Hiking through the mountains of Colorado was never my plan. I wanted to take1at Yale University but I abruptly (意外地) decided to explore the great outdoors of the American West with an adventure program. Before I knew it, Chicago and my comfort zone were being left behind and2mountains and sand dunes (沙丘).

    On the morning of June 27, I was3by a burst of sunshine. I 4slowly but suddenly realized I was not in Chicago anymore. I was in a5in the middle of nowhere in Colorado. I was going to have to6my three tent mates. I tiredly took my clothes and hid behind a large bush to7. It was soon time to 8 ourselves to everyone at camp. Everyone seemed pretty friendly, but why didn't I feel a little9? I was starting to10not having chosen a roommate at Yale.

    After a quick 11, we made our way to the Great Sand Dunes.  12 it as the Egyptian capital of Colorado,” said my camp leader. Egypt in Colorado? Now things were really starting to become13. When we arrived, we were stroked by endless amounts of14. Brief thoughts of being15 by sand monsters came before me. My16increased when my camp leader told us, “Today, we are going to climb to the top of the Dunes.”

    Three hours later, I was out of breath17I made it to the top. Suddenly, I felt the18was worth it.

The next two weeks flew by. I met19that tested my survival skills, but I pushed through every one of them. I was glad that I had somehow developed a new sense of20.

    George Springer helped his team Houston Astros win the World Series in 2017. He was awarded the Most Valuable Player1 his struggle is mostly hidden. His 2 is not in trying to hit a fastball, but in 3it. He stutters(口吃).

    Growing up in Connecticut, Springer was the kid who would 4 raise his hand in school, the kid 5 every time he opened his mouth.

    “I was the guy who didn't talk,'' he said. “I would6 speaking at all costs.''

    He was often 7 Sometimes he was bullied(欺侮). The phone was suffering to him.8were worse. If he wanted a dish that he knew would be tough to say, he would 9 If he was with his family, his sister Nicole would10 for him.

    He remembers a couple of attempts at speech therapy(治疗), but he said he was 11 with encouraging parents, an ability to 12 himself in sports, and a small group of friends who 13

    “If therapy works for you14But for me, I also developed my own 15 to handle it,'' he said. “Besides, when I was around all my friends, it didn't really seem to 16them. If I did it, they would17until I was done, then finish the conversation.''

    To help other kids 18 the same issue, Springer frequently appeared in interviews and even agreed to wear a microphone 19 during the 2017 All-Star Game. He then added "I can't let anything in life I can't20 slow me down or stop me from being who I want to be." These 22 words proved it.

    I have always considered myself a positive optimist,trying to find the best in every situation.I've recently become aware of how two little1have had a great impact on people.

    My son2to tell me about a house he was interested in.I said,"Honey,I am glad that you've found something you like,3…"There,I continued,"Don't you think,with the gas prices,you might want to buy one4to your work?"As he told me all about the possible house,I could hear the5in his voice.The moment I spoke the word, BUT,it was6I pricked a balloon with a needle（针）.I could hear him slowly deflate（泄气）.I7that if I had used the word AND—"Honey,I'm glad you found a house in your8range,AND I'm happy for you."—he wouldn't have been9,and we'd have both hung up feel better.

    My daughter10at my door dressed like a princess on her way to the prom.I told her how graceful looked and I was11of the young lady she has become,and I said,"Sweetheart,you12having a great time,but please don't drink tonight."I know she doesn't engage in13behavior;she's responsible and sensible.She looked as though I'd snatched her crown."Mom!"The tone of her voice indicated how I'd14her feel.How I wish I'd said,"I want you to have a great time,AND I15you."

    My husband helps around the house.I was16he had lightened my work load.I told him how wonderful he is, and I used that naughty word again."BUT,why did you17crumbs（面包屑）all over the counter?"Why?Why?Why didn't I say,"Thank you,ANDI am18or all you do around the house."

    I've been doing some19.I am going to remove that naughty little word from my20and replace it with the word AND.This is a decision I intend to keep!

    A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had 1 a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and 2his father could well 3it, he told him that was all he wanted.

    On the morning of his graduation day his father called him into his own study and told him how 4he was to have such a fine son. He handed his son a beautiful gift box.5but slightly disappointed, the young man6 the box and found a lovely book. 7, he raised his voice at his father and said."8all your money you give me a book？"and rushed out of the house, 9the book in the study.

    He did not contact his father for a whole year10 one day he saw in the street an old man who looked like his father. He 11he had to go back home and see his father.

    When he arrived at his father's house, he was told that his father had been in hospital for a week. The moment he was about to 12the hospital, he saw on the desk the 13new book, just as he had left it one 14ago. He opened it and began to15the pages. Suddenly, a car key16from an envelope taped behind the book. It had a tag(标签)with the dealer's name, the 17dealer who had the sports car he had 18.On the tag was the 19of his graduation, and the 20 PAID IN FULL.

    The moon had gone behind a cloud and there weren't many stars in the sky. As I took a glance(一瞥) at my neighbor's house, I saw a flame (火焰) in his 1. I thought he was having a midnight fast food so I went back to my 2.

    Soon, there was a 3 smell in the air and I guessed something was wrong. 4, I jumped out of bed and went downstairs to 5. I saw fire coming out of my neighbour's kitchen. Right away, I 6 “Fire! Fire!” But there was no one nearby to 7 my shouts for help.

    I 8 into my house, called the Fire Department and went back to my neighbour's house. I rang the doorbell, hit on the door and 9 my neighbour's name but there was no 10. I managed to 11the house and rescued a cat and a rabbit.

    I tried to throw water through the kitchen window 12 it was no use; the fire was too strong. 13, a fire engine arrived and soon the firemen put out the fire. They arrived just 14 as the fire was going to 15 to the other rooms in the house.

    When my neighbour came back, he was 16 because his kitchen was burnt down, but he thanked me for calling the Fire Department and for saving his 17. He wanted to give me some money in return but I did not 18 it.

    Weeks later, my neighbour repaired and restored his kitchen. He 19 me to see his new kitchen and there he gave me a medal(奖章) that he had 20 ordered from a factory. It made me feel very happy.

    ZhangZongyi, with the stage name of LiuLingTong, was one of China's most household Monkey King performers. And his son ZhangJinlai is also a1name to millions of Chinese. But he was2known as LiuXiaoLingTong, “the little six-year-old actor”. He immortalized(使永恒)the role of the Monkey King in the Chinese TV series “Journey to the West”. And it was in 1988, at 233he became a nationwide star.

    Indeed the 1982 Monkey King production was regarded as a milestone in the history of Chinese TV series. According to4estimates, China Central Television and local TV stations5the series more than 3,000 times6its debut(初次表演) in 1988. And it7such fame for LiuXiaoLingTong that8he went, he was called MeiHouwang or Beautiful Monkey King.

    Performing as the Monkey King in local operas has been a tradition of Zhang family9back to the Qing Dynasty. Zhang's grandfather performed as the Monkey King. Then Zhang's father10to raise monkeys as pets as well as his teachers to11them, Zhang said, “I often examine12expressions and movements, not only at home but also in zoos,13I can act more vividly in my performances.”

    Zhang has only a daughter, he said it's14for her to play as the Monkey King, 15, he16an art school to teach people to act as the Monkey King. He17that the art of acting as the Monkey King can continue among18is interested in learning the art, whether they are Chinese or foreigners.

    “19born in China, the art of Monkey King 20the whole world,” Zhang insisted.