I was a single parent of four small children, working at a low-paid job. Money was always tight, but we had a 1 over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs, and if not a lot, always 2. Not knowing we were poor, my kids just thought I was 3. I've always been glad about that.

    It was Christmas time, and although there wasn't 4 for a lot of gifts, we planned to celebrate with a family party. But the big 5 for the kids was the fun of Christmas 6.

    They planned weeks ahead of time, asking 7 what they wanted for Christmas. Fortunately, I had saved $120 for 8 to share by all five of us.

    The big9 arrived. I gave each kid a twenty-dollar bill and 10 them to look for gifts of about four dollars each. Then everyone scattered(散开). We had two hours to shop; then we would 11 back at the “Santa's Workshop”.

    Driving home, everyone was in high Christmas spirits(情绪), 12 my younger daughter, Ginger, who was unusually 13. She had only one small, flat(瘪的) bag with a few candies—fifty-cent candies! I was so angry, but I didn't say anything 14 we got home. I called her into my bedroom and closed the door, 15 to be angry again. This is what she told me.

    “I was looking 16 thinking of what to buy, and I 17 to read the little cards in the ‘Giving Trees.' One was for a little girl, four years old, and all she 18 for Christmas was a doll(玩具娃娃). So I took the card off the tree and 19 the doll for her. We have so much and she doesn't have anything.”

    I never felt so 20as I did that day.

    Life is a series of choices and we can't always foresee the consequences.

    Harry Saleen, an obese man with too much money and power, faced a(n)1 Outside his office waited his personal2, bringing him the important news about the3medicine that could save his life. On the other side of the world, one of his engineers waited for his decision on an important4of business.

    His secretary asked him5she could bring the doctor in. The billionaire businessman made his6 “No. let the fool wait,” answered Saleen, “business comes first.”7the health problem caused by his huge weight, he was still8about making money. He raised a9finger, and one of his staffs10to switch on a large television set.

    On the screen appeared his engineer. They talked by satellite directly to each other although they were thousands of miles11 “It's all ready to explode, Mr. Saleen”, he said, “Just one12” His engineer was standing above Pakan Valley in South America. A few months ago, it had been a rainforest. Then Saleen's men came, cutting down all the valuable trees and13the villagers to move out.14the valley, a dam had been built. This would provide power for the factories that Saleen planned to build in that area. The factories would bring him great15. He saw no reason to delay. He ordered the engineer to press the button. There, in the valley, a cloud of dust rose, followed by a dull explosion. A large river changed its16and water flooded into the valley.

    “Good, that's that. Now, get that doctor in here” he17

The doctor came in with a worried look and started to examine his18patient. “You are doing very well, Mr. Saleen. The only medicine is saving your life. But the difficulty is getting more of it.”

    “Can you get more? Money is no problem.” Saleen said. “Tell me what you need and we'll get it.”

    The medicine was made of a plant, which is19. There is only one place in the world where the plant grows.”

    “Where?” asked the businessman,20.

    The doctor smiled. “Well, luckily, the plant comes from one of the lands you own, sir. It comes from a place in South America, known as Pakan Valley.”

    One of the most inspiring quotes(名言) I ever heard was by Brian Tracy. He said: "The1between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people2many more times than unsuccessful people."

    I deeply understood the 3 of the quote soon after my fist book was published.

    I was living in Atlanta at the time and 4 my fist signing sale for my new book at the phoenix and Dragon, the largest bookstore in the city. Although a nice sign was placed outside the room 5images of both me and my book, The 9 Insights of the Wealthy Soul, not a single customer entered the room. 6each minute passed, I became increasingly7.

    At 6:25 pm, just before the store's8, I began to get myself ready to leave. At that moment, just when I couldn't fell any 9, a middle-aged couple walked into the room. I managed to 10 my emotions and introduced myself and my book.

    The couple turned the pages each other, and the husband 11 to his wife. She then told me," I think we'll get the book."

    Despite the impulse (冲动)to jump 12, and hold their hands to thank them for being my13readers, I realized the woman was trying to say something else.

