Being on the road at 3:15 a. m. to drive 450 kms wasn't in my plans for the weekend. I had been looking forward to a couple of 1days to prepare myself for the following busy2. My son, Simon, and his good friends were heading for the 3. Due to the last-minute issue(问题) with transportation, I 4 my car to make sure that everyone could get to the 5 point so that they could get together and enjoy their week's 6 by snowboarding and skiing.
The only thing that 7 to me on my journey was that no sooner had I 8 and said goodbye than I would make the trip 9 ， in total, a round trip of 900 kms in just 10 hours. Such a long drive in one day was frightening,10 as I was looking forward to relaxation Simon and I 11, on our way, about his break and a whole lot of his school subjects. It was great to have this time with him as we 12 spent five continuous hours together, other than when we played Saturday cricket (板球).
On my return trip, I 13 a strange sense of loneliness in some heavy morning 14. Within an hour it15. I spent the next four hours listening to some CDs and enjoying the scenery. Surprisingly, after my long trip home I was 16 refreshed and energized even though I was physically exhausted. And I knew that I would have a(n) 17 sleep that evening.
A change 18 your environment, no matter how great, can provide you with the opportunity to19 something from different angles（角度）, as well as to be refreshed and energized.
Now I'm looking forward to my next20 event and many more opportunities to spend quality time with those who are important to me and make my life more rewarding.
Two old beggars(乞丐)were sitting on a busy street corner of a big city. They watched1as a lot of people walked by without looking at them. Sometimes, a kind-hearted woman or a small child would2a few coins in the hats in front of them.
Today was not a3day for begging. The men were able to 4enough for a big meal. As it was getting dark, they started to5their things.
Just as they were getting ready to leave, they6a man walking towards them. He was a7man—they could tell that from his fine clothes. The first beggar said to the second with8, “He's coming our way!” The man stopped,9into his pocket and took something out. What looked like a piece of hard10, wrapped(包裹)in white paper, hit each of their waiting hats. The rich man turned and 11his way.
“He could have easily left us a few 12or a bill, but he laughed at us with a piece of rock candy,” said the first beggar. He looked at the offering 13 “We can't 14this at all—we have no teeth.” With these words, he picked up the thing and threw it away. Then he collected his things and 15.
The second beggar wanted to do the same, 16a second thought made him change his 17 “I haven't had anything like this for ages,” he thought. “How 18of that man to offer me something so sweet!” With that, he opened the white paper. To his 19 there was no rock candy inside.20, a shiny white pearl worth thousands of dollars fell into his hand.
Jim and his sister May walked in the street, and then they noticed a pet store. It was a very small pet store that didn't have many 1. The owner of the shop, Mr Smith, greeted Jim and May when they 2. May said, "We would like to buy a dog." "Ah, well, our shop is not very 3," Mr Smith told her. "So we only have two dogs to choose 4."
They asked Mr Smith to 5 them the dogs. Mr Smith took them to see the two dogs. One was a big Bulldog named Buster. The other was a tiny Chihuahua named Teacup. May wanted Teacup, 6 Jim wanted Buster. They walked outside to 7. They couldn't agree 8 a dog. May 9 they race home for it. The one who won the race could choose the dog.
Jim agreed, and then told May her shoelace was loose. When May 10. he ran off to get a head start. Jim ran as 11 as he could because he really wanted that Bulldog. When he looked back, he found May was so 12 behind that he couldn't even see her. Jim finally got home. He was 13 but happy. He knew he was the 14. May arrived a few minutes later. She congratulated him and they 15 the pet store together. However, when they arrived they 16 saw Teacup. They asked Mr Smith where Buster was.
Mr Smith gave them a(n) 17 that a few minutes after May and Jim left, two boys walked in and bought the Bulldog.
Jim looked at May, and she held 18 a smile. Jim 19 and turned back to Mr Smith. "Sometimes you win the 20, but not the prize!" Jim smiled sadly. "We'll take the Chihuahua, please."
Seven years ago, our daughter, Alle Shea, was born. All of our family were excited with the new arrival. After she was given to me by a nurse from the delivery room, I 1 her cautiously, wondering how 2 life was.
