America is a fast-paced society, which may seem very troubling to foreign visitors. One's first 1is likely to be that everyone is in a rush. City people always seem to be 2 and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a brief moment.

    3 this may seem unfriendly to you4 drivers will rush you; storekeepers will be in a hurry as they 5you; people will push you 6 walking along the street. You will7 brief conversations with people when you shop or dine there as people seem to be on the go.

    Do not8 that because Americans are in such a hurry they are 9. To them, that is just part of their 10 of life. Americans who live in cities often think that everyone is11in a hurry to get things done so they naturally 12 others to behave similarly13 when they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kind and will take great 14 to help you. Many of them first came to the city 15 strangers and they remember how frightening a new city can be. If you need help,16a friendly-looking person and say, “I am a stranger here. Can you help me?”

    Most people will stop17 you, and help you find your way. But you must let them know that you need help. Otherwise they are18 to pass you by, not noticing that you are new the city and 19 help. If, occasionally, you find someone too rushed to give you help, don't be20just ask someone else. Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger.

    A couple in South Carolina has been eagerly seeking an organ donor. They haven't found one1.But they did find something else: friends.

Larry Swilling and his wife Jimmie Sue have been happily2for 56 years. So happily, in fact, that Larry has now come to realize he can't3without his wife. "She's my heart," he said. The problem with Jimmie Sue is that she4a kidney(肾). Jimmie Sue was born with only one, and now that doesn't5.She needs a transplant but neither her husband, nor anyone tested in her family, is a6match.

    Jimmie Sue is trying to get on a donor list, but the7is about two or three years long and that's for a kidney from a dead donor. Transplant patients who get their kidneys from living donors tend to live8.That is why Larry decided to try to ask for it, from total strangers.

"I don't9what people think," Larry said. He tells his wife, "I'm going to10you a kidney." And on the street, wearing a signboard "Need kidney for my wife", he's not shy in asking11:"Could I use your kidney?" For the last couple weeks, Larry, at 77, has been walking all over his hometown and the surrounding towns-basically12a kidney. He didn't really think it would work13he said, "I had to do something." He didn't fee14when the phone rang. "I'm willing to donate a kidney for your15," one caller said. "I'd like nothing more than to help you out," said another.

Believe it or not, over the last few days the16hasn't stopped ringing. Hundreds of people who either saw his sign or heard about it have17.One volunteer said, "I've got two, but I18need one." Larry hasn't found a match for his wife, but at least he has already had enough volunteers and19enough awareness to save someone. "If I get a kidney, it's fine. If I don't, I hope someone else does," the wife said. And that's why Larry is still out there, appealing to the20of strangers for the love of his wife.

    With his leg lame and his teeth uneven, the boy thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world. He 1 played with his classmates, and when asked to answer questions, he always 2 his head without a word.

    One spring, his father brought home some saplings (树苗). 3of his children would plant a sapling and he promised, 'Whoever 4 his sapling best shall get a gift.' The boy certainly wanted to get the gift. 5 seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees, he 6 an idea: he hoped the tree he planted would die soon. So watering it once or twice, he never 7 it.

    Several days later, he was 8 to find it not only didn't die, but also grew so many fresh 9. Compared with those of his brothers and sisters, his appeared greener. His father kept his 10, bought the boy a gift and said he would become an outstanding11 after growing up.

    From then on, the boy slowly became 12 and confident. One evening, he suddenly13 his biology teacher once said that plants 14 grow at night. Why not go to see the tree?

    When he came to the courtyard, he found his father working near the tree! Immediately he 15: Father had been secretly 16 his tree! He returned to his room, tears in his eyes.

    Decades passed. The boy didn't become a botanist. 17, he became the U.S.18. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.

    19 is the best nourishment (滋养品) of life. 20 it is just a bucket of water, it can make the tree of life grow well!

    "None of us get out of life alive, so be brave and be thankful for all the opportunities (机会)you have." Those were 1 words said by 18-year-old Jake Bailey, a cancer patient.

