One autumn morning, I spotted a pair of wild geese on our pond. The beautiful sight caught me by 1 because I'd never seen geese there before. Thinking they would soon leave, I 2 the chance to get close to them. I wondered where they came from and why they had chosen our pond.

    The next morning, the geese were still my 3 I walked round to the mailbox, showing them I meant no harm4I couldn't resist getting a 5 look. I hid behind some trees and 6 the handsome pair quietly through the branches. I was surprised to see they were staring at me, too!

    As days passed, I started 7 to them on my trips to the mailbox. They craned （伸长） their necks and raised their heads 8 but seemed to realize I was their friend. By then, my curiosity about 9 they were staying so long at the pond changed to10. As they were feeding in the grass the other day, I discovered the reason for their 11the male had a broken left wing. He couldn't 12 and his faithful mate wouldn't leave him behind. I asked a biologist what to do. He explained that sometimes a13 wing will heal by itself and suggested letting nature take its course.

    On the first day of November, I was working in the neighborhood of the geese with my tractor. As I bent to fasten a chain from the tractor, I 14some movement from the corner of my eye. Both geese were running towards the pond. Their wings were 15 like crazy, struggling for take off. Gradually, they flew over the pond. They16 enough altitude to fly past a neighbor's house, and then circled back towards me, flying no more than 50 feet over my head as if to say goodbye. Then they were out of my17.

    The season's first snowflakes fell the very next day. The birds must have 18 that winter was coming, and it was time to go. I became fond of them during their 19 visit to our pond, and now I miss them. I'll never forget their 20 to each other.

    It impressed me a lot, I never thought that little help will turn out to be the most satisfying thing I have ever done.

    One day I met a man on my way home. He was tired, and1 to climb further. With a broad2 he asked if I could help him with some money. He was paralyzed (瘫痪) in both legs and was 3 funds for some operation. He said that if operated successfully, he could 4a training guaranteeing him a job. I was full of 5 and even asked him to show his legs. I gave him the6 money. After a few days, he again came at my doorstep asking for more money for accommodation. This time I was more or less 7 he is not cheating me. I gave him some and said this is all I have.

    A year went by and I had moved to a(n)8 place. One fine day I got a call from an unknown number. Caller called out his name but I didn't 9 him. Then he said he is the very paralyzed person I helped a year ago.

    I asked him, “How are you doing now.” He said, “Sir, you recognize me not by my name but by my10state.” “With your kind help I am now able to 11 on my legs without support. I was operated 12I am married to a beautiful lady. Besides I have a good job and stable 13.

    I don't 14 remember if I gave him my phone number15 what he said next was touching. He said he wanted to return my money so that I didn't feel cheated and continue to help people 16 in the future. I don't know whether he read my facial expression the day I helped him but tears were 17 down my face. That day I18 him that I will continue to help people as I see a(n)19—small or big. It is the small event that makes a big 20 to my life.

    My holiday was about two months long and the first thing I wanted to do was to get my driving license, so I called the driving school to make sure of my 1 time, after that, I booked a room to make sure my friend and I have a place to stay when we 2 there.

    So everything went on well 3the test-day finally arrive! I'm both excited and 4. I took the school bus and when I got there I went to the 5 first. Something happened when I came out of the restroom. I 6 over and broke my right foot.

    OMG! I didn't know what to do so I called my mom and she 7 me up and we went to the hospital at once. 8 the doctor said, “It is fine. You didn't hurt the9, but it will take almost two months to recover.” That was disappointing, and I was totally 10.

    Through those painful days I had nothing to do but 11 the Internet and read books about some disabled persons who are not 12 by their physical problems. These books would help me 13 sooner. It was so amazing! After reading the books my 14 seemed to become better and better, day after day! And I began to feel better 15 myself and about my foot I started to use the 16 “thank you” more often than before and most importantly, I started to think 17.

    Things do change when your18 changes. I soon recovered and could walk again. After coming back from my trip, I went to 19 my driving test, and it went very well. I 20 it without any difficulties. I'm a driver now!

