A few weeks ago I was at the corner shop, and there stood {#blank#}1{#/blank#} old lady in front of me in line. She seemed very {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (confuse) when the cashier asked her to pay $38. She had about $5 in her wallet, and she began to cry. The cashier became very {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (patient) and told her that she couldn't buy the items because she didn't have enough money. So I told the cashier not to worry about it, and that I would pay the difference.

    Afterwards, I paid {#blank#}4{#/blank#} my groceries and left the store. When I got outside, the lady {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (stand) there. I asked her what was wrong. She said that she couldn't remember {#blank#}6{#/blank#} she lived, and she began to cry again. Just then, a car pulled and a woman jumped out of the car.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} was this lady's daughter. She told me that her mom had Alzheimer's Disease (老年痴呆症). Then the daughter noticed that her mother had three bags of {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (grocery)and wondered how she managed to pay for it. I told her that I had paid for it. The daughter wanted to pay me back,{#blank#}9{#/blank#} I refused. I believe {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (make) others feel good makes me feel good.

    During the teenage years, many young people can at times be difficult to talk to. They often seem {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (dislike) being questioned. They may be {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (willing) to talk about their work in school. This is a normal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (develop) at this age, though it can be very hard for parents to understand. It is part of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (become) independent. They try to be adult while they are still growing up. Young people are usually more willing to talk if they believe that questions {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (ask) out of real interest and not because people are trying to check up on them.

    Parents should do their best to talk to their sons and daughters {#blank#}6{#/blank#} their schoolwork and future plan {#blank#}7{#/blank#} should not push them to talk if they don't want to. As they try to be adult, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (teenager) may experiment with drugs, alcohol or smoking, so parents should {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (careful) watch for any sign of unusual behavior {#blank#}10{#/blank#} may be connected with these and get help if necessary.

Confucius was a government official in the state of Lu, in what is now Shandong, China. His real name was Kong Qiu, but within China he is most often called Kongzi, which {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (mean). Master Kong. 

During Confucius's lifetime, China was ruled by the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE). {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, by the time Confucius was born, this dynasty was in a slow decline. The emperor's power was weakening and many small states were fighting {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (gain) control. Confucius's own city, Qufu, was capital of the state of Lu, and power in this state {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (divide) between several families which could not get along. 

As a government official of the state of Lu, Confucius wanted to end {#blank#}5{#/blank#} conflict between these families, and to help do this, he developed a philosophy {#blank#}6{#/blank#} he believed would bring peace and harmony. Confucius was perhaps a {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (good) philosopher than he was a government official, and he ended up having to leave the state of Lu. He spent thirteen years traveling around the other states, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (spread) his philosophy, before returning to Qufu where he spent his later life teaching his disciples (门徒). The collective body of Confucius's teachings came to be known {#blank#}9{#/blank#} Confucianism. This enduring philosophical tradition has had a profound and lasting impact on Chinese culture and {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (civilize), shaping values and attitudes for over two millennia. 

"I'm going to play basketball, Daddy." Lauren flew into my arms when I came in from work. "That's 1 , honey," I replied naturally. I thought she meant outside the house—on the driveway. Into the kitchen, my wife Helen's silence indicated I had 2 something. After a while, she spoke slowly, "Lauren is joining the girls' high-school basketball team."

I 3 my girl's sportsmanlike courage, but 4 was still in my stomach. Lauren was only just 1.55m tall. 5 legs and a heavy body were surely a(n) 6 for her in playing basketball.

Finally, the game day arrived. Lauren and her teammates moved out. Their game faces seemed 7 to win. At first, though not playing, Lauren followed the movement on the court and 8 every play. I could even 9 her shout "No way!" when a referee made an unfair call against a teammate. Sitting on the sidelines, Lauren still enjoyed the game very much.

Suddenly, the announcer's voice boomed, "Number thirty-three, Lauren Wray, in." My heart 10 wildly. What if she got injured or other girls on the team made fun of her? But what I saw was that Lauren made every effort to keep pace with the others. Just before the end of the game, they 11 the ball to Lauren. She caught it. She shot. 12 she scored!

The audience began clapping and 13 . Lauren's brown eyes shone as she wiped her sweaty forehead. Lauren's uplifting spirits and impressive performance, wrapped in a small 14 , struck everyone greatly. I felt enormously 15 to have Lauren as my daughter.