I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always tight, but we had a 1 over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always2. Not knowing we were poor, my kids(孩子们) just thought I was 3. I've always been glad about that.

    It was Christmas time, and although there wasn't 4 for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with a family party. But the big 5 for the kids was the fun of Christmas 6.

    They planned weeks ahead of time, asking 7 what they wanted for Christmas. Fortunately, I had saved $120 for 8 to share by all five of us.

    The big 9 arrived. I gave each kid a twenty-dollar bill and 10 them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered(散开). We had two hours to shop; then we would 11at the “Santa's Workshop”.

    Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits, 12 my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually 13. She had only one small, flat bag with a few candies— fifty-cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn't say anything 14 we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door,15 to be angry again. This is what she told me：

    “I was looking 16 thinking of what to buy, and I 17to read the little cards on the 'Giving Trees'.One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she 18 for Christmas was a doll(玩具娃娃). So I took the card off the tree and 19 the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn't have anything.”

    I never felt so 20 as I did that day.

It was a cold evening and my daughter and I were walking up Broadway. I didn't notice a guy sitting inside a cardboard box. But Nora did. She wasn't even four, but she 1 at my coat and said, "That man's cold. Daddy, 2 we take him home?"

    I don't remember my reply. But I do remember a sudden 3 feeling inside me. I had always been delighted at how much my daughter noticed in her 4, whether it was 5 in flight or children playing. But now she was noticing 6 and beggary.

    A few days later, I saw an article in the newspaper about volunteers who picked up a food package from a nearby school on a Sunday morning and 7 it to an elderly person. It was quick and easy. I 8 us up. Nora was 9 about it. She could understand the importance of food, so she could easily see how 10 our job was. When Sunday came, she was ready, but I had to 11 myself to leave the house. On the way to the school, I fought an urge to turn 12. The Sunday paper and coffee were waiting at home. Why do this? 13, we phoned the elderly person we'd been appointed. She 14 us right over.

    The building was in a sad state. Facing us was a silver-haired woman in an old dress. She took the package and asked us to come in. Nora ran inside. I unwillingly followed.15 inside, I saw that the department belonged to someone poor. Our hostess showed us some photos. Nora played and when it came time to say goodbye, we three hugged, I walked home in tears.

Professionals call such a(n) 16 "a volunteer opportunity". They are opportunities, I've come to see. Where else but as volunteers do you have opportunity to do something 17 that's good for others as well as for yourself? Nora and I regularly serve to needy people and 18 clothes for the homeless. Yet, as I've 19 her grow over these past four years, I still wonder—which of us has 20 more?

    What do you think of that? One man donated(捐赠) his stem cells (干细胞)to a(n) 1 living on the other side of the world.

    A man working as a taxi driver in Shanghai 2 an activity about stem cell donation. Shortly after, he received the 3 that his stem cells had been matched to a boy in England. The receiver is just seven years old. The driver, Jiang Yongfeng, 4 to donate his stem cells at once. “I did not expect it to happen so 5. I was so excited to get a match so soon.” He says. “6 I learned the boy was only born in 2008, I was silent. And I 7 I made the right decision. I must help him.”

    Some people 8 stem cell transplants to treat cancer. They must 9 a donor with nearly the same genes(基因). It means the matched 10 must have the very similar gene. The possibility of the long-distance match between Jiang Yongfeng and the little boy is 11. It sounds like a 12miracle（奇迹）. “ The little boy receiving Jiang's donation is very 13, ” doctors said.

    Some donors were 14 to donate stem cells in out-dated ways because of poor health care systems years ago. It was a(n) 15 experience that many people couldn't stand. 16, Mr. Jiang was able to use a simpler and safer method.

    Usually donors and receivers do not meet, nor do they know each other's 17. Does Jiang Yongfeng mind that he doesn't even know the little boy's name? “ No,” he shakes his 18. “ I just want the operation to be done as soon as possible so that they can send my 19 to the UK and help the little kid 20 as soon as possible. I hope he can be brave and strong and that he can live a good life.

    One of the most exciting archaeological discoveries(考古发现) in history was made in November 1922, when Howard Carter was1 in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. After many months of digging, he finally2 an unknown grave.

    3with his friend Lord Carnarvon, who was providing the money for his work, Carter entered the4 tomb. At first there was5, because the tomb was6, and it was clear that it had been robbed (盗窃) at some time in the past. 7, one of the workers eventually found a small stairway that led down to another door that had not been 8.

    Carter went down the dark staircase, walking 9 in case there were any traps (陷阱). As he opened the 10, Lord Carnarvon asked if he could see anything. He replied, “Yes, 11things.” It was clear at once that they had discovered what they had been 12. The tomb of King Tutankhamen was full of treasures of13value. There were over 5,000 objects of silver, gold and precious stones which had been there 14 for thousands of years.

    Lord Carnarvon's 15at discovering the treasures did not last long. Many of the local people were afraid of16 the kings' tombs, and believed that the kings would punish anyone who17 them. Lord Carnarvon had paid little attention to these18, but only a few weeks later, he19 fell ill and died; at the exact time of his death, all the lights in Cairo went out all of a sudden, and far away in England, his dog also20 .

    On a cold December morning, my mother and I were walking home from a pizza store. We were dressed warmly and equipped 1 the video we had been dying to watch. I was feeling a little 2 , as I was carrying our shopping bags of snacks and the video.

    They were so heavy that I decided to 3  some things. So I started to walk towards the garbage can when I 4 a poor man walking his bike out of the restaurant in front of us. He held a paper bag with his dirty hand. He 5 over to another nearby garbage can and started 6 it.

    I suddenly felt very 7. I knew this man would take all he could get, 8 I walked up to him and 9 the drink and some snacks over to him. The man, with lines on his face and wrinkles on his forehead, looked up in10 and took what I gave him.

    A huge smile 11 across his face and this caused me to feel indescribable 12. I felt like I couldn't be 13 with myself, but then he said: "Wow, first someone gives me this sandwich, then this drink, and now some 14 food; this is my daughter's 15 day!"

    He thanked me 16 and started off on his bike. I even heard him whistling a song as he rode away.

    I now 17what is meant by the saying "giving is getting". Everyone in the world needs help, everyone can 18 help and everyone will be helped by showing 19.

    The image of that man's happiness caused by my small gift appears in my mind every time I have the 20 to do something nice.

    I don't remember the day my mother saved my life. But for her, the 1 of that day is vivid. When she 2 those events, she's thirty five years old again and I am a tiny baby in her arms.

    It was early March, but the3 wind bit like it was the depths of December. My mother 4 the blanket even tighter around me as she hurried to the 5 door. I was two months old, and that was our third 6 to the doctor that week. Each time a different face said the same words. "It's 7. Just a simple cold, ma'am." That day was no different. My mother left, feeling 8, convinced there must be something wrong with my breathing. At home, she kept me closer than normal, 9 monitoring my breathing.

    When I woke up the next day, fighting for breath, her 10 were around me with quick sureness, and I was rushed to the 11. We flew past red 12. "Breathe, Alana! Breathe!" she cried out. We reached the hospital, and her arms were around me again. "This baby can't 13!" my mother shouted. Even as doctors 14 me, her arms never let me go.

    I have grown up in Mum's arms. Today I'm seventeen, and for most people that means the times for 15 are over. But when I'm applying for colleges, I 16 at the computer screen for hours. Suddenly, I feel 17, not knowing what to do. I realize that dependence is not a(n) 18. Instead, with someone by my side, I am much stronger than I will ever be 19. I may not remember the moment my mother saved my life so long ago. 20, looking back, I see that my mother saves my life every day.