    Bailey was in the leading position of the Students' Union. The young man had planned to2 at his high school's end-of-year ceremony (典礼)on schedule. 3, just the week before, he received shocking 4. After several weeks of not feeling well, tests showed that he had a fast-growing form of cancer. Doctors said, without 5, he would only have weeks to live, so they didn't 6 him to take part in the event. But Bailey put on his school uniform along with his 7 face and left his hospital bed to give the inspiring speech to his 8. Without doubt, his surprise appearance 9 everyone at the ceremony. Sitting in the wheelchair, he began to 10 his ideas. He expressed that a strong-willed person would not easily 11, no matter how hard life was.

    At the speech, Bailey encouraged his schoolmates to 12 their time. "The future is truly in our hands. 13 about having impractical long-term dreams. Let's be 14to short-term goals," He15. "We don't know where we might end up, or when we will end up, so work with pride on what is 16 us."

    When the senior 17 his speech with the school's 18, "Altiora Peto," which means "I fight for higher things", the entire room burst into cheers.19, Bailey's message was heard loud and clear. Bailey then closed his eyes and 20 the words "Thank you".

As a child, I hated going to the store with my mom. Whenever my mom asked if I wanted to go1, I would say, "No, mom! Who wants to get car sick and walk near the frozen section(冷冻区)? That's the2 part — the freezers and smell of seafood. Why would any mom3their only child this way? I hated it. 4, I did get cookies, French fries, and chocolate. This5 treatment went on until I left for Culver Academies.

    Here at Culver, I had no chance to walk around with my mom and get snacks I wanted. I found myself stuck(被困住) at the 6 whose store had high prices for a slice of cheese. I 7walking near the frozen sections with my mom.

    My first vacation home, my mom asked what I wanted from the 8, knowing I wouldn't go.

    "Can I 9?" I asked with a look of 10 because I wanted to spend time with her. I also felt sad while asking 11 I took all those 12for granted in my childhood.

    I 13 come home now. But when I do, I 14 to go with her every time. If not, I always say, "Love you mom. Drive safe!" I run to the gate and watch her15. I wave, smile, and 16 that I stay home.

As a child, I hated going shopping with my mom, but now I 17 it. I like walking near the frozen sections of stores now— it gives me a(an)18to stay with her. When I go with her, I really19 every detail in our trips. Now I'm eighteen and will be in college soon. I hope she knows how much those eight minutes'20 to the store meant to me .Thanks mom.

    I'm standing in a class of wild 14－year－old girls as they throw paper and howl with laughter. They won't1to me.

    I was 22 and I didn't know what I was doing. I never wanted to teach. I wanted to be a 2. But when I arrived in London, they were short of teachers. My3 at teaching were hopeless. When the bell finally rang, I rushed to the 4 room, red 5anger. The other teachers weren't surprised. "That's 4B, the worst class in school," one said.

    I was afraid of our next meeting, but I couldn't give up, because I needed the job. Therefore, I 6formal lessons.7 ， I brought topics for class discussions. One of the liveliest talks was about the arguments they had with their 8. They paid attention and shared about their families. Then I had them write about themselves. As time went on, their essays became a 9 between us. I think they 10 my interest in their lives.

    The musical My Fair Lady was playing in the West End, but they had never seen a(n) 11 stage performance. I asked if they would like to see the musical. They thought I was 12. No teacher had ever 13 taking them out. A few weeks later, 4B and I were 14 in a theatre. They loved the music and the characters. It was the 15 of their year, and they talked about it for days.

    Near the end of the semester, someone16 on the door of the staff room. The two girls most unwilling to 17 rules in 4B were there—with flowers. I was 18to know I had touched their lives, but they had also touched mine. When I returned to Australia several years later, I still wanted to be a writer. For the first time in my life, I stopped 19and started writing. My first story was 20, My Fair Ladies. Teaching wasn't the end of my writing career; it was the beginning.