However, our joy 3 for just several seconds. We noticed that she was crying weakly and refused to 4. We went to have the doctor check on her health. After the 5 , the doctor told us our daughter was 6 with the rare bone disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta （成骨不全症）. At birth Alle Shea's skull looked like a(n) 7 egg on the x-rays.
Watching my daughter 8 was the greatest pain. After being terribly tortured （折磨）for a long time, my wife and I 9 take our five-week-old daughter off life support, by far the most 10 decision of our life. The day Alle was leaving us, we were able to take her outside on the hospital deck and hold her in our arms until she 11 .
We had two 12 that day: we could have let the sadness overtake us, or we could turn it into a 13 Since that day, my wife and I have worked 14 volunteering our time hosting special events, and talking to others about OI. We even 15 hospitals to join us - and this is the battle we are still 16 . Over the seven years, we have 17 thousands of hours. In February of 2015 we18.
OI Care for You program. Ever since, we have been sending stuffed animals to children with OI. Each present brings them a smile and 19 . Many OI families thank us for doing what we do and giving them another way to show 20 for a family member with OI.
When I was in middle school, my father went to my school and drove me home every Friday afternoon. On the way home, we usually talked and laughed. How happy we were!
One day, my 1 was driving me home as usual. But to my surprise, he didn't say a word 2 the way home. It seemed that he was not very well. "Are you sick Dad?" I asked him. "No, dear. Don't worry," he answered.
Later at home, I found my father smoking in the balcony(阳台). And I knew he had stopped 3 many years before. Something must be wrong with him. So I went to my mother and told her about my worries. My mother 4 me that my father had been out of work for several days, and he hadn't got a new 5 yet. Hearing this, I felt sorry and 6. Whenever I had 7 , my father always encouraged me. The next day, I made a card for my father. I wrote some words on it to 8 him. My father was moved to tears. He hugged me and said," Thank you, dear. Everything will be fine soon."
Our parents always take good care of us, 9 some of us never think about them. How selfish we are! As teenagers, we should not only care about ourselves, but also 10 our parents and other people
In 1957, Jane Goodall first met the famous anthropologist (人类学者) Dr Louis Leakey, who later played an important role in her life. With the 1 of gaining insight into humans' evolutionary (进化的) past, Dr Leakey 2 a pioneering long-term field study on 3 chimps. Even though Jane had no formal 4, her patience and determination to understand animals 5 him to choose her for the study. 6 it was unusual for a woman to work in the forest of Africa, going there 7 the fulfillment (实现) of her childhood dream. In the summer of 1960 she 8 in Tanzania(坦桑尼亚) on Lake Tanganyika's eastern shore. This marked the 9 of the longest continuous field study of animals in their 10 habitat (栖息地). Five years 11, she earned a doctor's degree at Cambridge University and then 12 to Tanzania to found the Gombe Stream Research Center. And in 1977, to provide on—going 13 for chimp research, Dr Goodall 14 The Jane Goodall Institute.
Today, she 15 most of her time traveling around the world, giving lectures on her 16 at Gombe and speaking to school groups about Roots && Shoots, her environmental education and humanitarian program for the 17.
"Chimps have given me so 18. The long hours spent with them in the 19 have enriched my life beyond measure. What I have learned from them has shaped my 20 of human behavior, of our place in nature."
My cousin is nine years old, a little bit fat and doesn't do really well at school. She is heavily 1, and thus has developed some resistance and 2 towards adults, who usually don't put high hopes in her.
Yesterday we went to an art 3 together. There were paintings from kids with disabilities. My little girl has a 4 eye, for the paintings she liked most were also the best of the show. She voluntarily helped to 5 the chairs and table for a sharing session, painted by herself alongside new friends while I attended the sharing, and also 6 helped me to get my bag from another room, 7 that doesn't happen often at home as she's usually 8 to her iPad.
