I grew up in a small town in South Canada. Every autumn, there was a week—long fair in the town. Thousands of people from other towns came to sell and buy things. It was the most exciting time of the year.

    When “Fairtime” came, my grandma became the busiest person of the family. Grandma was a kind, well—educated old lady. She was good at cooking. During “Fairtime”, relatives would come to live in her house and have meals there. Grandma was always happy to look after them.

    Year after year, many people moved to big cities. There was no longer “Fairtime”. Grandma became very old and was going a little blind. My parents and I did our best to make her life as comfortable as possible. I was at high school then. What I often did at home was to help Grandma with the daily newspaper's crossword puzzle. However, she didn't look happy. She often sat in her room for hours, without saying a word.

    To attract people to move back, the Town Hall decided to reopen the Fair. One day, when I came back from school, I saw Grandma wearing her glasses, washing the dishes in the kitchen. With a big smile on her face, she looked excited and a lot much younger. She told me that her two of her cousins would come. "They said they missed hometown and wanted to enjoy my food again."  Grandma said happily. "They will stay here for one week and we can have a big party. That must be the busiest week I've had in years!”

    I suddenly realized that Grandma didn't want to be looked after. She wanted to be “useful”, appreciated and helpful.

    Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, died on Decembr5, 2013 at 95.

    Mandela was born on July 18, 1918. He grew up in a poor village in South Africa. At school, Mandela learned about African history and the fight against racism(种族歧视).He wanted to help his countrymen. Later Mandela studied law at a university. He also joined a group that fought against apartheid(种族隔离).At that time, in South Africa, blacks were not allowed to use the same public toilets or chairs as whites, and they couldn't travel on the same buses as whites, either. Mandela hated this and he traveled all over South Africa and fought to end apartheid. As a result, he was put into prison(监狱) and stayed about 27 years there.

    On February 10, 1990, South African President F.W. de Klerk released(释放)Mandela from prison, and the two worked together to end apartheid. Three years later, they won the Nobel Peace Prize,

    In1994, Mandela became President of South Africa. One year later, he created the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, a charity that helps poor South African children." Children are the future of our country," he said in an interview in2002. "They must be given love."

    Mandela served as President until 1999. He worked to improve housing and education for the country's large black population.

    Megan and Mia are sisters. They are the same age, have the same last name, and live in the same house. You might think the sisters are twins, but they aren't. They started their lives in very different places.

    Before Mia was born, her parents decided to adopt(收获)a little girl from China. Their plan was to adopt a girl: she would be an age in between their son, Michael, and the new baby. But that's not how it worked out. Mia was born, and soon. Their parents learned they could go to China to adopt Megan She was three months younger than baby Mia.

    The girls are in the same grade, but not in the same class. They don't share clothes or toys or even hobbies. But they share some of the same friends. And when the sisters fight, it's usually about friends. "Sometimes one of us thinks that the other is stealing(偷)friends, so we fight," Megan says.

    The girls have their own rooms. "If I have a bad dream or see a scary（恐怖的）movie, Mia will let me sleep in her room, "Megan says. "We can give each other help and advice," Mia says." And we keep each other's secrets."

    Megan says she is so thankful for her family, but sometimes she feels sad. "I feel sad when people say, "You don't look like them!" she says. "Maybe you can't see it right away, but it's so clear that Mia and I are sisters. We'll always be there for each other."

    Do you want to be a TV news reporter? People often ask me 1 I love my job. Well, it's very2. I'm the first to know about important news stories. I3around the world and I talk to people. I find out what is happening4different places. I talk to some important and famous people. I've talked to people in the government, 5 famous sportsmen and sportswoman and film stars. I ask people to tell me about6lives. I want to know how they feel.

    A lot of people want to work in TV news, so you have to be energetic and creative. You have to show that you can do it. You must learn how to use a video camera,7 reports, and speak to the camera. What's the best way to learn? Your school or college TV station is a good place to start, but you have to get a job!

    Most people8with an unpaid job, so they can learn. The best place to learn is at a small station. There aren't many people, and as a result, you get more9. I had an unpaid job at a small station, and one night, when10was ill, I read the news on air. I did well, and as a result, I got my first paid job!

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My family is my heart and soul(灵魂). They make me happy; they make me whole. They are the ones who know me best and love me more than all the rest.

My family is my shining star. They guide me through both near and far. They are the ones who lift me high and help me reach for the sky.

My family is my rock and stay. They never let me lose my way. They are the ones who hold me near and wipe away (抹去) my every tear.

My family is my pride and joy. They are my treasure and my little toy. They are the ones who make me smile and make life worthwhile(值得的).

by Joanna Fuchs

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Our home is where our hearts belong and where love and warmth are ever strong. It's where we learn to laugh and play and where we find our strength (力量)each day.

Our home is where we find our rest and where we feel we are truly blessed (祝福的). It's where we learn to love and care and where we find the strength to share.

Our home is where the memories lie and where the soul can always fly. It's where we find our hopes and dreams and where we learn to spread our wings.

Our home is where our hearts can sing and where we find our everything. It's where we learn to love and be loved and where we find the strength to rise above.

by Kelly Roper

My father is a cook. He makes delicious food for the workers in 1 factory. The workers love him very much. I also love him, but sometimes he can 2 "stupid". 

One day, I went 3 with him. When we got home, he counted how much money we still had. Suddenly, he told me something was wrong. We got 50 yuan more than we 4 . "That's great! You can buy me the cartoon book," I said. My father said nothing but asked me 5 back to the shop together. I didn't want to follow because no one knew 6 . "It's stupid to go back," I said. 

"It will not be stupid! Being honest （诚实的） is more important than anything!" My father shouted 7 me angrily. I looked into his eyes and 8 he was right. 

When we gave back the money, the salesgirl thanked us a lot. On our way home, 9 father stopped me and asked, "Do you still want that cartoon book? Let's go for it!" I looked at my "stupid" father and answered loudly, "Dad, you're the 10 !"