Life is a series of choices and we can't always foresee the consequences.

    Harry Saleen, an obese man with too much money and power, faced a(n)1 Outside his office waited his personal2, bringing him the important news about the3medicine that could save his life. On the other side of the world, one of his engineers waited for his decision on an important4of business.

    His secretary asked him5she could bring the doctor in. The billionaire businessman made his6 “No. let the fool wait,” answered Saleen, “business comes first.”7the health problem caused by his huge weight, he was still8about making money. He raised a9finger, and one of his staffs10to switch on a large television set.

    On the screen appeared his engineer. They talked by satellite directly to each other although they were thousands of miles11 “It's all ready to explode, Mr. Saleen”, he said, “Just one12” His engineer was standing above Pakan Valley in South America. A few months ago, it had been a rainforest. Then Saleen's men came, cutting down all the valuable trees and13the villagers to move out.14the valley, a dam had been built. This would provide power for the factories that Saleen planned to build in that area. The factories would bring him great15. He saw no reason to delay. He ordered the engineer to press the button. There, in the valley, a cloud of dust rose, followed by a dull explosion. A large river changed its16and water flooded into the valley.

    “Good, that's that. Now, get that doctor in here” he17

The doctor came in with a worried look and started to examine his18patient. “You are doing very well, Mr. Saleen. The only medicine is saving your life. But the difficulty is getting more of it.”

    “Can you get more? Money is no problem.” Saleen said. “Tell me what you need and we'll get it.”

    The medicine was made of a plant, which is19. There is only one place in the world where the plant grows.”

    “Where?” asked the businessman,20.

    The doctor smiled. “Well, luckily, the plant comes from one of the lands you own, sir. It comes from a place in South America, known as Pakan Valley.”

    Being a sports reporter for more than a decade, I see “Olympic” as a1word to me. I found the word is also a(an)2for everyone to shine. This feeling3me when I was holding the Olympic torch for the4time on Monday in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea.

    I felt such a great5to be invited by the International Olympic Committee to be a torchbearer for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games 6Chinese sports reporters. Ten years ago, I was invited by IOC to be a7for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. I have now carried the torch in two different countries. I have 8how the Olympic flame 9everybody around it.

    When I arrived at the 10point for the torchbearers, all the staff and even passers-by cheered because they knew I would be joining the11. I could feel their heartfelt12 toward the Olympics. When a group of torchbearers left to join in the relay, all the people13 shouting “Fighting!” While I14my turn, many people came to take photos with me and the torch. In 101 days, the route15nine provinces and eight major cities across the country. With less than a month to go before the Games1 opening ceremonies in Pyeongchang, Seoul had been16 into an Olympic city as well.

    “Let everyone shine' is not just a slogan for the torch relay but 17the fact that ordinary people from every walk of life—students, bakers, teachers, farmer —are18.The Olympic spirit is a lot more than the19 of 'swifter, higher, and stronger.' 'Olympic, has the magic to bring everyone together to20their dreams.

    I was walking home from school one day and it happened to be a particularly cold and windy day. It was 1and I was crazy enough to forget my hats and scarf. You can imagine my cheeks were rosy 2 and my hands were as numb as they can be.

    All of a sudden, an old lady 3 up beside me and asked if I would like a ride 4. At first, I said it was OK and her 5smile melted(融化) away the thought that I should never talk to 6! We had an amazing chat and she was just 7 a good woman. She told me her 8and she dropped me off.

    I didn't see her or talk to her for about a month and one night as I9 her kind gesture, I decided to return the favor. So, I made a lot of 10 and walked down to her house with my friend. At first I was a bit 11she wouldn't remember me or think that I was a bad man who poisoned cookies but luckily, I was 12 wrong. She was so happy, and she hugged me and kissed me and seemed so 13 that someone would do something like that!

    When I got home my mom told me that she 14and told my mom on the phone that she 15because she was so touched. She said she would never 16 the kindness that was given to her! That filled me with such 17! There really is nothing else joyful like helping 18and making someone's day 19!

    Let us never forget the joy we get 20giving others a hand!

    A small dog's loyalty recently melted the hearts of millions of Japanese people. It was reported that it had been waiting for his owner to 1 for three years, not knowing that she 2 would.

    A few years ago, an old lady from Osaka, Japan, 3 a cute little lost dog that she named Fu Shi. The two lived 4 for a while, but tragedy came three years ago, when the old lady 5 a brain disease which eventually led to dementia (痴呆). She had to be taken to a nursing home to be under constant special 6, and the small dog found itself all alone again. But he had no 7 that the old lady was never coming back, so he 8 the last three years waiting for her.

    9 told news reporters that, every day, Fu Shi could be seen waiting for his 10 at the corner of the alley-to her house. He would sit there all day, until nightfall, and would then return to the now-abandoned house that they had 11 Touched by the animal's loyalty, one of the neighbors contacted an animal 12, and told them his touching story. Apparently, Fu Shi 13 on the food that the neighbors left for him ever since his owner 14, but they couldn't do anything about his 15.

    After giving Fu Shi a check up, a vet 16 that he was 8-years-old, and suffering from intestinal worms. He was given a 17 and made a full recovery.

    Fortunately, this heartbreaking story has a 18 ending. After full media 19 in Japan and other Asian countries, Fu Shi has been adopted by a loving family. He also has a new 20 now, Sky.

    A woman professor walked around in a classroom while she was teaching stress management to her students. 1 she raised a glass of water, 2 expected they would be asked the "half-empty or half-full" question.

    Instead, with a 3 on her face, she asked, “What's the 4 of this glass of water?”5 called out ranged from eight to twenty ounces (盎司).

    She 6 the students down and then replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter .It all 7 how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have a 8 in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb (麻木) and paralyzed (麻痹). In each 9, the weight of the glass of water doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the 10 it becomes. Do you know why?"

    All the students kept silent and listened carefully, lost in thought.

    She 11, "Our stresses and 12 in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing 13. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel 14—unable to do anything."

    It's important to 15 to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as possible, put all your burdens down. Don't 16 them through the evening and into the night Remember to put the glass down!

    More often than not life gets 17 when we think too much. And the moment you 18 your burden, you'll find yourself feeling so much more relaxed.

    So 19 wondering around and feeling sorry for yourself, start doing something about it. After all, life is too short to devote yourself to anything that makes you 20.

    Manuela got up earlier and bought two bags of cat food. She began going to the1barbershop on the corner, making her weekly visit to see Hussein, the old barber. Hussein was both2and delighted to see Manuela and the bags of food. The two hurried over to the tiny food dishes lined up in the alley. Several3appeared soon.

    As the two4and made their way back inside the shop, Hussein's smile5 and he explained he was about to6the barbershop. He had been told to leave within 7 days. His7barbershop simply couldn't pay enough rent and the landlord had invited another roomer, one who wouldn't be8animals outside.

    Manuela's eyes began to9as Hussein expressed his10about the homeless cats he cared for. But as fate(命运) would have it, there was something better11for the barber and his cats. As Manuela's blog supporters read her12about Hussein, they, one after another,13donating to him and his cats. Every day for the next week, Manuela went to Hussein with the14. And on the fourth day, something unbelievable happened when Hussein was able to15a storefront in an old building near his shop. No electricity,16there was potential. Manuela and other people17to help paint and clear rubbish while electricians made all the necessary18.

    In less than two weeks, the barber was back in19again. Through the kindness of strangers,20, his and his cats' whole world was brought back.