The Water City of Venice

    In 1980s, I went to Italy for business. One day, I sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighboring town of Venice(威尼斯), Italy, the city of lights and 1.

    As we enjoyed our coffee, a young man2 glasses entered and sat at an empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, “Two cups of coffee, one of them there 3 the wall.”

    We heard this order with interest and found that he 4 with one cup of coffee but he paid for two.

    When he left, the waiter 5 a piece of paper on the wall saying “A Cup of Coffee”.

    While we were still there, 6 middle-aged men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had two cups of coffee but 7 three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same. He put a piece of paper on the wall saying, “A Cup of Coffee”.

    It was 8 and perplexing(困惑)for us. We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left.

    After a few days, we had a chance  9 this coffee shop again. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man 10 dressed entered. As he seated himself, he 11 the wall and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.”

    The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary(惯常的)respect. The man had his coffee and left  12 paying.

    We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter 13 a piece of paper from the wall and threw it into the rubbish bin.

    Now it was no 14 for us-the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants(居民)of this town 15 our eyes well up in tears.

    Many years later, when I went to Venice for business again, I did the same thing as my appreciation to this beautiful world.

    This is a   1 of my family.  2   Frank, I am twelve. I study(学习) in No.2 Middle School. This is my father.  3  name is Dale Brown. He is a teacher in my school. He teaches English. And this is my mother. Her name is  4  . She is a  5 , too. Who's that woman  6my father? Oh, she is my aunt. She is a nurse. My grandparents aren't in the photo.   7 are in the USA. I  8  a dog.   9name is Dick. I love my  10 very much.

    A boy was walking in the street 1 a man came over 2 him and 3 him the way4 the station.

    The boy was very naughty（顽皮的）. He wanted 5 play a joke on the man. He pointed to6side of the road and said, “Go down the street until you reach a shop. You can find it on your left.” The man thanked him and went away.

    A few minutes 7, the man came back. He said to boy that there was only a bookshop there and he 8 find the station.

    The boy 9 and said, “10a map in the bookshop, and you'll find the way!”

Celebrate the Good Days

    It was in April of what seemed to be a great year. I was in fourth grade with the greatest teacher, Miss De Rosear -- the coolest teacher. I had just come home from school to find Mum at home. That was1because she never arrived home before me. Mum was sitting on the sofa with Dad. A thousand terrible things started flashing through my mind. What if Grandma had passed away? I did not have the 2to say goodbye. What if my brother was hurt? As I crawled(爬) up on the sofa next to Mum, she gave me a kiss and a huge smile, so I3and went on with my normal after-school activities. During the TV show that I always watched after school, Mum started getting phone calls. The calls continued for the rest of the night. Each time the4 rang, Mum rushed to her room.  I then knew that something bad had happened.

    When Mum came back, I asked, "Mum, why do you keep on5the room every time you get a phone call?

    She turned to my sister and me and said, "Girls, I have something to tell you. I have cancer(癌症). "

    As she said that I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I was thinking, "Why is God taking my mum from me so soon? What have I done?" I didn't know that we were just beginning a very long, 6 journey.

    The next day on the bus I turned to my friend, Kate. "My mum... "That was all I could say before I started crying. Kate gave me a big hug and said 7, "I know, and I'm here for you." I knew that Kate would support me.

    During the summer, Mum stayed home. On the good days, sister and I talked about what we were going to do next day, week, month, or year with 8. We never talked about losing her.

    We got9from many different people. When school started again, Mum had to have surgery(手术). I stayed with one of my teachers, Mrs. Stephens. Mrs Stephens made me rainbow French toast. She was always there for me with a smile, a hug, or --it will be okay advice.

    On April 5, my morn became a five-year survivor (幸存者). When that day came, we had a big party. Friends came from far and wide to celebrate how10Mum is and her success against cancer!

    There will be good days and bad days--some more bad than good. But as I have learned from my mother, celebrate the good days!

    My father and I always had a bit of trouble in our relationship. It's not that we didn't love each other. It's just that we used to have 1 opinions. My dad is one of the most hard-working men I know, but I was a 2. I played sports as a kid, but 3 when I was making progress. Then I showed an   4 in music. My father got excited and 5 me a guitar when I was about eight. But I didn't like it until I was a teenager. During those teen years, I took up my guitar and 6 playing along.

Then I went to college. My father thought I should focus more on my 7 while I should have more fun playing music. I dreamed to be a musician. When I grew into a young man, I suddenly fell 8 ill one day and it was discovered that I had a terrible kidney(肾) disease. I had to accept treatments all my life, or get a transplant(移植).

    I felt like there was a heavy 9 on my shoulders. Life became hard for me. But I was lucky enough because of my loving parents who 10 me and took care of me. While trying to 11 just what to do with my life, my father got tested to see 12 he was the right man to give me his kidney. I tried to refuse, but he'd hear 13 of it. He saved my life at last.

    Two years ago, I 14 a band. He had always wanted to play in a band, but 15got the chance when he was young. It was one of the greatest gifts I could give to him.

    Mr White is a millionaire(百万富翁).He 1 delicious food. He has a 2 cook, Mr Black. The man can cook all kinds of food. Mrs White asked him to3her last month. Now she thinks she's good at cooking and doesn't want Mr Black to 4 for them any longer.

    Now Mrs White begins to cook for her 5. But Mr White does not like her food at all. He says he won't 6 any food at home if she doesn't stop cooking. The woman says shell 7 another cook.

    This morning Mr White broke a window in a shop. They took him to the 8. The policeman said, "I'm sorry to tell you, Mr White. Or I'll fine(罚款) you ten dollars, or you'll stay in prison(监狱).9 do you want?

    "I'll stay in prison." answered the millionaire.

    "10?" asked the policeman.

    "Because my wife will find a new cook in ten days!"