Many musicians meet and form(组成)a band because they like to write and play their own music. They may start as a group of high school students and practice their music in someone's house. Sometimes they may play to passers—by in the street or subway so that they can get some money for themselves or pay for their instruments (乐器).

    However, there was one band that started in a different way. It was called the Monkees and was formed in 1965. It began as a TV show. The TV show had planned to find four rock musicians who could act as well as sing. But they could only find one who was good enough. They had to use actors for the other three members of the band.

    Since some of these actors could not sing well enough，they had to ask for help from other musicians. So at first，the band just pretended (假装)to sing. Anyway，their performances were excellent and they got lots of fans. Each week on TV，the Monkees would pretended to play and sing songs written by other musicians. After a year or so，they became more serious about their work. They started to play and sing their own songs like a real band. Then they produced(制作)their own records and started touring and playing their own music. In the USA they became even more influential and popular than the Beatles and sold even more records.

    However, the band broke up around 1970，but happily they reunited(重聚)in the 1980s. They produced a new record in 1996 to celebrate their time as a band. It was very successful. Today the Monkees are still making music for their millions of fans.

    One morning thirty years ago, I walked into the Track Kitchen, a 1where almost everyone came for breakfast. I saw an2chair next to an old short man. He was3a pair of old glasses and a wrinkled (皱巴巴) black hat. "He must be from a poor family." I thought to 4 I asked him, "Could I join you, sir?" He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my5.

    We began a conversation and talked a lot. But we 6 asked each other's name. I guessed that he might have no money and couldn't7something to eat. When I went to the counter and buy a8 cup of coffee.

    "May I get you something?" I asked.

    "A coffee would be nice."

    Then I bought him a cup of coffee. We talked more, and I got him another cup of coffee. 9, I got up to leave, wished him well, and walked to the door. At the door, I met one of my friends. He asked.

    "How did you know Mr. Carpenter?"

    " 10?"

    "The man you were sitting with. He is the CEO of the Channel."

    I could11believe it. I was buying a free breakfast12one of the richest men in town! My few13with Mr. Carpenter changed my life. Now I try to treat(对待) 14with respect(尊重), no matter(无论)what he wears. Don't judge(判断) a man by his15.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock

    Andreas watched the clock moving very slowly. This was his last class of the day - biology. Usually, Andreas really liked biology. But today was 1. Today there were tryouts（预赛） for the basketball team after school.

    There was only one thing that Andreas liked more than biology: basketball. Because of the tryouts, Andreas had been 2 for months.

    Tyrell had been Andreas's best friend since kindergarten. He was also trying out for the basketball team that afternoon. Andreas was glad he'd have his best friend by his 3.

    Suddenly the bell rang and class was over. Andreas and Tyrell walked down to the gym: When they got there, Andreas's heart sank (下沉). There were at least 60 boys crowded there, but the basketball team only had 4 for 20 people. Andreas and Tyrell looked at each other. What if only one of them made the team? That would be 5 than not making the team at all.

    The coach blew a whistle and the tryouts began. Andreas and Tyrell were separated into different groups. As soon as he 6 his hands on the basketball, Andreas felt better. This was why he loved the game. All the nights of practicing paid off as he took shots from the 3-point line.

    When the tryouts were over, the coach said he was posting a list of who made the team the next day before school. Andreas felt his stomach tighten. He knew he had played well, 7 was it good enough?

    "It's OK," said Tyrell. "I'm sure you made it. I just don't know if I did."

    "Playing on the basketball team wouldn't be any 8 without you," a little upset.

    They walked the rest of the way home in silence.

The next morning Andreas hurried to school and went to see the 9. Tyrell's name was at the very top—--he had made it! But Andreas didn't see his name anywhere.

    "Andreas!" He heard Tyrell's happy voice. "We made it!"

    "What do you mean?" asked Andreas. "My name's not on there."

Tyrell 10 up the first sheet of paper and pointed to Andrea's name at the very top of the second sheet. They shouted and gave each other a high-five（击掌）. They were going to be on the basketball team together.

I was once a fat girl. I weighed 336 pounds and looked as big as my fridge. I was never 1 it. But one day I had a medical examination（体检）. The doctor told me that I was having heart trouble. It 2 me up. I began to feel nervous. Then I decided to do something!

In a year and five months, I3 104 pounds. What a great thing I did ! I didn't have any expensive food, medical treatment（治疗）or camp-style（训练营式的）exercise. What was the secret to my success?

First I looked through the Internet for do-it-yourself 4 that people could follow on losing weight. Of course I saw countless(无数的) ads which tried to get me to buy their products. But I bought nothing. The only thing I did was to change my bad 5 . The following are what I have done. You can try these. Stop drinking something with too much sugar in it. Refuse(拒绝)sweet cakes. Eat green vegetables. Use only vegetable oil. Never eat after 6:30 pm. Also, do light exercise for 15 to 20 minutes five days a week. 

Then I kept doing what I should do. People sometimes say, "You don't need to tell me 6 to do. I know it already!" But the fact is that knowing what to do and doing what you know are totally7 . The important thing is to know what to do and then just keep doing it. 。