I do volunteer work every Friday. A week ago, I had the pleasure of helping one sick lady.
She is in her eighties and is very 1 and I always bring her lunch on Fridays. She looked worried when she opened the door that day. She told me her phone was broken and that she couldn't receive the 2 from her doctor. She went to her neighbors, but they were not at home. She thought maybe the mailman could 3 her, but he didn't come. She was disappointed.
Having heard her story, I decided to do something for her. I tried to satisfy the needs of the old 4 who only needed a helping hand. I called the phone company (公司) and made sure they knew that getting this phone fixed was 5 . I took down her phone number and her name just to make sure I could call her 6 to make sure that the phone had been fixed.
I called the phone company twice that day. They told me they had checked the phone and got the phone fixed. I called the old woman. She was so7 that she was in tears. To make sure she was 8 , I called her every day after that.
Just being able to help her in her time of difficulty filled my heart with such 9 and happiness. It is not so 10 to help someone like a neighbor. Sometimes, all that is needed is just a smile, a hug or a phone call.
Should I Be Allowed to Make My Own Decisions?
Many teenagers have hobbies. But sometimes these can 1 the way of their schoolwork, and parents might worry about their success at school. Teenagers often think they should 2 to practice their hobbies as much as they want. Do you agree?
Liu Yu, a 3 boy from Shandong, is a running star. He is 4 his school team and has always wanted to be a professional runner when he grows up. However, his parents won't allow him to train so much. "Of course we want to see him 5 his dreams," says Mr. Liu "My wife and I have supported 6 of his races. We have nothing against 7 ! But we think our son needs to think about other possible jobs. He's getting older now, so he needs to think about what 8 if he doesn't end up as a professional runner."
Liu Yu doesn't 9 agree. "Well, I think they should allow me to decide for myself." He says. "My parents have always told me how important it is to work hard at school and enter university. I understand this, but I'm serious about running. It's the only thing 10 I've ever wanted to do."
His parents believe that he needs to spend more time on his homework because it is difficult to become a professional sports star. But Liu Yu still disagrees. "I know my parents care about me. But I think I should make this choice myself. Only then will I have a chance to achieve my dream."
When I was about 14, I had a friend who liked to tell me my shortcoming(缺点). For example: I was very short, I wasn't a top student, I talked too much, I was too proud and so on. I became so angry that I couldn't1her all last. I ran to my2with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me3and asked, "Are the thing she says true or not? Jane, didn't you ever4what you're really like? Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are5. Pay no attention to the other things she said. "I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some I couldn't change, like being very6. But many I could and I wanted to change. For the first time, I have a better understanding of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He7to read it. "That's just for you," he said,"You know8than any other person the truth about yourself. When9said about you is true, you'll find it will be of help to you. Don't shut your ears. Listen to them all, but only hear the truth and do what you know. It is the right thing to do.
Daddy's10has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I've never had a better piece of advice.
One day, a woman bought a parrot from a pet store. However, the woman decided to 1the parrot to the store the next day. "This bird doesn't 2." she told the pet store owner. "Does he have a 3?" the owner asked. "Parrots enjoy watching themselves in it." So the woman bought one and left.
The next day, she came back, saying that the bird still didn't say anything. "How about a ladder (梯子)? Parrots love ladders, "the owner said. The woman bought a ladder and left.
But the next day, she was back a 4time. "Does your parrot have a swing? No? Well, once he starts 5, he'll talk a lot happily, "the owner said. The woman then bought a swing and left.
When she walked into the store the next day, she began to cry and said 6, "The parrot died." The pet store owner was7what she said. "What? I'm sorry. Tell me, did he ever say anything?" he asked. "Yes, right before he died, "the woman answered, "in a 8 voice, he asked me weakly, 'Don't they sell any food at that pet store?'"
Sometimes we forget what's really necessary in life. We sometimes have lots of things to do 9, but we forget to deal with the most important things first. We have to remember to "10the parrots" in our lives.
Zhang Jiacheng is a 13-year old and one armed basketball player. He is not1in the face of a taller, stronger, and older player. Often his skillful plays are followed by loud cheers from the crowd, showing great2for the young rising player.
The young boy3his arm in an accident when he was 5 years old.4year(s) later, basketball became his strong wish, which led him to make an effort to5the game, regardless of his physical condition.
Encouraged by his own motto "Learn well and play well", he6with the balance between studying and playing basketball. His being7on social media (媒体) has given him even more courage to work harder towards his great goal:8a professional basketball player.
After only a year of9, Zhang Jiacheng has improved his skills dramatically. Through patience, confidence and resolution, the young basketball player continues to get10to his life goal.
If you were ninety years old, what would you plan to do? Few people want to have new challenges (挑战) 1that age. However, an old man named Jing Kui did something that surprised a lot of people.
As a man of 93, he met a challenge. One day,2film director came to him and asked whether he wanted to act in his movie.“3in the movie?" asked the old man.
"You've been a barber (理发师). I believe you're the right man for my movie The Barber."
