Abbaye, a master artist, was ready to retire in 1392. One day, Bartoli, a rich Italian merchant,  1 him saying, "Could you 2  my portrait on my banquet room wall? It's 20 feet tall.”

    “I'm ready to retire," Abbaye shook his head,“so I'm not  3.”But seeing the disappointment in Bartoli's eyes, he   4  his mind, "Well, there's a possibility if you can find it in your  5  to allow me to explore the  6  of my abilities. Furthermore, already I can see your 7 .So I insist

that while l work your portrait stay 8  even from you!”

    “No problem," Bartoli agreed, though he thought it was  9  ，"Anything you wish, but it must look realistic．”

Immediately the master artist  10  a high curtain in front of the wall, -through which Bartoli couldn't see at all.

A week passed. "How is it coming?" asked the  11   Bartoli.

     “It's coming quite well. You see, a masterpiece  12   quite a while at least.” Abbaye answered from behind the  13   ．

Another three, four weeks passed and  14half a year went by. Bartoli lost his  15 .“Today I must see it!" he shouted.

Stepping from behind the curtain 16  surprised by such anger, Abbaye said calmly," That's fine.

You needed only to request it.” And he  17  aside the 20 - foot curtain.

          Bartoli stared at the masterpiece and then his mouth 18  open. He was obviously so angry that his eyes  19  red. So what was wrong? Abbaye had drawn to his heart's  20  for 20 feet tall. Perhaps Bartoli couldn't tolerate his abstract expression, which Picasso would have been proud of.

Value Now No Longer Missed

    John, a famous musician, took his priceless antique zither(齐特琴)and played it in the crowded subway station. The music emanating from the zither was delicately streaming1the whole station. However, during the one-hour play, only six or seven people were truly2the charming music. John only got 52 dollars for his work that day.

    However, in normal days, when John is about to hold a 3, one ticket can be sold at more than 100 dollars and it is extremely 4to buy a ticket even at such a high price. Therefore, later, many passers-by in the station that day felt deeply5for not recognizing the famous musician and missing such a valuable but 6music feast.

    I have a very7friend who had totally changed after knowing that his wife8an acute illness. He cooked by himself for the family and took a walk with his wife every day. Nonetheless, his wife still did not manage to9the illness and passed away after three months. After that, he often sighed 10that due to his past busy life, he had missed a lot of beautiful time with his wife. But now, it is11to make up for it.

    It is no use crying over spilt milk. We have12a lot of precious things in our life without knowing how to13them. Actually, I also missed something 14before. The reason is simple: we had thought that we could still own them tomorrow.

    Nevertheless, tomorrow is actually15reliable. There was a famous Buddhist monk saying that in many people's lives, they have only done two things: waiting and 16 . The result is that they were always too late to cherish 17they had before they lost it. We would often claim to do something when we 18, or when we have money or when we become old, etc. However, when we reach the19, we could no longer realize our20, because we have lost it by then.

    “Look, it's Baldy!” A boy shouted in my direction across the playground. Even though I was used to regular insults (侮辱) because of the1on my head, it was2horrible to hear. I sighed as I headed back to the class.

When I was just 20 months old, I suffered serious3after a bowl full of hot oil fell on my head. I was4to hospital and had to stay there for weeks while the doctors5to save my life. “Holly's very6to be alive,' "they told Mum and Dad. “But she'll be7with scars on her head, and of course her hair won't grow there. ”

    As a child, I cared much about my scars, so I8wore a scarf to cover them up when I left home.9I didn't, people would call me horrible names like Baldy. Although my friends were always comforting me, they never10understood how it felt.

Then through the hospital I was11to a children's burns camp, where children like me can get any help. There, I1214-year-old Stephanie, whose burns are a lot more serious than mine. But she is so13that she never lets anyone put her down. "You shouldn't14what people say about what you look like because we're not different from anyone else, Holly,” she15me. “And you don't need to wear a scarf because you look great16it! ” For the first time in my life I could speak to someone who'd been through something17.So weeks later, at my 13th birthday party,18by her bravery, I gave up my scarf and showed off my scars. It felt amazing not having to19away behind my scarf.

