World Read Aloud Day is celebrated each year on the first Wednesday of March. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(start) by the LitWorld. Org website in 2010 and has now reached 65 countries, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} aim is to encourage people worldwide who cannot read to enjoy the benefits of a book. The website asks everyone {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (celebrate) the day by taking a book, finding an audience, and reading out aloud. It is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (belong) to all people.

        The website asks visitors to join in the movement to reduce the number of illiterate (不识字的) people in the world. It is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (absolute) necessary to help those who cannot read. The website says, “It's time to start by reading aloud to {#blank#}6{#/blank#} might like it. Share a book with a child who might need it, share a story with someone who would treasure it, listen patiently {#blank#}7{#/blank#} someone else's story as they share with you.” The United Nations says, “Literacy involves a variety of learning in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (able) individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} to participate fully in society.”  In that way, World Read Aloud Day {#blank#}10{#/blank#} help make a difference.

    One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(leave) a space between each name.Then she told them to think of the nicest thing{#blank#}2{#/blank#}they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}took the rest of the class some time to finish the work,and then each handed in the{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(sheet).

    That Saturday,the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper,and listed what everyone else{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(say) about that person.{#blank#}6{#/blank#}Monday she gave each student his or her list.Before long,the entire class was smiling.“Really?” she heard their whisper.“I never{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(know) that I meant anything to anyone!” No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.She never knew{#blank#}8{#/blank#}they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter.The exercise had achieved its purpose.

    Several years{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(late),all her students started to gather around.One of them,Vicki,reached into her pocket,took out her wallet and showed her{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(wear) list to the group.“I carry this with me at all times.I think we all saved our lists.”That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried.

    Family values are principles that help to define us as human beings. These values are learned, usually passed down{#blank#}1{#/blank#} one generation to another. However, they can also change over time{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(depend) upon the circumstances in which families find themselves. They shape the way we behave, they help families stick together, and they give us our identity.

    We always admire a person{#blank#}3{#/blank#} treats the elderly with respect, or helps people in need, or is always honest with others. Such{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (admire) behavior is usually a direct result of the values that person was taught by his family.

    These values or principles—respect, fairness and{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(honest) among many others—also help hold the family together in times of trouble. When problems arise, the family is able to withstand them because they share{#blank#}6{#/blank#} same idea about{#blank#}7{#/blank#} is important. When family members feel pressure from the outside world, they know they can come into their family for a comforting connection.

    Finally, family values make us who we are{#blank#}8{#/blank#}we talk about our personal character and what{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (influence) our decisions, we do so based on the values {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (give) to us by our family.

I used to be very fat. I didn't consider{#blank#}1{#/blank#}to be a burden until some of my friends started to call me "Fatty", {#blank#}2{#/blank#} was more than I could bear. I tried hard to do something about it but was unable to find an effective way{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(reduce) my weight. Some suggested that I should have only a meal a day, and I thought the idea was worth{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (try). However, it did not help make any significant progress because, being too{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (hunger), I tended to eat a lot more the next day. If I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(skip) a dinner, I wouldn't even have the energy to get out of bed the next morning. Since such things were repeated all the time, my frustration deepened day after day. Finally, a friend of mine advised me to go to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} fitness center. I gave it a try and it {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(real) worked wonders. Over the past several months I have lost more than 30 pounds. Now, I am much {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(thin). When my friends jokingly say I am as light {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a feather, I know I have rid myself of the burden.

    Last week, seven-year-old Charlotte Benjamin {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (become) a household name, and a hero to young girls everywhere, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} her handwritten letter to the LEGO company went public.

    In her letter, Charlotte complains about the lack of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (diverse) in Lego characters. Here's what she wrote:

    "Dear Lego company,

    My name is Charlotte.

    Today I went to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} store and saw Legos in two sections — the girls' pink and the boys' blue. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} all the girls did was to sit at home, go to the beach, and shop, and they had no jobs but the boys went on adventures, worked, and even swam with sharks.

    I want you to make {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (many) Lego girl people and let them go on adventures and have fun, OK?

    Thank you.

    From Charlotte"

    Charlotte's dad loved her well-written letter {#blank#}7{#/blank#} much that he had it sent to the website, Sociological Images, which posted it to their Twitter account. The letter has been posted almost 2,500 times and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (share) over 5,000 times on Facebook.

    Yesterday, LEGO responded to Charlotte {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (state) that they would include more female characters and themes, and that they have added new characters to the LEGO world {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (balance) the appeal of their themes.