—________ I feel so tired today.
—True. That's ________ we should set a good example to our kids.
—________ I don't mind either.
As I held my father's hands one night, I couldn't help but notice their calluses (老茧) and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a1, including all his struggles.
One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾) hit Ontario, turning it into a2desert. On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet com with my dad to fill the last3from the grocery store. Fifty dozen was all we needed, which4took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn't5quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we6needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated (挫败的) and7. Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, "If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves". Dad8. "Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we're9." Such is Dad—whatever problem he10, he never gives up.
11, the bad effects of the drought were felt all over our county. It was a challenging time for everyone,12Dad remained optimistic (乐观的). He13to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates. Only then did I truly begin to14Dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real15. From dawn to dusk, he works countless hours to16our family. He always puts our happiness17his own and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games18his tiredness after long days. His loving and selfless nature has encouraged me to become more sympathetic (有同情心的) and19, putting others first.
Dad, the life20I have learned from you will stay with me forever. You are my father, teacher, friend and, most importantly, my hero.
One rainy evening I went to fill up at the gas station A pre-teen boy approached my car with a thick hat pulled around his face. He asked me for money to help him and his mother stay in their hotel for an additional week.
He stated that if they did not come up with $25 they would be driven off that same evening.
Having worked in social services before, and being a little doubtful, I asked how come his mother hadn't found out social services for help. The boy said that they needed to remain in their hotel for one more week until his grandmother, who lived out of town, could take them in.
I gave the boy what I had— $5. He thanked me and continued to wander the parking lot asking for help. I got my gas and drove away. A separate time some weeks before, a boy asked me for money and I told him I didn't have any though I did. The doubt in me had won out.
Yet, I thought about it, felt ashamed at my doubt and went looking for the boy to give him a dollar. But it seemed that he had disappeared into thin air. "This time," I thought, "I'll do it differently."
I went to my bank and withdrew an additional $20, then I returned to the gas station. The boy was still there. I observed him immediately, shyly approaching strangers who walked past him without notice. I pulled up beside a pump and waved at the boy to come over. I handed him the $20 bill.
He reached through my car window and gave me a huge hug. His hug told me all I needed to know—that finally this kid could get out of the rain, the cold and the darkening skies and go inside where it was warm.
With all the wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a good sense of humor just to help us get through each and every day of our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling down in the dump, makes me feel good and warms my heart.
How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co- worker, neighbor, close friends, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is common courtesy (礼貌) to speak to others that are around you.
I know of a few people that don't have a funny bone in their bodies, as they say. Everyone around them could be rolling on the floor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the slightest smile on their face. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke?
Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find a way to ignore the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. So, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together.
While you may be doing everything right, ignoring just one or two steps in the process may keep you from getting a job, especially in this fierce market. Here is a checklist that covers some of the major links in the job-search chain.
THE RESUME—Make sure it is up-to-date and tailored to the types of jobs you are seeking for. Have someone else look at your resume. If you cannot afford a career coach，give your resume to friends or family members to scrutinize. Have copies of your resume printed so that you are ready to hand them out at interviews.
COVERING LEITERS—Maybe you've set up a few basic styles in advance, but that's not enough. Each covering letter should be designed to suit the job for which you are applying.
THE WARDROBE (衣橱)—Check your wardrobe to ensure that you have the appropriate professional dress, including shoes，ready for interview.
NETWORKING—Don't isolate yourself from others. Network through e-mail messages, phone calls, appointments and meetings keep you in touch with the outside world and prevent you from becoming depressed.
APPLICATION—A glance at huge online job sites isn't usually the best way to find a job. You are more likely to succeed through the people you know via networking.
INTERVIEWS—If you've got plenty of interviews but no return calls or job offers, take a look at your interviewing skills. This is one area where investing in a career coach may pay off. But if you can't afford one, try to find a job group or service that conducts free mock (模拟) interviews.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS—Finally, recognize that looking for job is rather difficult. Even at the best of times, a job hunt is often about rejection, and that can be hard to endure. Staying in touch with family, friends, professional networks and fellow job seekers can help you to maintain a positive attitude and a sense of perspective.
Men have long been puzzled by the amount women pack, when they go on holiday. They despair (绝望)as they watch their beloved spend much money on extra baggage charge. Nearly half of these women admitted to lying about the weight of their case to their partner before leaving for the airport, in fear of being made to unload some unnecessary items.
But it's a fact that women pack more than they need. On average, a woman needs around 57 items in suitcase for a two-week holiday, yet most women pack nearer to 150 items, ranging from skirts, tops, underwear and high heels. In addition, women pack more sun cream, make-up and hair appliances than they are likely to need. They all take up space in the suitcase, only a third of them will see the light of day once at the holiday place.
79 percent of women admitted to taking extra items with them, with the reason for this being "just in case". Women plan their holiday wardrobe months in advance. Packing enough clothes and other items to last a month is not enough for some women. They'd take a chance to shop for new items while holidaying abroad. So they'll return with even more luggage in their cases.
Professor Karen Pine said, "Women are tempted to take familiar items with them on holiday, often everything except the kitchen sink. Some people find traveling stressful, particularly when they're unsure about the home comforts available at their holiday place. They over- pack to help cope with those feelings of stress and reduce the uncertainty."
This will come as no surprise to some men, who are used to trying to squeeze their partner's luggage into the boot of the car with their own, smaller case. On the other hand, men pack very lightly, with only an average of 40 items for a two-week holiday.
Most of us probably dreamed about becoming an astronaut when we were little. But how many of us actually became one, or are at least working toward it?
The advice "Always follow your dreams" is something that is typically easier said than done.
But still, this is the one piece of advice that Alyssa Carson wants to share with her peers. This 17-year-old girl from the US has become one of the candidates for NASA's 2033 project to go to Mars.
Carson has dreamed of going to Mars since she was only three years old. Watching an astronaut-themed cartoon and learning that humans have only been to the moon but not Mars, Carson decided that she wanted to be the first one to do so. Since then, she has worked hard toward this goal. Now 17, Carson is continuing with her space training while still taking on her high school work like a "normal" teenager, except that she studies all her subjects in four languages—English, French, Spanish and Chinese.
"I don't think there's anything specific that makes it easier for me or makes it something that others can't do," Carson said in an interview with Uproxx News. "I've just really focused myself on what I want to accomplish."
And Carson is willing to make sacrifices for her dream. She's fully aware of the danger of the mission and the possibility that she might never be able to come back. She also accepts the fact that she can't get married and start a family. But Carson believes that it's all worth it, summarizing her view with this ancient Greek proverb she once quoted? "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they'll never sit in."
So after all the hard work that Carson has done and all the sacrifices she's made, every — thing still boils down to the simple phrase, "follow your dreams". And while some people's dreams may sound out of this world, in Carson's case, they literally (毫不夸张地) are.
1）体验中国绘画；
2）品尝特色午餐；
3）观看地方戏表演。
注意：1）词数不少于100；
2）可适当加入细节，使内容充实、行文连贯；
3）开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mr. Smith,
Yours,
Li Jin
