He met her at a party. She was outstanding; many guys were after her, but 1 paid any attention to him. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised. So as not to appear rude, she went 2.

      As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous3say anything and she felt uncomfortable. 4, he asked the waiter, "Could you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee."

     They stared at him. He turned red, but when the 5 came, he put it in his coffee and drank. Curious, she asked, "6 put salt in the coffee?" He explained, "When I was a little 7, I lived near the sea. I liked playing on the seaside ... I could feel its taste salty, like salty coffee. Now every time I drink it, I 8my childhood and my hometown. I miss it and my parents, 9are still there."

      She was deeply 10. That was the start to their love story.So they married and lived happily together.11 forty years, he passed away and left her a letter which said:My dearest, please forgive(原谅) my life-long 12. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous I asked for salt 13sugar. It was hard for me to ask for a change, so I just went ahead. Sweetheart, I don't exactly like salty 14. But as it mattered so much to you, I've learnt to enjoy it. If I could live a 15 time, I hope we can be together again, even if it means that I have to drink salty coffee for the rest of my life.

    Life is full of chances and challenges. For students, if we don't study hard, 1, we will fall 2 other students. At first, I didn't know 3 the word " exam" meant. Later, I knew an exam was a 4 of competition. In competitions, there were always 5 and losers. As I grew up, I got to know competitions well. In one's life, there must be competitions, so people could 6.

    Each time I saw children 7 games, and heard their laughter, I 8 I were that age again. However, I remembered my parents' words—You must work very hard 9 have a good future. So I 10 up my pen and began to study hard again.

    I was still not 11 what competitions really meant. One day, I was 12 an English-speaking competition. When I went to the stage, I saw other students looking at me kindly. I suddenly knew what the competition was. It was not as cruel 13 my teacher and parents told me. In fact, competitions were important and necessary.

    I learned a lot 14 what I experienced. Now I understand 15 about the world. Competitions are important for us all.

Kevin sat at the desk in his study, pencil in hand. He had to write a story for his English class by Friday. "I don't know what to1," he complained to his dog, who was asleep at his feet. Kevin was talkative when speaking to his friends, yet he had2finding words he had to write.

    By bedtime Kevin had drawn a picture of his dog smiling. He had drawn a tree with its branches(树枝) blowing in a high wind. He had also written a3asking his friend to go to the movies on Saturday.4he had not written a single word of his story.

    On Wednesday, Mrs Scott, Kevin's English teacher, asked the class to5the first draft() of their stories. Kevin had to turn in the only work that he had—the page with his name, the6, and the note.

Kevin wasn't7when Mrs Scott asked him to stay after class the next day. But he was surprised by what8said to him. "Kevin, this is a fantastic story—the dog, the movie, the tree in the9. I can't wait to find out how they all fit together. I think you have the idea of a story there. Look at your note and the pictures and try to see10a story comes to you."

That night Kevin sat at his desk, and this was what he wrote: "One Saturday Tom went to meet his friend at the11. It looked as if it might rain, so Tom12his umbrella. Suddenly a big storm blew in. The noise of the wind13like Tom's dog Spotty. Spotty really hated storms and barked whenever he wanted to be let inside. Then Tom saw Spotty running after him down the busy street, barking. The sound was full of blame(责备). Tom felt14because he had left Spotty outside. He turned and headed home with Spotty. Tom let Spotty in the door just and the rain started to pour down."

    Kevin had a story after all. The last thing he did was to write his name15at the top of the page.

    Like most Chinese, Mr. Zhang has a traditional family. 1 he and his wife are middle school teachers while their 6-year-old son is a pupil. Mr. Zhang's mother lives with them and helps them 2 the kid. They love one another and live a happy life.

    Yesterday it was Mr. Zhang's mother's birthday. The couple wanted to do3 to show their love for her. After a big dinner, Mr. Zhang brought a basin (盆) of warn water and asked his mother to  sit 4 the basin. He took off her shoes and put her 5into the water. After that he began to wash them 6His wife helped to comb his mother'® hair slowly. Seeing this, the boy7his mother's example. He tried to comb his mother's hair, too. But he was not 8 enough to do that. So he brought a chair and stood on it. Everyone could feel the warmth and love in the family.

    As we all know, it is a good Chinese tradition to respect the old and take care of the .young. We should try our 9 to care for our family. We must visit our parents as often as possible and have a 10 with them on happiness. The phone even though we may work far away. Indeed, family is a place of happiness.