It was the golden season. I could see the1leaves falling with the cool wind. For others it's the harvest season, but for me, it is a(n) 2season. I was 3 for the Postgraduate Entrance Examination（研究生入学考试）. But so many unhappy things made me so tired, so I decided to have a walk in my university.

    "Autumn is a lonely season and life is uninteresting. The days in this season always get me 4, "I thought when the beautiful sound of a guitar flowed into my ears. A young girl, sitting on the stone, was lost in her guitar playing. She was a beautiful girl, 5when the wind blew her long hair.

    Lost in the music, I didn't6that I had been standing for so long. Every day I would see her playing her guitar. She was the only7and I was the only audience. On the following days, life became8and I could review the courses carefully.

    Autumn was9over. When I was listening heartily（尽情地） one day, the sound suddenly stopped. To my surprise, the girl came over to me. "You10like music," she said.

    "Yes, you play very well. Why did you stop?"I asked.

    Suddenly, her face looked 11."I came here just to have a rest because I12in the College Entrance Examination. I felt very disappointed. And it was your listening every day that13me," she said," and I have to go tomorrow."

    "In fact, it was your playing that gave me a14autumn and helped me believe that I can pass the exam," I answered." I think it was God who gave us the15to know each other and we should be good friends." She smiled and I smiled too, in that beautiful autumn.

    One day a professor entered the classroom and told the students about a surprise test. Now the professor gave the test papers to all students with text facing down at the desk. After he 1 the test to all students, he asked —them to turn the test pages and begin.

    Students were 2 to see that there was not a question but just a black dot(小圆点）in the center of the page. The professor 3 the students' face expressions and told them," I want you to write about what you see there."

    The students were 4 surprised but got started with the test. At the end of the class, the professor took all answer papers and started reading each 5 from each paper. All of them 6 about the black dot and tried to explain its position(位置). After the professor finished reading, the whole class was 7 .

    8 , the professor explained, "Don't worry. I'm not going to give you 9 for this test, but I just want you to think about something. Here everyone paid attention to the black dot and wrote about it 10 no one wrote about the white paper, the same is with our lives. The white paper represents our whole life and the black spot represents 11 in our life.

    Our life is a gift given to us 12 God, with love and care, and we always have reasons to celebrate-our friends around us, the joy 13 provides us our livelihood, the happiness in our families. Still we only care about problems like health problems, study problems, problems in relationships, but we 14 see that these problems are very small compared everything we have in our lives”

    So we should try to take eyes off our problems and enjoy each nice moment that life gives 15. Just smile, and life will smile to us!

Lisa is serious about the chores in her house. She gives her children things that they 1 . do according to their age. She started by asking John, the2 of her two sons, to help with the dishes. It is now an easy cho re3 . the 15-year-old. His13-year-old brother, Dave, now4 John, too. They take turns (轮流) washing the5 each week. The boys also clean their study tables, make their beds and6 food from the market on Sunday mornings. Besides(除了) these, the boys also know how to cook easy meals 7 their parents are not at home.

The family of 8 live in a big house but they do all the housework themselves.

Lisa says," When I was young, my father wanted us to do things on our own(独立地)and learn how to9 ourselves. Now I'm doing it to my kids." John says," Doing chores is10 . You learn important life skills and responsibility(责任)."

①Tom lived with his grandfather, who is regarded as the wisest man in the village. Many people went to grandfather for advice or help. 

②One day, Tom saw three men walking together. They found a single-log（独木）bridge halfway, below which there was a deep river. 

③The first man didn't hesitate（犹豫）to step on the bridge and he made it to the other side of the river. The second man came close to the bridge. When seeing the deep river, he was so afraid that he made no move. Encouraged by the first man, he put his feet on the bridge. Although his right foot was hurt in the middle of the bridge, he got there safely. But the third man was the least brave to cross the river. It was getting dark. Behind him were some hungry wolves, he felt hopeless. But he had to be brave to cross the river. Only after a few steps, he fell into the river. 

④Seeing the puzzled look on Tom's face, grandfather said sincerely（由衷地，语重心长地）, "When in difficulties, the more time it takes to hesitate, the higher price you'll have to pay."

Without classes and exams, the summer vacation is an ideal time for Australian kids. For me, Nancy, it means much more than not going to school. It is also a golden chance to spend time with my family because I have little time with them during the school year.

Last summer vacation I travelled with my family to the Hawkes bury River in Western Sydney. It was one of the most unforgettable summer vacations in my life.

Staying by the river helps us escape from the hot weather and noise of the city. Every day, my family and I got up early to go swimming in the cool water. In the morning, we all took part in a big game. We enjoyed water— skiing, wakeboarding(尾波滑水) and other activities. These activities made our family feel closer.

In the warm afternoon, we peacefully read books on hammocks hung among trees by the river. The days always ended with a campfire. We sat around the fire, talking and laughing.

The river is a perfect place for people to forget about all the stresses(压力) of life and simply enjoy the moment. To me, it is the best place to spend time together with my family. I can't help thinking about those days again and again although so many months has passed.

Henry is going through a very hard time. His wife just passed away(去世). He feels that life without her is hopeless. For months, Henry sits in his house, doing nothing. 

Henry's neighbor, an old woman named Lisa, sees him from her yard one day. She doesn't see him outside in days! She asks him to come closer to the fence(篱笆) next to her house. 

"Hello, Henry! Just look at this fence. It is falling apart. You are a strong man. Can you help me fix(修补)this fence?" Lisa asks. 

Henry is angry inside. He is the one who needs help right now. He thinks the old lady is being kind of rude. But she is too old to fix the fence herself, so he agrees. 

Henry works on the fence for days. When he finishes, she thanks him. Henry smiles for the first time in months. 

"What a wonderful job! Could you please paint it for me?"Lisa says to him. 

Henry cannot believe she is asking for more help. But because he respects her, he agrees. He works hard painting the fence in the hot sun. As their neighbors pass by, they all tell Henry what a beautiful job he has done!, Henry feels very happy. 

Several days later, Henry feels that life is still hopeful. He finally understands that Lisa isn't being rude. She knows that staying busy can help us forget our sadness. He helped her, but she truly saved him.