I learned to do wood work when I was very young.

    I remember I made my first project—a small table when I was 9 years old. I was so 1 of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(an) 2. It was absolutely beautiful and it had taken me six weeks to3 it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a(an)4. She was the head mistress of our orphanage（孤儿院）, who was always kind but 5 with us.

    As the tables were not dry from the clear coating(清漆), our woodworking teacher told us to wait a few days before taking them to our dormitories. But I was just so 6and happy that I couldn't wait I dashed out like a 7, carrying my table, smiling from ear to ear.

    When I reached the dormitory I placed the little table beside my bed. I was 8 it when Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand 9 it, she noticed that it was still wet.

    “Were you 10 to bring this home?” she asked.

    “No, ma'am,” I 11 with my head down.

    She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I immediately opened the door to get it back. There was 12 stuck all over. I brushed and cried, but the dirt would not come off.

    I hid the table in my closet and never 13 it. However, a year later during a cleaning-up, it was discovered. Painfully, I had to give the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent, thinking that she would 14 it away.

    Thirty years later at a reunion, I 15 that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. We talked cheerfully for long. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her 16 to get something important. I followed her 17 into a dark corner. She picked something up. 18 she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.

    Mother Henderson kept the little table that I had given up for lost so long ago.

    Today, I look at that table with bittersweet memories but full of 19 to Mother Henderson, who kept the table for a young orphan who 20 it so much.

                                                         How an undergraduate raised her sister and mother alone

    For many undergraduates, finding a job or getting1education is a trouble at their age. However, a Henan girl faced more urgent and bigger issues when it came to job or further studies, because she had to help her family2before graduating from college.

    Liu Jiaojiao, 26, was born in a village of Luyi county in Zhoukou city, Central China's Henan province. After3in 2014, she chose to be a teacher in a middle school in her hometown, so she could4her paralyzed mother.

    Up to now,5the only bread-earner in the family, Liu has taken care of her mother who6from cerebral infarction(脑梗塞) for five years. She has remained7and strong to overcome the challenges of life,8complain about her fate.

    In 2010, after finishing the college entrance examination, Liu was told that her father was9with esophageal cancer(食道癌) six months ago. Then her father was dead about one year later.

    "My grandmother was over 70 years old, and my sister was still in high school at that time, which left my mother and me to10the family," Liu said.

    Hou Panzhi, 50, Liu's mother, has been suffering from mental illness for a long time. Liu said: "She could say something to encourage me at the beginning; I did not feel alone at that time."

    In order to11money, she spent less than 10 yuan ($1.5) every day. Besides doing some part-time jobs at the college, she also worked in other southern cities such as Guangzhou and Hangzhou in the summer and winter12.

    However, Huo's13got worse in 2012; she suffered with cerebral infarction and became paralyzed. Liu then rented a house for her mother to take care of her while going to school nearby.

    The teachers organized a donation and formed a volunteer team to help her. Liu also14a scholarship at school.

    "I told myself that I am not15, there are many people around me. I had a strong16to support my family," Liu said. However, it was hard. She added: The most 17time was when I was sick at school."

    Now, she works hard to strike a balance to take care of her mother and to teach students.

    "I would like to tell my mother what happened in my math class after school, I feel she could hear it sometimes," she said with a smile. "I also buy an electro-tricycle two month ago, taking my mother to go outside."

    She often18the photos with her mother on her WeChat, saying that wherever she is with her mom is home.

    "Life is much better than before, I have a job, and my sister has grown up, we have become stronger and most confident than before," she added.

    In July, Liu was nominated as a(an)19of the "National Moral Models" this year, which encourages and guides the young people to cherish the time with parents and have a sense of20.

    A young painter just completed his course from his teacher. The painter decided to check his own 1, so he put his best painting at a busy crossroad. And just down below a board read. “Gentlemen, I've painted this piece. Since I'm2 to painting, please put a cross (叉) wherever you see a 3 in my painting.”

    4 he came back in the evening to collect it, he was shocked. The whole painting was filled with 5. The young painter ran to his teacher's place and burst into tears. He 6 told his teacher about what had 7 and showed him the painting. This young painter cried. “I'm 8 and I could not become a painter at all. I fed like 9.”

    His teacher smiled and suggested, “I'll prove that you are a great 10.” The young painter couldn't believe it and said, “I've lost11 and I don't think I'm good enough. Don't 12 me.”

     “Do as I say without asking 13. Just paint the same painting once again and give it to me. It will work,” his teacher persuaded (劝服) him. The young painter finally 14 and two days later, he painted the same painting once again and 15 it to his teacher.

