A little boy was visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot (弹弓) to play with out in the woods. He 1 in the woods, but he could never hit anything. Getting a little2, he headed back for dinner. As he was 3 back he saw Grandma's pet 4. Just out of impulse (冲动), he let the slingshot 5, hit the duck right in the head and killed it. He was shocked and 6.

    In a panic, he hid the7duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said 8.After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the 9." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he10to help in the kitchen." Then she11to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny washed the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Before they left, Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I12Sally to help me make supper," Sally just smiled and said, "Well, you needn't worry about it13Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went 14 and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of doing both his15and Sally's, he finally couldn't 16 it any longer. He came to Grandma and admitted that he had 17 the duck.

    Grandma squatted down(蹲下), gave him a 18 , and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the 19 thing, but because I love you. I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a 20 of you. If you make a mistake, just be brave to admit to it and promise not to make it again. In that way, everyone will forgive you."

The Fitting-in of Suzy Khan

    The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her. She was really small for her age of 12. The boys in my class often 1 about her and laughed their heads off. She would open a book, pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page.

    All I knew was that she was an orphan (孤儿) from Africa. She had just been adopted by a family in town who 2 that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with American kids. I looked down at this 3 girl and promised myself that somehow I would help her.

    But how could I help her 4 in with us? There had to be a 5 .

    One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had 6 her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a(n)  7 copy.

    I was surprised and thought that she could do something in the coming 8 show. So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had 9. “why, it's wonderful,” said Miss Parker, who then showed us a poster she had painted 10the talent show. “I need more of these, but I just don't have enough 11. Could you help me, Suzy?”

On the day of the talent show, Suzy's 12 were everywhere —- all over the hall and all over the school, each one different.

    “And finally,” said Mr Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, “we have a (n) 13 award. I'm sure you've all noticed the wonderful posters.” Everyone nodded. “One of our own students 14 them.”

    I could hear everyone whispering. “Who in our school could draw 15 well?”

Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, “16 this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a 17 , too. Our mystery(神秘) artist is our new student —- Suzy Khan!”

    Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artist's set. “Thank you,” she cried.

    I 18, at that time when I was looking at her excited face, she'd probably never 19 anything in her whole life.

    Everyone started to 20their hands. Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile and the applause was deafening. I knew then Suzy was going to be all right.

The sandwich man

    Michael rises every morning at 4:00, in good and bad weather, and walks into his sandwich shop. By 5:50, he's making the rounds of the shelters on Centre Streets. He 1 out 200 sandwiches to the homeless, before beginning his workday.

    It started 20 years ago when Michael came across a homeless man named John. He began to help him 2 effort then. Day after day, he brought John some food and, when it was really 3, a resting place in his car while he worked. Once he asked John if he wanted to get cleaned up. It was a(n) 4 offer, because Michael thought John would refuse. 5, John said, "Are you going to wash me?" Michael knew that he was looking at a 6 of his promise. It was at the moment that Michael 7 to help the homeless.

    Michael began his work. He received no sponsorship, saying, "I'm not getting media 8. I just want to do some good in my way. There are days when it's snowing, and I have a hard time leaving my warm bed and the 9 of my family to go downtown with sandwiches. But I've 10."

    Michael makes 200 sandwiches every day for the past 20 years. "I don't simply 11 the sandwiches on a table for the homeless to pick up. I shake their hands and 12 them a good day," says Michael. Once Mayor (市长) Koch came to make the rounds with him. They 13 the media, and it seemed like it was just the two of them. But of all Michael's 14, working side by side with the Mayor was not as important as working next to someone else…

    A man had 15 from the sandwich takers, and Michael thought about him from time to time. He hoped the man had moved on to a more 16 environment. One day, the man came back, greeting Michael and 17 sandwiches of his own to hand out. He said Michael's daily food, warm handshakes and wishes had given him the 18 he badly needed. After achieving some success, he decided to do the same thing as Michael.

