Many would agree that when we think of Christmas， we probably think of gifts， Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But behind all these things lies the true meaning of Christmas: the importance of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this.

    A Christmas Carol is a famous novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge. He only thinks about himself and doesn't treat others nicely. He just cares about whether he can make more money. And he hates Christmas. One Christmas Eve， Scrooge sees the ghost of Jacob Marley， his dead business partner. Marley used to be just like Scrooge， so he was punished after he died. He warns Scrooge to change his ways if he doesn't want to end up like him. He also tells Scrooge to expect three spirits to visit him.

    That night， three ghosts visit Scrooge. First， the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back to his childhood and reminds Scrooge of his happier days as a child. Then the second spirit， the Ghost of Christmas Present， takes him to see how others are spending Christmas this year. Everyone is happy， even poor people. The last one， the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come， takes him to the future. He sees that he is dead but nobody cares. Scrooge is so scared that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is already the next morning on Christmas Day!

    He decides to change his life and promises to be a better person. He happily celebrates Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats everyone with kindness and warmth， spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true spirit of Christmas!

    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."

Many people think skateboarding（滑板） is very cool，but it's hard to learn this sport. I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}in a skateboarding camp last summer. On the first day，our{#blank#}2{#/blank#} ，Hagen，taught us how to stand on a skateboard. It sounded{#blank#}3{#/blank#}，but in fact it was difficult to do that. 

I could hardly keep my balance（平衡） on the skateboard， {#blank#}4{#/blank#}I was a beginner. I often fell on the ground. I couldn't even stand up. I was so tired that I wanted to have a（n） {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. But just when l was going to give up（放弃），I remembered the words my mum told {#blank#}6{#/blank#}， "No pains，no gains. " If I stopped halfway，I wouldn't get anything from this camp. So

A few days {#blank#}7{#/blank#}，Hagen taught us how to be cool on the skateboard. With all of my hard work，I did my {#blank#}8{#/blank#}to be cool. 

You may be interested{#blank#}9{#/blank#} skateboarding and think it is cool. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}，if you want to learn it well，you must practise hard. Without the love for it，you will never be cool on a skateboard!

Alex is a young boy. He likes music very much. He wants to play the piano and join the school music club. But all these things are difficult for him. Why? Because he has no hands.

Many people think it is impossible (不可能的) to play the piano with no hands. Alex is also one of them. He thinks he can't play it. But he had a big dream when he was a kid. He always wants to be a good pianist.

But Alex's parents always encourage (鼓励) him. His parents always tell him that where there is a will, there is a way. They find a nice music teacher for Alex. And they take him to music lessons every Tuesday and Thursday. At first, it's really difficult for Alex to play the piano. But now, after about two years, the boy can play it well by arms. And now he's not shy (害羞的) any more. He often plays the piano in class. He sometimes joins the piano match of his school.

"My music teacher and classmates always help me with the lessons. I make many friends there and join the school music club now. I must thank them. And I must thank my parents too. They teach me a lesson—nothing is impossible. "