As I held my father's hands one night, I couldn't help but notice their calluses(老茧）and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a 1 , including all his struggles.

    One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾）hit Ontario,turning it into a 2 desert.On one og those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last 3 from the grocery store.Fifty dozen was all we needed, which normally took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn't 4 quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we still needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and 5 . Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, "If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves. "Dad 6 ."Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we're 7 ." Such is Dad—whatever problem he 8 , he never gives up.

    Unfortunately, the bad effects of the drought were felt all over our county. It was a challenging time for everyone, 9 Dad remained optimistic. He 10 to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plated. Only then did I truly begin to appreciate dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.

    Dad is also a living example of real 11 . From dawn to dusk, he works countless hours to 12 our family. He always puts our happiness 13 his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games even though he was 14 after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and friendly, putting others first.

    Dad, the life 15 I have learned from you will stay with me forever.You are my father,teacher,friend and,most importantly,my hero.

    “What does 'doing the right thing' mean to you”? One Friday, my teacher asked our class to think about the question. We would hand in an article on it by Monday, and be prepared to do the things we will1.

    The whole weekend, I was trying to think about something that would2my teacher and be easy to follow. I talked to my parents, called my grandmother and asked my neighbor. Everyone had good3 but I didn't think I could achieve them.

    On Sunday afternoon, my parents said they were going to my Aunt Mary's house. That usually4that I would have to play with my four-year-old cousin Andrea5we visited. I showed her a cartoon, and then I sat down and started to write my article.

    Soon I felt two 6 on me. It was Andrea. “What are you doing?” she asked. “I have to write an article about what 'doing the right thing' means to me.” I answered. Andrea laughed. “That's easy,” she said. “Doing the right thing means being7 to your family and friends. Never lie. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Take a bath when you're dirty.”

    I looked at my little cousin with great 8.Then I jumped up and gave her the biggest hug. Not only had Andrea answered a very difficult question for me, but I could9follow them. All I had to do was to be nice, not to lie, to keep myself clean and healthy. So when I wrote my article, I10the story about Andrea and how she had answered my question.

    Two weeks later, I received my article with an A+ and a little note written by my teacher: “Always do the right thing and give Andrea an A+, too!”

    "You're doing it all wrong," said Ryan.

    "You're nuts!" shouted Tom. "I'm the best jumper there ever was!"

    "Then why can't you touch the doorframe (门框)?"

    "It's 1, okay?"

    Tom looked straight up. The doorframe was ten feet high. 2 could jump high enough to touch it, even older kids. But Ryan had dared (激某人做某事) Tom that he couldn't do it, and so Tom had to 3.

    He muttered, "I'm the best jumper there ever was."

    It all started one day last year, a Frisbee (飞盘) was stuck in a tree. It was so 4 that nobody could get it. And Tom stood way back from the tree and got a running start. When he was going as 5 as he could run, he leapt. It was like he was in the air forever, and then he felt the Frisbee in his hand. From then on, when there was a problem that could be solved by 6, they called Tom.

    Everybody 7 Ryan loved their jumping champion(冠军). 8 Tom came along, he had been the best jumper in the class. Ever since then, Ryan had been 9 the chance to take revenge(报复).

    "Come on," he 10 Tom, "You can't jump just a little bit higher? I thought you were the best jumper!"

    Tom gritted his teeth, tensed his legs and threw his body up into the air. And he 11 fell short by at least two feet.

    "It's impossible," he said.

    "Ha! I knew it."

    "12 we work together."

    "Excuse me?"

    "Neither of us can jump high enough to touch it alone, but if we work together…" Tom 13.

    A few minutes later, Tom went down on his knee and held Ryan's foot in his hands.

    "One…two…three!" shouted Tom. On three, Ryan put all his 14 on Tom's hands, and Tom threw him up into the air. Ryan's hand hit the doorframe and fell down laughing.

    "15 did it!" he said.

    "Now it's my turn!" said Tom.

    Together, they were the best jumpers there ever were.

    Several weeks ago, our headmaster, Mr. Brown, told us that our school had been chosen to compete on Smart Aleck-a game show. My best friend Nancy and I both 1 it. Nancy has a good imagination, and I know a lot of history. So we thought we'd be good 2 for the team.

    A few days later, Mr. Brown held a meeting with everyone interested in the 3 .He told us that Smart Aleck used a five-member team and three more people would be needed as backup (替补). Mr. Brown said we would have a 4 among all the students present and the top eight scorers would become the team and the backup. Everybody agreed that this was a 5 way to decide.

    Yesterday, all of the hopefuls got together. Mr. Brown acted as the host. After a couple of hours, all the places on the team were set 6 one. Nancy and I tied(打成平手)for that last position. We had to hold a one-on- one competition. The winner would be on the team and the loser would be the 7 .

    Midway through our two-person competition, I was starting to pull 8 . Then I saw the look on Nancy's face. I waited for a second and knew 9 I had to do. As much as I wanted to be on Smart Aleck, Nancy wanted it even more. So, starting with my next question, I held back and let Nancy 10 , just by a little bit. When she 11 she would be on the show, she felt sorry for my not being on the team. However, I will still have the 12 of seeing the show up close.

    Was I 13 by not trying as hard as I could? I don't think so. No one noticed, and Nancy and I didn't say it. It won't hurt the team 14Nancy will be a very good competitor on the real show. I think that making my best friend happy was the 15 thing to do.

    It is 1 Saturday morning. Helen and 2 brother, Tom, are taking a walk in the zoo. There are 3 of public signs in the park. They mean different things. Helen knows a lot 4 them. But Tom5.

    Suddenly Helen 6 a boy climb the tree. She shouts at that boy,"7 climb the tree.8 you see the sign over there？"The boy jumps off the tree soon. Tom points 9the sign in the garden and says to Helen," So the sign over there10 we shouldn't climb trees, right?"

    Years ago, I celebrated my 40^th birthday with my friends. I arrived at the restaurant ahead of time,1I waited outside the restaurant. Then a homeless man came up to me and asked for 2. I had been given strict orders by my friends not to bring my wallet in case(以防) I paid for the3. So I told the man that I had 4money. He quietly smiled at me, and then left.

    Just then a friend who 5arrived called out "Happy birthday!"6this, the man turned and asked, "Hey man, it's your birthday today?" "Yes, it is", I said. He 7, smiling and said loudly, "Happy birthday, man!" But I could 8imagine what happened next. The man reached into his pocket, pulled out a dollar bill and said "Here man, take this."

    Though I was 9his action, I didn't want to accept money from a homeless man. I said, "Thanks. That's really 10of you, but that's OK." The man looked directly into my eyes and said, "Please take this." I still hesitated(犹豫)to accept this11, but I heard a voice within me shouting, "TAKE THE MONEY!" I hesitantly reached out and said, "Thank you". Excitedly, he caught my 12, gave me the dollar and said, "No, thank you brother!"

    That experience made me feel like I had got far more than13!This was one of my greatest life 14: No matter how poor we may be, we always have something valuable to15with others.