One night many years ago I was on the bridge of a ship passing one of our large cities on a quiet night. I saw its lights1in the sky and heard the city's noises.

    I have spent twenty-five years on boats. Now I am a 2. My job is to bring in the large luxury3and stay with them until they are safely stopped in their ports.

    I felt very 4the first time I ever docked a big liner. She came5up the harbor on a flood tide and towered high over the short little boat. As we drew alongside, a doorway opened6at water level and two smartly dressed sailors helped me aboard.

    I was escorted to the bridge where I 7from the captain. I realized I was in 8of a great ship worth millions of dollars. Having docked several of the large liners, I realized I was not important, 9simply the quarterback who called the signals.

    In spite of 10we read in the newspapers, I have great faith in this country, praying that a peaceful understanding will come to this11world, so that my children can grow up in a world full of happiness. I believe this will come 12.

    I remember the understanding and 13 that took over this country, back in 1949, when a little girl named Kathy Fiskus 14into an old well in California. Engineers and sandhogs and people in all walks of life worked almost three days, and when they got her out she was dead.

    People sent in thousands of dollars in 15 funds, but those who did the work and 16 the equipment wouldn't take the money. They worked for bigger things. I talked to captains of foreign 17 that came into New York Harbor, and they were just as 18 as we Americans over the tragedy.

I believe some 19 will be found to work together for world peace with the same sympathy and understanding that people worked to rescue little Kathy Fiskus. I believe God will 20 bring this about.

    Having said good-bye to his parents, Alvin, with his wife and one-year-old son, set off back home. Still1Alvin and Clare talked and laughed happily. And even little Alax2from time to time. The family were3their trip.

    But three hours later things began to 4. It was starting to snow. Alvin sped up the car,5to arrive home before dark. But it was too dangerous to drive fast now because it was snowing more and more heavily. So Alvin had to 6down. The snow on the 7was getting deeper and deeper until it was hard to 8on it. Their car slipped(滑落)off the highway and got caught in the deep snow and the engine refused to start again.

    “The snow doesn't seem to9. Shall we stay in the car waiting to be frozen(冻)to death or walk ahead 10the snow?”Alvin asked. Clare said she 11to walk. So they got out of the car with their Alex and began walking. But something 12was to come. Soon they lost their 13 and had to walk aimlessly(无目标的)on and on.

    Night came. They were not 14of the dark. But they feared that poor Alax would die of cold. However, their faith(坚信)to keep Alax 15filled them with courage, warmth and strength. They slept and rested in turn and then continued their 16. They had fallen down many times but each time true love encouraged them to rise to their 17again.

    One, two, three, …seven days passed. On the eighth day, 18 at last came from Alvin's parents, the police and local people. But the young 19had to have their feet cut off because of the bad frost-bites (冻伤). Fortunately, there was 20 seriously wrong with little Alax.

    Several years ago, I had a long delay at the Pittsburg airport, 1 I headed for the shoe shine stand where two young 2 worked. One was a pleasant young man, the other was 3. I wanted the 4 one to shine my shoes. However, when my 5 came I got the quiet one.

    I said, “Good morning! How are you?” The man said 6 and I thought to myself, “That's no 7 to build a business!” As I sat down, he 8 rolled up my pant leg and as he used the soap to 9 my shoes he was careful to get none on my 10. He wiped the shoes with extreme care and as he 11 the polish (shoe cream) he made certain that every inch of leather was totally 12. He brushed the shoes, 13then took his shine cloth and really put some energy into the 14. As he was shining my shoes, I looked carefully at the man 15. He obviously suffered from some degree of mental dullness. When he 16 the job successfully, I don't need to tell you that the man got a 17 tip from me.

    Two major observations: his parents must be great people to have18 this young man the 19 of hard work; the second: regardless of your ability, if you 20 it and use it to the fullest, you can become really good at what you do. Major point: Be careful how you judge people on the first impression. Give them a chance.

    It was a warm, sunny, Saturday afternoon some fifteen or sixteen years ago. I took my two kids to the local playground. As soon as we got there my daughter headed for the swings(秋千) and asked for a 1. I noticed another little girl 2 to get her own swing going high as I was 3 my daughter to go higher and higher.

    I walked over to the little girl and asked 4 she need help. She smiled and said "Yes!" and I soon had her feet flying towards the  5 while she laughed happily. For the next two hours I found myself pushing swings and playing games with my daughter and the little girl. By the time we headed home, I was 6tired, but my spirits was still flying 7than those swings.

    Two years later I was 8again after a long day's work. Still, I needed to9 my kids from their school before heading home. I stood in the 10 waiting area waiting for my children. Suddenly, I felt two 11arms wrapped around my legs. I looked down and there was the little girl I met 3 years before in the 12smiling up at me. She gave me a big hug before running away to 13 the school bus. As I watched her 14, I didn't feel tired any more and my spirits were once again 15with that swing.

    The love we 16 with others will find its way back to us. It will travel from heart to heart, it may take seconds or it may take17. The law of love, 18, is never broken. We will get back what we give. We will harvest what we19. The kindness we give and the joy we create will always come back to 20 us.

When I lived in Boston, I taught English as a second language to adult students from around the world. On the last day, they threw a nice party. I was amazed they had learned enough English {#blank#}1{#/blank#} （arganize） such an event altogether. At the end of the party, they proudly handed me a gift box. After the box {#blank#}2{#/blank#} （open）, I gently lifted a beautiful coat from it. "We went shopping for a new coat!" they all shouted {#blank#}3{#/blank#} wonderfully perfect English.

April 3 -- A 7.3-magnitude earthquake shook the sea area near Hualien of China's Taiwan at 7:58 am Wednesday (Beijing Time), followed by multiple aftershocks, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

At least 26 buildings collapsed in the earthquake Wednesday, 15 of {#blank#}1{#/blank#} are in Hualien County. More than 91,000 households are without electricity,

The quake caused tsunami(海啸) warnings in Taiwan, southern Japan and the Philippines, with waves less than half a meter observed along some coasts, and caused airlines {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(suspend ) flights.

Taiwan is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(regular) rocked by earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which runs around the edge of the Pacific Ocean and {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(cause) massive volcanic activity from Indonesia to Chile.

Wednesday's quake is the {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(strong) to hit Taiwan since 1999. That {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(power) 7.7 magnitude quake hit 150 kilometers south of Taipei, killing 2,400 people {#blank#}7{#/blank#} injuring 10,000 others.

The Chinese mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday expressed concern and offered {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(assist) to Taiwan following the earthquake. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the office, stated the mainland's deep concern for the situation and extended heartfelt condolences(慰唁) to those {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(affect) in Taiwan. She emphasized the mainland is close monitoring of developments and is willing to provide support {#blank#}10{#/blank#} disaster relief efforts.