With his leg lame（瘸的）and his teeth uneven, the boy almost thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world. He 1 played with his classmates, and when asked to answer questions, he always 2 his head without a word.

    One spring, his father brought home some saplings（树苗）. 3 of his children would plant a sapling and he promised, “Whoever 4 his sapling best shall get a favorite gift.” The boy certainly wanted to get his father's gift. 5 seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees, an idea 6 him: he hoped the tree he planted would die soon. So watering it once or twice, he never 7 it.

    Several days later, when the little boy went to see his tree again, he was 8 to find it not only didn't die, but also grew so many fresh 9. Compared with those of his brothers and sisters, his appeared greener. His father kept his 10, bought the little boy one of his favorite gifts and said from the tree he planted, he would surely become an outstanding 11 when he grew up.

    From then on, the little boy slowly became 12 and confident. One night, he suddenly 13 biology teacher once said that plants  14 grow at night. Why not go to see his tree?

    When he came to the courtyard, he found his father was working near his tree! Instantly he 15 his father had been secretly 16 his small tree! He returned to his room, with tears 17 in his eyes.

    Decades passed. The little boy didn't become a botanist. 18, he became the U.S. president. His name was Franklin Roosevelt.

19 is the best nourishment（滋养品）of life. 20 it is just a bucket of water, it can make the tree of life grow well!

    There once was a king in a faraway country. One day, he decided to1a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of 2 So many artists 3 The king looked at all the pictures.4 there were only two he really liked, and he had to 5between them. One picture was of a 6 lake. The lake was a perfect mirror with peaceful huge mountains all around it. Above was a 7 sky with light white clouds. All who 8 this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

    The other picture had 9too. But these were not flat at all. Above was a (an)10 sky, from which rain fell heavily and in which lightning played11 Down the side of the mountain was a waterfall with loud sound. This did not look12 at all.

    But when the king looked 13 he saw behind the waterfall a small tree 14 in a crack (缝隙) in the rock. In the tree a mother bird had 15 her comfortable home. There, with the flow of angry water, the mother bird was 16 her hungry children in the nest, taking no attention to the 17things around them — in perfect peace.

    Which picture do you think18 the prize? The king chose the second picture. Do you know why?

     “Because” said the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise,19 or hard work. Peace means although noisy things are around you, you 20 keep calm in the heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”

                                                                                    Emergency on the Mountain

    Ana was a 12-year-old girl living in the mountain. Her 1 was to become a village nurse like Leta, her neighbor. She spent almost all her spare time reading the2 book by herself.

    This morning, Leta went to Santiago to 3 a short-term training class by a group of volunteer doctors for first aiders to learn medical skills. Before she left, Ana begged Leta to take her along but Leta4saying that Ana was too5to learn anything important.

    Ana was very6 this morning, so she decided to wander around to refresh herself. On the hillside, she saw Rafi standing on a donkey's bare back，some kids around him. Rafi was only 13, but he was always doing something to get 7“No wonder adults don't8 kids with anything important”, Ana said to herself. She had just turned away 9she heard a few screams and Rafi fell off the donkey. Ana ran to where Rafi was lying and 10 that one of his legs bent a little sideways between the knee and the ankle and that all the other kids were 11 not knowing what to do. She 12 what the first-aid book said about13legs.

    “Vin!” Ana called to one of the boys.

    “Go and get Rafi's mama and find someone with a truck.”

    She turned14 the other kids. “Give me your shirts. We need something to15his leg with so it doesn't move around.”

Ana found a strong，straight stick，which she'd use to 16 his leg. She carefully wrapped the boys' shirts around his leg and the stick. When Ana was done, Rafi came back to himself. Ana17 comforted him until Rafi's mama came over.

    Behind her was a neighbor in a pickup truck. They lifted Rafi into the truck, then 18 down the dusty hillside toward the hospital.

    The next day, Leta came to Ana's home. “I heard what you did,” Leta said. “You kept your head in a/an19. That's an important skill.” Ana's face burned.

    “Now, listen. The volunteer doctors are coming here tomorrow with vaccines (疫苗). We need some extra 20.Can you help?”

    Ana didn't hesitate. “I would love to and I'll bring my first-aid book.” Ana said excitedly.

In 1882 a baby girl caught a fierce fever. She 1 but the fever left its mark—she could no longer 2 or hear. So how did this child grow up to become a world-famous 3 and public speaker?

