Mr Smith works in a factory in the middle of the city. The factory is not far from his home. It is about 800 meters away. So Mr Smith doesn't go to work by bus. He usually goes there by bike, sometimes he walks to work. It takes(花费) him 10 minutes to get there by bike or 20 minutes on foot. He usually leaves home at ten minutes to eight. Today something is wrong with his bike. He wants to walk there. His work starts at half past eight in the morning and finishes at a quarter(一刻钟) to five in the afternoon.

    I never saw my father home from work late or ill, nor did I ever see my father take a “night out with the boys.” He had no hobbies but just take care of his family.

    For 22 years, since I left home for college, my father called me every Sunday at 9:00am. He was interested in my life--how my family was doing. The calls even came when he and my mother in Australia, England or Florida.   

    Nine years ago when I bought my first house, my father, 67 years old, spent eight hours for three days, painting my house. He would not allow me to pay someone to have it done. All he asked was a glass of iced tea, and that I hold a paintbrush for him and talk to him. But I was too busy, and I could not take the time to hold the paintbrush, or talk to my father. 

    Five years ago, my 71-year-old father spent five hours putting together a swing set(秋千) for my daughter. Again, all he asked was that I get him a glass of iced tea, and talk to him. But again, I had laundry(要洗的衣服) to do, and the house to clean. The morning on Sunday, January 16, 1996, my father telephoned me as usual, this time he had seemed to have forgotten something we had discussed the week before .I had to get to church, and I cut the conversation short. 

    The call came at 4:40 a.m. That day my father was sent to hospital in Florida. I got on a plane immediately, and I vowed (发誓)that when I arrived, I would make up for the lost time, and have a nice long talk with him and really get to know him. I arrived in Florida at 1:00 a.m. but my father had passed away at 9:12 p.m. This time it was he who did not have time to talk, or time to wait for me. 

    In the years since his death I have learnt much about my father and even more about myself. As a father, he never asked me for anything but my time. Now he has all my attention, every single day. 

David asks the volleyball star, Cindy Smith, about her eating habits.

David: Hello, Cindy. What do you like for breakfast?

Cindy: I love fruit. I think it's healthy.

David: OK. So what fruit do you like? Do you like bananas?

Cindy: Well, I don't like bananas. But I like oranges and apples.

David: What about lunch? Do you like salad?

Cindy: Yes, I really like it.

David: Hmm ... and do you like hamburgers for dinner?

Cindy: Oh, no, they're not healthy. I like chicken for dinner.

David: OK, well, one last question- do you eat ice-cream after dinner?

Cindy: Err. I like ice-cream but I don't eat it. I don't want to be fat.

    Everyone needs friends. They are very important because friends bring us happiness and hope in our lives. But the ability to make friends changes from person to person. To some people, making friends is not hard, and to others it's very difficult. Making friends is a skill, and the first thing is to know how to get on with others. If you have trouble in making friends, maybe I can tell you how to do it.

    a)Realize your own good points. You have skills and talents(才能) that others will like.

    b)Believe that you are a good person and have something nice to share with others.

    c)Be humorous. Learn to laugh at yourself and your weakness. Remember to smile at others.

    d)Respect(尊敬) the others. Everyone has his own idea. Learn how to listen to others' ideas without trying to make them accept yours.

    e)Be kind. If you are kind to others, they will usually be kind to you. There are hundreds of little things you can do to show your kindness. Open the door for someone. Wave to a friend and so on.

    f)Don't complain. Learn to accept what you can't change, and work hard to change what you can. No one is willing to hear your complaints all the time.

    g)Never give up. Even if you are faced with some closed-minded people, never give up. And try to find someone who will understand you.

    Every week I have a two-day holiday.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. So every weekend I have a good time . {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I sometimes go to the countryside with my classmates by bus to breathe (呼吸) the fresh air , climb the hills and enjoy the beauty of nature .Sometimes I go for a picnic in the open air with my friends by bike . There we draw pictures and take photos. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Last Saturday , I went on a trip with my parents .{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. We sat around it , singing and dancing happily . When we felt tried , we sat together , looked at the stars and chatted (聊天) for a long time , and then went to sleep in the tent .{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.