In the afternoon, we went to buy books together. I bought a book written by a mom 9 her journey with her autistic (自闭的) son. On the bus back home, I briefly 10 the book to my cousin, and to my surprise she was 11 interested. She kept asking me to tell more stories about the boy in the book who 12 with small things in life. Even when the subject strayed (偏离) elsewhere, she 13 hearing more about this boy. This is the first time I've seen her so interested in a 14. Usually when she talks to me she describes events at school and at home without a 15 focus. I'm very 16 that the life of a 17 has found its way into this little girl's heart.
I'm very thankful for the 18 of books, for the beauty that my cousin revealed to me, and for the time we had together. I 19 that I can keep seeing clearly the wonderful things in her, so that whenever the not-so-kind world puts her 20, I can remind her how truly wonderful she has always been.
"I have recently completed my college degree." The project we were 1 to do in the last class was called "Smile". The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and record their 2.
Soon, my husband and I went out to a McDonald's for 3. We were standing in line, waiting to be 4, when everyone around us began to back away. 5 I turned around, I smelled a 6 "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two 7 homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, he was "smiling". His blue eyes were 8 of expectation as if in search of acceptance. The second man 9 awkward. I realized the second man was mentally challenged.
The young lady at the 10 asked him what they wanted. He said," coffee is all, Miss," because that was all they could 11. If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy 12. I realized that he just wanted to be 13. It was too cold outside.
Then I really felt it—the compulsion(冲动) was so great that I almost reached out and embraced the short man. I noticed all the customers in the restaurant were 14 at me, judging my every action. I smiled and 15 two more breakfast meals for the two men. The short man looked up at me in 16 with tears in his eyes.
I returned to the 17 on the last evening of class with this story. I turned in "my project" and the teacher read it. Then she said," Can I 18 this?"
I nodded. She began to read 19 while every student listened attentively.
In my own way I 20 the people at McDonald's, my teacher, and every student in the classroom. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
My mother once said her aim in life was to be capable of satisfying her desire to leave a personal legacy(遗产)in this world. Whatever was thrown to her life, she never 1. Her strength, her determination, her belief and values were her strongest qualities and she 2them with everything she did. She left us with many 3to share, whether they brought us bitter tears or delighted laughter.
My mother's skills to make 4were endless. She showed great potential as an enterpriser(企业家) and a leader of vision. My mother dreamed of one day owning her own company but she 5believed in stability and worked the 69 am-5 pm job being a dental hygienist(牙科保健员)and eventually 7in the Health Insurance Industry 8her retirement. In daily life, she had amazing leadership skills and forward-looking ideas that made us 9that anything is possible if you have a dream.
My mother's greatest accomplishment, besides 10her two daughters, was 11being able to receive her four-year degree in Science and Management. That accomplishment took many years to complete but her 12never faltered(变弱).She was truly a(n)13. Several years after receiving the degree, he became an author, another important 14made by her. Her first book called Red River Rising was published in 2002 and 15in 2006 a book called Reality in Rachel was published. My mother's 16to express her words, through her books and poetry,17many of us. She always seemed to know exactly what to 18with her touching words. It's a 19that she isn't here to write her story today but I pray I can 20her through my words.
When I was a little girl, there was the magic of Mercurochrome (红药水). It was good for cuts, scratches (抓痕), or other1. My brother and I tested and2the powers of Mercurochrome many years ago.
It was summer and hot. Mama was not feeling well and had become3tired. She told us that she was going to4on her bed. Only a few minutes had passed when Ronnie5a scratch on his knee that needed immediate6. We tiptoed(踮脚走) into Mama's room and asked her if we could put Mercurochrome on Ronnie's scratch.7on her back, Mama had fallen into a deep sleep and made no answer.
We stole into the bathroom, took the Mercurochrome and8Ronnie's knee. Undoubtedly, he immediately began to feel better.9, we tiptoed into Mama's room to show her that we had taken care of our scratches without10her. But she was in sound sleep. Then we whispered that11Mama didn't feel well, perhaps Mercurochrome would make her feel12.
Twenty minutes13, we painted every scratch and every freckle(雀斑)of Mama's skin. She had Mercurochrome14her legs, arms and face. At Ronnie's encouraging, we15tried to paint her fingernails and toenails.
