I often read of incidents of misunderstanding or conflict. I'm left 1. Why do these people create mistrust and problems, especially with those from other 2?

I was growing up in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1960s,3children from different races and religions played and studied4in harmony. At that time my family lived a stone's5from Ismail's. And no one was bothered that Ismail was a Malay Muslim and I was an Indian Hindu—we just6our differences. Perhaps, our elders had not filled our heads with unnecessary advice, well7or otherwise.

We were nine when we became friends. During the school holidays, we'd8the countryside on our bicycles, hoping to9the unexpected. At times Ismail would accompany my family as we made a rare shopping trip to town. We would be glad of his10

When I was twelve, my family moved to Johor. Ismail's family later returned to their village, and I11touch with him.

    One spring afternoon in 1983, I stopped a taxi in Kuala Lumpur. I12my destination. The driver acknowledged my13but did not move off. Instead, he looked14at me. “Raddar?” he said, using my childhood nickname(绰号). I was astonished at being so15addressed (称呼). Unexpectedly! It was Ismail! Even after two16we still recognized each other. Grasping his shoulder, I felt a true affection, something17to describe.

If we can allow our children to be18without prejudice, they'll build friendships with people, regardless of race or religion, who will be19their side through thick and thin. On such friendships are societies built and20we can truly be, as William Shakespeare once wrote, “we happy few, we band of brothers”.

    I think that sleeping is perhaps the most comfortable thing in the world. While 1, I will do nothing but close my eyes, leaving all the trouble behind. However, I2 get up early almost every morning.

    My class begins at 8:00 am, but the teacher asks us to arrive at the school before 7:15 am, so we will have3time to prepare for the classes. If you are 4, then you will lose one point. And when you lose 105, your parents' visit to school will be a must. Though I think it's 6 to arrive so early, I still don't want to lose any points.

    One morning, my alarm clock7to work. I8with a start(吃惊) and found that it was already 7:00. I had lost two points that week, that is to say, I would lose three points in a9. My teacher said that he 10me to be late that morning. And my friends joked that my 11was coming soon. I finally  12to do something to change this. I bought a new alarm clock. It sings songs on time every morning 13 I turn it off.

    The new alarm clock is perfect for a lazy cat like me. The first time I 14it, I was able to get up at 6:00 the next morning. Proud of 15 I took a deep breath and found that the air in the early morning is surprisingly 16 I read some English books, 17that morning is really fit for reading English. I hadn't realized 18 that morning is so wonderful.

    “Life is 19a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get,” just as Forrest Gump said. Sometimes if you make a 20, you may find that things will end up with the better.

    Kong Xiangdong, a famous classical 1 always wanted to create something new. He2classical music with Chinese folk music. Music has always been part of Kong's world. Since his mother was a music lover, he lived with music from3However, his mother couldn't buy him a piano so she had to draw piano keys 4a piece of paper. The 5-year-old Kong would practice on the paper piano5his mother clapped the rhythm. Although he thought about giving up because of too much practice, he didn't  6 He began to win7 at the age of 18. He became famous worldwide, but after years of8 he felt in some ways he had lost himself. Therefore he went back to his roots and 9the beauty in Chinese folk music. He even shaved off his hair to change his 10 for the new music style!

    The day I received my letter of acceptance to New York University, I was extremely excited. It was my dream university, and my1were pleased for me. But they also hadn't2me to get into such a competitive school. In fact, the best thing they ever did for me was to3me from doing things4indeed, when I was in elementary school, they offered to buy me a present5I got a C.

    It6when I was in third grade. An only child in an Asian family, I had just7with my family from Taiwan to Los Angeles. Months into third grade, I developed a strong feeling of8about getting bad grades. Seeing my anxiety, Dad said, "Kate, tell you what. If you get a C or9, I'll buy you a present. If you score higher than that, I won't buy you anything, because you won't10it."

    Clearly dad wasn't the11Asian tiger parent, pressuring me to work tirelessly for the best12, and neither was my mom. They didn't want to push. They wanted me to be13and healthy. Dad's14of a "failing grade" gift amazingly15my worries and pressure. What's more, I16getting A's and B's throughout high school, but without the added stress and fear of failing. I think it was my parents' lack of stress on grades that gave me17to encourage my own desire for achievements.

    I now realize I was18when I thought I didn't receive a present from my dad that day. He gave me two invaluable19the space to develop my own desire for excellence, and the healthy mind to20it.

    One Friday afternoon in my first year of high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home. His name was Kyle. He seemed to be carrying all his books. Then some kids ran at him, 1 all his books out of his arms. His glasses went 2 and landed in the grass. My heart 3 to him, so I jogged over and handed him his 4. He thanked me with a big smile.

    Monday morning came and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books 5. I teased him, "Boy, you are gonna build some real 6 with this pile of books every day!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.

    He turned out to be the best student of our class and had to make a 7 on the graduation day. As he stood on the stage, he 8 his throat, and began: "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it 9those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings…but mostly your friends… I am here to tell you that being a(n)10to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story."

    I just looked at my friend with 11 as he talked about the first day we met. He had planned to 12 himself. He had cleaned out his locker 13 his mom wouldn't have to do it later and carry his stuff home.

    He looked 14 at me and gave me a little smile. "15, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the 16."

    I heard the gasp (倒抽气) in the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us about his 17 moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me with that same 18 smile. Not until then did I realize the 19 of the smile. With one small action you can change a person's life. God puts us all in each other's lives to 20 one another in some way.

    A 35-year-old Australian mother makes around $58,000 a year by hugging total strangers. Jessica O'Neill started her 1 job six months ago. "As human beings, one thing we often 2 in our daily lives is physical touch. Without it, we can fall into depression and other mental health problems. To satisfy this 3, I've become a professional worker in hugging treatment," said Jessica.

    Jessica claims that her hugs can 4 those who are suffering from loneliness, depression, or low self-confidence. Originally, Jessica was a masseuse (女按摩师), a quite 5 profession. She notices that when she 6 her customers during treatments, they dropped their guards and 7 her more. "I could see their 8 melt away. Then I could get to their heart and do what I can to 9 them," Jessica said. "Everyone has a totally different story. But the most common 10 are loneliness, depression and anxiety. They all just have that desire to 11 with someone. I believe my hug helps me and my 12 connect on a spiritual level."

    Jessica says the majority of her customers are 13, but she has a surprising number of female customers14Despite many people thinking she must be 15 for doing such work, Jessica is confident that she's made the right 16 "It's so much more rewarding than just working as a masseuse. I feel like it's what I was put on this Earth 17," said Jessica. In today's digital age, many people are lonelier than ever before. For people whose lives 18 physical interaction, hugging therapy can have an apparent effect on their mental health."

    "Interestingly, although the hugging 19 has been around for a short while, we've actually covered several 20 businesses in the last few years."