Topic: The Scoop on Fattening Ice Cream Flavors

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/the-scoop-on-fattening-ice-cream-flavors/

There is a connection to Newsweek in the article.

You may click to get more information about it.

My Reading Journal 7 H組 潘巧紋

I found "Macbeth" on my bookshelf last week. I bought it as an outside reading when I was in senior high school. The book is a retold version, published by Pearson Education Limited. It is at Penguin Readers Level 4, the intermediate level, and uses about 1700 words in vocabulary. This one is pretty easy for me now and I finished it during a very short time. It is good that there are not many words I don't understand, within five words, I think.

The story is about a brave soldier, Macbeth, who was admiring by his king, received a prediction by three witches. They told him that he would be the king. After this, his wife and he planed series of crimes to make the dream come true.

Actually, I don't understand what the point of "Macbeth." What's the meaning of this story and behind it? I only saw that so many people and Macbeth himself were all killed because of his ambition. He became more and more cruel and suspicious when he turned into a king by the first evil murder. He even killed his own friend! How could a person do such things? In the end, he even had no emotion with his wife's dead. Maybe power really trends to corrupt.

My Reading Journal 6 H組 潘巧紋

I finished "A Year Down Yonder" yesterday.

Somehow I felt the story is kind of similar to a Japanese book "佐賀的超級阿嬤." These two stories both narrate how a grandmother kept body and soul together during the hard time with an extra child. Of course, these two grandmas are still very different. Grandma Dowdel of this story is a very strong and tough woman. She knows a lot of things and pays lots of efforts to make their life better.

After living one year with her grandmother, the main character, Mary Alice, has changed, too. Comparison to the first time she got here, now she knew everyone who lived along the street. She knew this town as she'd never know Chicago. She also knew her grandma better. And she would like to live with Grandma Dowdel continually despite of the fact that she couldn't.

In the end, in the last year of World War II, Mary Alice was going to be married. She chose to marry in grandma's house. Although her parents and her brother couldn't come because of the war, she was still not lonely. Grandma Dowdel was beside her and handed her to the groom.

I think it is a lovely story. Maybe it's not a very thrilling one, it means a lot.

My Reading Journal 6 H組 陳宜平

Finally,I have finished this book-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The point of the story is not emphasize on the factory,but on the relationship of family and happiness,it also implies that many things can't be bought by money,too.In the story,in spite of getting the golden ticket,Charlie ever wanted to sale it to earn the living expensess;In order to satisfy Charlie's hope,his family were unwilling to give up the chance of invisiting the factory. From here we can see love in Charlie's family and respect between the members.Approach to the end,Willy Wonka wanted to give the factory as a present to Charlie,but the condition was that he couldn't live with family.Charlie gave up the chance and turned down Wonka,Finally,Wonka realized the importance of family,and the thing that couldn't buy by money was the warmth of family.
To sum up,although the usage of words in this book are not abstrue,the story is still meaningful.What an amazing story~!^^

My reading Journal 6 H組 韓佳恩

In the course of the past two weeks, I had been nearly reluctant to put down"The Black Pearl"every time I read because the content is so absorbing as though it can lead me into the story plot.

In the city of La Paz,Baja California Sur, every one heard of the Monta Diablo, including Ramon Salazar— the main character. Ramon's father who is the most famous dealer in pearls and also a good pearler promised him that Ramon can sail with him and be taught how to dive by him when he is sixteen. When the date come, his father begin to teach him how to examine pearls (shapes, weight, luster…) but not dive. Finally Ramon sail with his father while only stay on the boat, doing some sundry duties. Among his father' s employees, the best diver is Gaspar Ruiz ("The Sevillano")— a braggart who likes to tease Ramon.

On the one hand, Ramon's dream is to find"the great Pearl of Heaven"— it is said to be protected by the Monta Diablo (the monster devilfish) ; on the other, The Sevillano's tease enrages Ramon so he decide to learn diving and find it. When his father is away on business, Soto Luzon, an Indian who sell pearls to his father come and as before sell the black pearl to Ramon. Ramon give him higher price for the purpose that he ask Soto to take him to a secluded lagoon and teach him diving.

Soto allow Ramon to his living place, and start teaching him about diving (breathing→holding a sink stone→treading quietly on the sand→prying the shell…) On the fourth day, Ramon go out the lagoon alone. It is on that day he finds"the great Pearl of Heaven"How does he get？ And after he gets that rare black pearl, what is happened to him？ Although I have not seen it yet, I am so expected about the following plot and wonder to know that.