When Mama screamed in16 ， we knew that she was awake. With all the17, it didn't seem at first that she was feeling better,18she burst into laughter as she stared at her image in the mirror.
We laughed a lot the next few days. If anyone had asked us, we would have19that Mama had been cured by the20of Mercurochrome.
Last year I came across a polar bear face to face. That day, we travelled for six hours there to watch the largest land predator in the world-the polar bear.
The bus suddenly came to a 1 and the engine wouldn't start. Then in the distance appeared a polar bear. 2 by nature, it was walking towards us. My pulse quickened. I could hear my heart 3 in my ears.
He came closer and his long nose moved back and forth, checking out the 4 on the bus door. He walked around the bus, then, without 5, jumped up suddenly on his legs and put his front feet 6 the bus, his sharp paws 7 on the white metal door repeatedly. With his head only four feet from the open windows, he looked up at the faces which stared 8 at him.
To get a good position to take a 9, I climbed up the outside metal balcony (平台) on the bus. The bear had moved towards my end of the bus, but his 10 was under the balcony, leaving most of its back part outside.
Suddenly, I heard a loud noise from under my feet. I looked down. In a hurry, I had not 11 the floor of the balcony was a see-through metal grid (网). The polar bear was 12me. His wet nose almost touched my feet. He looked up at me with his brown eyes, 13 he wanted to say something.14, I was aware the fact that I was in this bear's territory.
I waited in the freezing Arctic wind, watching him walk away slowly. Just before disappearing behind the snowdrift, he 15 and looked back at me for one final goodbye. And then I got a perfect photograph.
Mark Twain was a famous American writer. He wrote many stories and many of them were 1 stories. These stories are still read by many people all over the world. 2writing, he also liked hunting and fishing very much, so one year he went to 3 for a holiday and spent three very pleasant weeks in the 4 there.
When he had to go back home, he drove to the station with his 5. There he asked a porter to put it into the train. Then he got into the smoking car and 6 in one of the comfortable seats there. The car was 7 when he got in, but a few minutes later, 8 man got in and sat down on the seat opposite his. Mark Twain looked at the man and thought that this man looked quite 9. However, it would be 10 to say nothing in that situation, 11 he said good morning to the man, and they began to talk.
First they talked about the 12 and then they talked about Maine. The stranger said, "We have some beautiful woods in Maine. It would be a 13 to come to Maine without spending some time there. I suppose you have been in our woods, haven't you?" "Yes, I have." answered Mark Twain. "I've just 14 three weeks there and I had a very good time, too. And let me tell you something. 15 fishing isn't allowed in Maine at this season, I've got two hundred pounds of beautiful fish with my baggage in this train. I like to eat fish, so I packed it in ice to 16 it home with me. May I ask who you are, sir?"
The stranger looked at Mark Twain for several 17 and then answered, "I'm a 18. My job is to catch people who hunt and fish during the wrong seasons. And who are you?"
Mark Twain was surprised and 19 when he heard this. He thought quickly and then answered, "Well, I'll tell you, sir. I'm the man who tells the biggest 20 in America."
The 92-year-old, thin, calm and proud lady, moved to a nursing home today. She is fully1each morning by eight o'clock,2 she is nearly blind. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move 3.
After many hours of waiting4in the hall of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her5 was ready. As she walked slowly to the elevator, I provided a true 6of her tiny room, 7 the old sheets that had been hung on her window. "I love it," she stated with the 8of an eight-year-old having just been9 with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room …. just10 ."
"That doesn't matter," she replied. "Happiness is 11 you decide ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the 12 is arranged, it's how I arranged my mind. I have already13to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I 14 up. Each day is a gift, and 15my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy 16I've stored away."
She went on to explain, "Old age is like a bank 17. You take what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to put in a lot of 18 in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in 19 my memory bank." And with a smile, she said: "Remember the following simple20to be happy: Free your heart from hatred, free your mind from worries. Live simply, give more, and expect less.
Sima Adhya describes how her science teacher inspired her to become a space-mission scientist.
