My name is Billy Smith. I'm 50 years old this year. I was about 440 pounds two years ago. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(fortunate), I managed to lose weight.

    I began to gain weight when my mom developed Parkinson's disease in 1994. I soon became her caregiver, and continued to provide her {#blank#}2{#/blank#} care for over 10 years. But when the pressure of taking care of my mother and {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(keep) my job got too much for me, I began to skip meals and feed on fast food. I gained weight quickly.

    My huge weight gain caused me to develop high blood pressure. I also had {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(difficult) in breathing at times. In 2014 I went to see my doctor,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} told me that I would die within two years if I didn't lose weight. This wasn't what I expected. I wanted to see my young son grow up, and I knew it was time to make a change.

    I started to eat healthy food and work out in the gym. Finally, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(succeed) in losing weight. Now I weigh just 260 pounds. I had never been to my son's Parents' Meeting {#blank#}7{#/blank#} I was so ashamed and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(scare) that my weight would lead to him being laughed at. Now ,{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (look) normal, I can do the things I have never been able to do,{#blank#}10{#/blank#}should have done as his father.

    The only survivor of a shipwreck(失事船)was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed worriedly for God to rescue(营救)him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but {#blank#}1{#/blank#}seemed forthcoming(即将来临的). Exhausted, he {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(eventual)managed to build a little hut(小屋)out of driftwood(漂浮的木头)to protect him{#blank#}3{#/blank#}the bad weather, and to store his few possessions(财产). But then one day, after searching for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(roll)up to the sky. The worst had happened;{#blank#}5{#/blank#}was lost. He was almost fainted(昏倒)with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this on me!” he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(approach)the island. It had come to rescue him. “{#blank#}7{#/blank#}did you know I was here?” he asked one of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

    It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we{#blank#}8{#/blank#}lose heart,{#blank#}9{#/blank#}God is at work in our lives, even in the middle of pain and suffering.

    Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be {#blank#}10{#/blank#}smoke signal from the grace(恩泽)of God. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves. God has a positive answer for them.

    Last year, my brother and I went to Miami for a vacation. Some of my friends who had been there before said {#blank#}1{#/blank#} was a Wonderful holiday destination. Before we went, we had planned for months. When the day came, we were ready.

    After our plane landed, we went to the hotel. We had made our reservation six months{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(early), but the man at the front desk said there had been a mistake. We{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(tell) that our rooms hadn't been reserved for that week,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} for the week after. I didn't understand {#blank#}5{#/blank#}this would happen and my credit card had already been charged {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the reservation. What's worse, the hotel had been fully hooked. When we were wondering what to do, the manager came out. She was {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(surprise) helpful. She apologized for the mistake and gave us a spare VIP room on {#blank#}8{#/blank#} top floor. We had never stayed in such an amazing room, and we weren't charged extra.

    The next day, my brother and I went to the beach {#blank#}9{#/blank#} we watched some people play volleyball. We got a little {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(sunburn), but the day had been so relaxing that we didn't mind.

    The Spring Festival is{#blank#}1{#/blank#}most important festival in China. It is meant{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(celebrate) the lunar calendar's new year. During the Spring Festival, families get together and have a big meal in many place.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}many people like best is setting off fireworks, which is one of the most popular activities during the festival, though it may cause air pollution. Dumplings are the most{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(tradition) food. Children are fond{#blank#}5{#/blank#}the festival very much, when they can have delicious food and wear new clothes. They can also get some money from their parents,{#blank#}6{#/blank#}Is given to children for good luck. People put new year scrolls (春联) on the wall for good fortune. The Spring Festival{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(last) about 15 days long when people visit relatives and friends{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(happy) with the words "Best wishes". Nowadays more and more people are enjoying the Spring Festival around the world. People hold the{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(believe) that the Spring Festival and other traditional Chinese festivals will not{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(replace)by the foreign festivals like Christmas.