From an early age, Parker always said that he would be an astronaut. But no matter {#blank#}1{#/blank#} much he studied, worked, and took tests, he never passed. Finally, he {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(grow) over the maximum(最高的) age for taking the test. He would never be able to realize his dream.

    People {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(feel)sorry for his dream. Although he {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(tell) about having to give up his dream, Parker continued training and studying, as though he was going to sit the tests next month.

    He carried this on as he got {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(old), and when he was a very old man he heard that they were doing some very important medical experiments. For those experiments they needed {#blank#}6{#/blank#}very old astronaut. Parker, who now walked with a stick, was the only old man in the whole world who was trained to fly in a rocket.

    So Parker found {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(he) flying in space at last. The experiments were very {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (succeed). The knowledge from the experiments helped doctors to cure one of the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (bad)sicknesses for old people, and Parker was celebrated as a hero. Photos of the astronaut with a walking stick and no {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(tooth) spread all over the world. It showed that persistent effort always brings reward, even though that reward may not be in the form we had first expected.

    Tom worked in the office of Mr. Bates's.

    One day, when Tom got to the office, a letter{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(wait) for him. He opened it.

    "Dear Tom, "the letter said, "I am writing to thank you{#blank#}2{#/blank#}your help. You{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(help) me so much when I came to your office. Here's a ticket for the big football match. "

    Tom looked at the ticket. He could not believe that he had it. Everyone looked forward to{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(watch)the match!

    "I must watch the match, "he{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(think). "I have expected the big match for 4 years. "

    He{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(not put)his heart into any work. Then at twelve o'clock he knew what{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(do).

    He went out of the office and called his sister, Jean

    At one o'clock Mr Bates came up to him. "I have bad news for you, Tom. Your sister telephoned just now. Your mother{#blank#}8{#/blank#}in hospital a moment ago. "

    "Thank you, "Tom said. "I will go to the hospital. I will come back as {#blank#}9{#/blank#}as possible. "

    In fact, Tom{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(leave)the office quickly for the football ground. Tom's ticket was a good one. He could stand near the front.

    The next morning, when Tom got to the office, Mr Bates came up to him. "You're fired(解雇），Tom. "Then he walked away angrily.

    "But why?" Tom asked. Then a girl said, "We saw the match on TV here yesterday! You were on TV! Tom, you had such a good ticket!"