A girl went to her father and told him that her life was too hard. She said she couldn't work all the difficulties out 1. She just wanted to give up.

Her father said, "I think I know 2 I can help you. 3 me." They went into the 4. Her father put a potato, an egg and some coffee beans into three different bowls of water. Then, he started to boil (煮沸) the water on the stove.

After some time, he turned the stove 5 and took out the potato, the egg and the beans. He then showed each of them to his daughter.

"Look. The potato was hard before I boiled it, but now, it is 6 and weak. The egg was fragile (易碎的) until I put it in the water—now, it is hard inside. But the coffee beans were different. When they met the boiling water, they changed and became delicious 7."

Life 8 problems to us all. The potato, egg and coffee beans were all met with the same problem. But they each solve the problem in their own way. It is up to you to take the difficulties you face and find something good in 9. By making a(n) 10, the father taught his daughter a life lesson.

Mother Tongue (语言)

    My name is Jiniku but everyone calls me Joey, including my parents. My father is American but my mother is not. My mother grew up in a country whose name I cannot pronounce correctly. She was educated in French and Latin, Spanish and German.

    My mother wrote all day, but never showed anyone what she wrote. She had notebooks she would write in, and a typewriter to straighten out (整理) the final copy.

    When she had typed (打字) pages, she put them in a box. This box was deep under the bed that she and my father shared.

    There were only two words that she ever said in the real voice, with her real accent (口音), real tongue. I heard her say them only three times in her life. She taught them to me one night as I lay on her legs, sweating (出汗) with fever.

    "Jiniku," she said in a low voice. "Jiniku." I focused (集 中) on her voice through my fever, realizing that something had changed. She was speaking from a part of her that she had not opened for a long time. She took my hand, and placed my palm (掌心) over her heart. "Juriszu." She stared out the window. There was a long silence. I could feel her heartbeat, which was calmer and slower than my own. "My name," she said at last, speaking once more in English, "means „dark ocean (海洋).‟ And you, Jiniku, my baby, yours means „life.‟" She looked out the window again. "„Ji‟ is the word for a happy birth. One where everyone lives and there is little pain. „Ni‟ is a tree that had its roots (根) spread far and whose branches (树枝) shelter (庇护) all. „Ku‟ is spirit. You have this all-encompassing (包罗万象的) life." She placed her hand on my heart. "The first and last letters of our names are the same," she said. "Don‟t forget that, Jiniku."

He is always in my heart. I couldn't believe I lost him. As I think of my father, tears fill my eyes and stream down my face. 

My dad always wanted to go to Canada, so he wrote a letter to one of my uncles in Canada for help. My uncle successfully got a visit visa(签证)for my dad. So he flew to Canada, looking for a better life for his kids. That year, I was six. 

After a few months, dad wrote us a letter saying he was fine and happy. That letter, and its many fellows(伙伴)down the years, all with the same words, kept coming to our doors for 11 years. Yet, even as he lived here in Canada, his health was failing him―but fearing we would worry he never let on about his ill health. He spent these years in Canada working hard; finally after 11 years when he got his landed immigrant(永久居民)paper, he wrote us saying all of us could move to Canada. 

We were all happy that we would finally be together. It was to be a huge family reunion(重聚). Sadly my father did not live to see his family reunion as he suffered a serious heart attack. 

Yes, Canada is a wonderful country. So many times I can't help thinking it was here that my dad was taken away from us. When I miss him, I want someone to hold me and give me a hug. And when I see how everyone gives his father gifts on Father's Day, wishing them a long, happy life, I want to do the same. But to whom can I give my Father's Day gift and card? Where can I get the same warm loving hug again?

Henry was an office worker in a big city.He worked very hard and enjoyed {#blank#}1{#/blank#}in his holidays.

He usually travelled abroad，but one year he saw an advertisement（广告） in a newspaper."Enjoy country life.Spend a {#blank#}2{#/blank#}weeks at West Hill Farm.Good food.Fresh air.Horse riding.Walking.Fishing.Cheap and interesting."

