My whole life began to make more sense after I was diagnosed with Turner syndrome（特纳综合征）at 12. Before that, I1understood why when the rest of my classmates were growing like weeds, I 2a seed stuck in the ground. I had always struggled being the3girl in my class and was known as “Shorty” . Though this 4 me deeply, I refused to let my classmates5my enthusiasm for school and learning. I 6 lots of after-school activities, though they sometimes presented problems. Because girls with Turner syndrome tend to have 7coordination (协调), I hardly had any athletic ability. I loved to sing, but it proved 8to share a microphone with a group of girls seven inches taller. Despite this, I 9 to drive myself to prove that heart and brains could make up for lack of 10. Once diagnosed, I was given a 11plan that involved daily growth hormone (激素) injections. I am the type of person who 12 a doctor's appointment for weeks in advance, 13 getting used to injections every day — and even worse, giving them to myself — was a true test of my character.14 , I got over this difficulty and after five years, I have grown 11 inches. This was a(n) 15 response and I consider it my own little miracle. I am not 16that I have Turner syndrome. It has built up my character and17me into the person I am today. I have learned that you need to try your best to 18the difficulties in your life. Someone once told me, “No one can make you feel inferior (自卑) without your permission.”This statement has always 19 me and so I will journey on to the next stage of my life with  20and self-confidence.

    Mr Jackson was blind from birth. He owned a fruit 1 on a very busy street. 2 he was visually disabled, he ran his business pretty handsomely. He could see nothing and he could only 3 the things within his reach. 4 he was able to handle it and was content with everything he had.

    One day his son came to him. He told Mr Jackson in 5 that he read in the newspaper of a 6 who could operate on his eyes and allow him to see. The father and son traveled to the doctor and paid for the 7.

    After the operation, the doctor asked Mr Jackson, “What is the first thing you are 8 to see when I take the bandages off?” He replied, “I really want to see my beautiful 9 on my stand!”

    The doctor and the son 10 Mr Jackson down to the busy street where his fruit stand had been located for so many years. The doctor 11 unwrapped the bandages 12 he could lay his eyes on the beautiful fruit! Mr Jackson was so full of 13 that he could finally see his life's work—taking care of his fruit! After a few hours of 14 his beautiful fruit stand, he looked down the street both ways and saw there were quite a few fruit stands in both directions. He looked 15 the street and saw many other fruit stands. He spent so much time looking at other people's fruit stands and 16 the competition. Soon his own business 17.

    From Mr Jackson's failure, we should know that everyone is a 18 individual with different fingerprints, DNA and thinking. What we need to do is just be ourselves and 19 everyone else to be who they are. Mind our own business and we should never be afraid of 20.

    I started serving the homeless when I was eight years old. I didn't know these people would make such a big difference in my 1.

    Twice a month I go to the church and help get things ready for 2. When the gate is opened, people come 3in to get drinks. They take their seats while breakfast is4, and then we begin to5. We each take two plates and carry them 6the line as the plates are 7. Each person receives kinds of foods. I walk to the tables and8the plates before them. After I've served them, I ask if they need9else and bring them whatever they ask for.

    When I first started serving, I was a little 10. At first I stayed close to my mom most of the time, but after I got to know these strangers, I11that they were friendly people. And the12of them was often nicer than the outside. I realized that there was no13 to the scared. After serving for a few months, I started to14seeing the same people each week.

    All of these people make my day much15. The past two years have made a big16in my life. I do this 17it is the right thing to do. When I serve people, I want them to know that someone 18them and that they matter. Serving makes me happy, but even more 19, it teaches me to love and 20others and helps make the world a better place.

    I never knew how well Mother could keep a trust until I was going through her things after she died. I discovered something I had 1 forgotten, something that happened to me as a child.

    One day, as I went to sleep after my sisters and I had said our prayers, I recalled the events of the day and how 2 I had behaved toward Mother. “I must make things right now,” I thought.

    Quietly I 3 out of bed and picked up the pencil and paper from the dresser, and then tiptoed into the hall. The 4 from the living room shone dimly. I knew Mother was downstairs still doing some sewing.

    I quickly 5 a note asking Mother to excuse me for being so 6. I didn't want my sisters to know my business so I 7 a postscript, “Please don't let anyone else see this.” Then I 8 moved into my parents' bedroom and put the letter under Mother's pillow.

