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    Once upon a time, there was a lazy, 1 man living in a small house with spider webs (蜘蛛网) on the walls and mice running around. People 2 coming into such a dirty place and the man was lonely and sad every day. He thought it was poorness that 3his unhappy life.

    One day, the poor man dropped in on a wise old man and asked him for 4 about changing his life. The old man gave him a beautiful vase (花瓶) and said: "This is a magic vase that will bring you 5."

    The man looked at the vase with 6 . Why would he need 7 in his poor house? However, he didn't want to 8 such a beautiful vase, so he brought it home and put it on the table.

     "It's not right for something so beautiful to be 9 ." The poor man looked at the vase and thought. Then he 10 some wild flowers and put them into it, making it even more beautiful. 11 he was still not satisfied. "It is not good for such a beautiful thing 12 next to a spider web." Then he started to do some cleaning in the house and painted the walls. His house quickly turned into a  13 place. The poor man 14.    

    He suddenly realized that in the past it was his laziness that made him poor and unhappy. 15, he worked hard and his life got better and better.

    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.

    One morning thirty years ago, I walked into the Track Kitchen, a 1where almost everyone came for breakfast. I saw an2chair next to an old short man. He was3a pair of old glasses and a wrinkled (皱巴巴) black hat. "He must be from a poor family." I thought to 4 I asked him, "Could I join you, sir?" He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my5.

    We began a conversation and talked a lot. But we 6 asked each other's name. I guessed that he might have no money and couldn't7something to eat. When I went to the counter and buy a8 cup of coffee.

    "May I get you something?" I asked.

    "A coffee would be nice."

    Then I bought him a cup of coffee. We talked more, and I got him another cup of coffee. 9, I got up to leave, wished him well, and walked to the door. At the door, I met one of my friends. He asked.

    "How did you know Mr. Carpenter?"

    " 10?"

    "The man you were sitting with. He is the CEO of the Channel."

    I could11believe it. I was buying a free breakfast12one of the richest men in town! My few13with Mr. Carpenter changed my life. Now I try to treat(对待) 14with respect(尊重), no matter(无论)what he wears. Don't judge(判断) a man by his15.

    "What you want," she said," isn't always what you need." My mother always told me.

    1my husband and I were talking 2Christmas. "I want a real tree," I said.

    "Why?" he asked. "What's wrong with our fake(假的)one?" "A real 3makes a perfect Christmas." "Fine," he muttered(咕). So we4one home and set it up. Then I poured a bottle of water in the tree.

    "That's plenty," said my husband. "No," I said, "a little more." I began pouring again. Then suddenly, the tree started to swim. We5 the water with every towel(毛巾)in the house. "Sorry," I said. He didn't reply. 6later the floor was dry and he was7to me again. "The tree smells good," he said. I 8. Then we finished the lights and put the angel on top.

    Still, it wasn't quite…9So the next day I added snowflakes10the tree. It's still not perfect, but it's done. And I'm done, 11. But it's still not perfect. The lights on the tree are in a mess. The top snowflakes are showing their age. The berries are falling on the floor. 12at least it smells good. I will always remember that lovely 13 and the look my husband gave me.

    My mother was 14. What we want isn't always15we need. I don't need a perfect Christmas. I only need the perfect gifts that Christmas brings: joy and laughter with family.

    A small boy was trying to move a big wooden box out of his yard. The box was much 1 than the boy. He tried his best to move it, but the box would not move at all. After 2 for a glass of water, the boy tried to move it once more. This time, he pushed harder, but he still 3 move the box a bit. He was quite tired and lost heart

    The boy's 4 was coming home from work around this time. He stopped to watch his son's fruitless efforts. The father didn't help him, 5 instead asked, "Son, have you tried your best? I mean, are you doing 6 you can?"

    "Yes, I am!" the boy cried.

    "No," his father said calmly, "you're not. You have not asked me to7 you can?"

    Asking for help is not a weakness. Many people need help, and 8 the best of us need help. It is 9 to know when to ask for help and understand why you need it. Never be afraid to ask others for help when you're in 10.

    Tony and Robert are neighbors, so their families sometimes 1 together. One day, Robert asked Tony for some 2, saying that he needed it for a business (生意).

    At first, Tony 3. But after Robert begged him several times, he lent the money to Robert. However, Tony 4 to ask for a receipt (收据) for the money.

Robert said he would 5 in six months, but he didn't do it on time. When Tony went to ask him about the money, he said that he had 6 borrowed any money from Tony.

    This made Tony very 7. He went to his lawyer (律师) and said, "My neighbor owes (欠) me much money and he won't pay back. What should I do?"

    "Do you have any proof (证据) that he owes you money?" the lawyer asked.

    "Nope." Tony said.

    "Okay, then write him a letter asking him for the 8 dollars he owes you," the lawyer said.

    " 9 I only lent him 5000 dollars," Tony said.

    "That's what he will say 10 he replies (答复) and then you'll have your proof!"