Yesterday was Lucy's father's birthday．In the morning，Dad left1early and said he might get back late．"Dad is so2that he didn't remember his birthday," thought Lucy．

    After Dad left, Lucy decided to make a birthday cake3him．She thought it was a(n)4gift because it was a handmade(手工制作的)one．Soon she began to make it with her mother's5 ． Dad is heavy, so Lucy just put a little sugar(糖)in it．Two hours later, they made a great cake．"6you have anything to say to your father, you can make a birthday card and7it down on the card，"said Mom．Lucy thought her mother's8was good，and she made a card．

    Dad came back at night．He was happy to9the cake with a card．And the card read：Dad, you are so busy, but you have to keep a good living habit．We wish10healthy．Happy birthday, Daddy!

    The other day， I was getting into my car when I saw an old man walking up the hill. He looked tired， so I waited to see 1he was OK. He was fine， so I 2 him where he came from. He said that he just 3a train. He was almost blind， but I said he was4.

    We spent the next thirty minutes 5 about his life. He told me he invited 6 the army during the Second World War. And I even found 7 had a connection through a family member! We laughed so much that we almost cried.

    It cost me nothing other than thirty minutes of my 8. I learnt so much， and Albert enjoyed the talking and left smiling.

    I also had a(n) opportunity 9 to thank this great man for all he did to keep the country 10 during the war.

    Thanks， amazing Albert. You are an inspiration!

    One day, my lite daughter Annie came to me with a difficult problem. "Helen hates me!" she cried. "She wants me only to be her 1.You tell Helen that I want to be her friend, but I can have other friends, too!"

    Oh! I looked at her for a few 2wondering what to do, when suddenly an idea came to me.

    I picked up two 3from the living room. I put the small basket inside the big one and said. "When everyone is born, he or she has a little basket. The lite one is 4.The big one is mine. Your little basket is inside mine.5do you think that is?"

    She looked at me 6and said nothing

    I continued, "Your little basket is in mine because when you were born, there were too many things you couldn't do for yourself. I fed you, bathed you and I7 everything else you couldn't do on your own.8 I put your basket in mine. As you grew older, when you learnt to tie your shoes, that went in your basket You 9want me to tie your shoes now, right?"

    She said softly, "No, I can tie my own shoes."

    As you grow older, there will be 10things you must do by yourself." As I spoke, I took her basket out of mine and handed it to her." You will finally 11 your own basket with things only you can do, like deciding who you want to be friends with, what college you will go to, who you will marry."

    She 12it for a while and said," I understand. There are some things that I have to do for myself because they are in my basket."

    I hugged her and continued, "One day when I become 13, you will take things out of my basket and place them into your basket. Finally, you'll take my basket. Just like I do for my mom and grandmother now." I gently 14my basket with hers.

    Life is a 15. As she watched the little basket in my hand and smiled, she understood

    Once there lived a farmer called Henry. He had a brother Mike, who was1excellent gardener. His skill and his beautiful trees were2everywhere. One day, Henry went to town to visit Mike. "Look, my brother," said Mike, "here is the best 3 tree from my garden. Take it home and plant it4you, and your children, and your children's children can enjoy it." Henry was 5with the apple tree and went back home. The next morning, he began to wonder6he should plant it.

    "If I plant it on the hill," he said to himself, "the wind might catch it and 7 down the fruit. If I plant it close to the road, people who pass by will8some of them. But if I plant it…"9 he planted the tree in the corner behind his house, where no one else could notice it.10the tree bore(结出) no fruit the first year, nor the second.11Henry sent for his brother and said to him 12, "you have cheated me. This is the third year and it brings me 13but leaves(叶子)."

    When Mike saw where the tree was planted, he laughed and said, "You have planted the tree in such a cold corner14sun-light or warmth. How could you expect flowers and15?"