    “Come with me,” his teacher said. They reached the same street-crossing and put the same painting there. His teacher took out another 16 which read. “Gentlemen. I've painted this piece. Since I'm new to painting, there might be some disadvantages in my painting. I've put a box with 17 and brushes (画笔) just below. Please do me a favor. If you see a disadvantage, kindly pick up the brush and 18 it.” They both visited the place in the evening. The young painter was 19  to see there was not a single corection done!

    It is easy to criticize (批评), but difficult to help others 20 .

    When I began teaching in a university, I was invited to a workshop for new professors. I had 1a long time learning what to teach, but not learning how to 2 it. Somehow, my university seemed to hope a weekend spent with experienced professors would 3 for that. My colleagues presented well-crafted lectures about the tools they used. I enjoyed their 4, but do not remember a thing they said.

    At a coffee break during the lectures, finding myself 5, I turned to a mathematics professor standing nearby. I asked him what his favorite teaching 6 was. "A cup of coffee." he said, "I talk too much and too fast in the classroom. Students sometimes have trouble 7 me. So when I've said 8 that I want my students to think about, I would 9 and take a sip of coffee. It lets what I've just said sink in."

    When we were called to the next talk, he put down his cup and I 10 there was not a trace of coffee in it. "My doctor11 me to stop drinking coffee," he explained. "So I have always used a(n) 12 cup." I decided to try his 13 in my class.

    I took a cup of coffee with me to my next class. It helped. My pauses, as I 14 the coffee, not only gave my students 15 to think about what I had said, but gave me time to think about what I was going to say next. I began to use my 16 to look around the room to see how my students were reacting to what I had just said. When I saw their 17 wander, I tried to bring them back. When I saw them puzzled over some concept that I thought I had 18, I gave another example. My 19 became less organized and less brilliant, but my students seemed to 20 me better.

    I went with some colleagues from my office for a dinner in a very popular local restaurant. It was1business time and the restaurant was packed. We2found a table in a corner for three of us.

    As soon as we sat down, we heard a crash when a cleaning boy3the floor with all the plates he was carrying. There was4and no one was saying or doing anything.

    In a flash I remembered my5many years ago. Once, I6in the airport because I had rushed there on my own on an empty stomach. I was picked up and taken care of by two7. Now this was my chance to8it forward.

    I ran to the young man's side immediately, turned him on his back and screamed for someone to9a hot drink. Soon people started asking if I was a doctor. I said I was not,10I was skillful at blacking out(晕厥).

    The kid soon opened his eyes,11what had happened. I12him by saying it was OK and I had had a13experience. He had not eaten anything. I held the14drink to his mouth till he finished it and sat with him till he felt OK. By then the15had arrived. I asked her to give the kid something to eat. I offered to pay.

    The manager was kind enough to refuse the16and agreed to make sure the kid ate before he went home. By the time all this was17it was getting late for my colleagues. We hadn't 18 anything yet, so they decided to go home.

    I slowly walked home, not hungry any more, feeling19for the opportunity I pay forward the20I had received many years ago.

    When Mom pulled in the driveway, Grandpa Joe was weeding his garden. He stood up and 1 us with wide-open arms. In his muddy gloves and jeans, he looked2 like the well-dressed grandfather I remembered. The super professional bank president who loved numbers had retired(退休) and let his hair run3. I wasn't4 him to look so different.

    After the hugs and kisses, Grandpa couldn't5 to show off his garden, pointing out his almost-ripe tomatoes and 6 about the rabbits eating his lettuce. The man who had been 7 for ages with interest rates(利率) now cared only about gardening.

    Once Mom was gone for business, Grandpa8 me and said, "Now, Anthony, if I remember 9, you like pasta(意大利面) with pesto sauce." I eagerly nodded. "That's perfect!" Grandpa said. "We'll make some."

    We10 some vegetables from the garden, and then drove 15 miles to the nearest grocery, where Grandpa bought cheese and nuts. On the drive home Grandpa asked, "What's the11 of having a grandpa if he never makes you a big home-cooked meal?"

    Then Grandpa showed me how to 12 eggs with flour to make pasta and then how to prepare the sauce. When everything was ready, he proudly 13 me a large plate of pasta. I 14 a forkful into my mouth and it was just15.

    "So," Grandpa said, his eyes16, "what do you think?"

Before answering, I thought about our 17. The garden, the shopping, the 18 "I… I… love it, Grandpa!" I said.

    Then his face broke19 a smile so warm that I was sure I hadn't told him a20.