One day I got into a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were1on the right side when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of 2 . My taxi driver stopped at once and missed the other 3 by just inches ( 英寸)！

  The driver of the other car turned his head quickly4 and started shouting at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really5. So I asked, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost broke your car and sent us to the 6!" This is when my taxi driver 7me what I now call “The Law of the Rubbish Truck”.

He explained that many people are like rubbish trucks. They run around of rubbish, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their rubbish grows, they need a place to empty it and 8they'll empty it onto you. Don't9it personally, just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take the rubbish and 10it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

    Mr. Brown lived in a small town. One day he  1 a long journey. It was very late when he was going home.  2 he found that a man 3behind him. Mr. Brown went faster, and the man walked faster too.  4Mr. Brown walked slowly and the man walked slowly 5  .

    Now they were coming near a garden. Quickly, Mr. Brown ran6  it. He tried to get away from the man in this way, but he failed. He was very afraid. He rushed and the man rushed after him. Then Mr. Brown stopped. "Excuse me, "he said, "what do you want 7?"

    " 8 , sir, "answered the man, "You see, I have to  9 Mrs. King a bag and I asked the man at the station. He told me, "go right after that man. He lives in the house just next to  10 . "

    Mr. White with his wife was now living at a small Italian hotel. Last year they had stayed in Italy for months on holiday. One night he went out for a walk 1 . It was late. The small street was dark and 2 . Suddenly he heard steps behind him. He 3 his head and saw a middle-aged woman with wild hair, who quickly walked past him. The woman was 4  out of sight when Mr. White suddenly found that his watch was 5 . He thought it was the passing woman who had taken his watch, 6  he ran quickly after her and soon caught up with her. As he knew 7  Italian, Mr. White had to ask the woman to 8  the watch in another way. He showed the woman his strong arms and pointed to her watch pocket. The woman thought a while and gave the watch to Mr. White.

    Mr. White returned home and told his wife 9 had happened. He was greatly 10 when Mrs. White pointed to the watch on the table. Now he found it was he himself that had taken the Italian's watch.

    As a young man, Al was a famous artist with his wife and two fine sons. One night, his elder son had a bad stomachache. Thinking it was only some1trouble, neither Al and his wife took the condition very seriously. But the boy died suddenly that night.

    Knowing the child could have been2if he had only realized the seriousness of the situation, he always felt he was guilty (负罪感). To make matters worse, his wife 3him a short time later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son. The hurt and 4of the two situations were more than Al could stand, and he was used to drinking alcohol (酒精) for 5. In time Al became an alcoholic.

Drinking too much alcohol, Al began to lose 6he owned—his land, house, money, etc. Finally Al died alone in a small bar. Hearing of Al's7, I thought, “What a wasted life! What a complete failure!”

    As time went by, I knew Al's now adult son, Ernie. He is one of the8, most caring, most loving men I have ever known. I saw the9between Ernie and his children, thinking that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere.

    I hadn't heard Ernie talk much about his father. One day, I tried to ask him what his father had done so that he became such a special person. Ernie said quietly, “ As a 10until I left home at eighteen, my father came into my room every night, gave me a kiss and said, ‘Love you, son.'”

    It was my 14th birthday and I would have the biggest party ever. The number of the 1 had quickly grown from seven to seventeen. Nearly every girl in my class was 2.When each guest excitedly 3 the invitation, I was especially happy.

    The 4was full of shouts and laughter. We had just finished a game of Twister when the door bell rang. I was so 5 and I could feel my face turning red, because when I6the door, there at the front door stood Sarah Westly the quiet girl who sat next to me in music class﹣and she was holding a 7.I thought about the guest list. How did I 8to invite Sarah？

    I remembered that I only added a name to the 9 when someone showed an interest in me. But Sarah had 10 done that. I accepted the box, a gift from Sarah, and asked her to join the party. "I can't 11," she said." My dad's waiting in the car. "At that moment I felt bad about forgetting to invite Sarah and really wanted her to rest for some time in my room." Thanks, but I have to go, "she said, turning 12 towards the door. "See you Monday."

    I didn't open the box until the party was 13. Inside the small box was a ceramic(陶瓷) tabby cat. It was the best gift I had received 14 I didn't like cats. I later 15 that the gift looked exactly like Sarah's cat, Seymour. I didn't know it then, but now I realize that Sarah was my true friend.

Dear Sue,

    I'm having a good time in Beijing. Now it's 12:00 at noon. I'm in a 1. The restaurant is big and clean. There are 2 in it. And many people are eating meals here.

    I 3 a small bowl of beef noodles, some tofu and some vegetables. Beef soup 4 potatoes here looks good, and I want to order some next time. As for drinks, I order some 5. The meal will cost me 50 yuan. I think it is cheap.

    The 6 is very good. The noodles and the 7 are delicious, and the vegetables are great, but the tea isn't very good.

The people in the restaurant use 8 to have meals. I can't use them and I'm learning how to use 9. It's very interesting. I think it will take me a 10 time to finish the meal.

    I will go back to New York next week. See you soon.

Jane