A

    How do you win a Nobel Prize for writing? Here's the secret from a previous winner: make it short, keep it real, and work hard.

Canadian author Alice Munro, 82, was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in literature. She is known for her short stories about personal relationships of ordinary people, usually women.

    Munro was born into a farming family in Ontario. The family was very poor. Munro did a lot of physical work as a young girl. She decided to be a writer at the age of 12. Now Munro turns her hard childhood into great writing ideas. The story Dear Life, for example, opens with a description of the neighborhood in which Munro grew up. Also, she talks about her poor relationship with her mother in many of her stories, such as Lives of Girls and Women and Friend of My Youth.

    Since she published her first book in 1968, Munro has won many awards, with the Nobel Prize as her biggest honor. But Munro doesn't see herself as a talented(有天赋的) writer.

    “I'm the opposite of a writer with a quick gift. I don't grasp it very easily at all, the‘it' being whatever I'm trying to do,” she said.

    Do you dream of becoming an author while sadly admitting you are not that talented? Munro has a tip for you: use notebooks and write a lot.

    “I have lots of notebooks that contain(包含) this writing,” she said. But it helps her sort out (整理) her mind. “Stories would just be working in my head for so long that when I started to write I was deep into them.”

    Have you heard about "Survival(生存) Holidays"? "Survival Holidays" is for children to go into the lonely place for exciting activities. Now about 1,100 companies are allowed to take children into the great outdoors without their parents.

    The reason why people like "Survival Holidays" is that they think being close to nature is good for children. Many children in big cities spend all time watching TV and playing computer games. "Survival Holidays" gives them an important change.

    Is "Survival Holidays" a wonderful idea? Maybe it is. Children need more free time to play. They need to be left on their own, without adults disturbing(打扰) them. Parents care too much about their children. They like to see the children being busy with activities that are controlled by adults, but children don't know what to do when they are in danger. Even something like crossing a small river seems to be a hard challenge. Children are not comfortable with danger. Even small danger like getting their feet wet or falling down seems very terrible to them.

    Many people think the survival activities are good for children. Even years later, they will still remember what they have learned. Some have learned to stay calm in different times. Some have learned how to keep safe. Others have learned how to work in a team. All these skills will help them a lot in their lives.

    I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I thought that the act of writing is the coolest thing in the world.

    Years later, during her final illness, my mother kept different things for my sister and my brother.“ But the desk，” She said, “it's for Helen.”

    Although I knew she loved me and she only showed it in action, I wanted heart­to­heart talks between mother and daughter. But they never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易动感情的)”，but she lived “on the surface”．

    I had my own family later. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she forgave me. I posted the letter and waited for her answer. It didn't come.

    My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and finally, peace—it seemed that nothing happened. I wasn't even sure if the letter had got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I never heard from her!

    Now the present of her desk told, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside—a photo of my father and a one­page letter, folded and refolded many times.

    Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.

    Philip is the bravest boy I know. His friends and family are all very 1 him.

    Ten-year-old Philip was born with an 2  which means that he is always breaking his bones（骨头）. Although he has such a serious illness, Philip 3  playing sports. In January last year he 4  wheelchair racing. He came second in his first 5 , and since then Philip has won every other race!

    In order to look for a new challenge（挑战）， Philip 6  to take part in the London Wheelchair Marathon（马拉松）. 7 , five days before the race Philip got sick. He didn't want to 8  He finally made up his mind to take part. Philip was given medicine by his doctor and guess what? He not only 9  it, but he also finished in first place!

    Philip is very 10  and never gives up. That's why he has been chosen to be the Bravest Child of the Month.

    Molly had a math exam that day. Math was her worst subject. Her friend Ted promised to help her prepare for the exam, but then he ignored(不理会) all her calls.

    When the exam began, Molly saw Ted holding his phone under the table. He was reading something on the phone! Molly was surprised. Was that how Ted always got good grades? She felt really angry. It wasn't fair! Then Molly put up her hand. Ted was looking at his phone and didn't hear Mr. Reed as he walked up to his table. Mr. Reed picked up Ted's exam paper and told him to go outside. Ted started crying as he went to the door. Molly felt really sorry.

    After school, Molly heard footsteps (脚步声)behind her when she was leaving school. It was Ted "Molly, wait!" he called. "I want to talk to you." Molly could see Ted's eyes were red." Listen! I'm really sorry I didn't answer your calls. My dad had heart trouble. He had an operation (手术) today. I was very worried, so I was reading messages from my mom to see how it was going. But Mr. Reed thought I was cheating. Luckily he believes me now. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Will you forgive(原谅)me?”

I will never forget the Art Festival in my high school when I won a big prize. All my teachers and classmates think I have a gift for {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(paint). However, when I was a pupil in primary school, I did not like art lessons because I could not draw very well. In fact, my drawings were much {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (bad) than most of my classmates

One day, while I {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (play) with some paints, Ms. Smith's art lesson began. I mixed the paints with water as usual. As I took the brush away, I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (drop) the paints onto the paper. Looking at the mark, I decided {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (blow) it. The paints began to run, and I blew harder. The paints ran in all {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (direction) quickly and made a very interesting picture! I forgot that I was in class {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Ms. Smith came by my desk. With a big smile on her face, she said, "That's {#blank#}8{#/blank#} very good picture, Sandy. " After class, she encouraged {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (I) to keep trying and make more pictures. I made a lot of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (wonder) pictures later with her help. Since then, I have been crazy about crayons and paints. I enjoy myself in the world of colors every time I paint.