As a child, I was1 by the moon and the stars and dreamed about travelling into 2. At school I found I really liked the fact that there were laws governing the universe that could be used to explain and predict things. I also had a biology teacher who really 3 me.
Then I began to realise that science and maths were the most interesting and rewarding subjects and decided to pursue these at university. I chose a4 that offered a broad science background. I had the 5 of examining fossils in geology, making bouncy balls in chemistry and studying mechanics in 6!
After I got my degree I decided to travel, so I set off with a backpack and 7 time in Australia working and learning to sky dive. Towards the end of my travels I felt a pull back towards science and to my childhood fascination with space. I eventually 8 to England and went to University College London. This 9 to my current job as a space-mission scientist.
My studies of the modeling of spacecraft surface forces 10 several visits to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that is part of NASA. This was an amazing 11. My job at the moment involves working on a spacecraft that will be going to Mercury and I am very 12 about it! Really I want to be an astronaut. 13 that, I would love to work as a scientist for NASA.
Often scientists are 14 of as uncool, unattractive, unfashionable, and old, but this isn't true! Careers in science and engineering 15 us so many amazing and exciting opportunities, such as travel and good working conditions. You can also make a real difference.
When I was in second grade, my single greatest fantasy was to fly like a bird. As I grew older, I 1 flying off as part of my childhood imagination, being 2 beyond possibility. But two days after my eighteenth birthday, my childhood fantasy should become a 3.
Once the engines came to 4, I knew there was no 5. In 20 minutes I would be 6 out of this airplane. As I looked out of the window, I could see my brothers videotaping the plane as it 7, and now they were only 8 figures standing next to the runway. Looking across at my jump mate, 9 he had successfully completed over 2,400 jumps, I could see from the look in his eyes that he was still 10. I realized that I was too.
As the door 11, the wind screamed past my ears. Generally, I do not 12 out loud when I am frightened, but as my feet fell from the plane, my mind was experiencing 1, 000 13 per second. After a few seconds, I found myself 14, "Why did I do this?" The only responses that came to my mind were more questions. Did I jump because of the endless lure(吸引) of the sky? Was it to test my 15? Was it to seek a new adventure? 16 through the sky at 165 miles per hour, I did not find my answer.
Finally, I17with a thump (砰然声) as my family ran to greet me. As I 18 the field and drew in my first breath, I knew that having my feet on the ground again would take on a new meaning. Since entering high school, I have felt the need to 19 myself and to constantly push my limits. In this respect, skydiving(特技跳伞) has 20 another door for me to explore and I will continue to leap at the chance to face a challenge.
I became a magician by accident. When I was nine I learned how to make a coin 1. At first the magic wasn't any good; it was just a bad2 I spent hours each day 3 in the bathroom, running through the secret 4 in front of the mirror
One day I made the coin disappear on the playground. What a miracle(奇迹)! Dozens of people were 5. I showed the coin to everyone. Then it disappeared. The kids 6 and laughed. It was great. Everyone went 7.
The teacher on duty crossed the playground to 8 more about it. Mrs. Tanner was a(n) 9 woman who controlled her class with an appetite(欲望)for 10 students She marched toward me and 11 to know what was going on.
The coin disappeared for her too. "Do it again," she said angrily, and I did. My hands were 12, but when I looked up, everything had 13. I would remember the look on her face — the look of wide-eyed, open-mouthed 14.
I kept seeing my teacher's face — the strict look 15 into great wonder and joy 16. The kids' too. They had been 17 immediately from an indifferent(冷漠的)pack of creatures into real people. When the 18 of worry or pain had gone, the faces that shone without it were 19.
Magicians get to see people at their very best, and in this transformation we can see what can only be described as real, actual 20.
While I was waiting to enter university, I saw in a newspaper a teaching job1at a school about ten miles from where I lived. Being very short of money and wanting to do something2I applied (申请). And then, I began to fear that without a degree and with no3of teaching my chances of getting the job were4.
