A young man, while traveling through a desert, came across a spring of clear water. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}water was sweet. He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder {#blank#}2{#/blank#}had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, the young man{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (present) the water to the old man. His teacher took a deep drink, smiled{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (warm), and thanked his student very much for the sweet water. The young man went home {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a happy heart.

    After the student left, the teacher let {#blank#}6{#/blank#}student taste the water. He spat it out, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(say) it was awful. Apparently, it was no longer fresh because of the old leather container. He asked his teacher, "Sir, the water was awful. Why did you pretend to like{#blank#}8{#/blank#}?"

The teacher replied, “You tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and love. Nothing could be{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (sweet).”

    We understand this lesson best {#blank#}10{#/blank#}we receive gifts of love from children. Whether it is a cheap pipe or a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.

    Many of us wake up {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (feel) tired in the morning. Many of us ignore the problem as the day goes on, forgetting that it might have a dangerous effect. Society even glorifies “burning the candle at both ends” as a sign of our {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(devote) to work and family.

    Believe {#blank#}3{#/blank#} or not, all this bad sleep has far-reaching consequences. We do not give ourselves enough chances to sleep. A survey of over 74,000 people found that 35% reported sleeping less than seven hours daily {#blank#}4{#/blank#} average. Furthermore, the quantity of sleep we allow ourselves {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (change) greatly over the past 15 years.

    This lack of sleep can lead to many serious {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (problem). One study found that {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (simple) limiting yourself to six hours of sleep a night for two weeks made performance on a timed attention task as poor as if you {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (stay) up all the night before.

    If you intend to try extending your sleep period, consider giving yourself a chance {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(sleep) longer for a full week. Your body clock might be programmed in a way {#blank#}10{#/blank#} keeps you from falling asleep quickly, but it might let you sleep longer.

    Today I went to a conference, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} two students had a debate about the strengths and weaknesses of the Internet.

    The first speaker talked about the positive{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(affect) of the Internet on our lives. The first is its value for people who {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(look) for information now. For example, with the touch of a button or the click of a mouse, a student will find enough information at his or her command. The second is our ability {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (relate) to others through the Internet and it is especially important for disabled people {#blank#}5{#/blank#} can't leave their homes. The {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (two) speaker talked about the negative effects of the Internet {#blank#}7{#/blank#}our lives. For example, some experts think that the outcome of spending too much time on the Internet is difficulty in {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(form) social bonds. They were also quite explicit(明确的) about how heavy Internet users spend {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(much) time with their Internet friends than their real-life friends from school and work.

    Both sides presented lots of statistics to support their arguments. My own judgment is that though the Internet is beneficial, we should use our {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(intelligent) and not be a slave to it!

    I remember reading a statement by a psychiatrist who said that if you ever feel depressed, the best thing to do {#blank#}1{#/blank#} to do something for someone else. Why? Because it gets you focused outward, not{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. It's hard to be depressed{#blank#}3{#/blank#} serving someone else. Ironically, a by-product of helping others is feeling wonderful yourself.

    I remember sitting in an airport one day, waiting for my{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (fly). I was excited because I had been upgraded to a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} ticket. And in first class, the seats are {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (big), the food is edible, and the flight attendants are actually nice. In fact, I had the best seat on the entire plane. Seat 1A. Before boarding, I noticed a young lady who had several carry-on bags and was holding a crying {#blank#}7{#/blank#}. Having just finished{#blank#}8{#/blank#} a book on doing random acts of {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (kind), I heard my conscience (良心) {#blank#}10{#/blank#} to me, "You scumbag. Let her have your ticket." I fought these promptings for a while but eventually caved in.

    A father was worried about his son, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} was sixteen years old but had no courage at all. So his father determined {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (call) on a Buddhist monk to train his boy. The Buddhist monk said {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the boy's father, "You should leave your son alone here.

    I'll make him into a real man within three months. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, you can't come to see him during this period." Three months later, the boy's father returned. The Buddhist monk arranged a boxing match between the boy and an{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (experience) boxer. Each time the fighter {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (attack) the boy, he fell down, but at once the boy stood up; and each time the boy was knocked down, the boy stood up again. Several times later, the

    Buddhist monk asked, "{#blank#}7{#/blank#}do you think of your child?" "What a shame!" the boy's father said, "I never thought he would be so {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(easy) knocked down. I needn't have him left here {#blank#}9{#/blank#} longer."

    "I am sorry that is all you see. Don't you see that each time he falls down, he stands up again instead of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (cry)? That's the kind of courage you wanted him to have."