From the Other Side

Lara and Tara are twins. They look like each other, but they are very different in everything else. For example, hot food is Lara's favorite, and Tara has a sweet choice.

However, this isn't the problem with the twin girls. They always argues that the opposite one was wrong. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, while Tara thought mornings were fresh and it was difficult to stay up till midnight.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} To put an end to their fights, their parents decided to create a small drama. They wanted the girls to understand that they were both correct from their own point of view. Their parents covered the girl's eyes with black ribbons (带、条), and brought them to the dining room. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Lara was asked to stand on one side of the board and Tara on the other. They couldn't see the other side of it. When the ribbons were taken away, they were surprised to see a huge board between them.

Now, their father asked Lara, "What's the color of the board?" She replied, "It's black!" {#blank#}4{#/blank#} She replied, "It's white!" The two girls began to argue again. While Lara was confident it was black, Tara was sure it was white. Then, they were asked to exchange (交换) their places. They couldn't believe their eyes. Tara, who insisted (坚持) it was a white board, saw a black one. Similarly, Lara, who argued the board was black, was surprised to see a white one. They understood that each of them was right in her own view. Most of us are like Lara and Tara. We are right most times, but insist that others are wrong!

There are lots of amazing places for people to imagine and expect in the world. But many people {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (encourage) to go into Cambridge.

I come from Cambridge, a beautiful city in the east of England. I have grown up there and experienced many {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (wonder) times. I have many good {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (memory) of it. In recent years, it develops {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (rapid) and has changed a lot. For this, more and more tourists take an interest in it.

Cambridge is 80 kilometers from London. London is in {#blank#}5{#/blank#}south of England. It has a population of about seven and a half million, so it is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (big) and busier than Cambridge. It is about 2,000 years old, and it is famous {#blank#}7{#/blank#}Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge. England {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (it) is part of an island. It owns rich tourism resources. Tourists like the mountain areas and beautiful lakes in the north, and the hills and pretty villages in the south. So it's really perfect for you {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (pay) a visit. It is never very hot in summer {#blank#}10{#/blank#}very cold in winter. So you can visit England any time of the year. Or it will be a pity in the rest of time.

Last year my dad got a new job in a small town,1 my family moved there. On my first 2 at the new school I was really worried. The teachers were friendly, but the 3 was the other students. They didn't seem friendly. I knew nobody and I couldn't 4 understand what they said. 

 During the break all the other students went out. I didn't know where to go, so I 5 in the classroom. After a while, a 6 came back in and came up to me. I 7 what he wanted to do. He took 8 out of his bag and said to me, "Would you like something to 9 ?"It was an apple. Suddenly I felt really 10 and we began to talk. 

 It was Tony who gave me the apple and now he is my best friend. I am thankful to the apple, which started our friendship. 

Hello, my name is Li Hui. Hui is my first name, so you can 1 me Xiaohui. I am a 14- year- old boy. I come 2 China. I am in Shanghai now. Tom is my good friend. He is not Chinese. He is 3 English boy. But he is in Shanghai, 4 his parents work here. He is thirteen years old, so he is younger than me. Tom's Chinese name is Da- lin. We are both in 5 , Grade Six in No.6 Middle School. And both of us like 6 basketball. We often play it with our classmates after class. We can play basketball 7 , but I think Tom plays better than me. Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian 8 our favorite basketball stars. We often watch basketball games on TV. We want 9 basketball players in the future. Mr Li is my favorite teacher. He teaches 10 math. I like math and PE. I always have a good day at school.

I have been a writer for the school newspaper the Dagligtale, since my first day here at the University of Alberta. I probably won't work as a reporter after I finish university, but this doesn't mean my experience as a reporter has been useless. In fact, I have learned something important through this job.

I still remember my first news story. It was about the winning of the school baseball team. I came to the celebration and was told to do some interviews (采访). I was afraid. Talking to people I don't know was one of my worries. But I tried my best and did it. I talked to the students, the players and the team leader. It was something I had never dreamed of doing before. This experience made me believe in myself and helped me to improve my social skills (社交技能).

As a student reporter, I have learned to do research and to think carefully about what I read. Finding out the facts is important when you are writing for the school newspaper, but in the Information Age, this is also a useful skill in everyday life.

As a student reporter, I always know that I have a lot to learn. I'm never afraid of asking people for advice. I have learned how to use it to make improvements to myself.

To be a reporter is not easy, but I'm thankful that I have had the chance (机会) to try my hand at it. It has taught me to be a better storyteller, student and citizen. If you are ever given a chance to write for a school newspaper or magazine, take it and learn everything you can!

My day began when I saw my six-year-old son Jonathan doing something in the garden by my azalea bush(杜鹃花从). By the time I got 1 , I found he'd broken it! It was my favorite! "Can I take this to school?" he asked. smiling. Though a bit unhappy, I nodded. Then I turned back to the broken bush and 2 it as if to say silently, "I'm sorry." Later I pruned (修剪) it with great care.

The rest of the day, I was busy doing endless housework. Time had passed by fast 3 I realized it was already 3:00. Leaving the clothes in the washing machine. I hurriedly got to school to 4 Jonathan. When I got there, the teacher told me she wanted to talk about Jonathan.

What now? I thought.

 I had prepared myself for the worst,5 the teacher's words greatly surprised me."Did you know Jonathan brought 6 to school today?" she asked. I nodded, thinking about my favorite bush. "See that little girl?" the teacher7 . I saw a bright-eyed child busily drawing a picture with crayons. I8 again

"Well, her parents are separated(分居的) and she has been9 these days. I did all I could to comfort(安慰)her, but nothing10 . This morning I watched your son walk over to11 with some pretty pink flowers and say, ‘This is for you.'"

I felt my heart full of12 for what my son had done. Holding Jonathan's hand, I said, "Thank you, you've13 my day."

I was warmed by the14 Jonathan showed to the little girl and I made up my mind to pass it on. Later that evening when my husband came back home from a tiring workday, I picked some pink azaleas and15 them to him. "This is for you," I said.