It was the last day of the final examination in a large eastern university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors gathered, discussing the exam due to begin in a few1. On their faces was confidence（自信）. This was their last exam—then on to 2and jobs.

    Some talked of jobs they already had; others talked of jobs they 3get. With the certainty of four years of college, they felt ready and able to take 4 of the world.

    The coming exam, they knew, would be a(n)5task. The professor had said they could bring 6 books or notes they wanted, requesting only that they did not 7 each other during the test.

    8 they entered the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. And smiles  9 on the students' faces as they noted there were only five essay-type questions.

    Three hours had passed 10 the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked confident. On their faces was a frightened expression. Papers in hand, no one spoke as the professor faced the class.

    He looked at the 11faces before him, and then asked, “How many completed all five questions?” 12 a hand was raised.

    “How many answered four?” Still no hands.

    “Three? Two?” The students moved restlessly in their seats.

    “One, then? Certainly somebody finished 13 .” But the class remained silent.

    The professor put down the papers. “That is exactly what I 14 ,” He said. “I just want to impress upon you that 15 you have completed four years of engineering, there are still many things about the 16 you don't know. These questions you couldn't answer are relatively 17 in everyday practice.” Then smiling, he added, “You will all 18 this course, but remember—even though you are now college graduates, your education has just 19 .”

    Over years they have 20the name of his professor, but not the lesson he taught.

A Welcome Gift

    Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them 1side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud2filled the room and made them feel very happy.

    The next morning, 3, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a 4under their door during the night. One of their neighbor had written to complain(抱怨) about the sound of the piano. Dario's mother asked the building superintendent(管理员) if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all 5people and he couldn't imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their 6and apologize for their playing.

    “Maybe we could go and7everyone in person.” his mother said.

    “What if we invited them to come here for a 8instead? Dario asked.

    They both loved the  9. Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts10their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.

    Finally, the day of the party11. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to12. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert, 13Dario's mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.

    “I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I14 that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don't think I disliked the playing.”

    Dario's mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we15you an apology.” she said. “I didn't16how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.

    “You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such17music.”

    “These songs are beautiful music.” Dario's mother said. “We will be 18to play them in the evening.”

    “And we won't play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to19  the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother's face. It gave him a feeling of20and made him feel that they were home at last.

    I grew up in a community which was called Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, Dad told me I could drive him into a 1 village called Mijas, on condition that I took the car in to be 2 at a nearby garage(汽车修理厂). I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas, and 3 to pick him up at 4 pm, and then dropped off the car at the garage. With several hours to 4, I went to a theater. 5, when the last movie finished, it was six. I was two hours late!

    I knew Dad would be very angry if he 6 I'd been watching movies. So I finally decided not to tell him the truth. When I 7 there I apologized for being late, and told him I'd 8 as quickly as I could, but that the car had needed some major repairs. I'll never forget the 9 he gave me. "I'm disappointed you feel you have to lie to me, Jason." Dad looked at me again. "When you didn't 10, I called the garage to ask whether there were any 11, and they told me you hadn't yet picked up the car." I felt 12 as I weakly admitted my 13 to the movie theater. A 14 passed through Dad as he listened attentively. "I'm angry with 15. I realize I've failed as a father. I'm going to walk home now and think seriously about 16 I've gone wrong all these years." "But Dad, it's 18 miles!" My protests and apologies were 17. Dad walked home that day. I drove behind him, 18 him all the way, but he walked silently.

    Seeing Dad in so much 19and emotional pain was my most painful experience. However, it was 20 the most successful lesson. I have never lied since.

    I was nine when I arrived at the Children's Home in Nashua, New Hampshire. I failed third grade that year, and barely 1 it through a second time, and had squeaked through(侥幸通过) fourth grade by the time I reached Pauline Jambard's fifth-grade class at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School.

    I was 2 I wasn't as intelligent as the other kids. 3, Ms. Jambard took an instant liking to me. Of all the 4 in school, reading was my favorite. She would tell me, "Terry, you 5 reading. If you can understand what you're reading, you'll be 6 than most kids." After I read all the books in our program, I started reading the classroom's set of Encyclopedia Britannica(《不列颠百科全书》). And gradually I started to really 7 school life.

    That 8, our school threw a Christmas party for family and community members. My brother and I had no family to 9. I still remember looking up and seeing Ms. Jambard walk through the front door and 10 she was there to see me. I was deeply moved. That was the 11 Christmas of my life!

    After I graduated from Ms. Jambard's class, my brother and I 12, and I lost all touch with my teacher. Years later, I was on a business trip and had to drive through Nashua. I took a chance and 13 Charlotte Avenue Elementary School. I was walking toward her 14 when she came out into the hallway and said, "Terry!" It was as if I had 15 left! I was in seventh heaven on my flight home.

    We have stayed in 16, and I call Ms. Jambard at least once a year. Because of the 17 she instilled(灌输) in me, I went on to have a 18 career in engineering. I don't know if Ms. Jambard realizes how much she 19 me, but I'll never forget her 20 and faith in me.

    Songs bring us through our life. Each time I listen to my favorite song Reach, I'm deeply 1 by its lyrics: "If I could reach higher, just one moment touch the sky..." When we hear this 2 song sung by Gloria Estefan, we can 3 imagine how she managed to return to the stage after her serious back injury. In 1990, this Cuban singer was 4 down in a terrible traffic accident, and the doctor 5 that she might never walk again. But Gloria did not 6 and kept on working hard toward her 7. Just one year after the disaster 8, she stood up again and 9 this encouraging song at the Atlanta Olympics.

    Whenever I think of Gloria, a 10 crowds in my mind. When I entered university, naturally shy, ordinary looking, and with 11 scores in my lessons, just like an ugly duckling. I seemed to be the 12 outstanding one in my class. Continuous failures drove me into 13. "Am I to take a back seat to everyone else?" 14 to give in to such a fate I spared no effort to work on my lessons and joined in many 15, such as English speech contests and dramas. I just wanted to catch every little chance to 16 myself. My continuous efforts finally paid off. I received some 17. More importantly, I 18 courage and confidence to face any difficulty in my life.

    19 is just like farming. You 20 what you sow. Once you have a dream, don't hesitate. Keep moving!

    When we saw a programme on TV about a Christmas trip to Lapland, we knew our four children would love it. 1 them on any holiday is costly, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime 2 for our family.

    In October, we got the children to write Christmas 3 to Santa. They thought it was a bit soon but were 4 just how many letters Santa receives, so getting in early would make sure that he would read them.

    Our departure day arrived in mid-December. There was an explosion of excitement as we parked and 5 our suitcases onto a trolley (手推车) and the children realized we were 6going on a plane. The excitement built as we 7.

    It was all worth it. The look on their faces as we 8 in Rovaniemi, Finland, was 9. Four days of total magic followed. We took sleigh rides, 10 snow mobiles (雪地摩托) and patted reindeer. On our fourth day we finally ‘found' Santa, who had a genuine, thick white 11. His home was 12 from floor to ceiling with Christmas parcels, which was every child's dream.

    If that wasn't 13, he held four hand-written letters that our children immediately 14. Santa said, "So, you must be Thomas, Lucy, Alice and Philip and you've come all the way from England just to see me!" He turned to one of the towers of wrapped presents, 15 up and carefully withdrew four parcels. Each of them received a personally addressed 16 signed 'With love from Father Christmas' and inside was 17 what they'd asked for in their letters.

    Those four days in Lapland will 18 forever the most memorable of our lives. Our four children, now aged between 32 and 38, still talk about that 19 as the most wonderful Christmas ever where childhood magic came to 20.