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    One night, when I was eight, my mother gently asked me a question I would never forget. "Cindy, my company wants to promote (升职) me but needs me to work in Brazil. This is like your teacher telling you that you've done well and allowing you to skip (跳) a grade, but you'll have to leave your friends. Would you say yes to your teacher?" She gave me a hug and asked me to think about it. I was lost in thought. The question kept me wondering for the rest of the night. I had said "yes" but for the first time, I realized the difficult decisions adults had to make.

    For almost four years, my mother would call us from Brazil every day. Every evening I'd eagerly wait for the phone to ring and then tell her everything happened during the day. A phone call, however, could never take her place and it was difficult not to feel lonely at times.

    During my fourth-grade Christmas break, we flew to Rio to visit her. Looking at her large empty apartment,   ▲    It was then I started to understand the difficult choices she had to make. She needed to think about both family and work. Faced with difficult decisions, she used to tell me, you wouldn't know whether you make the right choice, but you could always make the best out of the situation, with a positive attitude.

    Back home, I reminded myself that what my mother could do, I could, too. If she managed to live in Rio all by herself, I, too, could learn to be independent. I learn how to take care of myself and set high but achievable goals.

    My mother is now back with us. But I will never forget what the experience has really taught me. I've learned a lot because of this separation. There are lots of difficult decisions that we have to face in our life. We need to have a positive attitude no matter what happens.

Good morning, my friends! Nice to meet you. 

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} I'm a middle school student in Hangzhou. My name is Jack Smith. Jack is my first name. What's my last name? My last name is Smith. It's my family name, too. 

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} What color is it?It's blue and white. I like it. But it isn't mine. I found it in my classroom. 

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} She is my sister. Her name is Mary Smith. Her first name is Mary. And her last name is Smith, too. What's her telephone number? It's 368-5689. 

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} They are Mike and Gina. Mike is my father's brother. Gina is Mike's wife. They have a son. His name is Eric. And he is my cousin. 

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} I can't find it. My grandparents,my parents and I are in the photo. I must find it. Can you help me?

Gina is a new teacher in a middle school. She lives in San Diego, just fifteen minutes' walk from the beach. So she always 1 along the beach after work. 

Last week was busy but happy for Gina. She. had a lot of work from Monday to Friday. When the weekend came, she decided 2 a good rest. Her weekend began when she met her friends at Sam's Chinese Restaurant on Friday night. "My friends and I all like Chinese food, so we often eat together at that restaurant, " said Gina 3 . 

On Saturday morning, Gina helped a friend move to a new house. In the afternoon, she went to her tennis class. 4 she was new to the sport, she played well. After dinner, Gina went to the Red Onion and danced there until 10:00 p. m. She really enjoyed 5 . 

On Sunday, Gina got up at 8:00 a. m. and she went to 6 small restaurant near her home for breakfast. She thought the food there was delicious. Then she spent the whole morning reading books. In the afternoon, she went swimming 7 her cousin. For lunch, they had 8 fast food together. In the evening, she went to the San Diego Folk Festival. It was 9 . Gina had great fun there. 

10 busy but wonderful weekend Gina had!