When I met Larry, my husband-to-be, he came with an eighteen-month-old daughter, Mckenna, and a four-year-old son, Lorin. I quickly {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (fall) in love with Lorin and Mckenna, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the children's mother, Dia, was a different story.

    There was a feeling of hostility（敌意）between us. Sometimes I wished that she would simply disappear. Then the children could stay with us— {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (true) be mine—and we could be a “real” family.

    Years {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (pass) by, something changed. I began to enjoy talking to Dia about the Kids. And she realized that there were very few people in the world {#blank#}5{#/blank#} were as interested in her children {#blank#}6{#/blank#} I was. One year, Dia sent me a Mother's Day card thanking me for “co-mothering” her children.

    Thank you, Dia, for being kind enough {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (share) your children with me. Thank you for making Christmas morning {#blank#}8{#/blank#} exciting and warm time, so the children never had to feel sad on these important days. We all could sit around the tree. There {#blank#}9{#/blank#} were, you and your husband, Larry and me, the kids ... and {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (surprise), I felt at home.

    Two businessmen{#blank#}1{#/blank#}  (fly) to Australia to play in a weekend golf match. Their team won and they both received green jackets. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}their last night in Australia, they stayed up late drinking beer. They were still drunk in the morning, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}they drove their rented car to the airport. The road was empty. Suddenly, something jumped in front of the car. The driver couldn't stop in time and the car hit it.

    The men got out of the car and found a large kangaroo{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  (lie) on the road. The drunken men began to laugh and decided to take some photos with the “dead” kangaroo. One of the men decided to put the jacket on{#blank#}5{#/blank#} kangaroo. So they dressed the poor kangaroo in a green jacket. Then they posed with it for some photos. Suddenly, something amazing happened. The kangaroo opened {#blank#}6{#/blank#} eyes. It was not dead. But it was very {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (anger). The kangaroo hit the two men and knocked them out. Then it ran {#blank#}8{#/blank#}.In the kangaroo's new green jacket were the car keys, a passport, and the air tickets.

    Later that day, a motorist phoned the police. “You're {#blank#}9{#/blank#}going to believe this,” he said, “but a kangaroo in a green golf jacket{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (run) along the road to the airport!” The police finally found out the whole story, and they punished the two drunken men.

    My Stay in New York

    After graduation from university, I had been unable to secure a job in my small town. So I decided to leave home for New York,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}I might have a better chance to find a good job.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (earn) some money to pay the daily expenses, I started to work in a local café as a waiter. I believed that as soon as I{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(offer) a good position, I would resign at once.

    Over time, the high cost of living became a little burden on my already{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(exhaust) shoulder. On the other hand, my search for a{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(respect) job had not met with much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (succeed). As I had studied literature at university, I found {#blank#}7{#/blank#} quite difficult to secure a suitable job in big companies. Mother had just said that if I wanted to have a better career advancement, I had to find work in the city. Perhaps{#blank#}8{#/blank#}my mother had told me was deeply rooted in my mind. I just did as she had expected.

    Soon I had lived in the city for over six months but I still did not like it. Apparently, I had difficulty {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(adapt) myself to life in the city, let alone finding a suitable job. After nine months of frustration, I eventually decided to go back to my small town. Not until I returned {#blank#}10{#/blank#}I realize that a quiet town life was the best for me.

    Nearly all of us have dreamed about winning the big prize in a lottery(彩票). We dream about {#blank#}1{#/blank#} we would do with the money, but we seldom stop to think about how the money would change us.

    For most of us, our way of life is {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (close) connected with our social economy. The different parts of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} lives fit together like a jigsaw(拼板) — work, home, friends, hobbies and sports make up our world.  A sudden fortune would change it all and break the jigsaw. For example, some people like the idea {#blank#}4{#/blank#} not having to work, but winners have found that without work there is no reason to get up in the morning. It seems great {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (move) to a bigger house in a wealthy area, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} if you do that, you leave old friends behind.

    Usually, winners {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (advise) not to make their addresses and phone numbers known, but begging letters still arrive. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} they are not careful, most of their money will be spent {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (protect) of their possessions(财产).