    The fever cut her off from the outside world. It was as if she had been 4 into a dark prison cell from which there could be no release. 5 she was not someone who gave up easily. Soon she began to 6 the world by using her other 7. She followed her mother wherever she went, hanging on to her skirts. She touched and smelled everything she came 8. She learnt to 9 people by feeling their faces or their 10. She could also tell where she was in the 11 by smell of the different plants and the feel of the ground under her feet.

    By the age of seven she had 12 over 60 different signs by which she could talk to her family. If she wanted bread, for example, she would 13 to cut a loaf and butter the slices. But even so she had 14.

    At five she began to realize she was different from other people, which made her so 15 that she used to kick and scream in the room. As she got older, her frustration 16 and her anger became stronger and stronger. Fortunately, with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan, she 17 to be a remarkable scholar. While she was still at college she wrote The Story of My Life, which enjoyed immediate popularity and 18 enough money to buy her own house. She 19 the country, giving lecture after lecture and she also received many 20 from foreign universities and kings. The girl was Helen Keller.

    As we all know, helping others is a great service, and it's easy to see how to help some people, but what about those people whose needs are not so obvious? This story may have happened a while back—It was a lesson which has1with me and helped me ever since.

    It was Thanksgiving and I was volunteering with my parents at a2for the needy. We stood behind the counter3out hot food to whoever came in. Most of our diners looked like they had been having4times: their clothes were old and dirty.5short, they looked needy!

    Then, a man came in, who looked anything6needy. He was well dressed; he wore a/an7suit. I wondered what he was doing there and my jaw dropped in amazement when he 8the line for food. The closer he came to my service station, the more I9. What was this man doing? I wanted to know. Surely he was not going to take food meant for those who were really in10!

    Then my11quietly took me to one side. She said, "You12that the needs of the people who come here must be purely13: hunger, inadequate shelter, clothing, etc. And this gentleman doesn't seem to have any of those problems.14what if he needs emotional help? What if he needs15, or just to be among other human beings?" Her words16me like a ton of bricks! I felt like I should apologize to the man—but I didn't.

    About a week later, the shelter17a large donation from an anonymous(匿名的)person. I can't help but18if it came from that man.

    Now, whenever I meet someone I remember my mother's19and try to send kindness and blessings their way, regardless of how they look. Needs aren't always20. But kindness always makes a difference.

A Wonderful Christmas Gift

    Ann and her mother had lived in a small cottage. Christmas was so close，and so was her birthday.

    Ann wished she could get a new1with lace as a wonderful Christmas gift. All her friends would be getting new dresses.2Ann did not want to ask her Mom for that.  She knew how hard her mom worked to make both ends meet. Maybe she could make a3maybe Santa Claus would come，even though she knew that Santa Claus is just an imaginary character.

    It was not just gift that4Ann. It was her mother. Nowadays she was working overtime and looked pale and worn out.

    The days passed and soon it was Christmas Eve. In everyone's house, except Ann's ,a Christmas tree adorned(装饰)the living room. In the5there hung the baked cakes and turkey. But6lovely was being cooked in Ann's house. Every child went to bed eagerly waiting for the lovely gifts that he or she would7the next day. Ann went to bed with a8heart. She knew that there would be no gifts for her.

    Ann wished with her whole heart that at least this time she would get a gift from Santa Claus. Ann slowly drifted off to sleep. She dreamt of Santa riding in the snow on his reindeers.

    Ring.…Ring.…Ann jumped, hearing alarm.

    She suddenly remembered that it was Christmas morning. Without much hope she looked9there were any gifts for her. Wonder of wonders! There lay a beautiful packet tied with a red ribbon.

    Ann excitedly opened the package. It was a pretty white dress with attractive lace. She10the gift carefully to find out who gave it to her. Suddenly a small piece of paper fell out from it. Ann11started to read the note.

    "Dear Ann ，

    This dress is given to you as a12for being a good girl. Hope you continue to do good things and help your mother.

    Your Loving friend ，

    Santa Claus"

    Ann felt that there was something familiar about this note. She looked into the note carefully. Then it13her. It was her mother who had worked overtime to save money to buy this expensive gift. Ann was happy14words. She knew that she was the15girl to have such a wonderful mother as a wonderful Christmas gift.