I think winter is a(fascinate) season, especially when it snows. The snowflakes (fall) on the fields cover everything like white quilts. In the morning, many volunteers (wear) heavy coats come out to clean the snow. The roads (clean) now will not be slippery any more. What children expect most is (make) a snowman. With so many children playing and (laugh), the cold winter is full of warmth and vitality.
The last few days before Christmas passed quickly and it was soon Christmas Eve. That night when everyone went to bed, Bunny couldn't sleep. He still couldn't think of what he wanted his Christmas gift to be. He wondered how Father Christmas would know what to bring him if he didn't know himself.
As he was sitting up in bed, Bunny heard a big noise on the roof (屋顶) and a sound downstairs. It was Father Christmas, he realized. Bunny jumped out of bed and raced down the hall to the stairs hoping to have a look at the old man with his own eyes.
By the time Bunny reached the bottom of the stairs, though, everything was again silent. Beautiful gifts were piled (堆积) under the Christmas tree, but Father Christmas was gone. He looked for him for a few minutes, but it was already too late. Bunny turned to climb back upstairs when he heard a cry.
"Hello," said Bunny. "Is anybody there? "
He was answered by another cry. Bunny looked around the big pile of gifts to see what was making the noise. Right under the tree was a funny looking brown animal with big feet and sad eyes. Bunny might have mistaken it for a dog, if it hadn't been for the antlers (鹿角) on its head.
"Are you a reindeer (驯鹿)?" asked Bunny.
"Yes," replied the animal. "My name is Ralph."
"And you were pulling Father Christmas's sled (雪橇)?"
"I was until I got airsick (晕机), " replied Ralph. "I'm afraid I wasn't cut out for the job. Now I'm stuck here and I don't know how to get back to the North Pole."
"Well, if you like, yon can stay with us as a friend," said Bunny. As he made the offer, Bunny suddenly realized the gift he wanted from Father Christmas was a new friend!
Chinese New Year, starts on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar (阴历), is considered as China's most important holiday. It (know) as the Spring Festival.
The Spring Festival starts at the beginning the new moon. It often happens between January and February. It usually (last) about one month until the Lantern Festival (元宵节), which gives everyone plenty of time for celebration.
(traditional), red envelopes with money in are gifted during the Spring Festival celebrations. It's a custom which goes back to ancient times. However, when the tradition (start) is unknown. Whatever the reason is, the red envelope is an important part of Chinese New Year to this day.
The firework is another big part of Chinese New Year. A (write) shared the following story on a website. An old man saved a town from a terrible monster (怪兽)by throwing many bamboo (stick) into the fire. The explosion caused by the bamboo frightened off the monster. As result, Chinese people set off fireworks (爆竹)during Chinese New Year celebrations (avoid) the evil spirits of the past.
As a young man, Aaron was a skilled artist, a potter. He had a wife and two fine sons. One night, his older son developed a stomachache. Thinking it was some
1 disorder, neither Aaron nor his wife took the condition very seriously. But the illness was actually severe and the boy 2 suddenly that night.
The son's death could have been prevented if he had only3 the seriousness of the situation! Aaron's emotional health got 4 under the heavy burden of his guilt (内疚). What's worse, his wife left him a short time later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son. The hurt and pain of the two situations were more than Aaron could handle, and he 5 alcohol (酒精) to help him cope. In time Aaron became an alcoholic (酗酒者).
As the alcoholism (酗酒) 6, Aaron began to lose everything he possessed — his home, his land, his art objects, everything. 7, Aaron died alone in a San Francisco motel room.
When I heard of Aaron's death, I reacted like most people who show no respect for one ending his life with nothing material to show for it. "What a complete failure!" I thought. "What a8 life!"
As time went by, I began to reevaluate my earlier cold9. You see, I knew Aaron's now adult son, Ernie. He has a family and he is one of the kindest, most caring, most loving men I have ever known. I watched Ernie with his 10. I saw the free flow of 11 between them. I knew that kindness and consideration had to come from somewhere.
I hadn't heard Ernie talk much about his father. It is so hard to12 an alcoholic. One day I worked up my courage to 13 him. "I'm really 14 by something," I said." I know your father was basically the only one to 15 you. What on earth did he do to make you become such a special person?"
Ernie sat quietly and thought for a few moments. Then he said," From my earliest memories as a child until I left home at 18, Aaron came into my room every night, gave me a16 and said, 'I love you, son.'"
Tears came to my eyes as I realized what a fool I had been to judge Aaron as a(n)17. He had not 18 any material possessions to his son. But he had been a kind loving 19. He 20 one of the finest, most giving men I have ever known.
