Tick-tock. Tick-tock

    Andreas watched the clock moving very slowly. This was his last class of the day - biology. Usually, Andreas really liked biology. But today was 1. Today there were tryouts（预赛） for the basketball team after school.

    There was only one thing that Andreas liked more than biology: basketball. Because of the tryouts, Andreas had been 2 for months.

    Tyrell had been Andreas's best friend since kindergarten. He was also trying out for the basketball team that afternoon. Andreas was glad he'd have his best friend by his 3.

    Suddenly the bell rang and class was over. Andreas and Tyrell walked down to the gym: When they got there, Andreas's heart sank (下沉). There were at least 60 boys crowded there, but the basketball team only had 4 for 20 people. Andreas and Tyrell looked at each other. What if only one of them made the team? That would be 5 than not making the team at all.

    The coach blew a whistle and the tryouts began. Andreas and Tyrell were separated into different groups. As soon as he 6 his hands on the basketball, Andreas felt better. This was why he loved the game. All the nights of practicing paid off as he took shots from the 3-point line.

    When the tryouts were over, the coach said he was posting a list of who made the team the next day before school. Andreas felt his stomach tighten. He knew he had played well, 7 was it good enough?

    "It's OK," said Tyrell. "I'm sure you made it. I just don't know if I did."

    "Playing on the basketball team wouldn't be any 8 without you," a little upset.

    They walked the rest of the way home in silence.

The next morning Andreas hurried to school and went to see the 9. Tyrell's name was at the very top—--he had made it! But Andreas didn't see his name anywhere.

    "Andreas!" He heard Tyrell's happy voice. "We made it!"

    "What do you mean?" asked Andreas. "My name's not on there."

Tyrell 10 up the first sheet of paper and pointed to Andrea's name at the very top of the second sheet. They shouted and gave each other a high-five（击掌）. They were going to be on the basketball team together.

    A woman was waiting for her plane at an airport.

    She bought a bag of cookies, found a place to1and took out her 2. She started to read and 3noticed that a man, sitting beside her, took a cookie4her bag. She just 5not to see this. So she ate the cookies quickly and at the same time watched how the shameless thief（小偷）was stealing6cookies. She thought to herself, "If I wasn't such a（n）7 person, I would hit him in the eye. "

    8only one cookie was left, she looked with interest and9what he would do. He smiled, took the10cookie and broke it in half. She thought, "This guy is so impolite. He didn't even show any11!"

    After her flight was called, the woman12 her baggage（行李）and headed to the gate. She took her seat in the 13, and started to look for her book, which was almost complete. As she reached her baggage, she gasped（喘气）with 14, as there was an unopened bag of cookies. A terrible thought crossed her mind, "If my cookie bag is here, the other one was his and he just tried to15." She realized that she was the impolite one, but it was too late to say sorry to him.

    Vincent Williams went to a boarding school. Here is one of the letters he wrote to his 1 from the school.

Dearest Mom and Dad,

    I'm afraid I have something terrible to tell you. I have been very naughty and the school principal(校长) is very 2 with me. She is going to write to you. I have to be3   from here by you. She does not want me in the school any longer.

    The trouble started last night when I was 4 in bed. This is against the rules, of course. We are not 5 to smoke at all.

    As I was smoking, I heard 6 coming towards the room. I did not want to be caught by a teacher, so I threw the cigarette away.

    7, the cigarette fell into the waste-paper basket, which caught fire.

    There was a curtain near the waste-paper basket which caught fire, too.

    The principal 8 the fire station. By the time the firemen arrived, the whole room was on fire. One of my roommates got hurt and he was sent to the 9.

    The principal said that the fire was all my fault and she will send you a bill for the damage(损坏). The damage will 10 you two thousand dollars.

    I'm very sorry about this. I won't break any rules. I promise.

Much love,

Vincent