    "The 14 we're buying it is that our son died two years ago," she said. "Maybe your book will help us 15 it."

    At that moment, I knew if never sold a copy of the book, my four years of  16 had been meaningless.

    Although I would have many more challenging years 17 my book became a bestseller, this couple's story was all the18I needed at that point to keep me 19.

    Thanks to them, I would realize that the greatest of lives are made all in the same way: One challenge ... one challenge ... one difficulty ... one step ... and one small20 at a time.

    When we finished eating, I quickly grabbed (抓住)the check and 1 to pay. Before I could get to the counter(结账处)a man 2 me over to his table, saying "I know you saw 3 at you and I'm sorry if it made you4. It's just because you look like my old classmate 40 years ago." Then he asked if we would be with them for a few minutes.5, Danielle and I sat down. We talked for about 10-15 minutes and then I 6 I had something 7 to do. As I stood up to leave, the man 8 across the table and took my 9 out of my hand. Before I could explain, he said "I would really like to 10 this meal for you." He continued," The only thing I ask 11 is that some day when you can help others, please pass on the 12."

    As I walked to my car 13 what just happened, Danielle started jumping up and down with 14 , saying, "Mama, now we can get a Christmas tree!" 15 , we bought a Christmas tree for $8.97, which I still have today. I never put an angel (天使)on the top because it has a 16 one! Although I never met that man again 17 the years, there's hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of his 18 .He was right. I have been able to pass it on. I became a speaker and passed on his 19 to as many people as I could reach.

    Whether he's divine (神圣的)or not doesn't 20. I still think of him as a guardian angel.

    Once there was a farmer in Africa named Hafiz who was happy and content.

    One day a(n)1 man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the 2 that goes along with them. The wise man said, "If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own3." With that said, he went away. That night the farmer couldn't 4. He was unhappy and he was 5.

    The next morning he sold off his farm, took care of his family and went 6diamonds. He looked all over Africa and couldn't find any. He looked all through Europe and couldn't find any. When he got to Spain, he was emotionally,7and financially broke. He got so8that he threw himself into Barcelona River and committed suicide.

    Back home, the person who had9his farm was watering the camels at a10that ran through the farm. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it11like a rainbow. He picked up the stone and12it in the living room.

    That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, "Is Hafiz13?" The new owner said, " No, why do you ask?" The wise man said, "Because that is a diamond. I recognize one14I see one." The man said, "No, that's just a stone I15from the stream. Come, I'll show you. There are many more." They went and picked some samples and sent them for16. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that the farm was indeed17with diamonds.

    When our18is right, we realize that we are all walking on acres and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under our feet. We don't have to go anywhere. All we need to do is19it. When people don't know how to recognize opportunity, they complain of20 when it knocks. The same opportunity never knocks twice. The next one may be better or worse, but it is never the same one.

In choosing a friend,one should be very careful.A true friend can help you study.You can have fun together and make each other happy.Sometimes you will meet fair-weather friends(不能共患难的朋友).{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But when you are down,they will run away.How do I know when I have found a true friend?I look for certain qualities(品质) of character.

Above all else,I look for understanding in a friend.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}He is not quick to judge.Instead,he tries to learn from others.He puts himself in the other person's place,and he tries to think of ways to be helpful.He is also a good listener.

At the same time,a true friend is honest.He does not look for faults in others.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}In short,a true friend will try to understand me and accept me.

Another quality of a true friend is reliability(可靠性).I can always depend on a true friend.If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time,I can be sure that he will be there.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}That is to say,if I am in trouble,he will not run away from me.

There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}We should enjoy our lives,and we would enjoy our friendship together.That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with.A true friend likes the same things I like.We share experience and learn from each other.

A.He notices their good points.

B.A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C.Don't make friends who are not careful.

D.If I need a favor,he will do his best to help me.

E.A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun.

F.They will be with you as long as you have money or luck.

G.A true friend tries to understand how another person is feeling.