Today is June 4th it's 1 fine day. It is Betty's birthday. She comes 2 and sees a new red box on her bed. She opens 3. There is nothing but a piece of paper 4 it! Betty takes it out and 5: “Dear Betty. I'm your present(礼物). Come and 6 me in the front room.” Betty runs 7 front room. She finds her parents there. They look at her happily. She looks round and sees her present — a nice 8 bike. “Happy birthday. Betty.” Her parents both 9. Betty is very happy and says: “10 very much.”

     I had a wonderful time with my exchangeprogram(交流活动中心) in France. It's much 1 than I thought. I felt a little nervous before I reached France, but there wasn't any reason to be so. My host 2 is really nice.

     They managed various ways to make me 3 at home. Every day I 4 practicing 5 French, I wouldn't believe how 6 progress I 7 in French! Although I still make some mistakes, I can think something in French without

8 everything into Chinese like I used to. My biggest challenge is learning how to behave at dinner table. All the things are really different 9 the way they are at home. You are not supposed to eat anything with your hands except bread. Another thing is that 10 is very rude to say "I'm full now." you should say "It is delicious." instead.

     As the train was moving across a wilderness(荒野), the passengers looked out of the windows quietly. When the train reached a bend(转弯处),it1    and a simple house appeared. It was so easy to notice that everybody on the train turned to "enjoy" with eyes wide open. Some passengers began a discussion about it. The young man was also   2   by the scenery. On his return he 3   the train at the nearest station and found his way to the house. Its owner said that he was troubled by the  4  of the train. He wanted to sell the house,but nobody would buy it.

    Soon the young man spent 30,000 dollars on the  5  . He thought it was a good place for  6   because it was facing the railway bend. When the train moved slowly past, the  7   passengers would be very interested in the house.

    He tried to connect with some big companies and told them that could be used for advertisements.   8  the Coca-Cola Company took it to put up their signs. To everyone's surprise, the young man was   9  180,000dollars for a three-year rent.

    This is a true story. It tells us that discovery is very important to  10

    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.

    I was invited to attend a presentation at the Kentucky School. That evening I found gratitude had amazing 1 to change our attitude and our life.

    The young musician Mr. Patrick was rolled onto the stage in his wheelchair and began to play the piano. His fingers danced across the keys as he 2 beautiful music. He then began to sing as he played, and it was wonderful. But what shocked me most was his magic smile.

    Patrick was born with no eyes and an illness in the legs, which3 him lame for life. However, as a child, he was 4 with artificial eyes and placed in a wheelchair. Before his first note, he discovered the piano. When his mom hit any note on the piano, and within one or two 5, he'd get it. By his second birthday, he was playing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". His father was overjoyed. "We might not play baseball, but we can play music together."

    When Patrick was at the University of Louisville, his father 6 classes with him. He was also a part of the 214-member marching band! He was a blind, wheelchair-bound trumpet player; and he and his father did it together. His father 7the night shift（夜班）in order to accompany his daytime band practice. Patrick says, "My dad's my hero."

    But even more than his unbelievable musical talent, it was Patrick's "attitude of gratitude" that touch my soul. On stage, between songs, he talked to the audience about his life and about how 8 he was with a great father. When his performance was over, Patrick and his father were on the stage together. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered for over five minutes.

    We all face misfortune in our lives.9 ， it's not the hardship but how we react to it that will determine the joy and happiness in our lives. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling10 for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude, learn how to dance in the rain?

    I try to be a good father. Give my kids love. Work nights to pay for their schooling. But1with Michael Hoyt, I am nothing.

    This love2began in Winchester, 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled (勒住) by the umbilical cord (脐带) during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to3his limbs (四肢).

    "He'll be a vegetable the4of his life," Doctors told Michael and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old.

    But the Hoyts weren't5it. Because they noticed that Rick's

6followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. But doctors told the parents that there was7going on in their son's brain.

    "Tell him a joke," Michael said to the doctors. They did and Rick8. Actually a lot was going on in his brain.

    Equipped(装备) with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor (光标)9the side of his head, Rick was10able to communicate. What is his first word? "Run!" And after a high school classmate was paralyzed (瘫痪) in a(n)11and the school organized a charity run (慈善跑) for him, Rick typed, "Dad, I want to do that."

    Yeah, right. How was Michael, a man who never ran more than a mile12going to push his son five miles?13he tried. Surprisingly, that day changed Rick's life. "Dad," he typed, "when we were running, it felt like I wasn't14anymore!"

    And that sentence also changed Michael 's life. He wanted to give Rick that feeling as15as he could. Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times in triathlon (铁人三项).

    "No question about it," Rick types. "My dad is the Strongest Dad in the World."