Daniel sat in the back of the car and he was very happy.It was his first trip to Disney World，and he couldn't wait to get there.

    At first it wasn't too bad.He played some card games with his brother Emmit and his mother.They played number games.They also read interesting books.Then Daniel felt bored and slept.But he didn't sleep for a long time，and they were still far away from Disney World.“Are we…”

    “No，Daniel，” said his father.“Please try to be patient．You chose the vacation place this year.We told you it would be a long trip.”

    “Yeah，but this is so boring！” said Daniel.

    “I think Daniel is right，” said Emmit.“It's a boring trip.”

    “You want to hear about a boring trip？” asked Dad.“When I was about your age，Daniel，Grandma and Grandpa took your aunt Jane and me to Disney World.On the way there，the car didn't work.Luckily your grandpa could repair the car，but it took a long time to repair it.So when we arrived at Disney World，it was already dark.”

    Imagine moving to a new country. There you know almost no one and you don't speak the language. Eighty years ago, my grandmother, Jean Rizzi, did just that.

    Like so many immigrants from Europe, her first stop in America was Ellis Island, in New York. The immigration station on Ellis Island opened 125 years ago. From 1892 to 1954, over 12 million foreigners entered America through Ellis Island.

    My grandmother's journey started near Naples, Italy. Her father got a job in New York years earlier. After he saved enough money, he sent for his family to join him. In November 1936, his wife and three kids got on a ship to New York. At just 8 years old, my grandmother didn't know what to expect. "I was nervous," she says. "But I was also excited about finally getting to see my new home in big city."

    For nearly two weeks, they were at sea and couldn't see any land. They all stayed in one small room on the boat.  When the boat arrived at Ellis Island, my grandmother thought the journey was over. But she and her family still had to be examined by doctors. Finally, they were off to their new home in Queens, New York. My grandmother still lives there.

    Ellis Island is now a popular tourist attraction in New York. More than 3 million people visit it each year. To immigrants like my grandmother, the island is a symbol of freedom and the American dream.

Several years ago, I spent most of my time at a mental hospital (精神病院) in our town. I found much joy there. At first it was a little scary to be there, but I stayed on, because I had a reason for doing this.

I volunteered in a locked-up (封闭的) environment. To my surprise, I found that a friend of my parents' was a patient in this hospital. I knew, when I was a baby, this woman wanted to keep me because she had no children. I looked after this woman and showed my old photos to her. Finally, she was able to remember some old things, and she said to me one day, "Dear, you should not come here. But I wanted to bring something happy into this woman's life. I learned that because she had no family, she couldn't leave here and go home. So I brought her to my home twice and I still remembered the happy smile on her face.

I have never forgotten this volunteering experience. This woman later passed away. I can't see her anymore, but I'm happy that I have done something to make a difference in another person's life.

A jobless man wanted to be a clerk in a shopping {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(商场) which was in the city {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(中心). The manager {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(面试) him and asked him to pass a(n) {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(考试): clean the floor. The man passed it as he cleaned the floor very well."You are wanted,"the manager told him."Give me your e-mail {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(地址), and I'll send you the form to fill in."The man replied,"But I don't have a computer, nor an e-mail!""I'm sorry,"said the manager."If you don't have an e-mail, that means you do not exist (存在). And we cannot {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (接受) anyone who does not exist."The man was so sad that he left in {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(安静). On the way back, he thought hard about how to {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(对付) with the present situation. He only had 10 dollars. Once that was spent, he wouldn't have any money to buy even food. Then he rushed into a supermarket {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (在……旁边) him and bought a box of {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(葡萄) with his 10 dollars. He overcame his shyness, went to a {#blank#}11{#/blank#}(拥挤) place and found a {#blank#}12{#/blank#} (角落) to sell grapes in small bags {#blank#}13{#/blank#}(礼貌). To his surprise, he doubled his money. He repeated this three times, and returned home with 80 dollars. This turned out to be a {#blank#}14{#/blank#}(有帮助) and {#blank#}15{#/blank#}(正确) decision. He realized that he could continue the business. He worked even harder later. From then on, he dared to face any challenge in front of him. At last, he became a boss of a famous restaurant.

What do you think of your father? Maybe we have 1 ideas. As for me, my father always 2 me and stands by my side. He is the "VIP (very important person)" in my life. Now I want to 3 some stories between us.

When I was a kid, my father was often 4 . I spent a lot of time 5 my grandmother. At that time I could really be called a naughty (顽皮的) girl and often couldn't control (控制) 6 . I didn't know 7 my father couldn't stay at home and play with me like other children's fathers.

As time went by, I studied in a boarding (寄宿) school. One day I told my father 8 the phone that I missed my mother's 9 very much. To my surprise, when I was preparing to go to bed, one of my roommates told me that 10 was calling me. I ran out and saw that my father was there, outside of the gate of the dormitory, with a 11 box in his hand. I went 12 to him and he gave me that lunch box. He was tired by the long trip. Without 13 anything, he went away. Back to the dormitory I couldn't help 14 .

I just want to tell you that the 15 from your father may come in its own way and I really love my father.

Ivan sat on the floor covered with sand deep down in the sea. He was bored and 1 . He watched other pretty fish swimming in and out of rocks. They were laughing and dancing in the 2 . "Why am I so different?" he said to himself.

"You are an octopus(章鱼), Ivan. That is 3 ." The sweet voice of Peter, a beautiful white dolphin(海豚), always made Ivan 4 better. Ivan looked up at the white dolphin and smiled. Peter said, "Let's play games 5 ."

They were having a lot of 6 and they didn't know they swam far from home. Suddenly Peter saw a large shark (鲨鱼) swimming next to them. "It is Big White... the biggest, most7 shark in the sea," he shouted to Ivan. Peter 8 Big White hopelessly. Peter was very afraid and he couldn't 9 . Just at this moment, Big White rushed down towards (冲向)10 . A 11 came to Ivan. He quickly sprayed (喷) a very dark cloud of black liquid (液体) to the shark's eyes. Then Ivan and Peter swam away 12 got home safely.

"Are you OK?" asked Ivan. "Yes. That was the most interesting trip ever! You saved me just now. I am lucky 13 you as my friend!" Ivan's face turned red. "I guess being different14 others can be so cool sometimes," Ivan said. "That is what I try to15 to you," Peter said.