Once a man and his wife worked for an old man.  There was a big box in the man's living room. The old man pointed to the box and said, "There's only one thing you 1 do. Don't open the box. " 2 saying this, he left his home.

    The woman said to her husband, "There must be 3 expensive in the box.  Let's open it, shall we?" Her husband said 4 to her, but the woman didn't give 5 her idea.  One day, she decided to find out 6 was in it.  Her husband didn't stop her.  She opened the box and looked inside. 7 her surprise, she found nothing in the box. She tried hard to close it, but she 8.

    That evening the old man came home and found the box was 9. He was very angry and asked them to leave his home.

    "But there was nothing in the box." the woman said.  “We haven't taken anything at all." The old man 10 them, “The box is not important, but I cannot believe you. That's important! "

    Tom worked hard in an office. But it seemed that there was little change in his life. He was unhappy and didn't want to improve himself any more. His father, Joe, knew this and decided to have a talk with 1 .

    One day, Tom and his father went for a walk after dinner. 2 they were walking along a river, Tom said, “Dad, you always tell me to learn something new. To be3, I don't want to make any change.”

    Joe looked in the river, saw a dead 4and pointed at it.

    “Tom, what is that over there?”

    “It's a dead fish.”

    “What's the fish doing?”

    “It's moving down with the running water.”

    “But the fish is dead. 5 can it be moving?” asked Joe.

    “It's moving as the river is moving.”

    Joe turned to his son and said, “Life is 6 the river. It's always moving and always changing. Some people don't want to change, but their life is always changing whether they like it or not. A dead fish only moves along the river, while a living fish can control its journey. What's your choice if you want to live a 7 life?”

    This made Tom 8 his aunt who had already stopped learning and developing. And she just stayed the way she used to be, living like a dead fish.

    Guided by his 9 , Tom understood what he said. He didn't want to become a person like his aunt. So he made up his mind to 10  learning and developing himself.

    One day, while Mark was walking in Central Park, he saw a UFO. He became afraid of it, and ran to the back of a big tree. The UFO landed in Central Park with a loud noise and bright lights around it. A(n) 1 walked out of the UFO. Mark looked out from behind the tree. Just then, the alien saw him too. They 2 looking at each other. Mark was nervous enough to ask, "Where do you come from?"

    "I'm from another 3 I'm Mel," said the alien. "Let's be friends."

    Mark thought he should make the alien know humans 4and learn how to communicate with humans. So he said, "Follow me."

    Mark began to hang out around with the alien. He 5 that humans had changed Nature to make life easier on Planet Earth. He also said to the alien, "6 gives us more free time to do what we want." Finally, he invited the alien to visit the 7 where he worked. They had a great day.

    As the alien got ready to leave; Mark decided to remember their 8 on Planet Earth on computer in his library. And the alien told Mark, "I'll also 9 the day. When I get back to my planet, I will tell our people 10 humans are very friendly. I believe we will communicate more and get on better with each other in the future."

    Bruce shook his money box again.

    There wasn't 1in it! He 2 counted the coins that lay on the bed. All that he had was $24.52. The bicycle 3 he wanted was at least $90. How on earth(究竟) was he going to get 4rest of the money?

    He knew 5 his friends all had bicycles. It was hard 6 out(闲逛) with people when you were the only one without a bicycle. He thought about what he could do. He couldn't get money from his parents,7 he knew they had no extra(额外的) money.

    There 8 only one way to get money, and that was to earn(挣钱) it. He would have to find a job. He decided to ask Mr. Clay 9 advice.

    "Well, you can start right here," said Mr. Clay. "You see, my windows need cleaning and my car needs washing".

    That was the 10 of Bruce's part-time(兼职) job. For the next three months, he worked every day after finishing 11 homework. He took dogs for walks and cleaned rooms.

    The day finally came when Bruce counted his money and 12 $94.32. He wasted 13 time and went down to the shop to choose the bicycle he wanted. He rode home proudly, 14forward to show his new bicycle to his friends. Bruce liked his bicycle very much because he had bought 15 with his own money. At last, his dream came true, and his parents were proud of him.

    After school on Friday, I waited at the school gate lo 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 fight 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. Them 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."