Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand（农场工人）. At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he 1to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social2 with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the café. On Saturday evenings, the café was3 because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied（满意）with his4 In his words, he 5thought of changing his job.

    At the age of 31, Dad married my mother who was a school teacher. In the following spring I came6 into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt unsatisfied. She told Dad that they must make a7

    My mother had8of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and fame. And she9that I would some day become a great leader，ruling men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she persuaded Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and10a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for11 education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother's hope, Dad and I12what we have today. Dad runs a big international13and I am a successful lawyer enjoying great fame in my country,14not a leader as my mother expected.

    Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn't be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.15he got a lesson of life: sometimes we really need drive from outside.

    I was born here 20 years ago. It is quite 1 now. Let's 2 around. On our right there is a school. It was 3 a school then. At that time, there were not many students in the school. The teachers were very 4 and nice, but they were 5 with us. There 6 two houses next to the school. The small one was my friend Zhao Yi's house. The big one 7 a small garden was my teacher's house. Behind the house, 8 the north, there were rice fields. My home was 9 the other side of the road. There was a small park to the west of our house. We liked playing there 10.

    A young man went to visit a wise man living deep in the mountain for the wisdom of life.

    "Excuse me！Could you tell me which the most1day in our lives is? Is it the day when we were born or the day we2?Is it the day when we fall in love or the day we succeed?" the young man asked.

    "3.The most important day in our lives is today, "the wise man replied calmly." Why?" the young man felt more 4."Is it because there is a moving event taking place today?"

    "No. Nothing has happened today."

    "Is it because of my visit?"

    "No. Even if nobody visited me today, today is5very important because today is the only wealth we have. No matter how memorable yesterday was, it has gone by like a ship going down into the sea; no matter how bright tomorrow may be, it hasn't come; but no matter how common today is, it is6our control."

    The young man still wanted to ask something, while the wise man7him and said, "When we are talking about the meaning of today, we have8a lot of it."

    The young man nodded and then went down the mountain.

    Actually, today is the only9we have.

    So, what we should do now is 10yesterday and tomorrow and catch fast today！

    Two years ago, Matthew Nonnemacher's teacher asked her students to think of one wish. Matthew didn't have to think too 1. He drew a picture of himself giving money to a 2 person.

    Drawing a picture is easy, of course. But Matthew did much more than that. He 3 to start to collect pennies (便士)."I think almost everyone has extra (额外的) 4," said Matthew. He knew that if most people liked to give away a penny, the pennies could 5 up. He wished that he could collect $10,000.

Matthew started his work 6. He put penny boxes in schools and supermarkets. He also went on TV to 7 people to give away their pennies. When Matthew finished the work, he collected more than $18,000 in pennies.

Matthew gave away his 8 to the United Way. The United Way gives a lot of 9 to people in need. Matthew made his 10 come true with his own hard work.