    Now, I am20of what I look like and much happier, because I have realized it is your personality(个性) that decides who you truly are.

    I worried about my personal image and how I could be remembered during my boyhood. In the fifth grade, there seemed to be only one 1－to be cool. In the sixth grade, suddenly, there were two choices: be cool, or be invisible. 2 one day, when a teacher had us fill out a questionnaire with 3 questions, I found the4 option.

    Assuming the teacher would read our answers privately, I felt it was 5 to share my privacy. To my 6, she collected and redistributed (重新分发) them to us. We were asked to 7 the name and our three favorite answers to the whole class. My answers went to the meanest boy in class.

    The first question was “What's your favorite movie?” My answer was Beauty and the Beast. A laugh erupted and my cheeks 8. The next was “Where would you like to travel?” My answer was 9 special — “Wherever a book takes me.” The 10 this time had an explosive quality.

    I could11 remember what happened next; all that I had in mind was the laughter. But something amazing happened. A(n) 12 came, “Guys, cut it out.” The room went 13. It's Michelle Siever, a popular and cool girl. Then she 14, “Why are you laughing? What is the point of 15 if we just laugh at others?”

I can't remember the teacher or other kids' names, but I remember Michelle's. When she 16 for me that day, she 17 me we actually have three choices if we want to be remembered.

    Be cool, and you might be remembered 18. Stay invisible, and you won't be remembered at all. But if you stand up 19 someone when he or she 20you most, then you will be remembered as their hero for the rest of their life.

    I played a racquetball game against my cousin Ed last week. It was one of the most 1 and tiring games I've ever had. When Ed first phoned and 2 we play, I laughed quietly, figuring on an 3 victory. After all, Ed's idea of 4 has always been nothing more 5 than lifting a fork to his mouth. 6 I can remember, Ed's been the least physically fit member in the family, and 7 proud of himself. His big stomach has always ballooned out between his T-shirt and trousers.

    Although the family often 8 about that, Ed refused to buy a 9 T-shirt or to lose weight. So when Ed 10 for our game not only with the bottom of his shirt gathered inside his trousers but also with a stomach you could hardly 11, I was so surprised that I was 12. My cousin must have made an effort to get himself into shape. 13, at the point in our game when I' d have predicted (预计) the score to be about 9 to 1 in my favor, it was 14 7 to 9—and Ed was 15. The sudden realization was painful. We 16to play like two mad men. When the score was 16 up, I was having serious 17 about staying alive until 21 years old, let alone (更不用说) 18 that many points. When the game finally ended, both of us were lying flat on our backs, too tired to 19. In a way, I think we both won: I the game, but cousin Ed my 20.

In Rio, soccer was not only a sport but also a lifestyle. Lamine's flashy1 and exciting gameplay were the drive to his success. He was in a team called FC that had the best players.

As FC made it to the soccer final,2 filled the air. They were against their biggest rivals KD. As the clock counted down, one of Lamine's teammates3 the ball over to Lamine.

With a powerful4 , Lamine aimed for the goal, the ball soaring（呼啸） through the air. Time seemed to stop as the goalkeeper leaped5 . Luck was not at Lamine's side as the ball was cleared by the defender. The referee's whistle blew,6 the game.

With the sun setting, Lamine's father found him sitting7 on the field. Father was once a skilled soccer player, knowing the8 that came with the game. He patted Lamine on the back, "Lamine, even the greatest players would9 chances. Don't let one setback define you. "

Encouraged by father's words, Lamine10 and hugged him. For the next few days, they spent mornings and evenings on the field,11 his shots and improving his speed and skills.

The next game arrived, and Laminez found himself in a12 position. This time, with a swift move, he dribbled past defenders and13 the ball into the net.

The crowd erupted in cheers, and Lamine's teammates14 him carrying him to the sidelines to celebrate. Lamine went to hug his dad tightly. "I'm proud of you, son. I'll15 you my signature move in my old days. "his father said.