It was at least two months before Christmas when nine-year-old Almie Rose told her father and me that she wanted a new bicycle. As Christmas drew nearer, her wish for a bicycle seemed to disappear, or so we thought. We bought Baby Sitter's Club dolls, and a doll house.

    Then, much to our surprise, on December 23rd, she said that she "really wanted a bike more than anything else". It was just too late. With all the details of preparing Christmas dinner and buying last-minute gifts, how could we take the time to select the "right bike" for our little girl?So, here we were — Christmas Eve around 9:00 p. m. , with Almie and her six-year-old brother, Dylan, settled(安置) snug(暖和的) in their beds. Now we could only think of the bicycle and the disappointment of our child.

    "What if I make a little bicycle out of clay(泥) and write a note that she could trade the clay model in for a real bike?" her dad asked.

    "This is an expensive item and she is ‘such a big girl'; it would be much better for her to pick it out. "

So he spent the next four hours working hard with clay to make a tiny bike.

    On Christmas morning, we were excited for Almie to open the little heart-shaped package with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note. Finally, she opened it and read the note aloud.

    "Does this mean that I trade in this bike that Daddy made me for a real one?"

    Pleased, I said, "Yes." Almie had tears in her eyes when she replied, "I could never trade in this beautiful bicycle that Daddy made me. I'd rather keep this than get a real bike. "

At that moment, we would have moved heaven and earth to buy her every bicycle on the planet!

    Recycling: Beyond the Dustbin

    Recycling is very important and necessary in today's world. the most important reason for this is that human progress and industry have made it possible for people to have lots of things, and when people have many material possessions, they are bound to throw some of them away.  Recycling is a way for us to keep the world clean as items are broken down and used again, preventing littering in the environment. Instead of throwing all your garbage into the dustbin, you should separate paper, metal, glass, and plastic into different containers.  They can be turned into valuable compost, which is the perfect food for plants.  

     You can tell if an item has been made from recycled materials by its label. If it is made with recycled materials, it will say so. Also instead of always buying new clothes, you can arrange to have a clothing exchange with your friends. You bring clothes you don't want and pick items you want from what other people have brought. Not only does this save the environment, but it also saves your money.  This saying can be applied to all sorts of things: books, CDs, furniture, etc. Also try shopping at second-hand stores, because they often have lots of items still in good shape for you to choose.  

    Many countries have made it easy for people to recycle, as alongside the normal garbage trucks or special garbage trucks come and are there ready to be used. However, some countries leave it to the ordinary people to recycle.  Recycling represents just one way in which we can help the environment, but it is an effective one.  

A. Fallen leaves can also be recycled.

B. Having too many things causes a lot of garbage.

C. You should try to buy products that are made with recycled materials.

D. Products made with recycled materials are as good as new products.

E. This creates a lot of garbage which destroys the environment.

F. Remember, what is one person's unwanted object can be someone else's treasure!

G. It needs more attention in society so we can continue to make our environment livable.