通读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出一个最佳答案。

    Do you have a pen friend? I have a pen friend. Do you want to know something about him? Now let me 1  you. His name is Eric and he comes from 2. He is 22 years old. He's a driver and 3 at a train station. He's a handsome man  4 blond hair and blue eyes. He has  5 round face. His favorite color is 6, so he usually wears white clothes. Joe gets up early in the morning and then 7 for half an hour. He thinks running can help him to keep  8. He is good at playing   9 and he is in a soccer club. He goes there every Sunday.  

    He invited (邀请) me to 10 his country, Australia. I'm going there next month. And I think I'll have a good time there.

    It was last June. I went into a supermarket to buy some vegetables, when a young man asked me, “Can you tell me where the  1 counter is?”

  “Well, the milk is in the lower right corner,” I replied. Picking up my things, I finally came to the milk counter where I met the same man. He was 2 almost 10 bottles of milk in his hand. I asked, “Do you need a 3?” “Sure, thank you.” he answered.

    I was 4 he was still picking more bottles and after a few minutes his trolley had 24 bottles of milk. I laughed and asked, “Why so many bottles?” He smiled and said, “These are 5 my street dogs. Today I want to be a Santa for them.”

    I said, “Well, it's too 6 for you to be a Santa. It is still June and Christmas comes in 7.” He 8 at me for a second, but he left the counter without 9 anything.

    10, we met again at the bread counter. “So these bread and cakes are also for the street dogs, Mr. Santa.”  He smiled and said, “Yes. These are also for the dogs and I love to be Mr. Santa in the month of June. Santa is a representation(象征) of surprises and 11. We always hope Santa comes before 12. But in real life there is a Santa in each one of us. He is always ready to help us at any time, no matter(不管) which month it is. Maybe when you offered a trolley to me, there was a Santa in you. When we 13 food to a poor man or a(n) 14 to someone who is caught in the rain, we are being Santa there. So when you offer help to others or get help from others, just think that Santa has come all the way for you.”

    He left and I was 15 that I met him. It was right to understand that Santa can come before Christmas. We just need to know that he is around us by giving happiness and love to others.

    Long ago there was a boy who was hungry for success. For him, winning was 1. One day, the boy was going to compete with two other young boys in a 2 in his village. A large crowd gathered to 3. Among the crowd was a wise old man.

    The race began. With strength and power, the boy 4. The crowd cheered and waved at the boy. The boy felt 5 and important. However, the wise man remained calm and said nothing.

     “6 race!” shouted the boy. The wise old man stepped forward and presented the boy with two new competitors, an old woman and a blind man. “This isn't a race!” the boy shouted angrily.

“Race!” 7 the wise man. The race started and the boy was the8 one to cross the line— the other two left standing at the starting line. The boy raised his arms excitedly. However, the crowd was 9 this time.

     “Why don't the people join in my 10?” he asked the wise old man.

     “Race again!” replied the wise man. “But this time, three of you should finish 11”

    The boy thought for a while, stood between the blind man and the old lady, and then took the 12 of the blind man and the old woman. The race began and three of them walked 13 to the finishing line and crossed it. The crowd cheered. The wise man smiled, gently 14 his head.

     “Who is the crowd cheering for?” asked the boy.

    The wise old man, putting his hands on the boy's shoulders, replied softly, “Little boy, for this race, you have won 15 than in any other race you have ever run before, and for this race, the crowd cheer not for any winner!”

    Eric is 13 years old. He likes animals. Tony is Eric's 1. He is only 6 years old. He likes animals, 2.

    One day, Tony says to Eric, "How about 3 to the zoo this Sunday?" Eric thinks it is a good idea. But the zoo is 4 from their home. He asks their father to drive them there, but their father has no time because he has to work on weekends. Eric thinks he can.5 a bike to the zoo,6 Tony can', because he is too 7 Then Eric asks their mother to take them there.

    Their mother says," OK. Let's go to the zoo by 8".

    This 9 morning, they take the bus there. At the zoo, they see many animals. Elephants are Eric's favorite because he likes big animals. Tony 10 likes pandas, so he watches them fora long time. Tony and Eric ask," Mom, 11 are your favorite animals?" Their mother says," All the animals are my favorite. But now people 12 many trees, animals are losing13 homes, some animals are in danger, so we14 save them, because animals are our friends."

    15 4:00 pm, they finish their visit. When they are on the bus back home, they are all very happy.