Have you ever{#blank#}1{#/blank#} {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Mickey Mouse?

Dear readers,

    Once, I had to call the firefighters to put out a fire. I still remember how fast it made my heart beat, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}it was a small fire. I was glad and thankful when the firefighters put it out{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(quick).

    Firefighters help in all kinds of sudden serious and{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(danger) events or situations. I saw firefighters carrying people from their flooded homes while{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(watch) the news today. Often, they are the first helpers when{#blank#}5{#/blank#}accident happens. Some firefighters train to help people and pets that fall into frozen lakes. To prepare for real-life rescue like this one, they must practice putting{#blank#}6{#/blank#}ice suits, working with ropes, and using hand signals to communicate. If you want to learn more about these{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(/breıv/) men and women, read the article

Danger! Rescue on Thin Ice.

    Where would we be without the first helpers? Maybe you'll {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(/dЗэıun/) me this month in finding a way to thank them. Giving a card, a drawing, or a plate of cookies to your local fire{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(/'steıƒn/) could be the start of a new tradition for your families and our{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(hero)will be thankful for it.

    Happy holidays!

Your friend,

Christine

In the past, I didn't get on well with my parents. I hardly talked to them, because they liked to compare me with my sister. And that made me {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (happy) and sad. I didn't know {#blank#}2{#/blank#} to do. Sometimes I even {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (argue) with them about this.

However, I wanted to show them that I could do things as {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (good) as my sister. Then I began to spend most of my free time {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (paint) in my bedroom. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (Lucky), my art teacher, Miss Green, offered me a lot of help. She taught me some drawing skills to help improve my paintings. At that time, she was the only person I would like {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (communicate) with.

One day, I told Miss Green {#blank#}8{#/blank#} my problem. She encouraged me to take part in a painting competition. She said the best way to communicate with my parents was to prove (证明) myself to them. After a few weeks' waiting, the result finally came out. I got the first prize! When I took the prize home, my parents were so happy {#blank#}9{#/blank#} they couldn't stop laughing all the time! And they began to care more about me. Now {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (relation) between my parents and me are very good. So I think it's very important to have someone to talk to.

Two monkeys {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the zoo yesterday.