However, three days later, a letter arrived, calling me to Croydon for a meeting with the headmaster. It proved to be a5journey: a train to Croydon station, a ten-minute bus ride and then a walk of at6a quarter of a mile. As a result I arrived there, feeling too hot to be nervous. It was clearly the7himself that opened the door. He was short and round.
“The school,” he said, “is made up of one8of twenty-four boys between seven and thirteen.” I should have to teach all the subjects except art,9he taught himself. I should have to divide the class into three groups and teach them in turn at three different places, and I was10at the thought of teaching maths—a subject at which I wasn't very11at school. Worse perhaps was the idea of12to teach them on Saturday afternoon because most of my friends would be13themselves at that time.
Before I had time to ask about my salary, he got up to his14. “Now” he said, you'd better meet my wife. She is the one who really15this school.
The morning was cool for a hike. I headed for the Appalachian Trail with my dog, Gracie.
The first mile was1, just like climbing 50 steep flights of stairs. Then the road became2as it ran along a farmer's field.
On the way down we passed a young couple out of3, who carried camping gear（装备）on their way up. I nodded, "You only have about half a mile to go." A second later the woman4
"Hey, "she said." Are you that guy?"
I5. "What guy?" I said. I had never been6, as a writer for a magazine, so this was a7"I saw your8. Last night we set up our tent in the9on East Mountain. Someone left some magazines in the shelter and we read them inside our tent. It rained but we enjoyed some10, "the woman said.
"Was there one you11liked?" I asked.
"Yes," said the woman. "The one by Michelle Williams about her depression(抑郁症). My sister has depression. I12that(issue to give it to my sister. It may13her. "
I know some people like14their issues. If you're not one of them, why not leave your magazine behind when you travel? Maybe whoever picks it up, might15one story and share it with others.
Have you ever thought about making a huge fortune from the things around you during your whole childhood? Actually, Zhang Yue is a person whose business became1in that way.
The place where her success happens is her2, where Zhang grew roses to start her business. Surrounded by roses as she was growing up, she just looked on them as3things. It was only after graduating from university overseas and4to visit her parents that Zhang realized the5of her business — the conditions there are ideal to plant roses. Zhang therefore decided to stay in her hometown and grow roses, which6many people at the beginning.
As someone who grew up in the country, Zhang already knew7about growing plants.8, she had to overcome a number of obstacles in nursing her business to the success. The biggest9at the initial stage was that few villagers in the village believed she could10a multi-million yuan business from11. Her career didn't take a turning point until a major Asian manufacturer of cosmetics (化妆品)12purchase her product and help with its 13to the whole world. It was only then that the locals began to14her. Now her product is one of the best in Asia.
Like Zhang, an increasing number of young people are thinking of starting their own business. Seeing her peers who also dream of success and15, Zhang says, "To succeed in business, you need16a good idea, hard work and determination. What really17is a sound business plan, plenty of capital (资本) to18equipment, good management and promoting skills." She19, "Most of all, you should be20enough and consult the experienced business people."
In 1973, I was teaching elementary school. Each day, 27 kids1"The Thinking Laboratory". That was the2students voted for after deciding that "Room 104" was too3.
Freddy was an average4, but not an average person. He had the rare balance of fun and compassion(同情). He would5the loudest over fun and be the saddest over anyone's6.
Before the school year7, I gave the kids a special8, T-shirts with the words "Verbs(动词) Are Your9" on them. I had advised the kids that while verbs may seem dull, most of the10 things they do throughout their lives will be verbs.
Through the years, I'd run into former students who would provide11on old classmates. I learned that Freddy did several jobs after his12from high school and remained the same13person I met forty years before. Once, while working overnight at a store, he let a homeless man14in his truck. Another time, he15a friend money to buy a house.
Just last year, I was16a workshop when someone knocked at the classroom door. A woman17the interruption and handed me an envelope. I stopped teaching and18it up. Inside were the "Verbs" shirt and a19from Freddy's mother. "Freddy passed away on Thanksgiving. He wanted you to have this. "
I told the story to the class. As sad as it was, I couldn't help smiling. Although Freddy was taken from us, we all20something from Freddy.
