Martin is a fifteen-year-old boy. He used to be a“problem child”, but a recent1with his mother changed his life. He didn't use to give his mother many problems.2, after his father's death a few years ago, Martin's life became3more difficult. His mother couldn't afford to pay for her child's education. To do this, she4work, and so was often not at home.

    His mother looked after him as5as she could. Unfortunately, Martin still caused problems. He was not6in studying and he often got in to trouble. Luckily, his mother was very7and didn't give up trying to help him. In the end, she8a difficult decision:to send him to a boys' boarding school. Martin hated it and used to cause a lot of trouble.

    One day, he told his teacher he wanted to leave the school. The teacher said it was necessary for Martin to9with his mother. Martin called his mother, but to his10, this phone call changed his life. “It was exactly11ineeded,”he said. “My mother helped me to understand how much she had given me. She also told me that even though my father was no longer with us, he was12me and would always take pride in every thing good I do. That's when I decided to change. I realize that13my father died, I have been afraid of being alone, and have tried to make my mother pay more attention to me. ”

    Now Martin has14changed. He has been working hard and is now one of the best students in his class. How was he able to change?His mother's15helped him to feel good about himself.

    Mark and his brother Jamie rang their neighbour Mrs.Grady's doorbell.

    "Hi，Mrs.Grady，"said Mark when she opened the door."Would you like us to shovel（铲除）the 1 in your yard？"Shoveling the snow was Jamie's idea，a way to make enough money for a new video game.Mrs.Grady touched her hand to her heart."That would be wonderful，boys.The work is too much for me."

    "It will 210dollars，"Jamie said.

    "Oh dear，"Mrs.Grady was a little disappointed."I haven't been able to get to the bank. I can 3 home﹣made cookies，but I guess that's not what you had in4.

    Mark was going to say that Mrs.Grady could pay them another time，but Jamie cut him off.

    It still snowed 5As they walked 6 the snow out of her yard.Mark suddenly thought of how shehelped him last summer.She didn't look like a strong person，but 7 a big black dog had boxed him in a corner，her door flew open.She ran to him and stood between him and the dog.She 8 to hurry it away.

    "It was nothing.Good 9 watch out for each other，don't they？"she said when Mark's parents thanked her.

    And now Mrs.Grady needed Mark as much as he'd needed her last summer.Mark smiled and began to shovel the snow.Jamie got surprised and 10"What are you doing？It will take you all day.No money!"

    Mark explained."Nobody will pay us if we only do things for money."

    Christmas was coming and ten-year-old Tracy told her father and me that she wanted a new bike. Her bike was too 1, and it needed repairing as well. As Christmas 2,  her dream for a bike seemed to disappear(消失), we thought, for she didn't say it again. We were busy3 some beautiful story books, a doll house, a holiday dress and toys. Then to our surprise, on December 24, she said she really wanted a bike more than 4.

    Now we didn't know 5 to do. It was just too late. We were busy with Christmas dinner and packing 6 presents, parents'presents, a brother's present and friends' presents till midnight. So there was 7 time to take to buy the "right bike" for our little girl. Thinking we were parents who would make their child unhappy, we felt sorry and 8 .

    Suddenly my husband had an idea. "What about making a little bike with clay (黏土) and writing a note that she could trade in (交换) the model bike for a real one?" So he spent the next five hours carefully 9 with clay to make a small bike.

10 Christmas morning, we were so excited for Tracy to open the little box with the beautiful red and white clay bike and the note. She opened and read the 11 loudly. She looked at me and said, "So, does this mean I can trade in this bike for a real 12?" Smiling, I said, "Yes!" Tracy had tears in her e yes when she replied, ‘I would 13 trade in this beautiful bike Daddy made me. I 14 keep it than get a real bike. This is the best Christmas present 15 I have ever got in my life!"

    Once there lived a farmer called Henry. He had a brother Mike, who was1excellent gardener. His skill and his beautiful trees were2everywhere. One day, Henry went to town to visit Mike. "Look, my brother," said Mike, "here is the best 3 tree from my garden. Take it home and plant it4you, and your children, and your children's children can enjoy it." Henry was 5with the apple tree and went back home. The next morning, he began to wonder6he should plant it.

    "If I plant it on the hill," he said to himself, "the wind might catch it and 7 down the fruit. If I plant it close to the road, people who pass by will8some of them. But if I plant it…"9 he planted the tree in the corner behind his house, where no one else could notice it.10the tree bore(结出) no fruit the first year, nor the second.11Henry sent for his brother and said to him 12, "you have cheated me. This is the third year and it brings me 13but leaves(叶子)."

    When Mike saw where the tree was planted, he laughed and said, "You have planted the tree in such a cold corner14sun-light or warmth. How could you expect flowers and15?"