It's hard being an astronaut's son. I mean, everybody expects you to be special or 1. But I'm just a common student, and I' m common in all kinds of ball games, too.

    I often wonder 2 my father ever had a son like me. He' s so special and so good at 3. So I used to dream about doing something special to make him 4 me.

    In one class, my teacher 5 a Father's Day essay contest to us. He also told us the winners' essays would 6 in front of all the parents and students. After school I walked home, 7 my father, who I would write about in my essay.

    I still remember he stayed by my side in the 8 when I was a little kid and had an awful dream. He surprised me 9 a new puppy dog at my eighth birthday party. He sat and tried to explain the meaning of life to me when Grandpa Bob died. To me, he wasn't a world-famous astronaut, just my dad.

    I wrote about all these 10 in my essay. One of our classmates said, "I believe you'll win the contest, David. You're the only one in our school who 11 write about being the son of an astronaut. "I shrugged(耸肩). I hadn' t shown anyone the essay, but now I 12hoped I wouldn't win. I didn't want to win just because my father was an astronaut.

    I won the second prize. 13 I finished reading my essay, the whole school applauded(鼓掌). I saw my father blowing his nose. I went back to my seat. Dad nodded to 14, cleared his throat, and put his hand on my shoulder. "Son, this is the most 15 moment of my life," he said. It was the proudest moment of my life, too. Maybe I'll never be a great hero or win a Nobel Prize, but just then, it was enough just to be my father' s son.

    I was invited to attend a presentation at the Kentucky School. That evening I found gratitude（感恩）had amazing 1to change our attitude and our life.

    The young musician Mr. Patrick was 2 onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His 3 danced across the keys as he made beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was wonderful. But what shocked me most was his 4 smile.

    Patrick was born with no eyes and an illness in the legs, which 5 him disabled for life. However, as a child, he was6 with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first 7, he discovered the piano. When his mom hit any note on the piano, and within one or two 8, he'd get it. By his second birthday, he was playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". His father was extremely 9. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."

    When Patrick was at the University of Louisville, his father 10 classes with him. He was also a part of the 214-member marching band! He was a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father did it together. His father 11 the night shift（夜班）in order to accompany his daytime band practice. Patrick says, "My dad's my 12."

    But even more than his 13 musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that 14 my soul. On stage, between songs, he talked to the audience about his life and about how 15 he was to his great father. When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and 16 for over five minutes.

    We all face misfortune in our lives. 17, it's not the hardship but how we 18 to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our lives. During 19 times, do we spend too much time feeling 20 for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude, learn how to dance in the rain?

    Sitting in my favorite restaurant one day I noticed a man come in. He looked 1 and mad with the world, a look I had 2 many times before. I gave him my happy "good morning"3 but his response was still less than 4. He looked at me, sat down and 5 his head in the menu.

    I was not 6 by his response but I wondered if he would 7 and give just a small hello or smile. Over an hour passed and every time he looked my way, he looked meaner (低劣的) and meaner. Finally he called the 8 over to 9 his bill. I turned my head away for just a 10 and he was gone quickly. 

    I looked down at his 11 and there was a beautiful rolled up $ 100 bill on it. I was in shock. I 12 got up to get the cash. In my head Right and Wrong were fighting it out. Before I knew it, I was 13 behind the man to offer this 14 back to him. Out of breath, I said, "Sir, did you 15 this?" He looked shocked. His face turned 16 and a big lump (块) that could 17 an elephant came in his throat. He looked at the ground and finally said "yes", and then he slowly said "thank you".

    Without 18 looking at me, he turned around, got in his car and 19 away. I said "thank you" to God for letting me change one person's 20 towards friendly strangers.

    Four weeks after you were born, I still served in the navy(海军). Had I1in the navy, I would always be leaving you. So I left the navy and applied to Bowdoin College and was2- though, at 27, I was considered a very3student. Your mother was having a 4time. She reached a5point, so I took you to school with me.

    It was very6at the beginning. I feared Bowdoin knew it, so I didn't7you to anyone. For the first8, I lived off campus and worked at night. I had to take you in sometimes and9you in the closet(壁橱). Working, studying and taking care of you filled all my life. I1027 pounds just from stress.

    I11that I could do it myself, but it was getting very difficult. A woman helped me move to12housing during the second semester. I was the first single13raising a child on campus.

    14, you were a healthy child. You were quiet and didn't15anyone. And you16school right away. I would take you to17and give you things to do, and you would just sit at a desk and do them.

    My graduation day was18. I carried you in my arms to get my diploma. All my classmates stood up and19. They gave me the only standing ovation(欢迎) of the day. It20what I had endured(忍耐) for the past four years.

My husband and I were both raised on Kansas farms. It was1 to my husband's parents that their children should be educated and given the2 to gain financial stability that they themselves didn't have when they3to feed their family.

We each sought careers in the medical field. As we searched for a place to settle, we looked only at 4 communities. The city held no attraction for us. We wanted a5, quiet area where our children could be exposed to good basic values, a good6 , and a friendly environment. Our7was made 40 years ago, and we never once8settling down in a small town in north central Kansas. .

Early investment(投资) to secure the education of our children and our future retirement were focused on9 . Farming was and is a(n)10part of our lives, although the primary income source is our11 practice.

What's great about small town living? The air is clean! There is no12. We feel safe! Our doors are locked13 . Our neighbors are honest and friendly. Only recently have we learned to14 car keys from unattended vehicles- not because of any great dangers, but to15 us more cautious and safe when we are in more heavily populated areas.

There are very few16in our small community. Even if you don't know each other very well, smiling faces with recognition and greetings are17with warmth. Friendly enquiries are18when there has been an experience with pain or joy. Anytime a neighbor is19from illness or some loss, the community is there to help, to20 the burden and to express their loving concern.

Following My Dream

I grew up in a poor family with six brothers, three sisters, my father and mother. We had little money and few goods, but plenty of love and attention. I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still afford a dream. 

My dream was athletics. By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and hit anything moving on the football field. And I was so lucky that my high-school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but often told me "The dream is priceless." However, when I was about to get off the ground, one particular thing happened, which almost ruined (毁坏)my long-held dream. 

It was the summer holiday in Senior Two and a friend recommended me for a summer job. I was offered $12.25 per hour. Compared with the average $3.5, that was a big sum. I was so excited, because this meant a chance for money in my pocket, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a house for my mother. The prospect (前景)of the job was inviting, and I wanted to jump at the opportunity. 

Then I realized I would have to give up summer baseball training to handle the work schedule. I didn't dare to tell my coach. I thought of the advice my mother often gave me when I lacked courage, "If you make your bed, you have to lie in it." I decided to talk to my coach by myself. After all, my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his disappointment to me. I gathered my courage and knocked at his door…

What should one do even if he was poor in the author's opinion? {#blank#}11{#/blank#}

Why did the author want to give up summer baseball training? {#blank#}12{#/blank#}

What is the coach's attitude towards the author's dream? How do you know that? {#blank#}13{#/blank#}

What would happen when the author knocked at his coach's door? {#blank#}14{#/blank#}