Bert Manson, 82, slowly opened his eyes and turned to face the clock on the bedside table. It was 8:23 a.m. He felt 1. The time was nothing to him. He had nothing to do all day. He lay on the bed, 2 to the cars on the highway and the shouts of the children running to school.

After a while, Bert3 got out of bed and asked himself the same questions as he did every morning: Would he fall today? If so, would anyone come? How long would he 4? Would he die? He looked out of the window into the street below. “And who would 5?”he spoke quietly.

After Bert's wife died a year ago, his son and daughter said they would visit once a week. But the last time was months ago. On the phone, they always had a(n) 6: too busy at work; the children are 7; bad weather; no time. Nobody seemed to have any time…except for Bert. He8 his granddaughters. He loved it when Mandy and Ruth came to visit. They brought him candy and 9.

He walked toa chair near the bedroom door 10. He rested for a moment before continuing in small steps to the bathroom.

    I was standing in line behind a woman in her 60s. When it was her turn to pay, the shop owner greeted 1 and asked how she was doing.

    The woman looked down, shook her head and said, “Not so 2, my husband just lost his job. I don't know how I can 3 the holidays.”

    Then she gave the shop owner the food stamps（食品券）for poor families.

    My 4 hurt, I wanted to help but didn't know 5. Should I offer to pay for her food, or ask for her husband's resume（简历）?

    6 I walked towards my car, I met the woman again. I remembered something in my wallet. It wasn't any money or an offer of a job, but7 it would help.

    "Excuse me," I said, "I heard what you said to the shop owner. It sounds like you're going through a really 8 time right now. I'm so sorry. I'd like to give you something."

    I 9 her the small card from my wallet.

    When the woman read the two 10 on the card, she began to cry. Through her tears, she said, "You have no idea how much this 11  to me."

    To tell the truth, her reply was a little 12. Having never done anything like this before, I didn't know what could happen. All I could say was, "Would it be OK to give you a hug?"

    After that, I walked into my car and began to13 too.

    The words on the card?

    "You Matter."

    A few weeks earlier, a friend gave me a similar 14 as encouragement for my work. When I read it, I really felt 15. So I ordered my own box of You Matter cards and started sharing them.

    Have you ever planted a few trees on Tree Planting Day? Each year, millions of people, both 1 , plant a lot of trees. But this may not be the best way to make your home a 2 place.

    Last week we visited a park in Hebei. We were 3 to find most of the trees had been burned. The workers told us that the trees 4 soon after they were planted because they weren't watered well enough. 5 workers burned them and cleaned the place for 6 trees to be planted this year. 7 a card found in one of the dead trees, a student wrote,“ I hope this tree will grow up with me to 8 the backbone (栋梁) of our country.” The workers said that the survival(存活) of the trees was really more important than 9 trees were planted.

    Some people in Beijing now have a new idea that they can donate (捐赠) some money and let professionals (专业人士) plant and 10 the trees.

Saving Jesse's Arm

    At about 8 p.m. on July 6^th, eight-year-old Jesse was playing in the sea in a National Park near Pensacola. It was the end of a perfect day at the beach with his uncle and aunt.

    Suddenly, a two-meter-long shark(鲨鱼) appeared 1 and it bit off Jesse's right arm from the shoulder. By the time his uncle and aunt pulled Jesse out of the water, he was unconscious (失去知觉的) and had already lost a lot of 2.

    While Jesse's aunt was giving the boy the kiss of life, his uncle ran back into the sea and 3the shark. Amazingly, he managed to catch the shark and pull it out of the water onto the beach, although this might sound impossible. At that moment two park workers arrived to help the family and one of them shot the shark four times in the head. Then he held open the shark's 4while the other worker reached down its stomach and pulled out Jesse's arm.

    A few minutes later, a helicopter (直升机) took the boy and his arm to the nearest hospital, where Dr. Ian Rogers and his team managed to5the arm to Jesse's body again. The operation lasted eleven hours. When the doctors saw Jesse's fingers go pink, they knew the operation had been a6.

    After such a terrible accident nobody believes that good things will happen, but the medical team are hopeful that Jesse will be able to 7 his arm again in the future.

    “Although Jesse's story is terrifying, it would be not correct to think that sharks are always so dangerous. Sharks are usually harmless to human.” Dr. Ian Rogers said. “However, we should be 8for safety and should only swim on beaches where there are lifeguards.”

Dear Mr. Smith,

    I'm a middle school student in Shanghai. My parents are1  with me, so they make lots of 2 for me at home. I have to get up 3 5:40 every morning. I have to4 English for an hour before breakfast. I can't play with my friends after school, 5 I have to get home early. In the evening, I can't go out. I have to do my homework and then6 the piano for two hours. I have no time to7. On weekends, two tutors(家教)come to my home. They8 me with my Math and English. I am really not 9  with all these rules. I never have fun at home. 10can I do？

    Please help me.

Yours,

Zhang

    Philip is the bravest boy I know. His friends and family are all very1him.

    Ten-year-old Philip was born with an 2 which means that he is always breaking his bones(骨头).Although he has such a serious illness, Philip 3playing sports. In January last year he 4wheelchair racing. He came second in his first 5, and since then Philip has won every other race!

    In order to look for a new challenge(挑战), Philip6to take part in the London Wheelchair Marathon(马拉松).7, five days before the race Philip got sick. He didn't want to 8.He finally made up his mind to take part. Philip was given medicine by his doctor and guess what？He not only9it, but he also finished in first place！

    Philip is very10and never gives up. That's why he has been chosen to be the Bravest Child of the Month.