One of my fondest {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(memory) as a child is going to the river and sitting on the bank. There I would watch the bamboo trees bend{#blank#}2{#/blank#} the pressure from the wind and then watch them return {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(elegant) to their original position when the wind{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(die) down.

    When I think about the bamboo trees' ability {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(return) to its original position, the word “resilience (适应力)'' comes to mind. Have you ever felt like you were at your breaking point? Life is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} mixture of good times and bad times, and happy moments and unhappy moments. Always keep{#blank#}7{#/blank#} in mind that a measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant situation. With hope for a better tomorrow, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant situation may be much {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(easy) to deal with if the result is worth{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(have).

    The next time you are experiencing one of bad times or unhappy moments,{#blank#}10{#/blank#} take you close to your breaking point, bend but don't break!

The Language of Love

    Music is a universal language, which has the most powerful magic in the world. Music is a sweet language to show love to those who love us and those who{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(love) by us. Music is also a friendly language for unfamiliar people to show kindness. It is living everywhere and all the time in our daily life.

    I learned this while{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(take) care of a seagull unfortunate enough to swallow a hook. After calling the wildlife rescue center and learning that all its{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(vehicle) were out on other business, I carefully{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(wrap) (裹住)the wild bird in a towel and carried him to my friend's car. The only way{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(keep) him calm was by singing. For 30 minutes, I sang{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(soft) to the small creature until finally delivering(递送) him{#blank#}7{#/blank#}those who could help. I'm not certain {#blank#}8{#/blank#}happened afterwards, but for that brief period, we two vastly different species connected, bridging{#blank#}9{#/blank#}gap between us through songs.

    {#blank#}10{#/blank#}doesn't matter whether there will be difficulties in communication，for love is always the theme of each piece of music.

    “Why do we have to learn about these useless things?” This is what teachers have heard students complain about most {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (common). In such cases, we may tell the students such {#blank#}2{#/blank#} story:

    One night, a group of herdsmen（牧民）were about to leave the campsite when there appeared a flash of bright light. They knew that God would be there, so they looked forward to {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(get) wishes from God. God {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(begin)to speak: “You have to collect along the way a number of stones. Tomorrow night, you may be very happy, but you may be very regretful.” Then God disappeared.

    The herdsmen were very {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(disappoint), because they would look forward to God to bring them untold wealth or treasure, but they did not expect that God had told them to do all these meaningful things. However, in any case, after all, that was God's will. Although there {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) some dissatisfaction, they were still picking over some stones. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} this way, they took a day. When night fell, they stopped. All of a sudden, they found that all the stones they picked had turned into {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (diamond). They were happy, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} at the same time, they felt very sorry, and they regretted that they had not collected more stones.

    Now we feel that knowledge is as useless as stones, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} may become endless wealth in the future.

    One sentence from the news in Washington has remained in my mind since a trip last summer: "When you see people run against the crowd escaping{#blank#}1{#/blank#}the danger, they are {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(probable) firefighters, police or journalists.

    I think this is most true for the firefighters. Whenever and wherever {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (disaster) happen — 911 Attacks in New York 14 years ago or the explosion in Tianjin on Wednesday night — it is always the firefighters{#blank#}4{#/blank#}take the lead to run to the very center, saving lives by{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (risk) their own. I cried today near the explosion site, not because of the smoke from the ongoing fire {#blank#}6{#/blank#} because of a short message a firefighter sent to a trusted friend that went viral online. It reads, "If I cannot make it, my father is {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(you); and please remember{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(sweep) my mother's tomb." I was thrilled later to learn that he did make it.

    “Everyone knows it's {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (danger) to be a firefighter. But he has always liked it and has done it for 12 years," his father said. "He survived this time, but no one knows what{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (happen) next time.”

    Pausanias has come on a magical journey {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (find) out about the present-day Olympic Games. So he asks a Chinese girl, Li Yan about the Olympics. He tells Li Yan {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Greek cities used to compete against each other {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the honour of winning. No other countries could join in, nor could slaves or {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (woman). Li Yan tells Pausanias that every four years athletes from all over the world {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (admit) as competitors, and all countries can take part if {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (they) athletes reach the standard to be admitted to the games. Women are not only allowed to join in but play {#blank#}7{#/blank#} very important role in gymnastics, athletics, etc. At the same time, there is just as much {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (compete) among countries to host the Olympics as to win Olympic medals. The spirit of the Olympic Games {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (stay) the same as before: It is all about being able to run faster, jump higher and throw {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (far).