Have you ever offered a helping hand to those who are in trouble.

    One day, two 1 were walking along the road to school when they saw an old woman carrying a large basket of pears. They thought the woman looked very 2. They went up to her and said, “Are you going to town If you are, we will help carry your basket.”

    “Thank you,” 3 the woman, “you are very kind. You see I'm weak and ill.” Then she told them that she was now going to market to 4 the pears which grew on the only tree in her little garden.

    “We are all going to the 5.” said the boys. “Let us have the basket.” And they took hold of it, one each side. They walked 6 with the heavy basket, but happily.

    The other day, I saw a little girl stop and 7. a piece of orange peel (皮), which she threw into the dustbin (垃圾桶), “I wish 8 would throw that on the sidewalk,” said she. “Someone may step on it and fall.”

    Perhaps some may say that these are not 9 things. That is right. But such a little thing shows that you have a thoughtful mind and a feeling heart. We must not wait for the 10 to do great things. We must begin with little things of love.

    Some time ago one of my chairs had a broken leg. I 1 think there would be any difficulty 2 getting it fixed, as there were a lot of furniture shops near my home. So I left home one morning with the chair. I went into the first shop expecting a friendly reception(接待). But I was quite wrong. The man didn't even look at my chair.

    In the 3 shop though, the situation was just the same, and in the third and in the fourth.

    I entered 4 shop with a plan in my mind. I placed the chair on the floor and said to the 5 ,“Would you like to buy the chair ?” He 6 it carefully and said,“Yes, not a bad chair. How much do you want for it, sir?” “Twenty dollars, ”I said. “OK,” he said, “I'll give you twenty dollars,” I said. “Yes, I saw that. It's nothing.”

    7 was doing according to my plan. “What will you do with it?” I asked. “Oh, it will be easy to 8 after the repair is done.” “I'll buy it,” I said. “What do you mean? You've just sold it to me,” he said. “Yes, but I've changed my mind.” “You  9 be crazy,” he said. Then, suddenly the penny drooped. “I know what you want,” he said. “We don't do repairs, not enough money 10 with too much trouble. But I'll fix this for you.”

Run for Class President

    Two months ago, when our class election (选举) started, I decided to run for class president. I enjoyed speaking in public and got along well with people, so I felt it easy to win. But I was 1 that people would feel bad for me if I lost.

    I was busy preparing in the following week. My plan wasn't to make promises to do things I couldn't 2 but to show my class why I wanted to be president. I put up my posters in hallways and in the classroom. I also spent three hours writing my speech, saying that I was the one they could turn to whenever they had a problem. Since I was 3 prepared, I felt that my chances of winning were strong.

    However, when I gave my speech on Election Day, the response (反应) wasn't what I had 4. Few people actually listened. When it was my opponent's (对手的) turn, everyone was screaming his name. His speech was short, but all to the point. By then, I realized I should have made mine shorter and clearer.

    It was obvious who would 5. For the rest of the day, I felt like it was over. I wanted to just go home and cry, but I made it through.

    My 6 was right: I didn't win.

    The next day, people were still talking about the election. I just pretended (假装) not to hear. But later, things got better. People 7 about the election and talked to me just as they did before.

    I don't regret putting time and energy into the election because I've learned that things aren't always going the way I expect. And moments of failure like this build 8—since then I've learned to face disappointment and grown stronger.

    A young man went to visit a wise man living deep in the mountain for the wisdom of life.

    "Excuse me! Could you please tell me what the most1day in our lives is? Is it the day when we were born or the day we2? Is it the day when we fall in love or the day we succeed?" the young man asked.

    "3. The most important day in our lives is today, "the wise man replied calmly." Why?" The young man felt more than4. "Is it because there is a moving event taking place today?" "No. Nothing has happened today. ""Is it because of my visit?" "Even if nobody visits me today, today is5very important because today is the only wealth we have. No matter how memorable yesterday is, it has gone just like a ship going down into the sea. No matter how bright tomorrow may be, it is yet to come. But no matter how common today is, it is6our control."

    The young man still wanted to ask something, while the wise man7him and said, "When we are talking about the meaning of today, we have8a lot of it."

    The young man nodded and then went down the mountain.

    Actually, today is the only 9we have. So, what we should do now is10yesterday and tomorrow and seize today!