One day town mouse Mike went to visit his cousin Tom in the countryside. Mike lived a rich life and he loved his cousin a lot. Tom was 1 but he loved his town cousin, too. So he made his cousin Mike very welcome.

    For dinner that night Tom took out 2 he had: water and potatoes. Mike said, "Cousin, how can you eat food 3 this, but of course you can't expect anything better in the countryside! Come with me and I' 11 show you how to 4 in the big beautiful town."

    The two mice set off (出发) for the town and 5 the Town Mouse' s home late at night. "Let's have something to eat and drink after 6 long trip," said the Town Mouse. They went into a big dining room. There the two mice had fruit, meat and cakes and drank milk and juice.

    Then they 7 a loud noise (响声). "What's that?" asked Tom. "It is only the dogs of the house," answered Mike. "Only?" said Tom. "I don't like that 8 at my dinner."

    At that time two large dogs came in the dining room. The two mice ran away 9 and hid (隐藏) under a chair.

    "Goodbye, Cousin," said Tom.

    "What? Are you 10 so soon?" said the other.

    "Yes," Tom answered. "I think it's better to enjoy my potatoes at home than meat here."

    My dad was a fisherman(渔夫), and he loved the sea. He had a 1 , but it was not always 2 to make a living on the sea. He stayed out late 3 he wanted to catch enough fish for the family.

    When the weather was 4 , my father didn't work, and he drove me to school. Before he left, he would 5 me a big kiss(亲吻)on the face and tell me to be a good boy.6 for me, it was so embarrassing(尴尬的) .

    I remembered the day. I was 12 years old. I thought I was too 7 for a good-bye kiss. We got to school and came to a stop. He had his usual big smile(微笑) and started to kiss 8 before he left, but I put my hand up and said, "No, dad." It was the 9 time that I talked to him in that way. So he got a(n) 10. I said, "Dad, I'm too old for a good-bye kiss. I'm too old for any kind of kiss. "My dad 11 me for a long time, and his eyes were filled with tears (眼泪). I 12 saw him cry. "You are right," he said, "You are a big 13. I won't kiss you anymore."

    It wasn't long after that when my dad went to the sea for fish but he never 14. I was so sad that I wanted one more15 from my father.

    Tom was walking through the forest with his axe (斧子) when a sapling (树苗) called to him and stopped him on his way.

    "Could you please 1 me clear away these trees, kind friend? They are stealing (窃取) all of my sunshine. There is no room 2 the trees, so my roots cannot grow freely. I cannot 3 the wind with the trees above me."

    Tom decided he could help the sapling. He swung his axe and cleared the 4 around the sapling. But 5 Tom made space for the sapling, the hot sunlight dried his leaves. Then there was a heavy rainstorm. The 6 sapling couldn't stand (忍受) the weather.

    "Oh foolish one," said a farmer who was passing by. "The taller trees may seem like they're taking your sunshine, space and wind from you, 7 they're actually helping you. They 8 you from sunburns, heavy rain and other bad weather. You 9 see them taking your space, but you don't see how they help you. One day when you 10, you might be the one to protect other saplings."

When I was young，I was very proud.I liked to show off（炫耀） in front of others to earn their 1 .But after one 2 experience，I came to understand that it's important to be modest（谦虚）. 

One day，my friend and I were riding our bikes in a park.My mother knew I had just learned how to ride for a short time， 3 she asked me to wear some safety equipment. "No，I won't wear 4 !" I said，pointing at my friend's elbows and knees， "She doesn't wear it，either!" "It's dangerous，" my friend said， "You need more practice." "I might have learned 5 than you，but I can ride even better!" I said loudly.She 6 her eyes and said， "Let's wait and see!" 

I saw a path leading into some woods. "I'll race you!" I shouted.Then we rode towards the woods.7 ，the path wasn't as smooth as I thought.I kept bumping（颠簸） up and down，and then suddenly…bam!I fell off my bike.I 8 my elbows and knees bleeding. "Ha—ha!" My friend 9 and helped me up. "Be more careful next time，" she said.Tears ran down my face. "Sorry，" I said. 

All in all，this experience made me realize that we must be 10 .A fall into a pit，a gain in my wit.

Tina is a thirteen- year- old middle school student. Last year, she went to a summer school in France and stayed with a local family, the Truffauts.

 At first, things didn't go well 1 she couldn't speak French. Simple things like2 the right bus stop became big problems. The Truffauts helped her a lot and treated her like part of the family. They played games and shared traditional food 3 her. Tina was helpful as well. She did some housework with the family every day. On the weekend, she 4 a community club and did volunteer work. For most of the time, she used body language to communicate. People showed 5 thanks with smiles and she would always smile back. Language was not a problem for her any more. As a new member of the club, Tina 6 to have parties with the other members. Day by day, she made more 7 . Tina began to love her new life."A smile is 8 second language we were born to speak. It is also the best gift I have got," she often said 9 .

 Smiles and a helping hand can always make people 10 closer than a language can.