Confucius lived in the Kingdom of Lu, part of today's Shandong Province. September 28^th is his birthday. 1 he was born over 2,000 years ago, people still remember him on this day.

    His childhood was sad. His father 2 when he was only 3 and he had to work to help his mother. But young Confucius didn't 3 studying. He visited many famous teachers and learned music, history, poetry and sports.

    Later, he became a teacher and started the 4 private school in Chinese history. At that time, only children from rich families could go to school, but Confucius believed 5 should go to school if they wanted to learn. He had about 3,000 students in his lifetime.

    Today, people still follow his 6. He told us that each person has something worthy to learn and teach. “When I am with three people, one of them must be 7 than me in some areas. I choose their good qualities（品质）and follow them. I take their bad qualities and change them in myself.”

    He also taught us that thinking is very important in study. “All study but no thinking makes people puzzled（迷惑）. All thinking but no study makes people 8.”

    Confucius is not only a great teacher but also a famous 9 with wise thoughts about the world and society. His most important teachings are about kindness and good manners. “A kind person should care for others. Be strict 10 yourself, but be kind to others.” He said.

    Laura is my cousin. She works at a radio station. She thinks it's an interesting job. Today I will 1 you about her life.

    Laura says she is very busy 2 Monday to Friday. She usually gets up at 6：30 and exercises for half an hour. She has a nice breakfast at 7：15. After that, she goes to 3. She has lunch at the station. She usually gets home at about 7：00 p. m. Then she 4 dinner and has it at about 8：00 p. m. Then she watches TV with her cat. At about ten, she goes to bed.

    On weekends, she is 5. On Saturdays, she either plays ping­pong 6 goes swimming. They are relaxing for her. What does she usually do on 7? She always goes to the art club. She is good at 8. My last question is not easy for her. I ask, “You like art. 9 not be an artist (艺术家)？” She says, “I like to talk to people through (通过) the 10. I can help more (更多) people in this way (用这种方式). ”

    It was my 14th birthday and I would have the biggest party ever. The number of the 1 had quickly grown from seven to seventeen. Nearly every girl in my class was 2.When each guest excitedly 3 the invitation, I was especially happy.

    The 4was full of shouts and laughter. We had just finished a game of Twister when the door bell rang. I was so 5 and I could feel my face turning red, because when I6the door, there at the front door stood Sarah Westly the quiet girl who sat next to me in music class﹣and she was holding a 7.I thought about the guest list. How did I 8to invite Sarah？

    I remembered that I only added a name to the 9 when someone showed an interest in me. But Sarah had 10 done that. I accepted the box, a gift from Sarah, and asked her to join the party. "I can't 11," she said." My dad's waiting in the car. "At that moment I felt bad about forgetting to invite Sarah and really wanted her to rest for some time in my room." Thanks, but I have to go, "she said, turning 12 towards the door. "See you Monday."

    I didn't open the box until the party was 13. Inside the small box was a ceramic(陶瓷) tabby cat. It was the best gift I had received 14 I didn't like cats. I later 15 that the gift looked exactly like Sarah's cat, Seymour. I didn't know it then, but now I realize that Sarah was my true friend.

    Lucy and Matt's mum is a doctor. The children and their dad were1last Monday evening.

    Mum 2and said, "I3do some more work here at the hospital. Ask Dad4your dinner."

    "Oh no!" said Matt, "Dad5cook !"

    The family 6some food in the kitchen cupboards. They found some onion, potatos and7.

    "What can we make with these?" asked Matt. "I'm very 8! I think I could eat a horse!" Then Lucy said,

    "I know! We can make 9."Matt was not happy. He said "I don't like soup. I want pasta and meatballs!"

    "Sorry, Matt," Dad said. "We haven't got any pasta or meatballs. We 10 have these vegetables to eat for dinner."

    Lucy and Dad made the soup. Then the 11of them sat down and started eating. Lucy asked Matt.

    "So, 12do you think?" "It's fantastic! I 13it!" Matt answered.

    "Can I have 14bowl of soup, please?" 15they all laughed. What an able cook Dad is!

    One day, a father and his son went to a kite flying Festival. When they {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(arrive), there were already many adults and their children playing in the park. When the son saw the sky filled with {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(color) shapes, he was excited and wanted to get one too. His father agreed {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(buy) one for him, So they went to a kite shop and chose a beautiful one.

    With the string(s) in hand, the son started flying the kite. Soon, the kite was high up in the sky {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a while, he said "father, it seems that the string is stopping the kite from flying higher. If we cut it, it {#blank#}5{#/blank#} free and fly even higher. Can we cut it?" The father didn't reply, but just cut the string off the reel(线轴). Suddenly, the kite began to go higher, which made the son much happier.

    However, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} his surprise the kite was coming down. They waited for quite some time {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(slow), it fell onto the grass. The son felt upset and asked, "I thought that after cutting the string, the kite would fly higher. Why did it fall down?"

    The father smiled and said, "The role of the string was not stopping the kite from flying higher, but helping it stay in the sky, because the kite can't fly up by {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(it). By using the string, you help the kite go up in the right {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (direct). When you cut the string, it could not support the kite."

    In our life, we may sometimes feel like there are certain things that are holding us back and stopping us from growing. But {#blank#}10{#/blank#} fact, these might be the things that support us most. We can really grow up and become stronger by realizing the importance of these things.