On a recent trip to California, I was introduced to Smile Cards. I promised myself to 1 an act of kindness before I left California. I 2 thinking about it but I didn't know what to do.

    I reached the airport and the 3 was about to begin when I saw an ice-cream store. I went in and told the guy at the store that I 4 to do an act of kindness. The guy, named Jose, looked confused. 5 I explained I had just attended a conference, where I was told Smile Cards and 6 to do an act of kindness. Jose showed 7. I told Jose, “Whoever is your next 8 , treat them to some ice-cream and then give them this Smile Card.” Jose 9 read the card and agreed with a smile that was both grateful and 10 at the same time.

    Since this was my first time, I wanted to know the 11 of the receiver. “Jose, I have to catch a 12, but here is my cell phone number. Would you be 13 enough to call me and tell me the person's reaction?” He 14 .

    I went to my gate, and as I was about to board, Jose 15. “I did the act of kindness. The person was very 16, and asked me to express thanks to the person who paid for them!” I again thanked Jose and boarded the flight feeling 17.

    I really want to 18 this practice of kindness. I am a professor and I love my work 19 it makes a difference in the lives of others. And now, I realize that I can do that everywhere. The whole world is my 20.

    Lucy didn't have a lot of friends. She was a bit 1. She never really wanted to be popular, but did want to have someone to2 secrets and laughs with. All through high school, 3, she didn't find a lot of comfort or companionship.

    When it came to going to college, Lucy still felt 4. She was going to be rooming with a 5 classmate and living in a town 300 miles away from home. There wouldn't be a single person she 6 in town. She had no idea how she was going to make7in this new environment.

    The first week of classes, something happened that 8 Lucy's life forever. In her English Composition class, she was asked to share a little about herself. She 9 everyone where she came from and all of the other 10 details that students share in such 11. The final question for each student was always the same: "What is your 12 for this class?" Now, most of the students said it was to get a good13, pass the class or something similar, but for some 14, Lucy said something entirely 15. She said that her goal was to make just one good friend.

    While most of the students sat in silence, one student came to Lucy and 16his hand and introduced himself. He asked if she would be his friend. The whole room was 17—all eyes focused on Lucy and the hand extended just in front of her. She 18 and reached out to take his hand and a friendship was formed. It was a friendship that 19all through college. Lucy learned the20of asking for what she wanted, being honest and taking action.

    When I settled(定居) in Chicago，my new city seemed so big and unfriendly. Then I had a 1 problem and had to go to hospital for a 2examination.

    It seemed a small 3 compared to the one I was about to face, but things started to go 4 right from the beginning , not having a car or5 the city, I was depending on the buses to get me from A to B, 6I'd left myself plenty of time, soon it was 7. I was going to be late, because I had mistakenly boarded a bus that was taking me in the 8 direction.

    I 9 the bus and stood on the road not knowing what to do, I looked into the eyes of a 10 , who was trying to get past me, 11 , instead of moving on, she stopped to ask if I was 12. After I explained my 13to her, she pointed to a bus stop across the street, where a bus would take me back into the city to my 14. Sitting there waiting, I felt 15that someone had been willing to help. 16, hearing a horn(喇叭)nearby, I looked up to see a car with my new friend 17 at me to get in. She had returned to offer me a 18 to the hospital.

    Such unexpected 19 from a passer-by was a lovely gift to receive. As I climbed out of the car at the hospital and turned to thank her, she smiled and told me not to lose  20, for all things are possible.

It was 1504,and Columbus was making another trip to the New World.Columbus and his men needed fresh water and food after three months at sea.They saw an island and went to the shore.On the island there were unfriendly Indians who refused to give food and water to them.Columbus' men were afraid of the Indians,but he had a clever plan.He used gesture(手势) language to tell the Indians about his mysterious (神秘的) power to turn off the light in the sky.He knew about a lunar eclipse (月食) the next night because the information was in his almanac (天文历书).Columbus told the Indians,"Tomorrow night I'll turn off the light in the sky." But they didn't believe him.When the eclipse began the next night,the Indians became very frightened.They begged Columbus to turn on the light again,and they quickly gave him all the food and water he wanted.Immediately Columbus and his men hurried back to the ship and sailed away in the moonless night.

There is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} lovely panda. She lives with her parents and they lead a happy life in the forest. One day the panda {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (pick) a huge pumpkin and wanted to take it home. But the pumpkin was too big for her {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (take) it home on her own. She could do nothing but sit beside the pumpkin. She thought {#blank#}4{#/blank#} if she waited there, she might turn to a passerby for help.

Suddenly, she saw a bear {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (ride) a bike towards her. She watched the bike and suddenly, she jumped and shouted {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (happy), "I know! I have a good idea—I can roll (滚动) the pumpkin. It's just like a wheel!" Therefore, she rolled the pumpkin to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (she) house. When her mother saw the big pumpkin, which was {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (big) than her little daughter, she was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (surprise), "Oh, my God! How can you get it home?" The little panda answered proudly, "I can't lift it, but I can roll it." Her mother smiled and said, "{#blank#}10{#/blank#} a clever girl you are!"

Have you ever felt the need to grab a pen and start writing your thoughts on paper? Words—beautiful and fascinating. But you know what is better than putting your imagination somewhere? In my case, to win the competition for the best novelist.

That was a small tournament organized by my school annually to 1 our creative writing and vivid imagination. Since I had a burning passion for 2 , I decided to show my power. I thought no one could 3 me.

I finished a long story and e-mailed it. As I 4 the email every day, my eyes were wandering to 5 the line "Congratulations! It is a great pleasure to inform you that…". 6 , no such thing came.

I was not accepted. I 7 my abilities. The next day at school, I tried my best to be 8 , avoiding the usual contact. But in the corridor, I 9 Stacy Williams, my school rival. Could she be the 10 ? I started walking sneakily. In class, I was just looking out of the window at the 11 clouds which were a reflection of my soul.

Thankfully, a film that night—Forrest Gump lifted my 12 . I wouldn't let a stupid competition 13 my future. I could win on the next one or even at a better tournament. The important thing was to 14 my head and face my challenges without losing hope when everything seemed 15 .