The past two weeks, I read it about 20-30 minutes every time on average. I think that reading the English book for me is more easier than at beginning I read, even find some interesting when reading it. Moreover I am glad to feel that on the one side, and on the other side I am excited to reach that position. (but there are still many to achieve)

My Reading Journal 6 H組，Pythia

During the two weeks, I have read a book "Under the Greenwood Tree"or" The Mellstock Quire A Rural Painting of the Dutch School". The writer was Thomas Hardy born in 1840 and died in 1928.The book was published anonymously in 1872.Hardy was one of the most famous writers in England and was good at writing about love and the problems between men and women. Besides, the book level was elementary (600words).The reason I chose it was that I was enchanted with the beautiful cover.

The leading man was Dick Dewy, who lived in the village of Upper Mellstock and he sang in the choir with his father and grandfather. On the other hand, the leading woman was Fancy Day, who came to work in the village and was sweet and beautiful .Soon after, Dick fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. However, Fancy's beauty also fascinated other men , who tried to get the choir to make up to Fancy.Dick face lots of difficulties and finally made his dream come true!

After reading, I looked up to Dick's tireless spirit to pursue love. In the same time ,I really appreciated the author's description about meticulous love story. Perhaps, next time, I would choose the same author's book one more time.

My Reading Journal 5 H組，Pythia

During these two weeks, I have only finished one book named " Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ." It was written by Robert Louis Stevenson, on the other hand, retold by Stephen Colbourn. This book is level of basic elementary school and there are approximately 1,110 words in it .The reason I choose it is that I can thy to read not only literary books but also other different books In addition to book, it was adapted to movie in 2003.

The main story is talking about a kind and smart doctor, named Dr. Jekyll. He indulges in scientific and medical research and always spends his time

studying it in his laboratory. The story started with that, Dr. Jekyll created a kind of chemical compound, which made him turn into another person, who is ugly and evil, named Mr. Hyde. Little by little, Dr. Jekyll lost his original personality and gave in to Mr. Hyde. He became evil and broke the law and committed crimes. In the end, he was imprisoned.

The book was certainly worth reading and I recommended my friends to enjoy it. By the way ,one of the reason I interested in this book was that my friend ,Kelly, recommended such a interesting book! I thought I was "obliged" to pass this pleasure on to others!

My Reading Journal 5 H組 韓佳恩

I was so glad that I had finished "James and the Giant Peach" last week! The intriguing adventure finally ends, leaving a lasting impression in my mind.

To come back to the previous plot, they encounter catastrophe－ lots of sharks eating the peach and James's idea－Miss Spider and Silkworm spin silk and tighten it to the seagulls, made Earthworm as bait works! They gather hundreds of seagulls and thus fly into the air. They also meet air-elemental creatures called Cloud Men, who are responsible for painting rainbows during their travel. In the end, James and his partners arrive New York City, with a funny landing－the giant peach spiked upon the pinnacle of the Empire State Building. It's really an amazing sight, and everyone go wild with excitement. Finally, James comes out, straightening out this fantastic view. Then James and his friends have wonderful lives in America.

And I have begun to read a new book "The Black Pearl", written by Scott O'Dell. He was one of America's most respected writers for young people, and his books received many awards, including the Newbery Medal for Island of the Blue Dolphins and the Newbery Honor for The Black Pearl and Sing Down the Moon!

Although the midterm examination did not end yet last week, I still kept reading in my leisure time. I read it and found the plot of the new book as exciting as the previous one. At beginning, it is said that there is the Manta Diablo, the monster devilfish under the sea in the town of La Paz, Baja California Sur. No more than two people have really seen it, and of the two, only one is alive— Ramon Salazar, the main character. Story starts! The Black Pearl centres on the alleged fortune of finding a very large and valuable pearl.

This two weeks, I read 20—30 minutes, almost every day on average. And I hope my efficiency can be better as well as reading speed, with more attention on it!

My Reading Journal 5 H組 潘巧紋

I have read about half of this book, "A Year Down Yonder." There are 130 pages of this book. The background of the story is the depression in 1937. They called it the Roosevelt recession.

The main character is Mary Alice, a fifteen-year-old girl who lived in Chicago. Her father was also one of the ten million men who were out of work, so he couldn't afford the apartment the family used to live. Instead, Mary's parents moved into a "light housekeeping" room which was only big enough for two people. Mary's brother had been taken on by the Civilian Conservation Crops. Therefore, Mary, who was left alone, had to live with Grandma Dowdel.

By many events, we can see that what a person Grandma Dowdel is. Mary's grandmother is really a surprising and impressive person. She used many "tips" and sometimes even "cheat" to get over the hard time. For example, when Old Man Nyquist said they could have any pecan that fell in his yard, Grandma Dowdel drove a wagon, hitting it on the pecan tree and the pecans just fell like rain. That's really impressive, wasn't it?

I just can't imagine what else her grandma would do.