    There was a very popular local restaurant near our company. One day, I went with some colleagues from my office for a dinner in a very popular local restaurant. It was 1 business time and the restaurant was crowded. We 2 found a table in a corner for three of us.

    As soon as we sat down, we heard a crash when a cleaning boy 3 the floor with all the plates he was carrying. There was 4 and no one was saying or doing anything.

    In a flash I remembered my 5 many years ago. Once, I 6 in the airport because I had rushed there on my own on an empty stomach. I was picked up and taken care of by two 7. Now this was my chance to 8it forward.  

    I ran to the young man's side immediately, turned him on his back and screamed for someone to 9 a hot drink. Soon people started asking if I was a doctor. I said I was not, but I was 10 at attending the one blacking out(晕厥).

    The kid soon opened his eyes, 11 what had happened. I 12 him by saying it was OK and I had had a 13experience. He had not eaten anything. I held the 14 drink to his mouth till he finished it and sat with him till he felt OK. By then the 15 had arrived. I asked her to give the kid something to eat. I offered to pay.

    The manager was kind enough to refuse the 16 and agreed to make sure the kid ate before he went home. By the time all this was 17 it was getting late for my colleagues. We hadn't 18 anything yet, so they decided to go home.

    I slowly walked home, not hungry any more, feeling 19 for the opportunity I pay forward the 20 I had received many years ago.

    I used to believe in the American Dream, which meant a job, a mortgage (按揭), credit cards, and success. I wanted it and worked toward it like everyone else, all of us 1chasing the same thing.

    One year, through a series of unhappy events, it all fell2. I found myself homeless and3. I had my truck and $56. I4the countryside for some place I could rent for the5possible amount. I came upon a shabby house four miles up a winding mountain road over the Potomac River in West Virginia. It was6, full of broken glass and rubbish. I found the owner, rented it, and7 a corner to camp in.

    The locals knew nothing about me,8slowly, they started teaching me the 9of being a neighbor. They dropped off blankets, candles, and tools, and began sticking around to10. They started to teach me a belief in a11American Dream – not the one of individual achievement but of12.

What I had believed in, all those things I thought were13for a civilized life, were nonexistent in this place. Up on the14, my most valuable possessions were my 15with my neighbors.

    Four years later, I moved back into16. I saw many people were having a really hard time,17their jobs and homes. I managed to rent a big enough house to18a handful of people. There are four of us now in the house, but over time I've had nine people come in and move on to other places. We'd all be in19if we hadn't banded together.

    The American Dream I believe in now is a shared one. It's not so much about what I can get for myself; it's about20we can all survive together.

    I was once a dropout. I know how powerfully a 1 can influence the life of a person who does not 2 herself. I quit school at sixteen to work. Years later, I had a(n) 3 and couldn't work for months. I felt depressed. With an unemployable father and a mentally ill mother to support, I couldn't 4 to give up.

    Searching the ads, I found a notice that our local community college offered free work 5. One requirement was a high-school diploma or GED certificate. Years ago, I got my GED certificate, but with 6 scores. I felt certain that I had little to 7 other than a willingness to 8. After my physical injury healed, I went to meet Ruby Martin, the advisor who would 9 me.

    I sat 10 waiting while Mrs. Martin looked over my score sheet. I was 11 to hear her blame me for wasting her valuable time. She looked at me for a long moment 12 she spoke.

    "Why did you apply for this 13?" she asked. "Why aren't you applying to college?"

    With my face burning with 14, I could only whispered, "Because I am 15."

    "Didn't anyone ever explain these 16 to you?" she asked. I just shook my head. For the next hour, she explained how the GED scores are based on, and that my 17 were very high indeed. She convinced me that I was not only not stupid, but that I would 18 an excellent candidate for the training program.

    I regained my 19. Later, I got a bachelor's degree and became a teacher just like her. To teach is to touch a life. It was Ruby Martin who touched my life 20.