    The next morning when I 9 my bed after breakfast, I 10 found a return note under my pillow. Mother wrote that she loved me and 11 me. This became my way of apologizing whenever I talked 12 or disobeyed. Mother always left a return note, but she never 13 our under-the-pillow messages in front of the family. Even when we were 14, she never mentioned them when we sisters 15 our childhood.

    When Mother passed away, I had to go through her personal belongings. In her desk was a bundle of notes tied with a faded ribbon. On top was a message in handwriting which read, “In the event of my death, please 16 these.”

    I 17 the package and glanced at the handwriting on the bottom. To my 18, I recognized my childish writing, “PS. Please don't let anyone else see this. Love, Edie.” I gently placed the unopened bundle in the 19 along with other things for the rubbish burner. “Lord,” I prayed, “make me like 20.”

    “Come on, Cindy!" Darcy sounded so impatient, “We'll be late for class."

    “Darcy, I can't find my1." I dropped my book bag to dig through my coat pockets. “My money was in it."

    “Someone took it." Darcy said. As usual, she was quick to point away from the2side of things. “Oh. I'm sure I just misplaced it." I hoped. Even though we were best friends, Darcy and I were just so3.

   We rushed into class. Darcy4the news about the theft. By last period in gym class, I was5of having to say over and over again, “I'm sure I just left it at home."

   After gym, we went into the locker room. I was changing6I heard a gasp from Darcy. I looked at her and found her face was white with7. There, at her feet, was my wallet.

    “It fell out of her locker!" Darcy pointed at Juanita, a “new girl" in our class. “She8it."

    Everyone began to9Juanita at once.

    “Darcy caught her red-handed."

    “Report her!"

   I looked over at Juanita. She picked up the wallet and held it out to me. Her hands were10. “I found it in the parking lot. I was going to give it to you."

    Darcy spit the words “I'm so sure!" at her.

    “Really, it's true." Juanita's eyes began to fill with tears.

    I11for my wallet. I didn't know what to think,12when I looked over at Darcy, her attitude made me sick inside. I looked at Juanita. She was scared but looked13. I knew I held her14in my hands.

    “I am so glad you found it," I smiled. “Thanks, Juanita."

    The15around us broke.

    “Good thing she found it," everyone but Darcy16.

    “If there is any money left in your wallet."

    “Not now. Darcy!"

    “You are so naive!"

    It wasn't until others left there that I opened my wallet.

    “It's all here." I couldn't help but feel17. A folded piece of paper fluttered from my wallet. I opened it to see what it was.

    “She just didn't have time to18it yet."

    “Darcy, maybe you spend too much time19people."

    Darcy grabbed the note, read it and threw it back at me. “Whatever!" she said and stomped off. I knew that something had20between us.

    I read the note again.

Cindy,

    I found your wallet in the parking lot. Hope nothing is missing.

Juanita

    P.S. My phone number is 55-3218. Maybe you could call me sometime.

    And I did.

    With his leg lame and his teeth uneven, the boy almost thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world. He 1 played with his classmates; and when asked to answer questions, he always 2 his head without a word.

    One spring, his father brought home some saplings(树苗). Each of his children would plant a sapling and he3, "Whoever grows his sapling best shall get a favorite gift." The boy 4 wanted to get his father's gift. 5seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees, he 6 an idea: he hoped the tree he planted would die soon. So after watering it once or twice, he never  7to it.

    A few days later, when the little boy went to see his tree again, he was 8to find it not only didn't die, but also grew some 9  leaves.  Compared with those of his brothers and sisters, his appeared greener. His father  10 his word, bought the little boy one of his favourite gifts and said from the tree he planted, he would surely become an outstanding 11when he grew up.

    From then on, the little boy slowly became 12 and confident. One night, he suddenly  13his biology teacher once said that plants generally grow at night. Why not go to see his tree? When he came to the 14, he found his father was working near his tree with a ladle(长柄勺) . All of a sudden, he 15: his father had been 16watering his small tree ! He returned to his room, tears17in his eyes.

    Decades passed. The little boy didn't become a botanist. 18, he was elected President of the United States. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.

    19 is the best nourishment (滋养品 ) of life;  Even though it is20 a bucket of water, it can make the tree of life grow well.