1 "
Buon giorno, Signora," the postman said. "You have a lot of mail today."
2 "Thank you for bringing it to me," Tracy's mother said.
3 She went down the steps. She walked to the mailbox. She took out all the mail and went back inside.
4 "Mom, the postman talks funny," Tracy said. "He called you
‘signora,' and what does ‘
buon giorno' mean?"
5 "No," Tracy's mother said. "He does not talk funny. He speaks English and Italian. He came here many years ago. He was born in Milan, Italy."
6 "Then he is not an American. He is Italian," Tracy said.
7 "He is Italian," his mother said. "But he is American, too. He became a citizen ten years ago."
8 "What was it like in Milan?" Tracy asked.
9 "Why don't you go find out?" his mother said. "You can use your computer. You can read some books."
10 Tracy nodded. He went to his desk and turned on his computer. He read about Italy. He read about Milan. He learned many things. He made a list.
1. Milan is the biggest city in northern Italy.
2. There are many famous museums in Milan.
3. Many of Leonardo da Vinci's works are in Milan.
4. The people of Milan love to eat. They are very good cooks.
5. There are many festivals in Milan.
6. The Italian Grand Prix, a famous road race, is held a short way from Milan.
11 After reading for almost two hours, Tracy turned off his computer.
12 "Mom," he said, "Milan is a very famous city. It is very big, very old, and very interesting."
13 "Yes, it is," his mother said. "I would like to go there someday."
14 "Me, too," Tracy said. "And now I have a surprise for our postman!"
Paragraphs 15 to 26:
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