My reading journal 4 H組 陳宜平

In the psat 2 weeks,I have read about 40 pages of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Chapter 1 introduce Charlie's family and his normal life,and he imagine the enormous chocolate factory,which actually within sight of Charlie's house.Chapter 2~3 then describe Mr.Willy Wonka's ,who is the cleverest chocolate maker in the world, and his Factory.In Chapter 4,Charlie is still wonder who is working in that factory,but no one know,and the evening newspaper finally reveal the key in this book-the headline is:Wonka factory to be opened at last to lucky few.Chapter 5 show that only the person whoe get the golden tickets which are in cahdy bars can enter the factory,but Charlie gets candy bar only one a year......his grandpa and grandma all feel no hope,even Charlie himself feels depressed,too. Then,in Chapter6,there are first two lucky kids be found.On Charlie's birtheday,chapter 7,he get a candy bar!But,to our disappointment,there is no sign of golden ticket anywhere......nevertheless,in chapter 8 ,two more golen tickets found,which screamed the headlines.Only one more left!Will Charlie get the ticket?I think he absolutely will (if not so,how the story go on? ha ha),let's expect how he get the qualification and what will happened when he get into the factory~!

My Reading Journal 4 H組，Pythia

In the past two weeks, I had kept reading and had already finished it at 4/10.To sum up,I had some personal ideas after reading it.

In fact,in the beginning, Elizabeth and Darcy had prejudice against each other.However they reconciled their feelings for each other at last.The marriage between Darcy and Elizabeth resulted in ineresting and inconceiviable ending as they got to know one another.

Naturally,we offen get picky, critical or arrogant fellinf on other and think little of others. It is precisely the high time for " Pride and Prejudice " to present themselves. So is for the conflict to come about. This dark side of human characters is intensively exaggerated and painted in this book in a very careful manner, to which is worthy to pay every attention of yours closely.

Sometimes we have first negative or positive impression that is stubbornly rooted and it is human characters. In my view, the real weakness of human character is how harsh one may treat others, but to himself totally contrarily. IN this book,because of Elizabeth's ordinary birth, Dasi failed to speak out his feelings to Elizabeth by giving way to his pride. He felt terribly embarrassed by falling in love with a girl of inferior family. His dignity get heavily burdened accordingly.

The orthodox criteria of one's birth make both of them turn a blind eye to their love in-between. Wisest as man is, one often gets stuck with some certain paranoiac rules for the sake of ridiculous principles. Doesn't he realize that as a man, only showing his true color is the only way to justify what he is.

In spite of numerous difficulty and misunderstanding, love is as usual so unstoppable and tops over every hindrance. Among all of the conflicting events in succession, these two aspects of human character, pride and prejudice, evidently reveal themselves. We people always consider us greater than any creature. As it is, we are no better, and this is illustrated best by the leading roles of this book.

My reading journal 4 H組 韓佳恩

In the course of the past two weeks, I had kept reading, and found the story getting more and more unimaginable. Continued from the preceding plot, after James crawls inside, meeting lots of oversized friends , he gradually becomes one of the crew— a magical crew! Then miraculous things happened to him— or say, to all the creatures in the peach. Through one night, everything exciting will be on the horizon.

The next morning, James wakes up by clamor and an earthquake! He tries to get it clear— it turn out to be that the creatures want to depart forever from the top of the tree on the hill. Then, they do!! With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and their unusual adventure unroll. However, as read previously, this is a "giant"peach where it rolls through either flattening or knocking anything on the street with its hurtling. At the end of the street is an enormous building and out the other side, leaving two gaping round holes. This is a chocolate factory, and almost at once a greet river of warm melted chocolate comes pouring out of the holes. That made James and his friends happy.

The peach unceasingly keeps rolling until it reached the ocean, approaching the cliff, suspending for a few seconds, then it begins to fall down…… It fall into the ocean and there is terrible thing waiting for them— lots of sharks, eating the peach! The creatures are afraid that they keep eating, causing them homeless. James, at this time, gets an idea— Miss Spider and Silkworm spin silk and tighten it to the seagulls, made Earthworm as bait.

Since I started to read this book, I have thought there are all fertile imaginations, and the plot always beyond my expectations. This few weeks I read it 20∼30 minutes a day. Although I am busy for the coming midterm examination recently, I use trifling time to read it as possible as I can. And I hope I can really make good use of time!!

My Reading Journal 4 H組 潘巧紋

I have finished "Matilda" last week. It was really great that Matilda used her intelligence and super power to help the children in the school from being controlled by the terrible headmistress. She also helped the lovely and friendly teacher, Miss Honey, get back her house. In the end, Matilda left her parents who never really cared about her. Instead, she then lived with Miss Honey. I'm sure that she will have a bright future after this change.

