I had a wonderful time with my exchangeprogram(交流活动中心) in France. It's much 1 than I thought. I felt a little nervous before I reached France, but there wasn't any reason to be so. My host 2 is really nice.

     They managed various ways to make me 3 at home. Every day I 4 practicing 5 French, I wouldn't believe how 6 progress I 7 in French! Although I still make some mistakes, I can think something in French without

8 everything into Chinese like I used to. My biggest challenge is learning how to behave at dinner table. All the things are really different 9 the way they are at home. You are not supposed to eat anything with your hands except bread. Another thing is that 10 is very rude to say "I'm full now." you should say "It is delicious." instead.

    For years I went to school by bus. The first time on the bus. I saw different faces. I greeted them and cold faces 1 smiling faces. As the days went on, we talked like old friends.

    But it was a pity(遗憾) that I was 2 to set up the same friendship with a quiet girl in the front of the bus. 3 old clothes showed that she didn't have much money. She always took a cup of water for the driver. I guessed she was a 4 girl. But why didn't she talk with us? Why did she never reply to our friendly greetings?

    Then, one evening, I got the 5. I walked to the park near my home and found the girl sitting alone under a tree. I greeted her 6 the same warm smile that I had shown to her all these months. To my surprise, this time she 7 back. As soon as she began her first word, I 8 why she hadn't spoken to us before. Talking was hard for her.

    She told me. "I 9 speak very well. Most of the time. I have trouble expressing myself. I have no friends. But you always smile at me, so I 10 want to smile." That evening, we talked a lot.

    Last weekend, the four members of my family spent an excellent holiday at the Magic Kingdom-Disneyland. And one thing made our visit seem1.

    We got to the front of the line at Space Mountain, only to find out that our little daughter Gloria couldn't take her2on the ride. It is our first time to be there, so we were too3to remember that ice-cream was not allowed on the ride.

    Gloria started4and we all didn't know what to do. Then Tony, one of the staff（员）members, came over. He bent（弯腰）down and told Gloria that he would   5the ice-cream for her and give it to her when she finished the ride. Gloria said, "Really?" Then she gave Tony her ice-cream, and enjoyed6on the ride.

    Sure enough, when we7, there was Gloria's new friend8her "ice-cream". Now you and I both know what happened, 9we know that an ice-cream won't last thirty10on a summer afternoon in Florida. Tony knew clearly11we would get off the ride. He went to the nearest shop and12a new ice-cream half a minute before we walked out of the exit（出口）. Gloria said, " 13" But I'm sure she didn't know it was a14ice-cream.

    Thanks so much for giving us15and make our visit pleasant!

A lesson from Dad

    When he was 11 years old, he loved fishing by the lake near his family's house in New Hampshire.

    On the day before the bass(鲈鱼)season began, he and his father1in the evening. When his fishing pole bent over(弯曲), he knew something2was on the other end. The boy skillfully lifted it from the water. It was the largest fish he had ever3, but it was a bass.

    The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish. The father looked at his watch. It was 10 p.m.-two hours4the bass season began. The father looked at the fish, then at the boy.

    "You'll have to5, Son," he said.

    "Dad!" cried the boy.

    "There will be other fish," said his father.

    "Not as big as this one," cried the boy.

    He looked around the lake.6other fishermen or boats were anywhere around. He looked again at his father's stern(坚决的)face. He knew that it was7to change his decision. He slowly lowered the fish back into the water.

    That was thirty-four8ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect(建筑师)in New York City. He has never caught such a large fish again, 9he does see that same fish again and again-every time he faces a question of right or wrong. His father taught him the practice of doing right is10.

    Do we do right when no one is watching？

    After school on Friday, I waited at the school gate to walk home with Jemma, as usual. Then I saw 1 talking and laughing happily with some other girls. She glanced (瞥了一眼) at me and left me alone there. I knew right then that I had 2 my best friend.

    At dinner, Mom asked, "Is Jemma coming by tomorrow?"

    I shrugged (耸肩) and said nothing.

    The next morning, Mom asked, "Today is 3, what are you and Jemma going to do?"

    I shrugged again. "4 is Jemma?"

    Mom took a look at me. Then she said, "Will you take these magazines to Grandma, please?"

    5 I walked down the street, a new girl in the neighborhood came towards me, smiling. But I just went 6 her.

    Grandma welcomed me at the door with a warm hug.

Sitting on the sofa, I noticed a (an) 7 of kids in old-fashioned clothes on the table. Grandma pointed at a girl with short fair hair.

    "That's Beth Lambert," she said. "My best friend. Until a week before we took this photo."

    I was 8 at that.

    "Beth and I were best friends in school. We did everything 9. Then one day, she made new friends and said she didn't want to hang out with me anymore. Nothing hurt 10 that."

    I didn't say anything. I couldn't. I knew I'd start 11 if I opened my mouth.

    Grandma hugged me again. "Simone, sometimes friends grow 12. It might happen to anyone," she continued. "Then, see him?" Grandma's finger 13 to a boy with glasses in the photo. "He lived near me. When I was walking home by myself 14 this boy was, too, I said ‘hello'. And we became friends."

    "So, if we want to start a new friendship," she smiled. "One 15 is all it took."

    As I was heading home, that new girl appeared again. I went towards her and spoke, "Hello."