It was a Sunday morning. Lori was busy writing in her book. Marilyn was drinking coffee and I was reading a newspaper. Suddenly, Lori looked up and asked，“Why are there more pictures of Lisa than there are of 1?" Lisa is our older daughter.
I stared back, not understanding the 2. Lori left the room. I looked at Marilyn, "Are there more pictures of Lisa than of Lori?"
"I've never 3 them. I don't know," replied Marilyn.
"But 4 would Lori ask such a question?" I asked. After a few minutes of thought Marilyn said, "When Lisa was born, you were taking photos. You hardly went 5 without a camera. When Lori was born videos became 6. You used a video camera to record nearly everything in our life. There must be hundreds of videos of Lori in the computer that Lori has 7 seen or doesn't remember."
Late that night, when we were alone, I turned on the computer and found the 8 about Lori.
“What are you going to do?" Marilyn asked.
"Her birthday is coming," I said, "Let's make an album for her as a gift. I don't know if the album will answer her question, but at least she'll know that we 9 enough to find her an answer."
Over the next few days, we secretly 10 all the videos. We watched and selected until we were 11. Marilyn had them made into photos. When the photos were returned, we placed them into an album. When we looked at the album, all the sweet memories came 12. We hoped it showed how 13 she was to us.
On June 7, when passing Loris room to leave for work. I opened the door and slipped the album inside. Attached to it was a birthday card with a note 14 why her mother and I had put the album together.
It was about eight o'clock when my office telephone rang. I picked up the receiver. A tiny voice spoke, "I love you, Daddy," she said and disconnected. I knew our 15 had been received.
My friends and I joined a two-day survival（生存） training course in the mountains. The first day was really 1 －there was so much to do! Arriving at the campsite, we were divided into groups and given a tent, some food, a 2 and a compass（ 指 南 针 ）. Standing next to a small river, Fanny 3camping in the grassy area nearby. However, our instructor, Mr. Lee, pointed out that it might flood（淹没） if it rained. In the end, we found a 4 area. Putting up the tent was very hard. 5 Mr. Lee helped us a lot.
By the time we had put up the tent,6 was really hungry. “We wouldn't have got this hungry if we had brought some snacks.” Peter said. We all told him to 7 complaining（抱怨） and help us start a fire to cook our food 8. Realizing we were having trouble making the fire, he finally 9.
The next day started early. Woken by a strange noise. Peter went to see what was 10. “Some cows have eaten our breakfast!” he shouted. “That's all because you didn't 11the food properly last night.” said Mr. Lee.
Worried that Mr. Lee was angry with us, we tried very hard on our next 12 － using the map and compass to find a secret location. We made it to the location 13 the other group did. We all felt very proud of 14.
The survival training course was a great 15. Now I feel I could survive anywhere!
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.
It was two days before Christmas, and David wanted to give a card to everyone in his class. He opened the bag and looked 1. "What are you looking for?" his mom asked. "Ms. Ross gave us a 2 of everyone in the class, "said David." I can't find mine. If I don t have my list, I won't know what names to put on the cards."
"Take 3 out and we'll look together," suggested Mom. They shook out all his books and 4 all the pockets in his bag, but no Christmas list. "Now I can't give out cards at school, "David said sadly.
"Don't 5 so easily, said Mom. She took a piece of paper and asked him how many children are in his class. "Seventeen," answered David "I'll never 6 them all."
"Wait, "said Mom, numbering the paper one to seventeen." Now, who do you often play with?" "Brian, Todd and John." She wrote down their 7. "And who sits in the first row in your classroom？”“Hmm…Angie, Jill and Brad." David tried to remember what his 8 looked like and who sat where, " And Rebecca, Travis and Erin in the second row." David's mom wrote as fast as she could.
Now, they had 9 names. Who had he missed? David thought hard.
"Why don't you write out the 10 that you have names for?" said Mom. "Maybe you'll think of the 11 name while you're writing."
David picked out a card. He 12 it and then put it into the envelope. He did this sixteen times. "13 is missing?" One more time he thought about who sat where in his classroom.
14 he said, "I know! I know who is missing from the list!"
"who?" said Mom.
"We forgot 15!" David said. "I'm going to wish me a Merry Christmas, too.
One morning, when I was leaving for my business, a middle-aged man came up and asked me for help. He said he had no 1 to get food for his large family.
You look 2. Why don't you work？" I asked." Simply because I cannot get work，sir.""If I give you work, what you want?" "3 I can get bread for my family, sir." he answered.
I decided to find out if he 4 meant what he said. "OK. I'll give you one pound an hour, if you will 5 a brick(砖)under your arm and walk around the square for five hours without stopping. ""Thank you, sir. I will. "
I found a brick and started him on his walk before I went to my 6. I never thought he would he had 7.
When I came back five hours later, I saw him 8 walking, with the brick under his arm.
I stopped him and gave him 9 pounds. He thanked me and told me that some people had 10 to help him when they knew why he was doing all this. He would go and ask 11 for work. Before leaving, he asked if I would give him the 12.I did.
Several years later, a well-dressed man greeted me on a train. Seeing I was not sure who he was, he 13 that he was the brick man and had his own business now. "You know, I still keep that brick and always value it as the most 14 thing I have as it has brought me luck and success."
15, it was not the brick that made the man successful, but his faithfulness(坚定) in doing even a very little thing.
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.
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.
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.
One place that is very important in my life is my grandmother's house. She 1in a small village in the south of the country. I go there every summer, to visit my grandmother, 2the city and relax.
The village is just a group of white houses on a hillside with some shops, and it's3peaceful.
One reason why I like it is because it's a beautiful place. My grandmother has a lovely garden and we always sit 4the trees, drinking sweet tea and chatting. It's so pleasant. But the main reason why this place is so important to me is5. She is so kind to me, and wonderful to talk to. Also, she's a great cook and the meals she prepares are simple 6so fresh and. rich? No, no, I mean tasty. And she's always giving me eh. What do you call 7?—small plates of food during the day, so I always return home feeling calm and refreshed and8!
I wouldn't like9there, though. I prefer living in the city. I'm a city person. I10live in a small village where everybody knows each other. I'd rather live in a busy, exciting place. But I really love visiting the villages for holiday.