The old man read the script (剧本) before accepting the invitation.4he knew the story well, he still needed to keep all the words in mind.5 was! He finally made it and took home a silver cup for a special acting prize. The movie also6both national and international prizes.
Jing became a barber when he was young. He loved the job, so he practiced hard7a better one. In his eighties, he was still doing the same job. That was why he8by the film director.
While the film was being made, the director had his worries because he didn't know9Mr. Jing could keep it going. At last, when the filming was done, the director was really pleased. Jing10solved all his problems! Now Jing set a world record as being a 93-year-old actor star who had never acted before!
A Swedish couple on holiday were traveling around Italy, and wanted to go to Capri. Capri is an island in the south of the country,1for its beautiful coastline and a popular tourist destination (目的地). The couple put their destination into their car's GPS (全球定位系统), 2 they made a spelling mistake. They 3typed CARPI instead of CAPRI. There is a real place called Carpi in Italy, but it is a small town in the4of the country.
The couple followed the GPS directions. Although they were traveling to an island, it didn't5them that they didn't even cross a bridge or see the sea. When they arrived in Carpi, they went to the tourist office. They asked6they could go to the Blue Grotto, a well-known sea cave in Capri. Of course, the office worker there couldn't 7them. He thought they wanted to go to a 8called the Blue Grotto for dinner.
When the man realized that the couple thought they were in Capri, he 9their mistake. The couple got back into their car and started driving south. The office worker said, "They were10, but not angry."
It was a spelling mistake that took the couple 600 kilometres from their destination.
In recent years, with more and more cars on the road, flying robots are used to deliver(递送) mails. Flying robots can 1mails to people's houses without having to deal with heavy2.But they will spend too much time in returning. A research center is trying to improve its flying robots with the3of homing pigeons(信鸽).
Homing pigeons are pigeons that are4trained to fly home from somewhere else. In tests, researchers5that homing pigeons were6efficient(高效的) than flying robots at returning to their home. So the research center is trying to use a flying robot, together with a7, to deliver mails. After the robot finishes its tasks, it can8the pigeon back in the shortest possible time.
Although it will cost more money to9pigeons, the research center says that it can10time. And the time it saves will make up for the cost.
Amy did not have any friends and felt sad. All the girls in her class were 1 with a best friend or in groups, and she always felt left out. So, Amy just walked around2instead of playing with anyone. She wanted to seesaw(跷跷板), 3 that is something you need to do with a friend. Also, she liked to swing(荡秋千)and 4 someone would push her to get her started.
One day, the teacher, Mrs Gibbs. walked up and put 5__arm around Amy, "What's the matter, Amy? Why don't you 6with other children?" She asked kindly.
Amy replied, "Everyone has a 7 except me. I don't have anyone. "Mrs Gibbs smiled and said, "Amy, the 8 to get a friend is to be a friend." Amy asked, "How do I do that?"
Mrs Gibbs answered, "9 around the playground. There are three classes of third-graders out here during this break time. 10 someone who is alone and then go to ask them to play." Amy said she would think about it, but she was 11 she would be refused. She wasn't sure she could do it.
The next day, Amy noticed a dark-haired girl all alone on the playground. She worked up her 12and walked to the girl. "Hi! My name is Amy. Do you want to play with me?"
"Okay, "the girl said shyly. As they took turns pushing each other on the 13, Amy found out that the girl's name was Ming. Her family had just moved from Japan and she also 14 a friend.
"Want to seesaw?" Amy asked. Ming smiled and nodded. Paired up with each other, they played so 15.
Amy finally had a friend!
Once there was a young man. He walked each day to the marketplace to sell his wares (货物). It was a hard life, but the young man was still1. He worked from sunup until sundown. He knew that one day his hard work would2.
One day, as the young man made his way to the marketplace, he could see a large wagon (马车) filled3goods. The young man set down his bundle (捆) of baskets. Greed (贪婪) began to4his heart.
"I could buy those flowers in the wagon and sell them for a5price. The land is too poor for planting flowers, and I know I could sell them6." he thought.
So with that, the young man offered his goods in exchange for the flowers. The young man and the seller made their7.
The young man made his way to the marketplace. He laid out his flowers and waited for the ladies to come to buy his flowers. But the hot sun shone down on the flowers, and without any water nearby, they soon dried up. The young man8his mistake. He looked over at the man selling his goods.
The next day, the young man saw the man with a wagon full of fruit. The man asked the young man9he wanted to trade. The young man saw money in the man's eyes and said simply, "It is better to work for10than to wish it away."
When I was little, one of my favorite holiday traditions was making a wish list for Santa Claus. Every year, my father helped me 1 all that I wanted. Often, I put food on the list: chocolates, candies. …One year, I even asked for my favorite 2!
As I grew older, I no longer wrote to Santa Claus, but I never 3 making a list of the things that I most liked or wanted.
One year, I went to China to work in a 4. In China, most people don't celebrate Christmas. 5, they celebrate Chinese New Year. In my classes, I asked my students to make lists for Santa Claus. But they 6 me. "We get lucky money at Chinese New Year, "one girl told me." That's better than gift from Santa Claus!" I nodded. Maybe she was 7!
