Sometimes, kids don't think their parents are fair to them. When you want to dress in a modern way, your mum doesn't like you wearing a 1. When you are2, they ask if you're speaking to a boy or a girl. Sometimes it seems that you're not as 3to your parents as you used to be. How can you changes such a situation?
Closing the Gap by the American author Jay McGraw gives advice on how to have a better4with your parents.
Both parents and children have needs. They need to feel they are 5and loved. You your parents your needs, and 6what their needs are. To get your parents to know what you're doing and what you want to do, you could talk about your school life now and your dreams for the 7. It helps your parents know more about you. Maybe you can think of a way to make 8of you happy.
The book gives ways to help teens understand their parents. When you think “my parents don't want me to have any fun”, it usually means your parents want you to be9. The book gives you lots of ideas, such as making time to talk, keeping a diary and showing your parents you are growing up. If you follow these steps, you will be able to make your 10a happier place.
When I was young, I went to a boarding（寄宿）school in Edinburgh. It was far from home because I1on an island in the north of Scotland.
It was a music school, and I studied the violin. At the end of the term, we all packed our bags and our 2 to go home for the holidays. Most kids went by train or bus. Some were 3 by their parents. But I had to go home by ferry—14 hours overnight on the open sea.
One summer, after packing my suitcase and violin, I said4to my friends. I took the train to the ferry terminal（渡船码头）and then got on the ferry. But when the ferry started moving, I realized a(n)5thing! I left my violin on the train!
Oh no! What should I do? What would my dad say? He'd be really6! I got so scared（害怕）that I didn't sleep all night.
The next morning, I7the ferry to meet my dad. After I told him everything, he laughed. I looked at him and couldn't believe it.8was he laughing?
I always had a label（标签）in my violin case with my address and a telephone number. My dad told me, "A cleaner found your violin on the train and took it to the police. They 9 me and put it on a plane. It arrived an hour ago." 10, my violin was safe. I was so happy!
Tom worked hard in an office. But it seemed that there was little change in his life. He was unhappy and didn't want to improve himself any more. His father, Joe, knew this and decided to have a talk with 1 .
One day, Tom and his father went for a walk after dinner. 2 they were walking along a river, Tom said, “Dad, you always tell me to learn something new. To be3, I don't want to make any change.”
Joe looked in the river, saw a dead 4and pointed at it.
“Tom, what is that over there?”
“It's a dead fish.”
“What's the fish doing?”
“It's moving down with the running water.”
“But the fish is dead. 5 can it be moving?” asked Joe.
“It's moving as the river is moving.”
Joe turned to his son and said, “Life is 6 the river. It's always moving and always changing. Some people don't want to change, but their life is always changing whether they like it or not. A dead fish only moves along the river, while a living fish can control its journey. What's your choice if you want to live a 7 life?”
This made Tom 8 his aunt who had already stopped learning and developing. And she just stayed the way she used to be, living like a dead fish.
Guided by his 9 , Tom understood what he said. He didn't want to become a person like his aunt. So he made up his mind to 10 learning and developing himself.
A
Sometimes we wish we could stop time and go back in time. Well, twice a year, some countries actually decide to1the time.
As summer begins, some countries, like the US, UK and most of other countries in the EU, move the time forward one hour: 12 o'clock becomes 1 o'clock. This is to give people one more hour of 2 This is called “daylight saving time (夏令时时间)”.
But as winter arrives, you'll notice the darkness stays with us3. The sun doesn't enjoy being out as often as in the summer. To deal with this, these countries turn the clocks4one hour: 1 o'clock goes back to 12 o'clock.
Countries have done this for about 100 years. At some point, most of the world has tested with it. In fact, from 1986 to 1991, China used daylight saving time.
By having another hour of sunlight, you can save5by not needing to turn the lights on. Also, it can help the economy (经济), as people enjoy shopping when it is brighter. But people think it disrupts (打乱) sleeping habits. And because mornings are darker, the6of people getting to work and school is a problem.
Everyone has dreams. Lily dreamed of being a dancer. She took 1 lessons and all her teachers thought she was an excellent student.
One day she saw a notice. It said that a famous dancing group would be performing in her town. 2 though, “I must show the leader my dancing skills.” She waited for the group leader in the dressing room. 3 the leader appeared, she came up and hander him the flowers she prepared. The thorns (刺) hurt her fingers and blood came out. But she was too 4 to care about the pain. She expressed her strong wish to be a dancer and begged (乞求) to show her dance.
“All right, you dance.” The leader agreed. But half way through the dance, he stopped her, “I'm sorry, in my mind you're not good enough!” On hearing this, Lily 5 out as fast as her legs could carry her. It was so hard for her to accept this. She lost heart and 6 her dream.
Several years later, the dancing group came to her town again. She decided to find out 7the leader had told her she was not good enough.
This was his reply, “I tell this 8 every student.”
“You've ruined (毁掉) my life!” she shouted angrily.
The leader went on, “I remember your present of 9and how the thorns had hurt your fingers but you carried on bravely. It was a pity that you didn't take dancing like that and stopped trying so 10 . So you are still not good enough for dancing!”
