An 18-year-old student at Stanford University was struggling to pay his fees.Not knowing where to turn for money,he came up with a bright1.He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to2money for their education.

    They 3out to the great pianist Ignacy J.Paderewski.His manager4a guaranteed fee of $2,000 for the piano recital（独奏会).A deal was5and the boys began to work to make the concert a6.

    The big day arrived. But 7,they had not managed to sell enough tickets.The total8was only $ 1,600. Disappointed,they went to Paderewski and explained their plight (困境).They gave him the entire $ 1,600,plus a9for the balance $400.They promised to honour the cheque at the10possible.Paderewski tore up the cheque,11the $ 1,600 and told the two boys to keep the money they needed for the fees.The boys were12,and thanked him heartedly.

    It was a small act of13.But it clearly marked out Paderewski14a great human being.15should he help two people he did not even know?We all16situations like these in our lives.And17of us only think “If I help them,what will happen to me?”The truly18people think, “If I don't help them,what will happen to them?” They don't do it19something in return.They do it20they feel it's the right thing to do.

    Having said good-bye to his parents, Alvin, with his wife and one-year-old son, set off back home. Still1Alvin and Clare talked and laughed happily. And even little Alax2from time to time. The family were3their trip.

    But three hours later things began to 4. It was starting to snow. Alvin sped up the car,5to arrive home before dark. But it was too dangerous to drive fast now because it was snowing more and more heavily. So Alvin had to 6down. The snow on the 7was getting deeper and deeper until it was hard to 8on it. Their car slipped(滑落)off the highway and got caught in the deep snow and the engine refused to start again.

    “The snow doesn't seem to9. Shall we stay in the car waiting to be frozen(冻)to death or walk ahead 10the snow?”Alvin asked. Clare said she 11to walk. So they got out of the car with their Alex and began walking. But something 12was to come. Soon they lost their 13 and had to walk aimlessly(无目标的)on and on.

    Night came. They were not 14of the dark. But they feared that poor Alax would die of cold. However, their faith(坚信)to keep Alax 15filled them with courage, warmth and strength. They slept and rested in turn and then continued their 16. They had fallen down many times but each time true love encouraged them to rise to their 17again.

    One, two, three, …seven days passed. On the eighth day, 18 at last came from Alvin's parents, the police and local people. But the young 19had to have their feet cut off because of the bad frost-bites (冻伤). Fortunately, there was 20 seriously wrong with little Alax.

    My dad has been driving a truck for almost his entire life. He's usually1all the weekdays and comes home only at weekends. Sometimes he stays2for two weeks at a time.3I don't get to see him as often as I wish, we remain very4.

    My dad is the type of person who doesn't let you5up anything that you start. When I was eleven, my father bought me a piano. At first I was so6about it that I would spend hours and hours learning how to play. Then it got 7.I was so tired of it that I asked if I could stop. Much as I tried, he8me to go on. Now I have been playing for almost five years. I love it and I'm glad I9my dad's advice.

    My dad is10talented, for he has been playing the guitar for over 20 years. Under his influence, I also like11now. Sometimes my dad can be my biggest12.He makes me smile even when I lose in a talent show13sometimes he can be my biggest critic (批评家). He14ignore the small mistakes I make. He encourages me never to lose15because he thinks that all my efforts will16one day.

    My dad is generous. Every Thursday night, he17to read to the children at a children's club. When he reads, their18light up with curiosity about what will happen next. I feel19of having a person in my family who cares enough to volunteer to20.

    I love dad with all my heart. He's a hero in my heart and the most wonderful person in the world.

