The Phone Call

        It was getting dark. Paul looked out of the window and signed (叹气). Dad said he would come home by 5:30, but it was almost 7:00. Even if Dad came back, it wouldn't be much fun playing 1 in the dark. Paul walked into his room and threw his baseball into the corner. He tried to do some homework, but couldn't.

      The phone rang at about 8:00. It was Dad: “Paul, I'm 2, but I couldn't play baseball with you tonight. I have to finish my work at

the office. Maybe we can play this weekend. Oh no. How about next weekend?....”

       Paul couldn't understand why Dad was so 3. He threw himself into the sofa and soon fell asleep. His book was still opened to the

 first page.

      The next day at school, Paul didn't hand in his homework and 4 a test. Mrs. Green, his teacher, asked him to stay after school. “Paul, you didn't do your homework. You didn't pass the test and only got a D. This isn't like you. What's wrong?”

      Paul just sat there5 . “Paul, if you don't want to talk, I will. I know that something's worrying with you, but you have to get it out. You need to tell someone.”

      As Paul walked home, he thought of what Mrs. Green said. Maybe he didn't do his homework because he wanted to get his dad's _6 . He knew Mrs. Green was right. He decided to take her advice.

      When Paul got home, he 7his dad. But there was no answer. Then it went to voicemail (语音信箱). Paul began talking: “Dad, I can't play with you next weekend. I've got lots of problems with my homework. Also, I really don't want to spend another day looking out of the window and waiting. Whenever you 8our plans, Dad, it hurts me. It's not too late to rebuild our relationship, but we have to start small. Maybe you can help me with my 9sometime. Dad, I love you.”

      As Paul ended the call, he felt much relaxed. He didn't know whether his dad would be different, but it didn't matter. He himself __10. He expressed his feelings to the right person. He had a clear head as he was doing his homework that evening.

    At the beginning of this term, my 1 teacher suggested I take part in the marathon race(马拉松赛跑). I was very surprised(惊讶的) 2 I was never a good runner. He said that if I took part in it, I would get a 3mark(分数) for the term's PE class. So I decided to have a4because I had nothing to lose.

    I prepared for the marathon very 5. I ran every day in the morning6school. And after school, I practised7with many other runners on the sports ground.

    When the day of the marathon arrived, I 8in the morning as usual. I had my breakfast and listened to some music. Then my father drove 9 to the sports ground. The marathon was going to take place there in an hour. All my family wished me good luck because they knew how10this race was for me and how hard I trained for it.

    All the other runners looked 11 than me. I was afraid that I would be last. 12, when I started to run, I thought only about the race. As I cared about the 13 itself, I did not remember when I passed the other runners. Suddenly I found that I came 14. I was very happy when I won the race. 15 the race, I learn that nothing is impossible if you work hard.

Henry is a tall and strong man. But he used to be very thin when he was in middle school. Because of this, he 1 by some schoolboys. They made fun of him. His parents were worried 2 him. So he decided to do something 3 this situation in college.

Henry joined a sports club in his college. He stayed in 4 sports club from 6:00p. m. to 8:00  p. m. every day. He lifted light weights (哑铃) at first and then moved on to heavier ones. Every three weeks, he increased the weight he lifted by five 5 . He swam, ran or played basketball every morning. 6 he took exercise, he always drank some milk. It helped him get a lot of energy.

Henry also changed his eating habits. He 7 eating foods such as beef, chicken, eggs and brown rice. Eating these foods made him become healthy and worked 8 .

One year later, Henry wasn't thin any longer. He was strong and 9 laughed at him in college. He felt much 10 than he used to be.

Henry's change encouraged him a lot. He created a program teaching middle school students how to get stronger. He also joined talk shows and wrote books about his experience.

 Hi, I'm Zhang Wen. My English name is Amy. I'm 13. I'm a middle school student.

I want to have lunch with Maria now. But she isn't in the classroom. Where is she? Oh, she may go to the school library(图书馆). This morning, she tells me she needs to return (归还) some books to the library today. You may ask, "Who is Maria?" Well, she is my classmate. And she is also my good friend.

 Maria is the same age as me. She is tall and thin. She likes to wear white dresses.

 Maria's dad is from Canada and her mum is from China. Maria can speak English and Chinese very well. She often helps me with my English.

 Maria likes playing basketball. I like playing basketball too. On Fridays, we play basketball together after school. We always have a great time.

 Maria often helps me when I'm in need. I'm happy to have her as my good friend.

How time flies! I'm now in junior high! I think I'm ready for my new {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(旅程). How about you?

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(初级教育的) school was small and safe，like a {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(水塘). With the help of my parents，I went {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(穿过) that period of time healthily and happily. But junior high is {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(宽的) and hard，just like {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(起航) at sea. I may face all kinds of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(问题). Dad and Mum will help and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(保护) me from the {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(风) and waves. But sometimes I still need to steer(驾驶) my boat by myself. 

No {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(疼痛)，no gain. Just keep going forward. I hope all of us can reach our goals.