Many cultures in the world tell stories about dragons. In some cultures they are good and in some they are bad. No matter good or bad, in the stories they are always 1 and have supernatural power. Some people say that there used to be real dragons, but most agree that they were imaginary creatures (生物).

    Dragons in China and other Asian countries are usually said to be 2. People say that they bring strength, good luck, and health. In ancient China, the dragon was a 3 of the Chinese emperors. Some Chinese people believe that dragons live under water most of the time. Unlike European dragons, they do not have wings, and they 4 using magic. The Chinese dragon looks like a long snake with four claws. In the Chinese lunar calendar, people born in the “Year of the Dragon” are 5 to be lucky, brave, healthy, energetic and excitable. The Dragon person can't make great achievements in life 6 he or she knows how to make the best use of his or her energy, intelligence, and talent.

    In European legends, dragons are usually seen 7 greedy (贪婪的) and cruel winged devils (恶魔). The European dragon is also described to be a strong and smart creature. Any knight (骑士) who killed a dragon was able to get not only its treasure but also its 8. In Christianity (基督教), the devil is sometimes shown as a dragon. It has become popular for the 9 of popular stories to fight angry dragons. Dragons continue to live in storybooks. Modern fantasy writers 10 write books about heroes fighting dragons. Although dragons appear in many legends around the world, different cultures have different stories about them.

    When I was about twelve years old, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to tell me about my shortcomings (缺点). Week by week her list became 1： I was very short, and I wasn't a good student, I talked too much, and so on. I tried to stand（忍受）all of these as long as I could. 2, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears(眼泪) in my eyes.

    He listened to me quietly, and then asked, "Are the things that she said true or not? Jane, have you ever 3 what you're really like? Now you have that girl's ideas. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are 4. Pay no attention to(别在意) the other things that she said."

    I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I found that about half of the things were true. Some of them I couldn't 5, like being very short, but a good number of them I could. I wanted to change the bad things in me, and for the 6 time I knew something about myself in a very clear way.

    I brought the list back to my father. He refused to take it. "That's just for you," he said, "You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself, but sometimes others' opinions are also important, so you 7 learn how to listen, and not just 8 your ears in anger and feel hurt（受伤害）. When something that is said about you is true, you'll find that it will be 9to you. Our world is full of people who think that they know you. Don't shut your ears. Listen to all of them, 10the truth and do what you think is the right thing to do." I have remembered my father's advice at many important moments. I have never had a better piece of advice in my whole life.

    Henry Bond was about seven years old when his father died. His mother found it1to support the large family. However, she tried her best to do so. Also, she2 Henry, the eldest son, to school.

    At one time, Henry needed a grammar book for his study. His family was so3that his mother could not afford one.

    One morning, Henry found that a deep snow had fallen, and the4 wind was blowing. "Ah," he said," it is an ill wind that blows nobody good." With these words, he ran to the house of a neighbour, and offered his5to move away the snow around it. The offer was accepted. When he finished the work, he received his6, Then he went to another place for the7 purpose, and then to another,8 he had earned(挣得) enough to buy a grammar book.

    From that time, Henry was9 the first in all his subjects. He knew no such word as“10”, and he succeeded in all he tried to do. Having the will, he always found the way.

    It was a fine summer day. The Chinese girl Dan and her mother were on the1. They wanted to go to the2. There were many children on it. Their parents were with3, too. After a short time, a4got on the bus and he was an old man. He had no seat (座位)to sit in. Dan asked him to sit in her seat and he5her. There were two American people on the bus. They went to the Great Wall, too.6they couldn't speak Chinese. Dan talked to them in English. She told them Beijing was a big city. It had a7history. She told them some stories8Beijing. The two American thought the stories were very9and they also wanted to go to other cities of China. Could their dream10? Of course.

    When I was a little girl, I remember that when my dad was repairing something, every time he asked me to 1the hammer(锤子) for him, just so we would have a time for a 2  with each other. I 3  saw my dad drinking or taking a night out. All he did after work was taking care of his family.

    I grew up and left home for college and since then, my dad had been calling me every Sunday morning, no matter what. And when several 4  later I bought a house, my dad was 5  it by himself for three days in the 38℃ summer heat. All he asked was to hold his paint brush and 6  to him. But I was too 7  in those days. I did not find any time for a conversation with my dad.

    One Sunday morning we had a telephone talk 8 usual, I noticed that my dad had   totally 9  some things that we talked lately. I was in a hurry, so our conversation was a bit  10. Few hours later that day came a call. My father was in a  11  with an aneurysm(动脉瘤). Immediately I bought a ticket for a flight and on my way I was thinking about all12occasions(场合) to have a talk with my dad.

    By the time I 13  at the hospital, my father had passed away. Now it was he who did  not have 14  for a conversation with me. After his death, I 15  much more about him, and even more about myself. All he ever asked me was my time. And now he has all my attention every single day.

  Bill, a thirteen-year-old boy, thought he had grown up to be a man. But his parents told him, "You won't be a real man until you begin to 1helping others."

  One morning, his parents gave him some money to 2some milk for them. Outside a shop he saw a homeless old man who looked very 3. Bill went to him and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

  The old man answered, "I'm hungry. I haven't had any food for two days. "

  All the thought of his parents' words, Bill said to the old man, "Let's go to the 4."

  When they got there, Bill asked the waiter to bring out bread and coffee to the old man. The old man finished the meal quickly. After the waiter 5 the plate and the cup, the old man said, "Sorry for giving you too much 6. I'm fine now. I'll 7forget your kindness! You are a very good young man"

  Bill was 8when he heard this. Just when he wanted to pay for the meal, the waiter came. Bill and the old man learned 9that his food was free 10it was the birthday of the boss, and they were the first customer(顾客) that day.