Once lived a family with eighteen children. Two of the children loved painting very much, but the family was too 1 to send both of them to study at the 2 college at the same time. After many discussions, they would toss (抛) a coin. The loser would go down into the mines (煤矿) to earn money and 3 his brother to study. And the winner would learn art at the 4. Albecht Durer won the toss and Albert went down into the mines.

    Albecht Durer worked hard and his paintings were much 5 than those of most of his teachers. After graduation, he made a lot of money for his paintings.

    When Albecht Durer returned, the family held a big dinner for his great 6. Soon after the meal began, Albecht Durer said to his dear 7, "Albert, now you can go to the art college and your 8 will come true. I will take care of you."

    But Albert said 9, "Brother, the four years in the mines has done too much to my hands, so it's too late. Now I can't even hold a glass."

    To show his great love and respect, Albecht Durer 10 his brother's hands with fingers towards the sky. He called his drawing "The Praying Hands", which became very famous years later.

    In my life, the person who has influenced me most is my father. He is a role model for me. Now I'll tell you something about him. My father is in his{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(fifty). He never smokes or drinks. He{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(work) in a local factory for years. You will not find anything{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(usual) about him until you learn more. He works{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(care) all the time, so he{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(respect) by his colleagues. My father has always been kind and helpful. He has fun{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(talk) with old people. He gave our TV to a family who could not afford one. He cares for the children who have lost their parents. Whenever he has some money left, he {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(give) it to someone in need.

    My father has donated blood many times since we{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(move) here. The blood he has donated is much enough{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(save) over 70 lives. He has donated blood cells to people with blood cancer. To my surprise, he has decided to donate his body for medical research after his{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(die).

    When I was a little girl, I could not understand why my father always seemed to be{#blank#}11{#/blank#}(kind) to others than to his own families and why he thinks of others more than{#blank#}12{#/blank#}(he). Now I realise that he owns a heart full of love.

Rick and his 70-year-old mother lived together in a town. Rick preferred {#blank#}1{#/blank#} when he was young. Influenced by Rick, his mother loved cookies too. So Rick often {#blank#}2{#/blank#} her different ones after work. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Rick's mother got older, Rick had to send her to the nursing home far from his house because of Alzheimer's disease (阿尔茨海默病). His mother started to forget his name and her health condition was worse {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. She often asked, "Who are you?" Rick told her he was her son {#blank#}5{#/blank#} and again. She called his name happily and reached for his hands. 

One day, Rick saw a shop on his way to the nursing {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. So he bought some cookies as before. After his mother ate them, she {#blank#}7{#/blank#} down and rested. Rick sat close to the bed. His mother held his hands and fell asleep {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a smile. 

Rick looked at his sleeping mother and recalled his childhood. His mother used to buy him cookies and he always enjoyed the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} just like his mother now. What sweet memories! Rick hugged his mom and told her {#blank#}10{#/blank#} much he loved her. 

Rick's mother passed away 3 months later. Rick would never forget her smile. It was {#blank#}11{#/blank#} a beautiful moment.

When I moved to America in the 7th grade, I did not speak any English. I had no choice but to keep working hard. Although I made 1 when I reached the 9th grade, people still found it difficult to understand me because of my accent (口音).

One day, at a party, I was invited to play a guessing game. When it was my turn, I tried to 2 the object that I had in mind. Suddenly someone said with a laugh, "What did she say?" I felt 3 . Out of kindness, a girl gently advised me to repeat it, but I got stuck on the word "purple"—I couldn't 4 it. This time, everyone laughed while I was trying hard to get the word out of me. This 5 had its own influence on me. When opportunities were opened up for the summer program I had been looking forward to, I 6 to attend (参加) the interview. Luckily, I got tons of encouragement from people around me. So I decided to 7 .

At the interview, the other students in my group spoke very 8 but I didn't speak that much. I knew that I could hardly be understood because of my accent. Besides when I was nervous, it would be even more 9 for me to pronounce words clearly. After the interview, I stayed, said "10 " and explained to the teachers. I didn't want them to think I wasn't interested or I was being unfriendly. But they appreciated (欣赏) that I expressed 11 . "It's OK. You don't have to say sorry. Your accent does not make you less than others," said one of the teachers.

Surprisingly, I was accepted into the 12 . Imagine how I felt!

Up to now, I still feel 13 that I took that step. It is a sign that I have changed. I did not let my accent 14 me. I'm sure I will continue to feel nervous about speaking English with strangers. 15 that's OK. It will not stop me from trying to be better.

An interview with Andy Griffiths

Andy Griffiths is well known as a writer of children's books. Here are some interesting things you might not know about him !

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

I go for long runs and bike rides beside the beach. An hour of exercise after a long day of writing gives me energy. Then I'm ready to write some more. 

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

At first I write the stories by hand, and then I transfer (转录）them onto a computer. I like to write by hand when I travel. I find it very easy to lose myself in my diary when I am away from my usual activities. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

I'm never happier than I'm thinking banana milk shakes. And I love fish. But I don't like drinking fish milk shakes. They are just terrible !

What is your favorite book ?

Alice in Wonderland. It has so many surprises and such silliness in it.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Only if I really have to. I much prefer the freedom and fun of writing for children.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

As Dr. Seuss says, "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

My little sister is in Grade Seven this year. Her favorite subject is math and she is very good at it.

One day, a friend of my father's from America showed us some {#blank#}1{#/blank#} about America and invited us to his home. My sister wanted to go there very much, but my father said she must speak English very well. From then on, she {#blank#}2{#/blank#} to work hard. She kept reading English for about half an hour every morning. In class, she listened very {#blank#}3{#/blank#} and answered the teacher's questions as soon as possible. There was an American teacher in her school. After school, she talked to him in English as {#blank#}4{#/blank#} as he was free. Now she always says, "My dream is to be a diplomat (外交官)." I am sure her dream will come {#blank#}5{#/blank#} one day.