It was Christmas Eve. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world was over for me. I didn't have enough money to buy myself the1 that I had wanted that year.

Dad came back in and there was ice in his beard（胡子)."You've been by widow（寡妇）Smith's house recently?"he asked. Widow Smith 2two miles down the road. Her husband died a year ago and left her with3children.

“I rode by just today,"Dad 4 “Little Jack was out looking for wood. They must have used up wood, Tom.”

We filled our sledge（雪橇）high with 5. Then we went to the store and Dad bought some food and a small pair of shoes. I tried to think about6Dad was doing. I knew we didn't have enough money, so why was Dad buying them so many things?

We 7 widow Smith's house and went in. "We brought you a few things, madam."Dad said, and 8 the bag of food on the table. Then Dad handed widow Smith the pair of shoes. At that moment, tears filled her eyes and started running down her face.

My throat seemed to be filled with 9, and there were tears in my eyes, too. Just then, my dream gift seemed very unimportant. Dad had given me the look on widow Smith's face and the smiles of 10three children. He had given me the best Christmas of my life.

A

    Known as “wolf (狼) girl” at her school, Alyssa Grayson has spent much of her young life teaching others to protect animals. After starting a wolf club in second grade, Alyssa learned a lot about her favorite 1. Today, she gives speeches about protecting wolves at libraries and schools. She's even spoken at a university. In fact, she's become a wolf 2.

    When she's not teaching others about wolves, Alyssa always 3 at her local animal shelter (收容所). She cleans the dogs and plays with the cats. Back at home, she makes food for the animals and collects things for the shelter. She has even 4 medical care for a shelter dog with her money. Dogs and cats aren't the only animals Alyssa works for. She's also trained as a scientist for FrogWatch USA. Alyssa shows that you're never too 5 to make a difference to animals.

    A group of adults, highly succeeded in their jobs, went to visit their old professor. Soon they began to1 the stress in work and life.

    The professor went to the kitchen and returned2a pot of coffee and all kinds of cups —crystal (水晶), glass, plastic; some nice looking, some simple looking; some 3some cheap. And he told them to help4to the coffee.

    When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “I've noticed that all the nice looking expensive cups were 5 leaving behind the simple and cheap ones. While it is

6 for you to take only the best for yourself, that is the root of your 7 and stress.

    You know that the cup itself adds no quality (品质) to the coffee8 you really wanted was coffee, not the cup9 you went for the best cups without thinking.

    Now consider this: Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and 10 in society are the cups. They are just11 to hold life, and the type of cup doesn't change the quality of our life. Sometimes, by 12 attention to the cup only, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has 13 us. God offers us the coffee, not the cup. Please enjoy your coffee!”

    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make 14 of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak15 And leave the rest to the God.

    Tom was very proud of his dog Blackie. Whenever he got a chance, he would ask his 1 to please his friends with some tricks.

    One day Tom went to visit his friend Jack, who was 2 at home with a bad cold. "How are you feeling?" asked Tom. " 3 than yesterday," answered Jack. "I have a terrible cough, and there is no 4 in the house." "Don't worry, Jack. I'll 5 Blackie to the drugstore for some medicine. He'll be back in a minute before you know it. "Tom put a five-dollar note in Blackie's 6 and the dog ran down the street. "And keep the change," Tom shouted after him.

    "Oh, Tom, don't be 7. You know that dog won't be back with any medicine," said Jack. "Oh, yes, he will," answered Tom. Half an hour later, however, Blackie had not 8. Tom was worried and felt angry at his friend's little smile.

    "9 has happened to him, I'm sure." said Tom. "He obeyed me as a rule." Just then Tom saw Blackie at a distance. He hurried to open the door and let him in. Jack was shocked to see a bottle of medicine in the dog's mouth.

    "Good boy," said Tom. "But what took you so long?" Blackie ran to the door, 10 and wagging his tail. Tom looked out of the door and saw a bone outside.

    Our teacher asked us what our favorite animal was, and I said," Fried chicken. "She said I wasn't funny, but she wasn't 1, because everyone else in the class laughed.

    My parents told me to always be truthful and honest, and I am. Fried chicken is my favorite2. I told my dad what happened, and he said my teacher was probably a(n) 3of PETA. He said they loved animals very much. I do, too. Especially chicken, pork and beef. 4, nay teacher sent me to the principal's office(校长室).I told him what happened, and he 5, too. Then he told me not to do it again.

    The next day in class my teacher asked me what nay favorite live animal was. I told her it was chicken. She asked me 6 , just like she'd asked the other children. I told her it was because people could 7  them into fried chicken. She sent me back to the principal's office. He laughed, and told me not to do it again. I don't 8. My parents taught me to be honest, 9 my teacher doesn't like it when I am.

    Today, my teacher asked us to tell her what famous person 10 like (s) most.

    I told her, "Colonel Sanders (肯德基创始人).

    Guess where I am now?