Growing up is not always easy. When we face difficulties, a spirit of depending on 1 is more useful than crying for help. That's what Hong Zhanhui's story of growing from boy to man 2 family hardship tells us.

    Hong was born in 1982 in a poor family in Xihua County(县), Henan Province. When he was only 11, his father became badly ill and one day he came back with an unwanted baby 3. A year later, Hong's mother 4 home. She no longer wanted to live such a poor life and face her sick husband. So everything hard fell onto the young boy's 5: to take care of his father and the younger sister Chenchen, and to go on to study.

    Although his life was hard, Hong didn't go away from his father and sister. He took several part-time jobs to 6 his family. He climbed tall trees to get birds' eggs for his sister. He walked 2 hours at weekends to the market to 7 different things to sell around his school. A few years later, he studied at a college. To take care of Chenchen, he worked hard to 8 a room near his college for her, and sent her to school.

    After Hong's story went 9, he became a hero in people's eyes. But Hong 10 offers from others. He said he felt encouraged by kind offers, but he could depend on his own work.

    Through his hard life, he has grown up from boy to man.

    One day, the students of Class 6 were reading in the classroom. Mrs. Brown came in and told the whole class they would have to change the1the next week. All of the students disagreed2Mrs. Brown, so they shouted when Mrs. Brown said it was because a new student would3 the class.“Why must we move to another classroom just because someone new is coming?” One of them asked 4. Mrs. Brown stood there without saying anything. After a few minutes, she told them to be5to their new classmate and then she left.

    The following week, the head teacher, Mr. White himself brought the new student to their class.6he pushed the new student to the class because the student was in a wheelchair（轮椅）. Mr. White introduced the new student Jeff to the class. He said that Jeff now was a7 of the class and they should work together. He added, “Helping each other is very important.”8could fully understand what. Mr. White meant at first.

    Over time, they began to understand the reason. Jeff was a9student and often helped the students who didn't understand their work. The c lass felt very thankful to him. They took care of him because they knew that when someone did something for you, you should do something10in return.

    A traveler was in a large desert, planning to walk across it in one month. Twenty more days passed the journey had been going on1. "Soon I'll be able to walk out of this desert," he thought gladly.

    But the desert was never friendly2travelers. In a short time, there came a strong sandstorm. He hurriedly3his head with the clothes, prostrate on the sand. After about ten minutes, the sandstorm4. He shook the clothes and stood up. At that moment, he found himself in a hopeless situation-the backpack with food and water was swept away by the5.

    As we know, it seems 6 to leave the desert without food and water.7, he had a pear left. He held it in his hands tightly. "Not too bad, at least I have a pear. I8I can walk out of the desert."

    Days and nights went by quickly, but the desert still looked endless. Besides, hunger, thirst and fear of9were always around him like ghosts,10, each time he was close to losing hope, he forced himself to stare at the pear that he had been11. "Not too had, at least I have a pear."

    A small pear became the12for his survival(生存). Three days later,13he saw a village not far away, he laughed with excitement. He felt completely relaxed-the "pear" brought him back to14.

    To keep hope is the best weapon(武器) for victory, so never tell you "15" because only if you try to search, you can always find a "pear" to pull you out of trouble.

    A little boy loved to play around a tall apple tree every day. Later, when he grew up, he no longer played there.

    One day, the boy came and he looked 1. When the tree knew the boy wanted some toys, she asked the boy to pick up all her 2 to sell. So the boy did it and left.

    Another day, the boy turned into a man and got back, "Come and play with 3 !" the tree was excited and said. "4, I have to build a house to live in," the man said. "You can 5 off my branches to build your house. " So the man did it and left 6.

    One hot summer day, the man came. when the apple tree knew that the man needed a boat to go sailing, she let him 7 her trunk(树干).

    After many years, the man came again. "Sorry, my boy. But the

8 thing left is my dying roots," the tree said. "I just need a place to rest 9 I'm old and tired after all these years," the man said.

    "Come! 10 tree roots are the best place to rest." The man sat down and the tree smiled with tears.

    Velma, a US high school student, is busy with her studies every day. But after school, she puts down her books and goes off to 1. She takes care of cats, helps teachers at school and cleans up the beach. Why? Because students in US public schools are 2 to do at least 20 hours of community service in order to graduate.

    "This project is to give students a 3 of the real world, create a habit of volunteering and perhaps 4a career." said Bob Parks, an official at school.

    5 volunteering takes time, Velma enjoys it. "I learn so much from it." she said She plans to keep volunteering even after she has finished her required hours of work. Velma is now on her way towards 250 hours to get a silver medal at graduation. She hopes the medal will help her6 her dream university.

    But some have 7 about the project. Phil, a single parent of four, has to drive his children from one activity to another every weekend. "I have no time to work and rest," he said, "But I know some kids finish their 20—hour volunteering by just sleeping in their father's office !"

    Mike Roland, a volunteering manager, has heard those complaints. He said," We keep telling people,' Volunteer hours are 8than for graduation; they are life lessons."

    Unlike Phil, some parents agree with the project and want their children to 9 more time volunteering. Michael, a junior, spends Saturdays at JFK Medical Centre guiding patients and bringing them newspapers and meals. He's at 258 hours. Michael's father said, "Twenty hours isn't 10. Children should have more contact with the world."