Once there lived a rich man,{#blank#}1{#/blank#} wanted to do something for the people of his town. But first he wanted to find out {#blank#}2{#/blank#} they were worth his help or not.

    In the center of the main road into the town, he placed a very large stone. Then he {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (hide) behind a tree and waited. Soon an old man came along with his cow. “Who put this stone in the centre of the road?” said the old man, but he did not try to remove the stone.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}, with some difficulty he passed around the stone and continued on his way. Another man came along and did {#blank#}5{#/blank#} same thing; then another came, and another. All of them complained {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the stone but none tried to remove it.

    Late in the afternoon a young man came along. He saw the stone,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (say) to himself, “The night will be very dark. Some neighbors will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone. ” Then pushing and pulling with all his {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (strong), the young man began to move the stone ... How {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (surprise) he was! There was a bag of money under{#blank#}10{#/blank#}.

    Mark was walking home from school one day {#blank#}1{#/blank#} he noticed that the boy ahead of him had tripped and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (drop) all of the books he was carrying. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (article). Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} he loved video games, baseball, history and so on. They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (invite) in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (pleasant) with a few laughs and some {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (share) small talks, and then Mark went home. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the same high school {#blank#}10{#/blank#} they kept regular contacts over the years.

    A good friend not only likes to hang with you and have {#blank#}1{#/blank#}good time, but thinks about you and wishes good things for you when you're apart. A good Friend may not talk to you every day or even every week, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}can come up in a matter of minutes. A good friend will come to help you, even when you haven't talked to him in weeks. Time doesn't lessen a good friend's relationship with you.

    Beth is a friend of{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (I), I can for weeks without{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (talk) to her but then drop anything in minutes because {#blank#}5{#/blank#}her. She has no problem giving me some of her {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (suggest) either, Last week. I{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (buy) a pair of jeans which wasn't{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(exact) right for me. Some of my friend laugh at me. Beth would give a bees opinion, rather than leaving me hanging with my big jeans. She advised me{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (wear) this mini skirt instead because it made me look pretty.

    I believe that good friends also{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) the most honest with you, instead of looking down on you, showing off themselves or ignoring you. Beth is a friend like that. I feel so lucky to have such a friend.