One thorn(刺) of experience is worth many times of warning.

    Ralph Wick was seven years old. In most things he was a fine boy, but he would cry from time to time. When he could not have what he wanted, he would 1for it. If he was told that it would hurt him, and he could not 2 it, he would also cry.

    One day, he went with his mother into the 3. The sun shone. The grass was cut. The flowers were starting to come out.

    Ralph thought he was, for once, a good boy. A 4 was on his face. He wished to do as he was told. Ralph helped his mother with the farm work and he was very happy.

    “Now you must be tired and 5,” said his mother. “Have a good rest here and eat some cookies. I will get a beautiful red rose for you.” So his mother brought the red flower to him. When he saw his mother still had a white rose in her hand, Ralph 6 it.

    “No, my dear.” said his mother. “See how many thorns it has. You must not touch it, or you would be sure to hurt your 7.” When Ralph found that he could not have the white rose, he began to cry, and 8 took it away. But he was soon very sorry. The thorns hurt his hand. It was so 9 that he could not use it for some time.

    Ralph would never 10 this. From then on, when he wanted what he should not have, his mother would point to his hand which had been hurt before. He at last learned to do as he was told.

    I'll tell you1about my English teacher, Mrs. Wang. She is a middle-aged woman. She is not tall and not short , and she is also not2and not thin . She3long black hair. She likes4a red dress. She is very beautiful. She5very good English . She has three classes a week , but they aren't6Tuesday or Friday. All the students in her class love her very much.

    Mrs. Wang lives not7the school. She walks to school with her son and her daughter early every morning. Her two children are8.They look the same. They are in Grade Two, but they are not in9class . They often wear the same clothes. They look very10.

    I still remember my kindergarten(幼儿园)teacher, Mrs. White. She looked just like Snow White1she had the same bright eyes and short dark hair.

    We used to2a lot. And I would show what I wrote to Mrs. White for correction (批改). She would look at my writing and see many mistakes in it. But she3made any red correction and she always gave a star. I was feeling 4of my writing each time I got a star. But it5my mother. So one day, when she met Mrs. White at a parent-teacher meeting, Mum asked her why she never corrected my6and why she never said no to her child.

    Mrs. White said, “The children are just beginning to get 7about using words. Spelling and grammar can wait. We can't8that interest with a red pen.” As it was a long time ago, my mother could only remember the main idea of 9Mrs. White said about my writing. However,

    I grew up learning to use words with loving care and 10like that.

    If Mrs. White had used her red pen more often, I 11wouldn't be telling you about this now. Whenever I look back on those encouraging 12from Mrs. White, I feel they just look 13real ones in the night sky—bright, shiny, and guiding me on my way somewhere, I do believe she was such a 14teacher, who tried to use a red pen less to keep the joy, wonder and excitement in a child's 15.

    Thanks to Mrs. White, I have no fear about writing. Also, I'm not afraid of any mistakes in my life!

    Bill Adams retired (退休). His daughter, a nurse, asked if he wanted to volunteer at her hospital. Bill didn't think he wanted to be aroufid 1 people, but his daughter said. "Just try it for a week and see how you feel."

    Thirteen years later, Bill is 2 volunteering at the hospital two days a week. He says, "Volunteering is a good thing to do, and helping others makes me 3. "Over the years, Bill has worked in many departments (科). Now he 4 in the waiting area outside the X-ray room.

    Once, a woman found out that she needed immediate surgery (立即手术), but her 5 were not with her. Bill helped call her family and took them to 6 so they could be together. Later, he 7 the woman again. It was great to see the woman get better. Bill got a lot of 8 from her family.

    Bill loves volunteering at the hospital, and he also likes 9 others to join the volunteer work. "All of the volunteers are like family. We're good friends. We love helping others when they are in need." he says. At the age of 81, Bill has no plan to 10 his volunteer work. He has decided to stay busy as long as possible.

    A few days ago, I ran into a stranger as he passed by. I said sorry1him, and he said, "Excuse me too, I wasn't even noticing you,"2this stranger and I were polite. Then we went on our way after saying goodbye

    Later in the kitchen at home,3I was cooking our supper, my daughter Betty walked up to me, very4. When I turned around, I nearly5her down. "Get out of the way! "I shouted angrily. She ran away, crying.

    That night, when I6in bed, my husband said to me, "You were so rude to Betty. Go and look around on the kitchen floor, and you'll find some7 there. Betty brought those for you. She picked them,8— pink, yellow, and your favourite blue."

    When I heard this, I thought deeply. While9with a stranger, I was calm and polite. But with my daughter, I was not10. I felt sad and tears began to fall.

    Then I went to Betty's11, "Wake up, my dear," I said." Are these the flowers you picked for me? "She smiled." I found them by the tree, I knew you liked them,12the blue ones." I said, "I was so rude13I treated you that way today. Betty, I am so sorry." And she said, "Mummy, that's okay--I still love you anyway." I kissed her and said, "I love you too and I do love the flowers."

    That day Betty gave me a special14on how to get along with each other in the family. I spent much time on work before and didn't15how important family life was. I decided to do better in the future.

    A rabbit named Bunny lived in a village near a forest. He was very clever and he never gave up 1. He chose a dead tree and made a home in the trunk. People 2him singing in the morning every day. As soon as the sun shone on his door, he left his home and went across a bridge to the3. He looked for some food there.

    One morning, while he was getting ready to sing as usual, a big storm began. It rained 4. What was worse, the bridge was 5. Bunny was very hungry, but there was no food in his home. He needed to 6 to find some food. He couldn't swim, so how could he find food in such a storm?

    After thinking for a long time, he finally came up with a good idea. He thought he would solve the 7 successfully. He decided to 8 a boat with some lotus leaves. Here is his plan:

    First: Search for some lotus leaves by the pond. If necessary, ask the frogs for help.

    Second: Tie the lotus leaves together to make a little boat.

    At last: Get into the boat. Be 9 in the storm and don't be afraid at all.

    So, Bunny, the wise rabbit, crossed the river in the boat carefully. His plan was so successful that he arrived at the forest after only an hour. There he found some food and then he went home happily. He had a big meal and began to sing as 10.