Mark Twain is someone Americans are taught to love. Older relatives, English teachers and the media always praise him. But when you actually take the time to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you find that his work is more wonderful than you could ever imagine.

    The novel describes a young boy named Tom Sawyer growing up in a small town along the Mississippi River. He explores the countryside on a riverboat with his friends, falls in love with girls, starts secret clubs and searches for treasure. Twain's idea of childhood is magical – a time of imagination, wonder and, of course, adventure.

    More importantly, through the eyes of Tom Sawyer, Twain cleverly makes fun of US culture. For example, Tom hates going to church, and Twain uses scenes of Tom there to mock religion and its old traditions.

    Twain's writing is full of these kinds of critical (批判的) points about culture and politics. That's why he is so loved in the US – he wasn't afraid to state his opinions, and he did so clearly.

    He also believed strongly in women's right to vote in elections and gave a famous speech on the subject, called "Votes for Women", in 1901.

    "Tom was a great hero once more – the pet of the old, the envy of the young," Twain writes in Tom Sawyer. But he could just as well be describing himself.

    Mr. King is the manager (经理) of a hotel. One day all of the hotels in the city are full because there is a large meeting. In the evening, three men come into the hotel and ask for rooms. Mr. King says there are no rooms because of the meeting. The men are unhappy.

    Mr. King wants to help them. He remembers that Room 418, a very small room is empty. He asks them if they would share (分享) a room. The three men says yes. Mr. King says the room would be thirty dollars, ten for each one (每一个). Each man gives him the money and then they go up to the room.

    Mr. King soon begins to feel sorry. The price is too high for that small room, he thinks. He says to his assistant (助手), Here is five dollars. Take the money to the men in Room 418. I ask too much for their room.

    The assistant takes the money. While she is on the way there, she starts to think, "How can three men divide (分配) five dollars? So the assistant returns (还) one dollar to each man and she keeps the two dollars for herself.

    Each man pays ten dollars at first. After the assistant returns them one dollar each, each pay nine. There are three men. So $9x3= $27. The assistant keeps $2. $27 + $2= $29. Where is the missing (消失的) dollar?

Last week I went to an art show. A painting caught my eyes. To my amazement, it was painted by Steven, one of my {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Then many things about him came into my mind.

Steven was from a poor family. His parents{#blank#}2{#/blank#}not afford to buy him some basic things that he needed. Once our school provided gloves for poor children. I put Steven's name on the list. He was so {#blank#}3{#/blank#} when he received a pair. He loved to wear them and they were always {#blank#}4{#/blank#} than anybody else's. 

Steven had a gift(天赋) for painting and he could {#blank#}5{#/blank#} understand what I described in class. But he didn't have money to buy the paper for painting. So sometimes, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#} him some. He parctised hard. And I often showed his paintings of the class. He was greatly {#blank#}7{#/blank#}.

One day just before the summer vacation, he came to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} some art books. When the new term began, he showed some of {#blank#}9{#/blank#} paintings to me. I felt shocked . They were very good. Then we talked a lot. He said he would keep on. 

Later he was admitted(录取) to a famous art university. After graduation, he had many difficulties, but he never gave up. He was always {#blank#}10{#/blank#} his best to improve himself. His hard work and strong mind led to his success.

"Where was the cashier (收银员)?" I wondered. Feeling1 with having waited at the counter ( 柜 台 ) for at least 3 minutes, I quickly looked at my watch. I was afraid I2 had enough time to eat a sandwich and then rushed back to work.

When I looked around the nearly empty3 , I saw a woman cleaning a table in the corner. She looked at me coldly with sad, dark eyes.

I felt so angry that I was almost out of4 . Suddenly I remembered Mom's words. "5 you find yourself in an unpleasant situation, just think about what is missing. If someone is6 , then kindness is missing. If someone is hateful, then 7 is missing. If we will do what's missing, then we will provide whatever the situation needs."

And here I was in an unpleasant situation.8 should I do "what's missing"? What was missing was service. Should I just jump behind the counter to take the food I would order?

Just then the woman walked slowly towards me. "May I help you?" she asked, still 9 .

She looked so tired.10 , she was overworked.

I took a deep breath. With Mom's words still ringing in my11 , I gave the woman my order and smiled. "How are you doing today?"

My question seemed to 12 her. She looked at me for a second before answering. "Not too good."

"I'm sorry," I said, "I hope it gets better from right now."

She almost smiled as she handed me the food. "Thanks. I hope you're right."

I thought to 13 as I ate my sandwich. We're the same, really. We have problems and angers, we get tired and we hurt. We need to be14 to each other.

After eating, I cleaned the table cleaner than usual, and put the tray (托盘) back nicely on the stand. The woman was watching me all the time, with a big smile on her face.

"Do what's missing." What mum said really15 .I smiled back to her, too.