This year the US will honour(纪念) one of the country's most famous writers—Mark Twain (1835-1910). Most readers know that his real name was Samuel Longhome Clemens, but how many know where the pen name “Mark Twain” came from?

    The answer shows Clemens' colorful early life before he became a writer. “Mark Twain” was the cry shouted on a ship when the ship entered a part of a river that was two fathoms (6 feet) deep. “Twain” is an old-fashioned way of saying “two”. Twain trained as a ship pilot on the Mississippi river for two years, a time that he wrote about in the humourousLife on the Mississippi (1883).

    The famous river would become an important theme in many of his works—who could forget the journey of the Huck and Jim along it in his most famous book. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)?

    With little education, he had to teach himself how to write stories. Whenever possible, he would go to public libraries. There he spent much time reading and thinking, which greatly helped him with his writing.

    On the other hand, his life experiences gave him wonderful material to write about and attract readers. Twain wrote in a style that has been called “local colour” because it shows great knowledge of local people and their customs.

    Once there was a famine（饥荒）.A rich cook sent for twenty of the poorest children in the town and said to them, “In this basket there is a piece of bread for each of you. Take it and come back to me every day at this hour for more.”

    In a hurry the hungry children got together around the basket, and fought over the bread because each wanted the largest piece.At last they went away without even thanking the good cook. Mary, a poorly-dressed girl, did not fight with the other children,but stood quietly in distance.When the badly-behaved children had left,Mary took the smallest piece,which was all left in the basket.She kissed the cook's hand and went home.

    The next day the children were as badly-behaved as before. Mary got a piece of bread almost half the size of the one she got the first day.When she came home,her mother cut the bread open. Many new, shining pieces of silver fell out of it.

    Her mother was very worried, and said, “Take the money back to the cook at once.The silver must have fallen into the dough（面团）by accident. Hurry up, Mary” When the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, “It was no mistake.I had the silver pieces put into the smallest bread for you as a prize. Always be as satisfied, peaceable and thankful as you now are. Go home now, and tell your mother that the money is yours.”

Mum and I wanted to do something exciting during the summer vacation, so she 1  that we take the train to Grandma's house. Grandma lived far from our 2 , so we would spend one day and one night on the 3  just getting there.

On the day of our trip, Mum and I went to the train station. The train 4  and we got on. It seemed 5  and cool inside, compared to the bright, warm day outside. The conductor(检票员) took our 6  and showed us to the car(车厢) which we would ride in. Soon the train pulled away from the station. Outside the windows, the town buildings 7  gave way to the countryside. From time to time, children who lived near the tracks(轨道) would run out to wave 8  we passed.

At lunchtime, Mum and I had our meals in the dining car. There were different kinds of foods. It was9  being in a restaurant on wheels(轮子)! At bedtime, we went to our sleeping compartment. There were four beds in the compartment. My bed was above my mum's. I had to 10  into bed. The moving of the train made it  11  for me to sleep. I fell asleep soon.

When 12 came, we were near the countryside where Grandma lived. Mum and I quickly dressed and 13  our things. As the train slowed to a stop, we saw Grandma waving at 14  . Spending the week with Grandma would be wonderful, 15  I was already looking forward to the train ride back home.

When I was a kid, my father took me to 1 tickets for the show of Twelve Muqam (十二木卡姆) because we looked forward to watching it for a long time. When we were in the line, I saw one family 2 in front of us. The couple had four children and their clothes were old but 3 . The children were holding hands and talking about the singers and dancers in a low 4 . 

It was the family's turn. After the ticket seller told the man that two of his children must buy full-priced tickets, the man 5 his head. He felt embarrassed because he didn't have enough 6 . 

My dad noticed this. Then he put his hand into his pocket, took 7 two hundred yuan and looked at me. It 8 that he wanted to say something. I knew what my dad thought 9 I covered his mouth and said, "I know we aren't rich and we may lose this chance, but I support 10 you want to do, dad!"

My dad gave me a thumb (拇指) up. Then he 11 the money in the man's hand and said, "I believe you need this money 12 than I do. Your children are waiting to see the performance." 

"Please don't refuse my help. I'm also a father like you." The man was 13 . With tears in his eyes, he replied, "Thank you, sir. This really means a lot for my two kids!"

My father and I said goodbye to 14 and walked home. I didn't watch the exciting show this time, but I see 15 warm scene.

A young boy had many bad habits. His father was so 1 . He asked an old teacher for help. The teacher took the boy for a walk in the woods. While walking, he suddenly stopped and told the boy to pull out a small plant. 

The boy held the plant and pulled it out 2 . The old man then asked him to pull out a little bigger one. The boy 3 hard and the plant came out, roots (根) and all. "Now pull that one out. said the old man, looking at a small tree. The boy had to use all his strength to pull the 4 out. "Now pull this one out." said the old man, 5 a big tree. The boy held the trunk (树干) and tried to pull it out. But it didn't move at all. "It's 6 " said the boy, out of breath. 

"So they 7 bad habits," said the teacher, "When they are small, it is easy 8 them out, but when they grow bigger, they cannot be pulled out." The old man's words made a great difference to the boy's life. 

What we can learn from the story is: Don't wait 9 bad habits to grow in you. 10 when you have control over them, or they will control you