All About "A-thons"

    A marathon is a long-distance running race. Now it is not only a competition, but some people organize marathons for charity. Runners get friends, families and other people to support {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (they). They promise to provide a certain amount of money for every race. For example, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the runner runs one kilometer, the providers will each give the runner $1 for the charity. Much of money can be raised this way. However, not everyone can run, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} people in the USA have thought of other ways to raise money, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) the idea of marathon.

    Walk-a-thons: A walk-a-thon is similar {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a marathon, but people walk instead of running. This is one of the most popular {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (way) for people to raise money.

    Read-a-thons: Many schools organize read-a-thon to raise money. Students can get money {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (easy) for the number of books they read in a given amount of time. Little kids can also get money according to how many pages they read. The read-a-thons {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (hold) not only to raise money, but also to encourage teenagers to read.

    Bowl-a-thons: Bowling is an interesting sport for many {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (America). In a bowl-a-thon, people raise money for every point they get in the game. The {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (high) the score is, the more money they make for the charity.

    My mother only had one eye. And because of this, I never wished her to show up in my school, being afraid that my classmates would find out I had {#blank#}1{#/blank#} ugly mother.

    One day during elementary school, I was terribly ill. My mother {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (come).

    "Your mom only has one eye?!" asked some of my classmates. I was so embarrassed.

    I wished {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (I) mother would just disappear from this world. "If you make me teased（嘲笑）, why don't you just die?" I shouted at her, taking no notice of the sad look on her face. My mother just handed me some medicine and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (leave) without saying anything.

    At that time, I felt good to say what I always wanted to say, and I {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (not) think I had hurt her feelings very much. That night I saw my mom crying in her room, so {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (quiet), as if she was afraid that she might disturb me. Even so, I hated her {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (tear) from one eye. I made a decision: I must study hard and leave her.

    Years later my dream came true. I was quite successful and lived alone. I never thought of going back to see my "ugly" mother {#blank#}8{#/blank#} one day I got a letter, which said, " My son…I'm sorry I only have one eye. When you were little, you got into an accident and lost your eye. As a mom, I couldn't stand {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (watch) you live with only one eye. So I gave you mine. I was never angry {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you and I never regretted what I did because I love you…"

    I cried out aloud. Only then did I realize how beautiful my mother was!