Problem: WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) --U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on Saturday at the White House that China can have confidence in the American economy.

"Not just the Chinese government, but every investor can have absolute confidence in the _ of investments in the United States," Obama said.

"There is a reason why even in the midst of this economic downfall you have seen actual increases in investment flows here in the U. S.,"he said.

Obama also noted the U. S. will push for stricter regulation of the financial industry "front and center" at the upcoming Group of 20Summit in London ,ending an argument between the Europe and the United States over whether more focus should be placed on financial regulatory reform.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said earlier Friady he is "a little bit worried "about the safety of Chineseassets in the United States ,urging the U. S. government to ensure the security of those assets.

China has invested its hugeforeign exchangereserves in low-risk but low-yield assets ,such as U. S.government bonds ,to play it safe . According to the U.S. Treasury, China held 681.9 billion U.S. dollars worth of U.S. government bonds as of November.

"China is indeed the largest creditor of the United States, which is the world' s biggest economy .We are extremely interested in developments in the U. S. economy."said Wen, adding that he is expecting the effect of the measures taken by the U.S.government to counter the global financial crisis.

Asked to react to Wen' s concern, Lawrence Summers, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, noted on Friday that the U.S. will be soundsteward of the money it invests.

"This is a commitment that the president has made very clear--we need to be sound stewards of the money we invest."said Summers in a speech at the Brookings Institution, a leading think tank in the united states.
1. Who is the biggest creditor of the U.S.?
2. Is the U.S. the second largest economy in the world?
3. Which is it?
4. Who is the Premier of China?
5. Is he comfortable with the Chinese investments in the U.S.?
6. What does China have most of its money in?
7. What is an example of that?
8. How much does it currently have in that particular investment?
9. Does the U.S. agree that China should be worried about its money?
10. Who has a contrary opinion?
11. Who is that?
12. Does anyone else share Lawrence's views?
13. Who else?
14. Is he Speaker of the House?
15. What's his official title then?
16. Does Obama believe the U.S. should loosen financial regulations?
17. Who has the U.S. recently been in disagreement with?
18. What about?
19. Where are they going to discuss this issue?
20. Will that be in London?
Answer: 1. China
2. No
3. the biggest
4. Wen Jiabao
5. No
6. low-risk but low-yield assets
7. U.S.government bonds
8. 681.9 billion U.S. dollars
9. No
10. Lawrence Summers
11. director of the U.S. National Economic Council
12. Yes
13. Barack Obama
14. No
15. U.S. President
16. No
17. Europe
18. whether more focus should be placed on financial regulatory reform
19. at the Group of 20 Summit
20. Yes

Problem: True Manliness

"Please, mother, do sit down and let me try my hand,"said Fred Liscom, a bright active boy, twelve years old. Mrs. Liscom, looking pale and worn, was moving languidly about, trying to clear away the breakfast she had scarcely tasted.

She smiled and said, "You, Fred, you wash dishes?"

"Yes, indeed, mother," answered Fred. "I should be a poor scholar if I couldn't, when I've seen you do it so many times. Just try me."

A look of relief came over his mother's face as she seated herself in her low rocking chair. Fred washed the dishes and put them in the closet. He swept the kitchen, brought up the potatoes from the cellar for the dinner and washed them, and then set out for school.

Fred's father was away from home and as there was some cold meat in the pantry , Mrs. Liscom found it an easy task to prepare dinner. Fred hurried home from school, set the table, and again washed the dishes.

He kept on in this way for two or three days, until his mother was able to resume her usual work. He felt amply rewarded when the doctor, who happened in one day, said, "Well, madam, it's my opinion that you would have been very sick if you had not kept quiet."

The doctor did not know how the "quiet" had been secured, nor how the boy's heart bounded at his words. Fred had given up a great deal of what boys hold dear, for the purpose of helping his mother, coasting and skating being just at this time in perfection.

Besides this, his temper and his patience had been severely tried. He had been in the habit of going early to school and staying to play after it was dismissed.

The boys missed him and their curiosity was excited when he would give no other reason for not coming to school earlier, or staying after school, than that he was "Wanted at home."

"I'll tell you," said Tom Barton, "I'll find him out, boys-see if I don't!"

So, one morning on his way to school, he called on Fred. As he went around to the side door, he walked lightly and somewhat nearer the kitchen window than was ly needful. Looking in, he saw Fred standing at the table with a dishcloth in his hand.

Of course he reported this at school, and various were the greetings poor Fred received at recess ."Well, you're a brave one to stay at home washing dishes!""Girl boy!" "Pretty Bessie!""Lost your apron, haven't you, Polly!"

Fred was not wanting either in spirit or in courage, and he was strongly tempted to resent these insults and to fight some of his tormentors . But his consciousness of right and his love for his mother helped him.

While he was struggling for self-mastery, his teacher appeared at the door of the schoolhouse. Fred caught his eye, and it seemed to look, if it did not say, "Don't give up! Be really brave!" He knew the teacher had heard the insulting taunts of his thoughtless schoolmates.

The boys received notice during the day that Fred must not be taunted in any manner. They knew that the teacher meant what he said; and so the brave little boy had no further trouble.
1. What chores did Fred co for his mother?
2. Anything else?
3. How many days did he do the chores?
4. What effect did it have on his mom?
5. Did this make Fred happy?
6. Who found out what Fred was doing at home?
7. ?
8. What did the other boys say when Tom Barton told them what Fred was doing?
9. What else?
10. 'anything else?
11. What reason did Tom give fohis absence?
Answer:
1. washed dishes
2. set the table
3. two or three days
4. she felt rested
5. yes
6. Tom Barton
7. unknown
8. Girl Boy
9. Pretty Bessie
10. Lost your apron, haven't you, Polly
11. unknown