No More Time Out

Shawn and Thomas had always been good friends. They lived near each other, and they both loved 1.They played baseball, touch football, and kickball. They also liked to play soccer, shoot baskets, and skateboard.When they were in the fourth grade, though, Thomas broke his 2 in a soccer game. He had to be on crutches for six weeks.
Shawn 3 Thomas, but what was there to do? Shawn didn't like television or computer games. Thomas didn't like to sit and talk. After trying three times to start a conversation, Shawn 4 up. He said, “I'm out of here.”
For days, Shawn 5at home, feeling guilty for not visiting Thomas again. Thomas stayed home, too, feeling 6because Shawn wasn't visiting him. After a week, Shawn's mom spoke up. “It's time for you and Thomas to get back into action! That's why I spoke to Ms McNulty at the library. She has the perfect volunteer job for you both,” she said.
Shawn said 7. His mom continued, “The library sells used books to raise money. People are always 8off books in bags and boxes. Someone has to carry the books to the storage room. Someone has to sort them into fiction (小说) and nonfiction. You and Thomas can be a team 9.”“No, we can't!” said Shawn. “He and I don't want a job.” However, Shawn's mom wouldn't 10 no for an answer.
Sure enough,11the boys began, things changed. Shawn felt strong as he carried bags and boxes through the library. Sorting books in the storage room, Thomas felt useful again. In fact, one day Thomas said, “Between you and me, Shawn, this isn't so 12.” Shawn smiled and agreed. They were a good team.

    A fox once said to a cat, "I have a whole bag of tricks（诡计). I know   1 than a hundred different ways of  2away from my enemies--dogs." "That's great," said the cat. "As for(至于) me, I have only one trick, but it usually works. Will you please3  me some of yours?", "Well, if I am not busy some day, I'll teach you one or two easier ones. "

    Just at that moment they heard something  4. That was a dog. The cat climbed5  a tree quickly. "This is my only trick," she called down to the fox. "Which trick are you going to6  , Mr Fox?" The fox sat there. He used his head 7  one of his many good ways.

    The dog came nearer. The fox thought and  8  . At last he found a way to run. Running away was    9    best way.   But that was too late.   Before he started 10, the dog came to him. That was the end of the fox.

    In order to reduce the stress on the students, Nanjing No. 1 High School has1a "mark bank". The bank lets students "borrow" marks2they can pass exams, and then repay them in later tests.

    Here's3it works: The "mark bank" allows students to4marks if they fail the exam. But, just like real banks, it requires "clients (客户)" to pay back the loan (贷款) on time, with interest (利息).  So students have to pay for the loan by getting extra marks in future exams. Some teachers also allow the students to repay the bank5doing lab experiments or giving public speeches. Students who don't pay back their loans are blacklisted (列入黑名单) by the bank, just like in real life.

    "I was sick before the mid-term exams and missed several geography classes," one student said, "I failed the exam, so I am glad the 'mark bank' gave me a 6to pass the exam."

    7many people think the "mark bank" is a great idea, not8supports the idea.  Education expert Xiong Bingqi, for example, believes9the "mark bank" is not proper, but thinks that it takes stress off the students.  Others think that such an idea just causes students to be10in their studies.

    Ever since I was ten years old, I have decided to do everything on my own though I couldn't really understand them.

    When I was young , I always 1 the summer holiday with my grandfather at the mountain farm in Western Norway (挪威). 2 my grandfather had to work all day himself, he could spare some time for me.

    One day my grandfather said to me, "Come. I have a toy boat for you." I followed him to a workroom 3. However, nothing like that was there 4 a block of wood. "Is that the boat…?" I asked curiously. "No one can give you what you do for 5. With your own hands, you'll make it out of wood. Then it will be the 6 boat in your heart." Finally, I finished it with his help. Seeing the boat 7 in the lake Storvassdal, I felt 8 and thought everything nice around me.

    Good times don't last long. I had to 9 to America. Feeling sad, I hid my boat under a big rock at Storvassdal. Moreover, I didn't know that was the 10 time I saw my grandfather.

    Years later, I returned to the mountain farm with my parents and children. I searched for my boat, but 11. I was about to 12 when I touched something different under a big rock. Luckily, I found the boat which 13 grandfather and me. Holding it, I felt my grandfather was there and we 14 were together again.

    As time went by, each time I held the boat, I carved (刻) the year. My grandfather seemed 15. I went on the last trip to the farm with my grandchildren. High in the mountain, I hope they would understand the importance of the boat and its simple sign of self-reliance (自立).

    My dad was a fisherman(渔夫), and he loved the sea. He had a 1 , but it was not always 2 to make a living on the sea. He stayed out late 3 he wanted to catch enough fish for the family.

    When the weather was 4 , my father didn't work, and he drove me to school. Before he left, he would 5 me a big kiss(亲吻)on the face and tell me to be a good boy.6 for me, it was so embarrassing(尴尬的) .

    I remembered the day. I was 12 years old. I thought I was too 7 for a good-bye kiss. We got to school and came to a stop. He had his usual big smile(微笑) and started to kiss 8 before he left, but I put my hand up and said, "No, dad." It was the 9 time that I talked to him in that way. So he got a(n) 10. I said, "Dad, I'm too old for a good-bye kiss. I'm too old for any kind of kiss. "My dad 11 me for a long time, and his eyes were filled with tears (眼泪). I 12 saw him cry. "You are right," he said, "You are a big 13. I won't kiss you anymore."

    It wasn't long after that when my dad went to the sea for fish but he never 14. I was so sad that I wanted one more15 from my father.