Life is not easy, but I'd like to say “When anything happens, believe in yourself.”

    When I was young, I was 1 nervous that I couldn't talk to anyone. My classmates often laughed at me. I was 2and couldn't do anything. Later, one thing changed my life. My mother asked me to 3 an English speech contest (比赛). What a(n)4 idea! It meant I had to speak in front of many teachers and students!

    “Come on, dear. Believe in yourself. You are sure to succeed(成功).” Then, mother and I 5 many different topics(话题). 6, I chose the topic “Believe in yourself”. I 7 to remember the whole speech and practiced it over 100 times.8my mother's great love, I was successful. When I heard the news, I almost couldn't believe my 9, when the news came that I had won the first place. I heard the cheers from the teachers and students. Some students looked down on (瞧不起) me before, but they all said “Congratulations!” to me. My mother cried excitedly and10.

    Since then, when I do anything, I try to tell myself to be confident.

    David was ill. He went to see a doctor. The doctor asked him to1 his tongue (舌头), and then he said, “ OK. You can put your tongue back now. There's 2 wrong with you, but I'm afraid you have a problem, you never take 3.”

    “But, doctor,” David said, “I don't think so.”

    “Don't 4me what you think,” the doctor said, “I see a lot of people 5you. None of them get any exercise. They sit in offices all day and in front of the TV in the evening. You must walk quickly for at least 30 minutes a day.”

    “Doctor, you don't understand, ”David said, “ I take enough exercise every day. ”

    “I don't want to 6 any excuses,” the doctor said, “You must find time7 exercise. If you don't, you will get8 and have health problems.”

    “But I walk every day.” David said.

    “Oh, yes, and I know what kind of walking that is. You walk9meters to the bus stop from your house, from the bus stop to your office, and from your office to your dining-room for lunch and back. That's not a real walk. I'm talking about a walk by the lake or in the park for 30 minutes every day. ”

    “Would you please 10 me, doctor?” David said, “I'm a postman. I walk for nearly seven hours every day.”

    For a moment the doctor was silent, then he said,“Can I see your tongue again?”

    When the Spring Festival falls, red flowers bloom(盛开)on the windows of my home, of course, these are not 1flowers. But in the cold of 2, these wonderful flowers bring warmth to us. They are made of paper by my 3, who is now aged 70. With a few cuts, she 4 a piece of paper into a beautiful work of art

    When my grandma was considered clumsy(笨拙的)in the 5. But on a cold winter night, she saw some beautiful red paper 6on her new neighbor's windows. She was so interested in it and decided to 7 from her neighbor. Tons of paper was wasted, and her fingers were cut many times. But she 8 practicing. It took 10 years 9 my grandma could make paper art skillfully(娴熟地).The red flowers, blooming like burning fire, light up her world. Now, everyone in the village 10 her.

    My grandma's story has shown me what it takes to realize one's dream.

Celebrate the Good Days

    It was in April of what seemed to be a great year. I was in fourth grade with the greatest teacher, Miss De Rosear -- the coolest teacher. I had just come home from school to find Mum at home. That was1because she never arrived home before me. Mum was sitting on the sofa with Dad. A thousand terrible things started flashing through my mind. What if Grandma had passed away? I did not have the 2to say goodbye. What if my brother was hurt? As I crawled(爬) up on the sofa next to Mum, she gave me a kiss and a huge smile, so I3and went on with my normal after-school activities. During the TV show that I always watched after school, Mum started getting phone calls. The calls continued for the rest of the night. Each time the4 rang, Mum rushed to her room.  I then knew that something bad had happened.

    When Mum came back, I asked, "Mum, why do you keep on5the room every time you get a phone call?

    She turned to my sister and me and said, "Girls, I have something to tell you. I have cancer(癌症). "

    As she said that I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I was thinking, "Why is God taking my mum from me so soon? What have I done?" I didn't know that we were just beginning a very long, 6 journey.

    The next day on the bus I turned to my friend, Kate. "My mum... "That was all I could say before I started crying. Kate gave me a big hug and said 7, "I know, and I'm here for you." I knew that Kate would support me.

    During the summer, Mum stayed home. On the good days, sister and I talked about what we were going to do next day, week, month, or year with 8. We never talked about losing her.

    We got9from many different people. When school started again, Mum had to have surgery(手术). I stayed with one of my teachers, Mrs. Stephens. Mrs Stephens made me rainbow French toast. She was always there for me with a smile, a hug, or --it will be okay advice.

    On April 5, my morn became a five-year survivor (幸存者). When that day came, we had a big party. Friends came from far and wide to celebrate how10Mum is and her success against cancer!

    There will be good days and bad days--some more bad than good. But as I have learned from my mother, celebrate the good days!

    Then Alice saw a small glass table. There was a little golden key on it. She picked it and put it in all the locks on the doors but it didn't open any of them. She moved a curtain on one of the walls and discovered another door, a very small one. She put the key in the lock. It was exactly the right size! She opened the door and looked through it. At the end of a low passage she saw a beautiful garden. It was full of brightly coloured flowers and fountains.

    "Oh, how beautiful!" she said. "I'd love to go there but I'm too big to get through the door."

    She walked back to the table. There was a bottle on it now.

    "I'm sure that bottle wasn't there before," she said, a little confused.

    She put down the key and picked up the bottle. She read the words "DRINK ME" on it. Alice wasn't a stupid girl. She didn't drink it immediately. First she looked at the bottle carefully. There wasn't a label on it that said "POISON".

    So she put the bottle to her lips and drank.

    "Mmm, ifs nice," she said. It tasted like cherry tart, pineapple, roast turkey and toast-all the things that she liked to eat-so she drank some more. And some more. Soon the bottle was empty.

    "What a curious feeling," she said. "I'm getting smaller and smaller.'" It was true! She was now as small as her cat Dinah.

    "Good! I can go through the door into the garden," she said. But, poor Alice! When she got to the door, she didn't have the key! It was on the table. She couldn't reach it because she was too small now. She sat down and cried.

    After a while she said, "Alice! Stop crying! Crying doesn't help! Dry your tears immediately!"

    When she looked at the table again, she saw a small glass box under it. She picked it up and opened it. There was a small cake inside. It had the words "EAT ME" on it. She put a small piece of it in her mouth.

    "If I grow bigger I can reach the key," she thought. "And if I grow smaller I can go under the door."

    But nothing happened so she finished it.   

    Hello! I'm Mary Brown. I'm 1 English girl. Look! Here 2 a photo 3my family. This is 4sisters. 5 name is Mona. 6 is in Class One, Grade Eight. 7 is my uncle. His8 name is Bill. His 9 is Tony Brown. He is a student, too. Oh, Tony is my 10 .