Who is a great person? To answer this question, we often think of someone 1, such as the South Africa hero Nelson Mandela or the NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant. But often a great person is2next to us—but we never see the greatness unless a difficult 3 comes up.

    In May, 2008, a high school girl in Beichuan, Sichuan, 4 a hero just next to her. When the earthquake hit, her school 5on top of the students. Just next to her was her classmate Li Anqiang. Li worked to move rocks to make 6for her. Before rescuers reached them,7, aftershocks brought down 8rubble(碎石) around them. Li's earlier efforts kept his classmate9 from danger, but the new rubble that fell on his legs crushed (压碎) them beyond 10.

    Today, Li is in a wheelchair; he is missing both of his legs, but he is not missing the good 11 that made him a hero during the earthquake. He still12 the sports he played before the earthquake, table tennis and basketball—and still13his hero, Kobe Bryant.

    Kobe Bryant, however, considers Li a hero. In reply to Li's 14  letter, Kobe praised Li as “a strong boy whose attitude toward15was amazing”. He encouraged Li in his love of basketball, telling Li that he looked cool in a photo of his 16a basketball from his wheelchair.

    So 17that we have great people next to us every day—in school, at work, on the bus. There may not be a 18 to show us who they are, but we can be sure they are19 . Who knows?  20 you are one yourself.

While high school does not generally encourage students to explore new aspects of life, college sets the stage for that exploration. I myself went through this1process and found something that has changed my2at college for the better: I discovered ASL——American Sign Language(美式手语).

    I never felt an urge to3any sign language before. My entire family is hearing, and so are all my friends. The4languages were enough in all my interactions(交往).Little did I know that I would discover my5for ASL.

    The 6 began during my first week at college. I watched as the ASL Club 7 their translation of a song. Both the hand movements and the very8 of communicating without speaking 9me. What I saw was completely unlike anything I had experienced in the 10.This newness just left me11more.

After that, feeling the need to12 further, I decided to drop in on one of ASL club's meetings. I only learned how to 13 the alphabet that day. Yet instead of being discouraged by my 14 progress, I was excited. I then made it a point to15 those meetings and learn all I could.

    The following term, I 16 an ASL class. The professor was deaf and any talking was 17. I soon realized that the silence was not unpleasant.18, if there had been any talking, it would have19 us to learn less. Now, I appreciate the silence and the 20 way of communication it opens.

    I was in the kitchen making lunch when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. I could only see his back. He 1 to be walking with a great effort, trying to be as 2 as possible.

    A few minutes after he disappeared into the 3, he came running toward the house again. I went back to making sandwiches, 4 that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, 5, he was once again walking slowly toward the woods.

    6curiosity, I walked out and followed him on his journey. He was 7 both hands in front of him as he walked, being 8 not to spill the water he held in them. I secretly walked 9 behind him as he went into the woods and I saw the most amazing 10.

    Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost 11 at him to get away. A huge male deer with elaborate（精美的）antlers was 12 close. But they didn't even move as Billy 13. And I saw a small deer lying on the ground, obviously suffering from 14and extreme heat, lift its head 15 to drink the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hands.

    It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of 16. You know, we hadn't had any rain for three months and our crops were 17. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly 18 by other drops. I looked up at the sky. It was19 God was moved to weep. The rain came that day and saved our farm, just like the 20 of one little boy who saved another.

    Haus was a godsend to the DaLuca family in Florida. When the dog arrived, their daughter Molly and he became best friends in no time. 1Molly was around, Haus was always by her side. In fact, the family said his sweet 2made him a "fan favorite" around the neighborhood.

    One day, Molly was in the backyard playing, and 3, Haus was right by her side. Then, suddenly, Molly's grandma saw Haus jumping forward frantically （发狂似地） at a（n） 4 snake.

    When the snake 5its way over to the pair, Haus put himself between Molly and the snake. After the first bite, many dogs would have 6. But Haus stood his ground. Bite after bite, he 7 the tiny human he loved so much.

    Grandma put Molly and Haus into the car and 8the brave dog to the vet immediately. It9that the snake bit Haus three times, and he had blood pouring from his leg.

    At the animal hospital, Haus went downhill 10. His body had so much venom（毒液）inside that he couldn't even raise his head. For a time, it was 11 whether or not Haus would pull through. 12though, he did!

    In addition to the antivenom, vets also 13muscle damage to Haus' leg. The treatments and week-long stay were 14. But people from all across the country 15 the furry hero, donating more than ＄52,000 to 16his medical bills.

    Molly prayed for her 4-legged best friend, and to her 17, Haus made a full18! Haus really proved his deep 19 for this family when he protected Molly from a(n)20 that most certainly would have been deadly!

    Many years ago, I was working in an office in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We had a large 1that looked out over a busy street. I was standing by it one day when a woman in a 2car looked up and made eye contact. Naturally I 3. As she turned and tried to identify me, a quiet laugh 4 my lips. My co-workers began taking an interest, and stood back watching the 5 I received, and laughing happily. Then the stress of work was 6 away.

    Christmas was approached, and job 7were announced. Several of my co-workers were losing their jobs, and everyone was8. While I was working a night shift, a red jacket, a box of foam(泡沫橡胶)packing and strips of tape in the corner attracted my 9. They could be Santa's jacket and beard! Then I folded a red file into a 10 and tied the beard to it. The next day I walked 11 down into the office in the costume. My co-workers 12 around me and laughed for the first time in weeks. Suddenly, my boss came up to me, 13, shook his head and then left. I feared 14. Then the phone rang.

    With a bead of sweat 15 my forehead, I entered the boss' office. 16, he laughed: "Thanks, Mike! It's been hard to enjoy the Christmas season. Thanks for the laugh. I 17 it."

    That evening, I stood 18 by the window and waved at my fans, with my heart 19 with joy. For a few minutes of that day, we'd been able to forget our 20.

The Chess Competition

    I had signed up to play in the School Chess Competition two months before. I'd been counting the days, filling my afternoons with practice games and begging everyone I knew to play 1 with me.

    Soon the competition was about to begin. I would be competing against twenty 2, and all of us would be battling for just a few trophies. Glancing up at the prizes, I could just 3 one of them sitting on my bookcase.

    My daydream was interrupted by the announcement of the 4 round. "Shake hands and start playing" said the judge. I 5 across the board and saw that my first opponent (对手) was almost too small to see over the top of the table. "Aha" I thought. "This will be a(n) 6 win."

    One unexpected game later, I 7 my overconfidence. My opponent, the nine-year-old girl, had beaten me in only 10 minutes! I hid my disappointment and 8 her. "Good game! You're a fantastic player," I said with a sincere smile.

    The next three rounds went by very quickly, with each game proving more 9 than the one before. By evening I had one win and three losses. After the second game, I was ready to go home and give up, 10 I stayed anyway, smiling and sincerely congratulating each of my opponents.

    As the trophies were being awarded, I listened 11, applauding each winner as his or her name was called.

    It was hard to hide my disappointment, but I tried. 12, I heard the announcer say my name. "For excellent chess etiquette (礼仪), a friendly 13, and great determination, the Good Sport Award 14 to Dustin Hodges," the judge declared. It was amazing and I smiled broadly as I walked up to accept the prize. Although it wasn't the trophy that I had hoped for, the gold cup looks pretty good on my bookcase. I think it won't stay there forever, and I plan to 15 it with the championship trophy next year.