"This {#blank#}3{#/blank#}a good idea，" he thought."I'll spend a month at West Hill Farm.I think I can enjoy horse {#blank#}4{#/blank#}，walking and fishing.They'll make a change from sitting by the seaside and swimming."

He {#blank#}5{#/blank#} to the farmer.In the letter he said that he would {#blank#}6{#/blank#}to spend all of July there.Then on the first of July，he left for West Hill Farm.

But four days {#blank#}7{#/blank#}，he returned home.

"What was wrong with West Hill Farm？"his best friend，Ed，asked him."Didn't you enjoy country life？"

"Country life was very good，"Henry said."But there {#blank#}8{#/blank#}another problem."

"Oh.What？"

"Well，"he said，"the first day I was there a sheep died（烤羊肉）for dinner."

"What's wrong with that？" Ed asked. "Fresh meat is the best."

"I know，but on the {#blank#}9{#/blank#}day a cow died，and we had roast beef for dinner."

"Lucky you!"

"You don't understand，"Henry said."On the third day a pig died and we had roast pork（猪肉）for dinner."

"A different meat {#blank#}10{#/blank#}day，" Ed said loudly， "and you are complaining!"

"Let me finish，"Henry said."on the fourth day the farmer died，and I didn't dare （敢）stay for dinner!"

My wife and I were in the forest, with our children. We were taking pictures of some birds {#blank#}1{#/blank#} our daughter Lisa shouted suddenly, "Dad! A bear is right behind {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (we)!" Then I saw that small bear. It {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(move) quietly behind us at that time. 

The bear behaved abnormally (表现异常). It hit {#blank#}4{#/blank#} camera. The situation got very difficult. I {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (stand) there— between the bear and my family at that moment. All of us hardly had a chance of running {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (fast) than a bear. The bear opened its mouth. I had to raise my arms {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (protect) myself. I caught its neck. While I {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(get) ready to fight with it, it started to rain heavily. The bear moved back towards the forest. But before returning to the forest, it {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(bite) my arm. It was the first time I had felt afraid. I drove away quickly{#blank#}10{#/blank#} my family. What a terrible experience!

 Old Mother Wind was talking with the Tall Tree in the forest, "I' ve just passed by the grass, and there I saw the Best Thing in the world. "

Bobby Mouse happened to sit under the tree and heard those1 . "The Best Thing in the world — what can that be?" he 2 "Well, it must be a lot of delicious nuts! I' ll go and find it. " Then Bobby Mouse ran 3 the grass. 

 He was running so4 that he didn't see Peter Rabbit until Peter Rabbit jumped out and asked, "5 are you going in such a hurry?"

"To find the Best Thing in the world, " Bobby Mouse answered. 

"The Best Thing in the world? I really6 eating carrots. That must be lots of carrots. I' ll go and join7 . " Peter Rabbit said to Bobby Mouse and ran after him. 

 Before long, they met Johnny Chuck, who asked the 8 question as Peter Rabbit just did. 

"To find the Best Thing in the world! Would you like to join us?" they shouted. 

"The Best Thing in the world?" said Johnny Chuck. "9 is more enjoyable than my own little home, the warm sunshine and the beautiful blue sky. I will 10 go with you!" So he stayed at home and played among the flowers with Old Mother Wind happily. 

 When Bobby Mouse and Peter Rabbit finally reached the grass, they had run far and fast all day long and still they didn't find the Best Thing in the world. When the 11 came, they started going back home. Now they didn't hurry in the dark12 they were very tired and hungry. 

 They came across Old Mother Wind halfway home. 

"Did you13 the Best Thing in the world?" asked Old Mother Wind. 

"No!" Their 14 sounded very sad. 

"Johnny Chuck has it, " she said. "It is being15 with the things you have. The Best Thing in the World is just around you. "