Beethoven had an ugly face and a very 1 temper(脾气), but people 2 him to their homes.When he lost his temper, they forgave(原谅)him.He was often poor and ill during his life.After one illness, he suddenly 3 himself deaf.At that time he was 4 31.What a blow it was on him!

    5 this didn't stop Beethoven 6 on in his life.He went on 7 much music. He wrote long pieces and short pieces, happy ones and 8 ones.During his life, he composed(作曲)about 300 pieces. 9 people's surprise, he wrote some of his best and most beautiful pieces 10 he became deaf.Many of them are known and loved all over the world.

    Every day after school, Jack locked himself in his bedroom. He was working on a(n)1project. He didn't tell anyone what he was doing, not even his best friend Larry.

    Jack finally 2. He made a robot. It looked like Jack. The robot had orange hair and wore glasses. The robot and Jack both talked in a special voice. "Life is going to be 3 now!" shouted Jack. "I will send my robot to school while I will 4 at home and play."

    The next morning the robot ate breakfast. Then, he took the bus to school. After school, the bus sent the robot back home. The robot knocked on the door.

    "Sweetie, I'm so glad you come back. I really5you!" said Mum. Then she took the robot into the kitchen and gave him a snack before6.

    "I had lots of 7 at school today," said the robot. "I went to a space museum. I got to 8a real spacesuit. It was too big for me. "

    Jack was 9 outside the kitchen. He was10. He wanted to be an astronaut. He thought this wasn't a good idea. So the next day, Jack went to school himself.

    I graduated from college recently and moved to Washington by myself While I was in college, it was really 1 to meet new people. But "out in the real world", I was finding it really hard, so I called my sister for some advice.

    My sister is five2older than I am, so she's been through all this already. When I explained my problem, she understood3. She said, "Why don't you try 4 people online?"

    "Online? Are you kidding?" I asked. "A friend of 5 chatted with a guy online, and when she finally met him face to face, he was 6 like what he said."

    My sister laughed. "But you can find other people like you — people who have just moved to town and want to make some new 7. When I first moved to New York after college, I 8a book club and a football team online. I met a lot of people that way."

    "9 you don't even like football!" I said.

    "I know," she replied. "But that didn't 10. I still had a lot of fun. You played volleyball in college. Why don't you 11a volleyball team to join? Or an art class?"

    "Yeah! I saw a website12volunteering the other day." I said. "I could volunteer for an organization here in Washington. I bet I could meet a lot of really 13people that way."

    "Good idea!" my sister answered excitedly. "Hey, you14even meet the perfect guy."

    "Thanks a lot for the 15. I'll let you know what happens. Will you be home tonight?" I said.

"No, but I'll be here all day tomorrow, so give me a call," my sister replied. "Good luck!"

    Several weeks ago, our headmaster, Mr. Brown, told us that our school had been chosen to compete on Smart Aleck-a game show. My best friend Nancy and I both 1 it. Nancy has a good imagination, and I know a lot of history. So we thought we'd be good 2 for the team.

    A few days later, Mr. Brown held a meeting with everyone interested in the 3 .He told us that Smart Aleck used a five-member team and three more people would be needed as backup (替补). Mr. Brown said we would have a 4 among all the students present and the top eight scorers would become the team and the backup. Everybody agreed that this was a 5 way to decide.

    Yesterday, all of the hopefuls got together. Mr. Brown acted as the host. After a couple of hours, all the places on the team were set 6 one. Nancy and I tied(打成平手)for that last position. We had to hold a one-on- one competition. The winner would be on the team and the loser would be the 7 .

    Midway through our two-person competition, I was starting to pull 8 . Then I saw the look on Nancy's face. I waited for a second and knew 9 I had to do. As much as I wanted to be on Smart Aleck, Nancy wanted it even more. So, starting with my next question, I held back and let Nancy 10 , just by a little bit. When she 11 she would be on the show, she felt sorry for my not being on the team. However, I will still have the 12 of seeing the show up close.

    Was I 13 by not trying as hard as I could? I don't think so. No one noticed, and Nancy and I didn't say it. It won't hurt the team 14Nancy will be a very good competitor on the real show. I think that making my best friend happy was the 15 thing to do.