One day when I was five years old, my mother took me to a swimming pool. She wanted to teach me how to swim.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (sad), I was almost drowned(淹死，溺死).{#blank#}2{#/blank#} I was rescued by a man, my mother was so {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(frighten) that she decided never to let me get close to a swimming pool again.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}, I thought quite differently. Instead of letting that horrible incident create more fear around water for me, I decided to become a good {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(swim). After I told my mother about that, she thought I was right and {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(agree). So I started to learn how to swim again. My mother became more careful and I was not in danger again. Later I became {#blank#}7{#/blank#} interested in swimming that I decided to compete in swimming events. After years of efforts, my dream came true. I was the first African American {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(win) an Olympic Gold Medal in swimming. I did so at both 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

    Now I spend much of my time {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (help) children learn how to swim. Hundreds of children each year drown in the United States.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (learn) how to swim can prevent 80% of these tragedies.

Bully for you

    The makers of a hotly debated computer game about bullying have decided to go ahead and put it into market despite calls for it {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(forbid). In the game, players take on the role of a new student at a school and have to fight the bullies , by striking them or hitting them{#blank#}2{#/blank#} a baseball bat.

    Critics have said that the game encourages {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(violent). The makers, however, disagree and say that, while the game might be a little violent at times, it is just an {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (amuse)  look at school life. Besides, they argue that the fighting in the game {#blank#}5{#/blank#}( direct) against the bullies to protect students who are being bullied. The makers also say that the players will learn to stand up to bullies,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} use their strength or power to hurt or frighten other people. “Nobody should bully others just because they want to feel stronger or{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(important),” said the makers.

    A British politician, a former minister, has called for it to be banned as it might have {#blank#}8{#/blank#}negative influence on the way young people think of violent behaviors.

    Anti-bullying {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (charity) that fight against school bullying have said that the game might make people respond violently to bullies, which might make things more complicated and result in injuries. In other words, people {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(possible) get hurt because of the game.

    You will meet many people in school, in college and at work. They'll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes. To them, life is a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(compete)—they have to do{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(good)than their peer(同龄人)to be happy.

Here's a secret: life isn't a match. It's a journey. If you spend it always {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(try) to impress others, you're wasting your life. Instead, learn to enjoy the journey. Make it a journey of happiness of continual improvement, and filled{#blank#}4{#/blank#}love.

    Don't worry about having a nicer car or house or anything material, or even{#blank#}5{#/blank#} better-paying job. None of them matters, and none of them will make you happier. You'll acquire these{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(thing) and then only want more. Instead, learn to be{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(satisfy) with having enough and then use the time {#blank#}8{#/blank#}would have been wasted to try to earn money to buy those things.

    Find your passion, and go after it{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(constant). Don't work for only paying the bills. Life is too short {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(waste) on a job you hate.

    Debbie, who lives in Hong Kong, was on holiday in Beijing with her best friend Lily. Lily is a beautiful girl who is studying science at university. She also models{#blank#}1{#/blank#}her spare time. Debbie is studying history and wants to be writer. Lily and Debbie were very{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (excite)to be in Beijing because there was so much to see. Lily suggested {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(visit)the Great Wall first, so they went on a tour to see it the first day. Their tour guide was a young man with {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(glass)who was very {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (knowledge). He told them many interesting stories. The next day, they took a bus from their hotel and then, using a map, they walked around some old hutongs. Both of the girls thought that it gave them a good idea of  {#blank#}6{#/blank#}life was like in the 13^th century. Debbie was{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(especial) excited as she{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(study)hutongs earlier in the year{#blank#}9{#/blank#}was the Forbidden City that was next on{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(they) agenda and the girls loved every minute of the tour around the beautiful grounds. Because they were leaving the next day, when they finished the tour, they went shopping and splashed out on an expensive meal.