Last Thursday I picked up another book. It's "A Year Down Yonder," written by Richard Peck and published by Puffin Books. Actually, after reading for a while, I found out that it was a sequel to the author's another book "A Long Way from Chicago." Despite so, I think it would be as brilliant as the former one. After all, if the former one was named a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and an ALA Best Book for young adults, how bad its sequel could be?

I am eager to see what is going to happen when the young city girl is sent to live with her grandmother in the country. I believe it will be very interesting.

My English Journal 3 Group H 陳宜平

　　　Finally,I had finished the book---The Phantom Of The Opera.Because it is retold,it is not difficult to read.Forthermore,it has only about 50 pages,I am a little disappointed to myself that I read it over 1 month!The content in the book is still good,the rewritter catches the point,short,but good to look.I think the most happiest thing is that at last I finished this book,which I couldn't surpass in high school.

The next book I am going to read is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.The reason that why I choose this book is simple:just because My brother have this book;and I have never seen this movie at all.It has bout 160 pages,not heavy,and seems good to read.The author is Roald Dahl.

　　Ｈere are some introduces about this book:Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!But only 5 lucky children will be allowed inside.And the winners are:Augustus Gloop、Veruca Salt、Violet Beauregarde、Mike Teavee and Carlie Bucket,the hero,a boy who is honest and kind,brave and true,and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!

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My Reading Journal 3 H組，Pythia

I continue reading this book "Pride and Prejudice" in theses days. From 3/27 to 4/9,I have read the pages from 112 to 192 and there was 28 pages that I have not finished. In fact, the project was behind schedule. I expect to finish it on March.

To continue the story, As time passes, however, Mr. Darcy begins to see that Elizabeth was a woman of culture . In fact, she is a lovely and clever woman.But, he was afraid that he might have given her the negative impression. Therefore, Darcy unconsciously made that mistake that behaved arrogantly. In the same time , Elizabeth thought Darcy as a proud man and has a prejudice against Darcy. Therefore, the more one tries to cover up, the better-known it will become.

Although I haven't read it completely, I had seen the movie and Chinese edition novel before. I have a feeling that anyone who desire a beautiful romance, there were always some obstacles on the way. After Elizabeth realizes the error of her initial prejudice against Mr. Darcy, it's embarrassing when they met each other again. It is very interesting. They don't chat as smooth as before, they talk stupidly, just like two shy little boy and girl. So, love is blind, it let you couldn't see the rational, what a foolish thing you may do when you fall in love.

My Reading Journal 3 Group H 韓佳恩

This time I read the book"James and the Giant Peach." The book is illustrated by Lane Smith, and the author is Roald Dahl.

Lane Smith's visual interpretation of the characters and settings in " James and the Giant Peach." was used by Disney as the basis for the animation in the 1996 feature film.

I choose this book because my sister suggest that it is worthwhile reading— it's interesting and mysterious and I have heard the Disney animation with wonderful comments.

So far, this book have brought me entering a marvelous fantasy— about a poor orphan: little James's exciting , magical adventure! James was adopted by his two horrible aunts who treated him bad.

One day, he got a magical paper beg comprising a mass of tiny magic power crystals from a strange man. When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, miraculous things start happening. The peach at the very tip of the tree begins growing, and growing....until it's as big as a house! While James crawls inside, he meets a houseful of oversized friends— Grasshopper, Centipede, Earthworm, and more.

The plot is getting more and more unbelievable and absorbing. I read it 30 minutes a day on average, and I think I can nearly work out my reading log much better than the first book. Besides, I pay attention to it much longer; in the meantime, I also feel I do more effective on it—for spending the same time, reading more pages!!

My Reading Journal 3 H組 潘巧紋

"Matilda" is a 240-page book with comfortable typesetting and lovely illustrations. I have finished about half of this book.

Matilda is an intelligent little girl. But obviously her parents don't think so. They cannot appreciate the talent their daughter has. On the contrary, they don't like Matilda to read or even learn anything good. Actually, they think TV is all enough to have as a pastime at home. In school, there are nice teacher Miss Honey and horrible headmistress Miss Trunchbull. I can't wait to see what would little Matilda do to the mean and overbearing headmistress.

Although this book is easier than last one I have read, there are still many words I don't understand. It seems that my vocabulary is some kind less than an American child's because "Matilda" looks like written for children. Maybe I should read more and expand the vocabulary I have. However, I hope I can finish this one as soon as I can.

G5102 H組 報告文章

Studies Find Genetic Link to Smoking

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 3, 2008

這是我們本週要報告的文章，請同學先上網閱讀，謝謝

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/health/research/03lung.html?_r=1&st=cse&sq=smoking&scp=1&oref=slogin