On a hot summer day in America, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. He dived into the cool water, Not 1that as he swam towards the middle of the lake, a crocodile (鳄鱼) was swimming toward him.

    His mother2was looking out of the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer. In great3she ran toward the water,4 to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became 5 and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.6 it was too late. Just as he reached her, the 7reached him. From the shore, the mother 8 her little boy by the arms just as the crocodile snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war (拔河) between the 9The crocodile was much 10 than the mother, but the mother wouldn't11A farmer 12to drive by, heard their screams, raced from his truck, took aim and13 the crocodile.

    14 after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His 15were extremely scarred (留下疤痕) by the attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches (抓痕) where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

    The newspaper reporter, who 16the boy, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his legs. And then, with obvious 17 he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them 18my Mom wouldn't let go.”

    Never judge another person's19, because you don't know 20 they were made.

    Armed with a bachelor's degree in medicine, I left Jammu, my hometown, for Delhi hoping to find a good job. Those were testing time — I was 1 my resume at every hospital and clinic in the capital, and facing upsetting 2responses. These big-city folks seemed too busy to care about a 23-year-old, jobless girl. Then a friend told me about the “Technical Recruitment Cell”,3 near the Income Tax Office (ITO), where I could 4 for a government job.

    The next day I reached the ITO area and 5 in the sun for an hour asking everybody for the Technical Recruitment Cell, but no one had any idea 6 it was.

    It was 7 and the heat unbearable. I then reached a big book shop, full of books on law and finance. Maybe I'll 8 inside, I thought as I walked in and found a man aged about 40 busy at his PC.9him, I asked if he knew the address. Seeing me drenched in sweat (大汗淋淳)，he asked me to take a 10 and offered me a glass of water. He then googled “Technical Recruitment Cell”, but without 11. I must have looked frustrated.

    “Don't get 12.” he said, as he continued his search. “We'll find it.” He'd spent several minutes searching when an older man who also 13 in the shop, came by and asked us what we were looking for.

    “Beta, it might be the Delhi Subordinate Board,” he suggested. “They 14 people for government posts.” We searched for that and found it 15 — actually the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board. They then gave me a printout of the 16

    “What do I 17you for the Internet time and the printout?” I asked the first gentleman.

    “Oh, nothing. Good luck!”

    “Thank you,” I said to the pair. The older man then told me the 18 of the bus that would get me there, the fare, even the best 19 to take, finally saying “God bless you!” as I walked out.

    I was happy in the discovery that not all city folks are too 20to help other.

    We were depressed and things were tough. Mom had a 1time raising us on her own because Dad died five years ago. We relied on social assistance for 2.

    Looking back, I 3remember what Mom went through to send us to school. I studied hard then. Every morning, she would put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes because our shoes were 4. Constant moving was typical for my family in these times. Rent was 25 dollars a month but Mom couldn't 5it. Though it was hard, we never 6. Christmas was approaching. We were given 25 dollars for social services. Instead of buying food, Mom would use the money to pay the 7, ensuring us all of a 8over our head.9we had nothing for Christmas.

    Unknown to Mom, I had been selling Christmas trees to earn enough money for a new pair of 10. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, I was 11to go to catch the bus.

    As I reached the stop, I began to feel 12. I was going to buy a new pair of boots13Mom was at home in tears.  My mind was 14and I realized what I had to do. I didn't get on the 15.

    I went in a grocery store and bought the Christmas treats. I 16home and put them quietly against the door. I knocked on the door. When Mom opened the door, 17rolled into the house. She just stood there 18. I managed to hold back the 19, saying, "Merry Christmas, Mom! There really is a Santa Claus!"

    That day I got many 20and kisses from Mom. It was a Merry Christmas for us after all!

    Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more 1, waiting for the final school bell. Upon its 2 everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.

    David was a small boy in ragged clothes. I had often 3 what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so 4 for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David 5. I can still remember he was always 6 a smile and willing to help. He always 7 after school to straighten chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He 8 just smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly 9 home.

    Weeks passed and the10over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness until the last day of 11 before the holiday break. I smiled in 12as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David 13standing by my desk.

    “I have something for you” he said and 14 from behind his back a small box.15 it to me, he said anxiously, “Open it.” I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my 16  saw nothing. I looked at David's smiling face and back into the box and said, "The box is nice, David, but it's 17"

    "Oh no, it isn't" said David. "It's full of love, my mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn't see or touch unless you know it's there."

    Tears filled my eyes 18 I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given 19to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning 20 the little empty box set on my desk.

    When Mrs Green asked us to discover our professions(职业), the whole class seemed to be greatly surprised. Our professions? We were only 13 and 14 years old! The teacher must be 1. "Yes, you will all be searching for your future 2. Each of you will have to 3 someone in your field and give an oral report."

    Each day in her class, Mrs Green talked about this. Finally, I picked print journalism(新闻业). This 4 I had to go to interview a true newspaper reporter. I was nervous. I sat down in front of him 5 able to speak. He looked at me and said, "Did you bring a pencil or pen?"

    I shook my head.

    "How about some 6?"

    I shook my head again.

    Finally, I thought he 7 I was nervous, and I got my first big tip as a 8:"Never, never go anywhere without a pen and paper. You never know what you'll run into." After a few days, I gave my oral report totally from9in class. I got an A on the project.

    Years later, I was in college looking around for a new career(职业), but with no success. Then I10 Mrs Green and my dream at 13 to be a journalist. And I called my parents. They didn't 11 me. They just reminded(提醒) me how competitive the field was and 12 all my life I had to run away from competition. This was true. But journalism did something to me; it was in my13. It gave me the freedom to go up to total strangers and ask what was 14.

    For the past 12 years, I've had the most satisfying reporting career, 15 stories from Olympic Games to car accidents and 16 choosing my strongest area. 17 I went to pick up my phone one day, an incredible（令人难以置信的）wave of memories hit me and I realized that 18 Mrs Green I was able to be sitting at that desk.

    I get 19 all the time: "How did you pick journalism?"

    "Well, you see, there was a teacher…" I just wish I could 20 her.

    A businessman was in heavy debt. The sponsor cut off his investment (投资), 1 the supplier was urging payment. The businessman felt it 2 to get out of the trouble. He sat on a bench in the 3, with his head 4 in his hands, thinking hard on how to avoid bankruptcy (破产).

    Just at this moment, an old man suddenly appeared and asked him, "Are you in any 5?"

    Hearing the businessman's story, the old man said, "I can 6 you." The old man asked the businessman's name and then handed him a 7, saying, "Take this, let's meet here again in one year. I believe you will surely pay me back."

    "Oh, thank you very much, I promise I will."

    Then the old man left. The businessman 8 the $500,000 check, and found the signature on it was John D. Rockefeller, a billionaire's name.

    "So the problem was solved easily," the businessman thought to himself. Thanks to the check, he could possibly find a 9 to save his company. 10, he decided not to use the money until he had to. With such thoughts in mind, he became positive about his 11. Therefore, a second talk with the supplier went 12 and he gained the permission of 13 delay. After that, he made several deals 14. A few months later, he paid off all the 15 and his business improved and began to make profits again.

    One 16 later, he came to the park as 17, the $500,000 uncashed check in hand. Soon the old man came. The businessman was just about to 18 the check to the old man when a nurse ran over and seized the old man. "I 19 him," the nurse shouted, "I hope he didn't 20 you, sir, he always runs away from the nursing home and tells everybody that he is John D. Rockefeller." The nurse took the old man away with the words.