Ever since I was a child, my mouth has caused me trouble. I'm not a bad person; I have a 1 time learning when to keep my mouth closed.

    My mom has told me again and again, "Robert, your constant bad words are hurting me. If you 2 to be this rude, you will get into big trouble."

    It's been a problem at school several times too when teachers have told me something I didn't want to hear. I used to feel it was my duty(职责) to 3 myself.

    One day in English class I began working on my homework until I heard a classmate 4 behind me. It was Nathaniel, who liked doing that as usual.

    At first, I said very 5, "Nathaniel, would you please be quiet?"

    However, Nathaniel continued talking to himself. I quickly 6 "Nathaniel, shut up(闭嘴)!"

    For the next five minutes, we threw hurtful(伤感情的) words back and forth at each other.

    "At least I don't have an ugly lazy eye like you!" I shouted.

    I knew this would make him 7. It would hurt his feelings and shut him up.

    What I said filled him with anger. He tried to 8 over my seat and catch me as he shouted, "That's it! That's it!"

    9 at his reaction(反应), I sat back in my seat. I had never seen Nathaniel act like this before.

    Later on, we were taken to the principal's office. There, Mr. Black, our English teacher, told us to 10 the matter. It wasn't until then that I finally found that 11 I hurt someone physically(身体上), the wounds eventually heal(愈合). But when I hurt them with my 12, sometimes the pain (痛苦) never goes away.

    At the end of the discussion, I said 13 to Nathaniel.

    When I went back to my room, I spent some time praying(祈祷). I began to 14 how often what I said hurt others. But I believe that as I keep praying and asking God to help me, he'll tell me when to keep my 15 closed.

    I'm Ann. I'm English. I'm twelve. I was born on May 17^th, 1991. I learn Chinese at Beijing No.3 Middle School. I have a good friend. Her name is Lucy. She is twelve, too. We are in the same grade. But we are not in the same(同样的) class. I'm in Class Two, and she is in Class Three. We have the same Chinese teacher. Her name is Zhang Ying. We all like her. Lucy's parents are English teachers in China. She has a sister. Her name is Lily. She is only five years old.

    Have you ever planted a few trees on Tree Planting Day? Each year, millions of people, both 1 , plant a lot of trees. But this may not be the best way to make your home a 2 place.

    Last week we visited a park in Hebei. We were 3 to find most of the trees had been burned. The workers told us that the trees 4 soon after they were planted because they weren't watered well enough. 5 workers burned them and cleaned the place for 6 trees to be planted this year. 7 a card found in one of the dead trees, a student wrote,“ I hope this tree will grow up with me to 8 the backbone (栋梁) of our country.” The workers said that the survival(存活) of the trees was really more important than 9 trees were planted.

    Some people in Beijing now have a new idea that they can donate (捐赠) some money and let professionals (专业人士) plant and 10 the trees.

    It was a Friday evening. I was waiting at the bus stop after school when a car stopped and the driver opened the door. It was my 1. “Quick, get in!” he told me. I was very 2, but I did as he said.

    At first, I was worried that something 3 happened. Then, I noticed my mother. She was also 4 the car and on the back seat. There were some bags of clothes and 5 food. My father was driving the car, but he was not driving 6. He was driving out of the town. “Where are we going?” I asked.

    It was a warm evening and lots of people were walking along the road. It was the 7 day of term. Did my parents have a big surprise for me? We were going somewhere special — 8 where? The next thing I can remember is falling 9. When I woke up, I saw the sea. We were at the beach. My father was smiling. “Here we are,” he said, “the summer holiday 10 now!”

    On a snowy evening, a rich lady was standing by the road. She was worried. Her1had broken down. Just then a poor man named Robert came. He was on his way back home from work as usual.

    The lady wondered, “Is the man going to2 me? He looks very cold and hungry.” But to her surprise, he stopped and said with a smile. “What's wrong, madam?” The lady told him what was happening.

    After a while, the car was at last fixed by Robert. The lady wanted to pay him. “No, that is 3madam.” he said, “I was just helping someone in 4 If you really want to pay me back, I hope whenever you see someone in trouble, you should give him a hand.” A few minutes later, the lady 5 a shabby(破旧的)house by the road. She remembered Robert's words, so she stopped. The hostess(女主人)warmly asked her6. The lady could see that was a 7family and that they needed help. When the hostess was making tea in the kitchen, the lady8 500 dollars on a table and went away quietly. Robert came home later than before, thinking how 9 their life was. Their baby was to be born the next month but there was not 10 money. His wife went up to him, gave him a kiss and said softly, “Don't worry, dear! A stranger has helped us out!”

    Let's always be ready to help others because helping others is helping ourselves.