The local elementary school had just let out and I found myself behind a school bus as I was driving home. The bus stopped by a house {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (stand) on top of a hill. A little girl no more than seven years old jumped down the bus steps and{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (start) running up the driveway toward the house.

    I looked up the hill to see {#blank#}3{#/blank#} she was going and saw her Dad waiting for her. As she got closer and closer her Dad smiled and bent down to greet her. When she got to him, he folded her in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} powerful arms and gave her a huge hug.

    My eyes watered a bit as I watched this scene and remembered all the times {#blank#}5{#/blank#} my own children had ran into my arms with {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (smile) faces. Every single hug from them {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (be) a fountain of youth and a treasure of joy .

    My lovely trip down memory lane was interrupted when I heard the car behind me sound its horn (喇叭). I saw {#blank#}8{#/blank#} school bus quickly pulling away. I started to follow it again with a {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (light) spirit than I had before. I took that beautiful moment and stored it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (safe) in my soul where I knew it would remain forever.

    Everyone has a childhood. And childhood {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (experience) are often very funny. Children often make us laugh. It's true that children brighten up a home. They never turn off the lights.

    I often recall my childhood, the years {#blank#}2{#/blank#} many interesting things happened. When I was a two-year-old child, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} my parents were always very busy with their work. My mother worked {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a sales manager in a company {#blank#}5{#/blank#} my father served in the army. So I lived with my grandma in a village. I was always waiting for my parents at home. Once my father sent us a photo of his {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (dress) in a soldier's uniform {#blank#}7{#/blank#} was posted on the table reminding me of him.

    Once my mother came to see me and we went {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(shop) together. On the way we saw a group of soldiers. And when I saw them, I became{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (excite). I said in a ringing voice pointing to {#blank#}10{#/blank#}, “This is my father, and this is my father, and that is my father, too!”

    My mother said she would remember that moment all her life.

    Family values are principles that help to define us as human beings. These values are learned, usually passed down{#blank#}1{#/blank#} one generation to another. However, they can also change over time{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(depend) upon the circumstances in which families find themselves. They shape the way we behave, they help families stick together, and they give us our identity.

    We always admire a person{#blank#}3{#/blank#} treats the elderly with respect, or helps people in need, or is always honest with others. Such{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (admire) behavior is usually a direct result of the values that person was taught by his family.

    These values or principles—respect, fairness and{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(honest) among many others—also help hold the family together in times of trouble. When problems arise, the family is able to withstand them because they share{#blank#}6{#/blank#} same idea about{#blank#}7{#/blank#} is important. When family members feel pressure from the outside world, they know they can come into their family for a comforting connection.

    Finally, family values make us who we are{#blank#}8{#/blank#}we talk about our personal character and what{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (influence) our decisions, we do so based on the values {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (give) to us by our family.

    Jack was in his last year of junior school. He was only 4 feet and 11 inches, overweight. He had little hair and few {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (friend). His grade was not {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (good) than his look. His life was going nowhere. He was having a really hard time because his parents recently got divorced (离婚). But he wanted to change {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (he) so that he could have a fresh start in the high school.

    Jack went to Mrs. Collins, his favorite teacher, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} told him that he had to make small changes first and start with the easier things. Jack went to the hospital {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (solve) his hair problems. He started talking to people more to make friends. He realized that he just had to express himself. He started to study more instead of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (think) about his parents, He {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(begin) to eat healthily to lose weight.

    When Jack entered the high school on the very first day, he was a {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (total) different person. He was now in good shape, smart {#blank#}9{#/blank#} popular. He also had a nice hairstyle. Everyone wanted to make friends {#blank#}10{#/blank#} him. More importantly, Jack finally became happy and confident through his own efforts.

    The annual Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is Harbin's main tourist highlight. It is the world's biggest winter festival. The {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(bitter) cold winters are just right for this festival.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}sets the Harbin festival apart is the scale and size of the sculptures and the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(beauty) lighting. It is bigger than {#blank#}4{#/blank#} ones in Sapporo, Norway, and Quebec.

    At first, mainly Chinese{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(participate), but in the last decade, it has become an international festival and {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(compete). As the festival grows in international participation, and as China's economy grows, the size of the snow sculptures and ice architecture exhibits keeps {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(grow) The work going into making these exhibits is astounding, and their size and beauty is amazing.

    The lightning {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(effect)on the huge ice sculptures in the Ice and Snow World are technologically complex.

    Officially the festival {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(hold) from the end of December through February. Opening dates keep changing, and ending dates partly depends {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the weather.

    The Sun Island Scenic Area will be opened from Dec. 21 to Feb. 28.