Once there was a girl, named Kate. She was very polite and ready to help everybody. One day she found a pink paper bag on the way to school. She opened it and saw there was a lot of 1in it. She thought she should hand it in to the teacher, so she 2it in her schoolbag.
When she went to the teacher's office, her teacher wasn't 3. As it was time for class, she hurried to the classroom.
After class, she told her friend, Mary, about the money that she4 Then, her greedy (贪婪的) friend took away the bag.
After school, Kate wanted to go to the5office again, but she found the money was missing.
The next day when the children were playing a game, Mary fell down and was hurt very badly. The other children stood around her and didn't know6to do. Kate kept calm and did something to stop bleeding. She told the others to go to teachers for7.Soon a teacher took Mary to the 8and the doctor examined her carefully. Within a week she was all right again. Kate became very popular in the school.
Two weeks later Mary came to Kate house. Her eyes were red. She was crying. She gave Kate the 9paper bag with the money in it and said. “Kate, I have taken the money away. That day when you helped me, I felt very sad and now I decide to tell you the10, you are such a nice friend! 11, please don't tell the school about this please!” then Kate said, “you are now12, but you have done a bad thing. Though I will not tell anyone, I want you not to be greedy and13 to do anything wrong.” The girl thanked Kate and14.
At the end of the term Kate was given a 15for being a very helpful girl in the school. Mary became an honest girl and was never greedy again.
Once wrong, never be wrong forever.
A boy and a girl were playing together. The boy had a lot of small glass 1. The girl had some candies with her. The boy told the girl that he would2her all his balls in exchange for (交换) her candies. The girl thought that was a good3.
But the boy didn't give4of his balls to the girl. He kept the biggest and the5ball in his pocket and gave the others to the girl. 6the girl gave him all her candies.
That night, the girl had a 7sleep, but the boy didn't sleep well. He kept thinking whether the girl had 8some candies from him.
You think in the way you do things. If you don' t give your hundred percent(百分之百) in a relationship, you'll 9 keep thinking if the other person has given his or her hundred percent. This is true for any relationship.
Give your hundred percent to everything you do and you'll find that you can always10a lot of happiness.
B
Once upon a time, there lived a kind king. But the king was also very1. He would not do anything other than eat and sleep. He became fatter and fatter, and finally found it difficult to move his2– even his feet.
The king invited doctors from different parts of his country to make him3. But no one could help the king lose weight.
One day, an old man visited the country. He heard about the king's4. He volunteered (自愿) to help the king lose some weight. The king decided to let him5.
The old man lived6. He said that the king had to come to him and asked the king to come for treatment the next day. But the king would have to7there, the old man added.
The king came the next day.8, the old man was not there. His son asked the king to come and meet his father the next day.
The king came every day for two weeks, but he never once saw the old man. But he did notice that he felt a lot9. He had lost some weight. He finally realized why the old man had asked him to walk so far.
As a foreigner, it's hard for me to tell what Chinese people are like. But my1in Beijing said something.
A couple of weeks ago, I went to buy four big suitcases(行李箱) for travel.2I was going down the street, it suddenly rained, heavily. A stranger called me into his little shop. He 3 me a cup of tea and a chair. When the rain got 4, I thanked him and rushed to a5nearby to buy my suitcases.
If you've ever tried to push four big suitcases by yourself, you may understand my6. I looked silly, for the suitcases were dancing wildly across the floor. Then I got a7on the shoulder. It was the seller. He signed that I should wait. A few minutes later, he8in a car, and put the suitcases inside. Then we went driving9along the road to my home. I offered him some money, but he10. In broken English he said, “Feel good…help you.”
Now, you can see Chinese people are always ready to help you.
Robert and Henry were going home from school, when, on turning a corner, Robert1out, "A fight! Let us go and see!" "No," said Henry; "Let us go quietly home and avoid this quarrel. We have2to do with it, and may get into trouble."
"You are not a brave boy, and afraid to go, "said Robert, and off he ran. Henry went straight home, and in the afternoon went to school, as usual,3 Robert had told all the boys that Henry was a coward, and they laughed at him a great deal.
A few days4, Robert was bathing with some schoolmates and 5his depth. He struggled and screamed for help, but all in vain. The boys 6 had called Henry a coward, got away from the water as fast as they could, but they did not even try to help him. Robert was fast 7, when Henry threw off his clothes, and sprang into the water. By great effort, and8much danger to himself, he brought Robert to the shore, and thus saved his life.
Robert and his schoolmates were9at having called Henry a coward. They admitted that he had more10than any of them.
Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do evil.
When the Spring Festival falls, red flowers bloom(盛开) on the windows of my home. Of course, these are not1flowers. But in the cold of2, these wonderful flowers bring warmth to us. They are made of paper by my3, who is now aged 70, with a few cuts, she 4a piece of paper into a beautiful work of art.
When my grandma was considered clumsy(笨拙的) in the 5. But on a cold winter night, she saw some beautiful red paper6 on her new neighbor's windows. She was so interested in it and decided to 7from her neighbor. Tons of paper was wasted, and her fingers were cut many times. But she8practicing. It took 10 years9my grandma could make paper art skillfully(娴熟地). The red flowers, blooming like hurning fire, light up her world. Now, everyone in the village10her.
