My mother was a housewife. She thought that successful people spent a lot more time {#blank#}1{#/blank#} than watching TV. So she asked my brother and me to read two books every week in our free time. She would check them with marks, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she couldn't read the books at all.
When I went to school, I was an A-student, but not for long. I wanted cool {#blank#}3{#/blank#} and hung out with friends. I went from being an A-student to a C-student, but I didn't care. One night, I complained about not having enough Italian T-shirts. Then my mother gave me all her money. She said I could get the money {#blank#}4{#/blank#} to buy shirts if I finished buying all things the family needed. I was very {#blank#}5{#/blank#} that, but after I bought those things, there was no money left. I got to know how {#blank#}6{#/blank#} it was for my mother to do all this. I went back to my studies and become an A-student again. Finally, my dream {#blank#}7{#/blank#} and I become a doctor.
My story is really my mother's story--a woman with little education greatly changed my life as a {#blank#}8{#/blank#} . So, I believe there is no job more important than parenting.

volunteer, disabled, ever, rope, shut

    As we are growing up, we really need advice from adults. Here are three people talking about their experiences.

    Jasper, 26, actor

    You're not alone.

    Sometimes when you're a teenager, you feel as if you're all alone and there's {#blank#}1{#/blank#} you can talk to. Do you know twenty to thirty percent of teenagers in the US have a hard {#blank#}2{#/blank#} going through the period? They feel lonely and sad. I think life is so much easier if you {#blank#}3{#/blank#} your troubles with others. I regret that I didn't take the advice when someone {#blank#}4{#/blank#} it to me.

    Steve, 27, teacher

    Your teachers only want what's best for you.

    When I was in school, I never thought I'd become a teacher. I acted badly in class, and feel {#blank#}5{#/blank#}about that now. I love my job and I know how challenging it is, so I hope kids can show their teachers more respect (尊重). I hope kids can {#blank#}6{#/blank#} that teachers push them to do their best and not just to give them a hard time.

    Anna, 29, doctor

    Money doesn't grow on trees.

    When I was a teenager, I never learned {#blank#}7{#/blank#}to save money. I just spent it! My parents gave me everything I wanted, but I realize now they spent little {#blank#}8{#/blank#} themselves. Now I wish I knew {#blank#}9{#/blank#}about planning my money, and I am not the only one! It seems that today's teenagers know about money planning even less {#blank#}10{#/blank#}me years ago. I do wish they could learn about it earlier.

    There's a saying, "You are what you eat." It means it is important to eat good food so that we can {#blank#}1{#/blank#} healthy. Kids in Japan are a good example of this.

    A report by UNICRF(联合国儿童基金会)shows that the health of Japanese children tops the world. Experts say there are many reasons of this. A national school lunch program {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a key role.

    In Japan, children{#blank#}3{#/blank#} packed lunches to school in the past. But now, they usually eat lunches in their school classrooms. Nutritionist(营养师)makes the menus for the school lunches. All primary schools and a lot of junior high schools in Japan use these menus. Children hand out food to each other. After lunch, teachers let children {#blank#}4{#/blank#} up the room by themselves. They believe it is also a good way to help improve children's living skills. When they grow up, they {#blank#}5{#/blank#} able to look after themselves.