Have you ever planted a few trees on Tree Planting Day? Each year, millions of people, both 1 , plant a lot of trees. But this may not be the best way to make your home a 2 place.

    Last week we visited a park in Hebei. We were 3 to find most of the trees had been burned. The workers told us that the trees 4 soon after they were planted because they weren't watered well enough. 5 workers burned them and cleaned the place for 6 trees to be planted this year. 7 a card found in one of the dead trees, a student wrote,“ I hope this tree will grow up with me to 8 the backbone (栋梁) of our country.” The workers said that the survival(存活) of the trees was really more important than 9 trees were planted.

    Some people in Beijing now have a new idea that they can donate (捐赠) some money and let professionals (专业人士) plant and 10 the trees.

    As I held my father's hands one night, I couldn't help but notice their calluses(老茧）and roughness. His hands tell the story of his life as a 1 , including all his struggles.

    One summer, I remember, a drought (旱灾）hit Ontario,turning it into a 2 desert.On one og those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last 3 from the grocery store.Fifty dozen was all we needed, which normally took twenty minutes. That morning, however, the process didn't 4 quickly. After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field, we still needed twenty dozen. I was completely frustrated and 5 . Dropping the basket heavily, I declared, "If the store wants its last twenty dozen, they can pick it themselves. "Dad 6 ."Just think, my little girl, only ten dozen left for each of us and then we're 7 ." Such is Dad—whatever problem he 8 , he never gives up.

    Unfortunately, the bad effects of the drought were felt all over our county. It was a challenging time for everyone, 9 Dad remained optimistic. He 10 to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plated. Only then did I truly begin to appreciate dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.

    Dad is also a living example of real 11 . From dawn to dusk, he works countless hours to 12 our family. He always puts our happiness 13 his own, and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games even though he was 14 after long days. His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and friendly, putting others first.

    Dad, the life 15 I have learned from you will stay with me forever.You are my father,teacher,friend and,most importantly,my hero.

    It's the day before Christmas. Karen Hartley, 33, was skiing（滑雪）by 1 at Powder Mountain in Utah. By mistake, she began to ski off the trail. Soon she 2. She shouted for help, but no one heard her. Night came, and the temperature 3 below freezing（凝冻）. Karen was very cold and afraid of 4. But she stayed calm. She played music in her mind and danced all night long to stay 5. She danced to old disco songs, pop songs, and Christmas songs. “It was either dance 6 die,” she said. “I kept on 7. I didn't give up.”

    The next morning, a helicopter began to 8 Karen. After 18 hours in the cold, she was 9 just before it's too late. Karen was very cold but all right. She 10 Christmas Day in a hot tub（浴缸）.

    Tom hated school and was always looking for excuses not to go. If he sneezed(打喷嚏), he asked his mother1a note saying he had a cold.

    If he had a2, he asked his mother to take him to the3during school hours.

    He4more time at home than he did at school.

    On the5that he did go to school, he looked for excuses to come home early.

    One day he came home from school6the morning. His father was surprised.

    "You're home early, "he said." Is the school7today?"

    "No. Dad" Tom said "It's open. I came home early."

    "8did you do that?" his father asked him. "What did you say to your teacher?"

    "I told her that I had a new baby brother and I 9come home and help you."

    "But your mother has had10." his father said, "a boy and a girl. You've got a baby brother and a baby sister."

    "Yes, I know, Dad." Tom said, "I'm saving up(积攒)my baby sister for next week."

    Two girls living next door to each other have two very different life stories. Chi Zhen, an 18-year-old preparatory (预科的) student in Seville, Spain, used his 1 to tell the story of two lives. From the photos, we could learn that they had encouraged many people to 2that the future is in their own hands.

    He took a series of photos of his friends Veronica and Anna Maria. They live completely 3life styles and are getting opposite results.

    In the photos, Anna Maria, a Spanish girl, can be seen 4a TV play. "She spends most of her time on the sofa." says Chi. Anna Maria 5goes out because she thinks she's not attractive and doesn't know 6to say in social situations. She blames her fate（命运）. "I' m not as 7as Veronica," she often says.

    But Veronica, the "lucky" girl next door, has 8herself four foreign languages and traveled to many places. She goes to the 9regularly. She takes part in any conversation and becomes the center of attention because of her 10knowledge and experience.

    Looking at Veronica, it's 11that she's taking control of her fate. In order to communicate with Chi Zhen better, she's studying Chinese. Her experience has 12Chi Zhen to communicate with students from all countries, and she's getting good results. " 13I learned about so many different ideas and attitudes, I still need some time to get used to them," she says.

    The influence of the photos has gone 14beyond what Chi Zhen expected. One of the users commented on his photos on renren.com, saying: "A wall separates two worlds, and the life we have 15what we do. I'd work harder rather than complain about my fate later."

    At the age of 16, Einstein failed in several exams because he often played with some bad kids. One weekend morning, Einstein carried a fishing net and prepared to go fishing with those 1, his father stopped him and said to him calmly," Einstein, you were spending too much time 2 , so you failed in the exams. I'm 3 about your future with your mother."

    "What are you worrying about? Jack and Robert also 4, but they went fishing as usual."

    "My boy, you can't think so," Looking at Einstein, his father said lovingly, "There is a 5 in our hometown. I hope you can listen to it carefully."

    "There were two cats playing on the roof. 6, they fell into the chimney（烟囱）.When they climbed out of the chimney, one cat's face was dirty 7 the other's face was clean. Seeing the dirty—faced cat, the clean—faced one thought its own face was also dirty, so it quickly ran to the riverside and washed its 8. The dirty—faced cat saw the clean—faced one, thinking its own face was clean as well, so it walked happily in the street."

    "Einstein, 9 can be your mirror(镜子). Only you are your own mirror. Some of the kids are not strict with themselves. If you take them to be your mirror, even a 10 person may become stupid." Hearing this, Einstein was ashamed and lay down his fishing rod and returned to his small room. Since then, Einstein's face turned red. He put down his fishing net and returned to his small room.

    After that, Einstein often took himself as a mirror to be 11 with himself and kept telling himself." I am special, so I needn't be as common as others." This was why Einstein 12 in his career.

    1,000 people have 1,000 kinds of wishes in life. Different wishes will produce different 13 about life. You can learn from other people, but you can 14 follow others completely.

    You must see yourself clearly, and know what you want to get. Your future doesn't 15 how others act, but on what you are going to act.