My grandma's story has shown me what it takes to realize one's dream.
American President Roosevelt's house was once broken into and lots of things were stolen. Hearing this, one of Roosevelt's friends wrote to him and 1 him not to take it to his heart so much. President Roosevelt 2 back at once, saying, “Dear friend, thank you for your letter to comfort me. I'm all right now. I think I should thank God. This is because of the following three 3: firstly, the thief (小偷) only stole things from me 4 did not hurt me at all; secondly, the thief has stolen some of my things 5 all my things; thirdly, most 6 for me, it was the man 7 me who became a thief.”
It was quite unlucky for anyone to be stolen from. However, President Roosevelt was so 8.
It is 9 for anyone to be lucky and successful all the time as long as he lives on the earth. We should learn how to 10 failure or misfortune bravely and to try to deal with it. Being thankful can bring us a better life.
Xian Xinghai was a very famous musician in China. He wrote one of the greatest pieces of music of the 20th century. In his short life he wrote 1 300 songs and an opera.
Xian was born in Panyu, Guangdong, China in 1905. Because his father died before he was born, Xian moved from place to place with 2 mother. He began learning to play 3 violin when he was 20 years old. In the beginning, his violin was 4 cheap and badly made that he5not play it well. His friends laughed at him. Xian did not stop 6 and soon showed his talent. In 1934, he was one of the first Chinese students7studied in a special music school in Paris. Before he 8, Xian became the school's best student 9 won several prizes for his talents.
In 1935, he returned to China and helped fight against the Japanese army. Later, he came to Yan'an 10 music at a college. 11 there were no pianos in Yan'an at that time Xian still wrote 12 of his most important music there, including The Yellow River, his most famous work.
In May 1940, Xian 13 to the Soviet Union by the Chinese Communist Party to write music for movies. In the Soviet Union, life was very 14. Xian got sick and later died of a lung illness 15 October 30, 1945, aged only 40. Xian's music, however, lives on in the people's hearts.
Before graduating college, Jackie began to look for a job. She aimed at a famous company, but the 1 for such jobs was very strong. The company Jackie chose planned to employ only one person, but more than twenty people applied for the job. 2, Jackie was one of the three people invited for the final interview. The interview was very 3. The interviewer asked just a few questions and it was all over in less than 10 minutes. Then the interviewer said to them, "All of you are very good. Please go home and 4 our response.”
Three days later, Jackie received a message saying she would not be 5 the job. She felt deeply disappointed. That evening. However she received another 6. This time it said that she got the job.
Jackie later found out that the first message sent to her phone was part of the interview—a 7 to see if she was suitable for the job. All the three people received the 8 text, butonly Jackie's reply 9 the company of the three, one did not reply. The other said “goodbye” and Jackie said “thank you”. This reply showed that Jackie was a/an 10 person, so the company offered her the job.
Once there was a king and his daughter. The king asked his daughter how much she loved him. She said that she loved him as much as the loved 1. Her answer made the king very happy. Salt is simple thing, 2 it is very important. So the king thought his daughter cared a lot about him.
Salt has many3. Bodies need salt. If we don't have enough, our bodies can't work properly. We put salt on icy roads to make them 4. We also use salt to produce other products, like paper and glass. But for many years, salt's most important job was to 5 food. Like other living things, most bacteria(细菌) need water to live. Salt takes in plenty of water, so most bacteria(细菌) can not live 6a salty environment. As a result, salt protects food and many other things. For much of humans history, this ability has made salt 7. Every ancient culture from Egypt to China depended on salt. Even today, the hard working useful people are 8 as “the salt of the earth”.
For centuries, salt was also hard to 9. It's usefulness, together with rarity(稀有) made it very expensive. Salt could even be used like 10. In fact, the word salary (薪水) comes from the word salt.
Today, salt is used more widely and it still plays an important role in our life.
Thirty engineers were working as a team in a company. They were young and eager to learn. The management decided to teach them about finding real solutions to problems
One day, the team was called for a 1in a hall. They were quite surprised and all reached the hall holding various2. As they entered, they found a box placed in the center, full of flat balloons
The manager asked everyone to pick a balloon and blow it up. Then they were asked to write their names on their respective(各自的)balloons 3so that the balloons wouldn't blow out. All tried, but not everyone was 4. Five balloons blew out due to pressure（压力）.
Those who failed to mark their names on the balloons were 5 out of the game. As a result, 25 engineers came to the next level. All the balloons carrying their names were 6 and then put into a room, here and there.
The engineers were told to pick the balloon with his or her name on. All the 25 engineers began to search for the respective balloons in a rush. It was almost 15 minutes but no one was able to 7 the right one. The second level of the game was over.
Then came the final level, the engineers were asked to pick any balloon and give it to person named on the balloon. Within a couple of minutes, all balloons 8 the hands of the respective engineers.
The manager announced this was the real solution to the problem. Many times in our life, sharing and helping others give us real solutions to problems.
