It's a fine day. The White family gets up at seven o'clock. They have breakfast at seven forty. And then they go to the park. They take a basket of food and a carpet (地毯). The park is not far from their home, so they ride bikes there. When they get to the park, it's half past eight. Mr. and Mrs. White are talking with each other. Their son, Ted, is playing with a ball. Their daughter, Jenny, is taking photos.

    After about an hour, Ted and Jenny sit down to relax. At that time, they see a squirrel eating a pine nut (松子) in a big tree. When they see the squirrel eating, they feel hungry. They go to help their parents take the food out of the basket. Ted has a hamburger. Hamburgers are his favorite food. Jenny has an apple. Mr. and Mrs. White have some bread. They have a great time in the park.

    Dean felt his arms and legs were burning. With each breath, Dean wondered if he should be done, but as he touched the wall at the end of the pool he turned for another lap (圈). "I can do one more. This is for Kevin," Dean told himself. He was starting his seventh lap.

    Dean and the other members of his swim team were swimming to raise money for Dean's best friend, Kevin Hawking. Earlier in the year, Kevin fell ill. He needed expensive medical care that his family couldn't afford. After Kevin's friends learned what was happening, they started brainstorming ways to help. Several of Kevin's friends were on the swim team, which led to the idea of swimming.

    For a month, Dean and the other swim team members had asked for pledges (承诺) from anyone who would help: family members, friends, and neighbours. Most people pledged a dollar or two each lap. Dean's grandmother said she would offer $ 10 for each lap Dean swam!

    Finally, as Dean completed his tenth lap, he knew he was too tired to keep going. If I try another lap. I'll end up lying in the middle of the pool, waiting for someone to come and get me, he thought. Dean pulled himself up onto the edge of the pool and sat breathing quickly for a couple of minutes, quietly resting before he tried to stand.

    Dean's father came over and said, "Wow, Dean," shaking his head in amazement, "I am so proud of you. That's farther than anyone else has swum today, and I know it's farther than you've ever swum before."

    Dean stood up and slowly walked with his father back to the seats where the other swimmers sat next to Kevin. "Thank you," Kevin said.

    "It's no big deal. I know you'd do the same for me," Dean said.

I'm forty. I left school 22 years ago. I don't regret many things about my school days but there are a few things I wish I'd known earlier as a girl. So here is my list of three things I'd learned at school.

□As a young child you try many new things. If you fail, you try again until you learn. Then you start school where you are usually only praised for doing things correctly. So what happens? You stop trying new things in case you get it wrong. I always remind myself: I won't give up halfway until I make it.

□I always wanted to be the best and one way of feeling good about myself was to see how much better I was than others. There was only one problem with this. When I saw they were better than me, I felt terrible. Now I compare me with myself. I asked myself if I did things as well as I could.

□How much time do you spend worrying about the future? I used to worry a lot. Now I know most things you fear usually never happen. If they happen, then they will most often not be as bad as you expected. In 6 months you probably won't remember most of the things you worry about now.

I was always busy with work and travel. I didn't think I would have 1 or energy to care for a pet. But everything changed when I met Kitty.

Kitty was a homeless cat that I found on the street one 2 night. She was wet, hungry and frightened, and she looked at me as if she was begging (祈求) for 3 . So I decided to take her to my 4 .

At first, Kitty was 5 and nervous. She hid under the sofa and only came out when I offered her food and water. She didn't like to be 6 or held, and she would scratch (绕) me if I tried to pet her. I wondered if she would ever 7 me or love me.

But as time went by. Kitty started to warm up to me. She began to 8 me around the house, and sit next to me on the sofa or the bed. She would play 9 with the toys I bought her and would wait for me at the door when I came home from work.

Kitty 10 my life for the better. She made me feel more relaxed. She taught me how to be more patient and caring.

Mike's parents were excitedly planning their wedding anniversary celebration. They two planned to go to their favorite restaurant. So they asked their son Mike to 1 his little brother, Leo.

"I really want to 2 Danny's party that day, but I also want to help you out," he said,"I don't know what to do." His parents listened and replied 3 ," Ever since Leo 4 our family, we have taken good care of both of you. This time, we hope you can do what a(n) 5 brother should do."

 Mike went back to his room and thought carefully. Finally, he decided to spend the day with Leo instead. The day of the party arrived. Mike called Danny and explained the 6 why he couldn't go to the party." My parents need my 7 ." he said.

 After his parents left, he 8 the door and made sure everything was safe. Then, he played video games and watched movies with Leo. To his 9 , he was a lot happier than he thought. He enjoyed spending time with his brother.

 When their parents returned home, they were very 10 with both of their sons. Mike was sure that he did something good to make a difference to his family.