    The moment needed no 19. The two men worked silently, side by side, handing out their sandwiches. It was another day on Centre Streets, but a day with just a little more 20.

    Confidence has nothing to do with your figure. I learned this recently.

    Every day I'd look in the mirror, hate what I see, and repeat the words1, "I am beautiful." Sometimes I'd even grit my teeth (咬紧牙关) to2the words out. But I3saying it, no matter what.

    It was at the4of my friend that I began this5. He said he wanted to be friends with me because of my6and gentle character. Besides, he also saw me as beautiful and it7him that I couldn't see it in myself.

    For a long time, I had8that my weight made me a second-rate person. Years of being fat and years of being9had caused me to build a cocoon (茧) around myself. I10thought that if I stayed quiet, maybe I would be safe. I put myself in layers of11, my heart breaking a little more with each wedding invitation. I12hoping for my true love, believing I wasn't good enough.

    It wasn't until I met him that I was determined to be happy on my own and things began to13. He pointed out my14personalities and excellent qualities and made me repeat them out loud. I laughed at first because it felt15, but I kept at it every day.

    Then one day, a(n)16thing happened. Staring into the mirror, I realized with a(n)17that I believed it! He wasn't18and it was true-I'm beautiful! The layers of my cocoon suddenly disappeared. And nowadays, I learn to love myself and keep19no matter what my dress size is. Indeed, confidence comes from20.

    I didn't grow up in a very loving family. In fact, there are few,1, happy memories I have of my childhood2my family members. My3moments were those spent with the few friends I was4to have. My family eventually alienated (排斥) all the neighbors.5, I didn't even have kids to play with and became quite serious just to hide my pain.

    There was another family in town that seemed6to mine. They had a lot of children too. I always wondered what it would be like7my family were more like them. They never knew it, but I watched them and8them. They were kind, genuine and close.

    9later I found myself back in the very same place, in that same small town I had10. This time I was in that town for my mother's funeral. My family gave each other the cold11, as always. I felt upset that neither time nor circumstances could make them act with12toward each other. As I approached the church for the funeral, memories came13back to me. I remembered the warm, kind smiles of that family.

    After the funeral service a meal was provided. When looking for seats with my husband. I heard a14voice I hadn't heard in decades call my name. I15and the father of that family I had admired was there. He was a church volunteer for my mother's funeral lunch. We chatted for a bit. I16my happy child a few meters away to him and it was at that point that I realized I was raising my boy in a way I had seen him bring17his own children so long ago. He wasn't18of it, but my son's life has been greatly19by him.

    So, live your life with love and kindness. You never know who's watching, who you will20and whose life you'll change.

I grew up hiking and climbing mountain s a lot. It was my dad who accompanied me and taught me how to hike and climb mountains. On our first hike, our group ran ahead without us. Dad and I ended up 1 the path toward the top. This was the 2 part of the climb, where we had to climb rocks. I was scared not to have the path to tell us where to go. Mainly, I was afraid that Dad would fall off the mountain when he went 3 to seek for the best way for me to climb up. I was grateful for his 4 . He always made me feel like I was safe with him — even when he insisted that we should not 5 .

When we were close to the top, we 6 some hikers. One of them crouched (蹲) down on a rock, grasping at branches of a bush. His face was 7 and looked frozen, like a statue. Dad asked what was going on. The man 8 told him that he was frightened of 9 . In my 7-year-old mind, I thought, "But, you're climbing a mountain!" Dad always helped people in trouble. He told the man to 10 him while he led him to a spot below that was 11 by trees, with no view of the valley below. Dad told him to wait there for his group of hikers to come back and 12 him up. Dad taught me sympathy and to help others in need whenever I can.

When we finally reached the top and 13 our group, we sat on the highest point, looking at the breathtaking scenery. I was so 14 we hadn't stopped halfway. Dad taught me, "Don't give up, especially when you're almost there." This has been a valuable 15 that has got me through some big challenges in my life.