Lisa, who {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(graduate)from our school last June, is about 2. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(go)to college in New York. She came to share her suggestions for high school {#blank#}3{#/blank#} us. Lisa said Orientation Day was really {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(help)when she first started high school because it could help students to get to know the school and the other  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(student). Though Lisa was a member of the school volleyball team, she wasn't selected for the end-of-year {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(compete). At first, she was really sad, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}later she realized that she joined the team for the love of the sport. It wasn't just about winning. So she kept {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(work)hard to support her teammates during their training. Lisa {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(total)agreed with the wonderful words from the writer Maya Angelou-Be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud. So she suggested that we give our friends {#blank#}10{#/blank#}hand when they can make us feel needed it. And this good, too. 

{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(随着…的临近) Qingming, we students became restless as {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(已被宣布) that we would have a two-day break. On Qingming, it is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(一个古老的中国风俗) to pay a visit to the family graveyard in memory of ancestors. It is also a good opportunity for us students to escape from the boring life at school. We waited and waited until the bell rang, indicating the class was over. We rushed out of the classroom like caged birds, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(渴望) get home earlier.

Since my parents had attended the family memorial service two days before the Qingming Festival, we decided to make a short road trip to Cherry Valley instead. The valley is just a stone's throw from where we live. When springs comes, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(成群的人们) flock there, admiring cherry blossoms. My family is no exception. Every year, we drive there to {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(大饱眼福). After about half an hour, we made it to the entrance to the valley. Having arrived there, we found huge numbers of people had gathered. Wherever I went, I was drowned in {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(大量的) noise. No wonder tons of people rushed over to take a closer look at cherry blossoms, for the entry here is totally{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(免费的). But people had to wait for their turn. After what seemed like two hours, finally it was our turn. Once inside, we {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(受到问候) tweets of birds perching on cherry trees. It was like stepping into a fairyland with all those cherry blossoms{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(bloom) around us. At the sight of this, we couldn't wait to explore more together. The air was filled with sweet, intoxicating fragrance. Standing under the trees, I felt my skins {#blank#}11{#/blank#}(caress) gently by the falling pink petals. Birds were jumping here and there among cherry trees, {#blank#}12{#/blank#}(twitter) happily. Everyone was holding their phone, trying to capture the amazing view. Strolling with my family down the trails, I found myself in a totally different world. There was no worry, no trouble, and above all no pressure from study. It{#blank#}13{#/blank#}(一点也不令人吃惊) such a small place is packed with so many visitors every spring. The scenery is amazing and impressive. Cherry Valley is also a paradise for foodies in spring. Local restaurants have a lot {#blank#}14{#/blank#}(offer), which can suit different tastes. 

Places like Cherry Valley are ideal destinations for visitors in spring, for they make life truly special and relaxing. It {#blank#}15{#/blank#}(大自然很慷慨) to provide us with such magical and charming places in the world.

In high school I was very shy, content to hang around with my small group of friends and concentrate on my courses. I was quickly regarded as a "brain". I did so well that by the end of the senior year I had perfect grades and enough credits to give up an entire quarter of coursework.

But in early June of the senior year, the principal called me into his office. He asked me to give a speech at graduation. I gaped(目瞪口呆地凝视) at him, my heart thumping. This was the reward for my hard work? I mumbled something and fled the office, blaming myself for staying away from physics, a subject sure to have ruined my perfect record.

I finally agreed to a compromise. I would share the honour with five other students. And my friend Judy would then give her own, full-length speech.

The graduation day soon arrived. I'd been practising my speech for days, and I had it memorised. The first half hour of the ceremony passed in a blur, and then my moment came. My name was announced. I managed to reach the platform without falling down. I faced my classmates. My voice trembled a little, but mostly it was clear and strong. But within seconds, I was done and headed back to my seat. I accomplished something I'd never dreamed of—I spoke in front of hundreds of people.

Although I didn't realise it at the time, the successful completion of that speech gave me the confidence to participate in class at college, to give verbal reports, and to eventually break free from my shyness. I would never have chosen to give a speech at graduation ever. But I'm glad I did. I no longer hesitate when I'm faced with the prospect of doing something I dread. I know it may very well turn out to be one of my shining moments.