King Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his people. He often asked 1 which were strange. His people had to use words in a 2 way to answer these questions.

    Once Akbar asked a very strange question. He looked at his people. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of a(an) 3. It was at this moment that Bribal entered the palace. Birbal  4 the habit of the king. He understood the 5 at once and asked, “May I know the question so that I can 6 for an answer?”

    Akbar said, “How many crows(乌鸦)are there in the city?”

    Without even a moment's thought, Birbal 7, “There are fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine crows, My Lord. "

    “How can you be so 8?” asked Akbar.

    Birbal said, “Make your men 9, My Lord. If you find more crows it means some have come to visit their relatives here. If you find 10 crows it means some have gone to visit their relatives somewhere else. "

    Akbar was pleased very much by Birbal's wise answer.

    Once, in a small village, lived a family with eight children. Two of the children loved 1 very much, but the family was so poor that it was impossible to send 2 of them to study at the art college at the same time. After many discussions, the two boys finally 3 a plan. They would toss(抛) a coin. The loser would go 4into the mines (煤矿) and, with his earnings(赚得的钱), 5 his brother studying at the college. Then, when the brother who won the toss finished his studies, after four years, he would support the other brother studying at the 6.

    James won the toss and Jack went down into the mines. James worked with all his heart and his paintings were much 7 than those of most of his teachers, and by the time he 8, he was beginning to make a lot of money for his paintings.

    9 James returned, the family held a big dinner for his great success. Soon after the meal began, James 10 up from his seat to drink a toast (举杯祝酒) to his dear 11 He said, "Jack, now you can go to the art college and your 12 will come true. I will take care of you. "

    But Jack said 13, "Brother, the four years in the mines has done too much to my hands, so it's too 14 Now I can' t even hold a glass. "

    To show his great love and respect, James drew his brother' s hands with 15 towards the sky.

    He called his drawing "The Praying Hands", which became very famous years later.

    One day, a poor young man went to Paris to visit one of his father's friends and 1 that his father's friend could help him find a simple job for living.

    "Are you good at math," his father's friend asked him.

    The young man shook his head.

    "How are your history and geography?"

    The young man shook his head again.

    "How about your law?"

    The young man 2 his head embarrassedly.

    His father's friend asked again and again,3 the young man could only shake his head and told him he himself couldn't find out any4.

    "Then write down your address first."

    The young man wrote down his address and turned to leave, but he was stopped by his father's friend. "Your name is written very 5 which is your advantage. You shouldn't satisfy yourself with finding a job only for 6"

    Years later, the young man wrote the classical works that won the world fame. He was Alexandre Dumas, a famous French writer of 18th century. One of his greatest works 7 The Three Musketeers was popular 8 a great number of readers.

    There are many ordinary persons in the world who all have many 9advantages, but they are neglected (忽视) because of their self-abasement (自卑). In fact, there is a gold mine (矿) in every ordinary life. If you're willing to dig, you will dig out treasures to 10 yourself.

    It took Peter quite a while to find a place for his car, and in the end he had to 1 it on a small street, a few minutes away from the dentist's. As he got out, he looked at his watch. He would meet the dentist at five and he 2had half an hour. He walked into the square and sat down in a chair, to 3the failing sun.

    As he sat there, he 4 the children playing. He was5 to see a red car like his own come out of the street where he had parked. The car moved 6 and soon disappeared(消失). Peter felt in his pockets for his keys, but they were not there.

    "My car!" he shouted in a loud 7. He got up and ran out of the square, then down the small street. He couldn't see his car at first, and then he found it was 8 a larger one, with the keys on the roof of his car.

    By the time he got to the dentist's, it was after five. '" A very strange thing 9to me," he said to the dentist to explain why.

    "Don't 10 about that," said the dentist. "I just got here myself."

    My mother told me that when I was born, I was the most beautiful baby in the world. Time passed, and I started to be a 1 and happy girl.

    Then, one day when I was five years old, my life 2 a lot. I had a high fever. The doctor gave me the wrong medicine 3 it brought me a lot of problems with my speech. So I couldn't speak. And the doctor told us I would 4 be able to speak well again or learn another language.

However, my mom couldn't believe I lost my speech. She sent me to a lot of teachers. 5, she found the right teacher, Nina, to help me make my dream come true. She was a very    6 person. She encouraged me and told me that I would speak again. The most amazing thing was that she taught me to read my 7. I remember that I spent hours in front of the mirror and tried to repeat every word that I said. Imagine losing your speech and having to learn 8 again. For me, it was like being hurt again. Yes, I was! I learned to talk and speak my mother language—Spanish.

    Now, I am studying English. I can't believe that I am learning another 9. But, I am! I am crying because 10 here makes me feel happy, and it makes me 11 when I remember what the doctor said to my mom,"12 will never be able to speak or learn another language."

I'll always remember the beautiful words my mom said to me 13 I was a child and began to learn to speak again." You are fighting in a war. Trust yourself and try your 14, and then you will get a beautiful medal for your success. You will achieve an impossible dream that people say you will never do. I believe 15 you, and you are my hero."

    Now when I am going to take every step in my studies and in my life, I try to think about my experience and be a thankful person.

    Many students aren't getting enough sleep at night, which means they end up feeling sleepy during class. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}during the day may be a solution.

    According to Forbes, a mid-afternoon nap can {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, increase your energy and help you study even better. But {#blank#}3{#/blank#}should a nap last? The proper time should be between 10 and 30 minutes, Peter Venn, a sleep expert said.

    Sleeping for {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, such as five minutes or so, is not helpful. That's just not enough time to rest. But if you sleep for too long, you may {#blank#}5{#/blank#}feeling uncomfortable.