On Christmas Eve, my friends and I went walking in the city. 8 Christmas isn't a holiday in China, many people were out in the streets and having fun. They 9 Santa hats, ate candies and said "Merry Christmas" to us in English. They knew we were 10.
After a few hours, my friends and I were 11 and a bit cold. "One Christmas when I was small, I wished for soup from Santa Claus, "I told my friends. They laughed.
We went into a restaurant and sat at a table. 12, my friends cried out. "Look, Beth, your 13 is coming true!"
I turned around. "Santa Claus" stood 14 me. Well, it was the waiter, but he was dressed in a red and-white Santa Claus suit!
"Merry Christmas. What can I get you？"15 asked.
"Soup! "we said in chorus(齐声).
Most of us like to know where we are and where we're going. It can feel strange to be1. The words "being lost" make us think of a dark and scary wood or street, 2 that's not always the case.
Once we were on holiday in Venice. My dad planned to go out to take photos early the next morning. Mum wasn't 3, but I would go with him, only because he 4 I could have the biggest ever bowl of Italian ice cream if I did. 5 else would I get up so early?!
So at 5 a.m. the next day we left the hotel and started walking in the 6 streets. When the sun came up, Dad started taking photos and I 7 him, down small streets and over little bridges.
After about an hour, I turned to Dad and asked, "Where are we?" He said, "I have no idea. "I immediately felt a bit 8, but Dad just laughed and said, "We're lost!", I told him to 9 his map or phone. He said, "I only brought the 10. Come on, let's get more lost!" He laughed again.
His laughter 11 me and made me feel safe. Slowly people were appearing on the streets—shops and cafes began to open.
I began to 12 that we were lost, and just started watching and taking in everything that was happening around me.
13, after about four hours of walking around, we were back. Mum asked anxiously(担心地), "Where have you been?" I said with a big 14, "We got lost!"
These days we 15 get lost with so many things around us—maps, GPS, apps on our phones, and so on. But Dad showed me that being lost can sometimes simply be something to enjoy.
Lucy and Matt's mum is a doctor. The children and their dad were1last Monday evening.
Mum 2and said, "I3do some more work here at the hospital. Ask Dad4your dinner."
"Oh no!" said Matt, "Dad5cook !"
The family 6some food in the kitchen cupboards. They found some onion, potatos and7.
"What can we make with these?" asked Matt. "I'm very 8! I think I could eat a horse!" Then Lucy said,
"I know! We can make 9."Matt was not happy. He said "I don't like soup. I want pasta and meatballs!"
"Sorry, Matt," Dad said. "We haven't got any pasta or meatballs. We 10 have these vegetables to eat for dinner."
Lucy and Dad made the soup. Then the 11of them sat down and started eating. Lucy asked Matt.
"So, 12do you think?" "It's fantastic! I 13it!" Matt answered.
"Can I have 14bowl of soup, please?" 15they all laughed. What an able cook Dad is!
Can you imagine that we could build a beautiful city with rubbish? Maybe you will think it is1. However, it can be true! Nothing is a waste if we have a creative mind. Let me show you something about2rubbish.
Sometimes we can see tons of rubbish in the streets, on the roads, near the buildings... here and there. Many large cities became so ugly3it. Nobody likes rubbish, but in fact, some rubbish can be used again. All of us want to solve the problem, we must do something to4rubbish. We should take action from now on.5, some good things will not be wasted.
Do you often throw away things you don't need any more? Have you ever thought about how these things can actually be put to good use? For Example, when a car gets too old, it may not run any more. But we can use the metal of the car to make something else. When a bottle is empty, it6as waste. You don't know bottle glass can be made into sand and used to build streets. Rubbish7food can be changed into fertilizer to make plants grow better. It is cheap and safe. And other rubbish can also be used to make building blocks. Now,8machines are designed for that.
9, people will watch films in a beautiful cinema which is built out of rubbish. Besides buildings and roads, cities may be made from rubbish. But so far, building beautiful cities made from rubbish is only10.
In space, there was a little gray planet. It looked very 1 , because the people who lived there hadn't looked after it. They had polluted the whole planet heavily 2 rubbish and pollution. As a result, there were few plants and animals left.
One day, a little boy Jim was walking on the planet, when he passed a cave（山洞）and 3 a small red flower inside. The flower was very sick — almost dying, so Jim 4 dug up the flower, with roots, soil and everything. Then he started looking for a place5 care of it. He searched all over the planet, but everywhere was polluted so much that there was6 place the flower could possibly live in. Then he looked up at the moon. It seemed that maybe the plant could live there.
Jim decided to go there. He7 a spaceship and put the little red flower in the back, then they flew to the moon. Far away from all that pollution, the flower soon grew up, giving birth to others, and these other flowers spread onto other flowers. Soon the whole moon was completely covered with flowers. When the little boy's flowers came out, the moon gave out a soft red8. It was the most beautiful scenery he had ever seen.
Maybe the story is telling us9 we don't look after the planet, a day will come when flowers can only grow on the moon. So we must be friendly to10 place that we are living in now.
