During the summer vacation, I took part in     1     16th Natural English Contest (竞赛), in which I was listed in the top 10 and     2     (gain) valuable experience.

I never expected     3     (go) that far. And I had never thought about standing that high on the stage.     4     at that moment, I set out for the long ride. All I had to do was try.

Preparing for the contest, practicing a 3-minute speech, and overcoming stage fright (怯场), I spared no effort to take part in the competition.

One of my     5     (teammate), my good friend in my school, gave me lots of encouragement and advice during the contest. Her ideas were new and powerful and she stayed quite calm when she was fighting against her     6     (compete). She was like my coach,     7     showed me how to search for related materials online and how to express my own view     8     (logical).

Thanks     9     the contest and the help of my friend, I now feel relaxed on stage and confident when     10     (talk).

Throughout history, there are many successful people in the world,     1     Newton who made great     2    (achieve) in Physics, and Darwin who devoted all his life to biology. And I want to follow in     3    (they) footsteps and become successful. How can I realize my dream?

First of all, there is no doubt that I must study hard from now on. The harder I study, the greater progress I will make and     4    (close) I will get to success. Secondly, I must be a helpful person,     5    (try) my best to help others out and earning their respect. For me, helping others is a satisfactory thing and I will not hesitate     6    (give) others a hand     7     they are in trouble. Eventually, I should make good use of my time, and finish my work on time. Actually, being     8    (punctuality) is a quality that great minds need.

Everybody has a dream, and so     9     I. I dream to be successful. Whether it is difficult to come true or not, I will do everything I can to make it, because I have     10     but a heart of being successful.

Getting around the city when you are six months pregnant and have a two-year old girl can be really     1     (challenge). One spring afternoon, we went to one of the grocery     2     (store) nearby to buy some food. There was no sign of rain and the store was just around the corner, so we went there     3     an umbrella. However, when we were about to leave the store, the rain came in full force and the streets     4     (cover) with water within minutes

I notice a young Chinese couple staring at     5     (we) when we came to a crossroad and were waiting for the light to change     6     (patient). I figured they were probably wondering     7     a pregnant foreigner was dragging a little kid out through the rain. But as we crossed the street, the woman offered me her umbrella. I declined, but she handed it to me and hurried off with her husband.

Though     8     (catch) in the rain and unexpectedly, we still treasure     9     memory and will remember the month and     10     (kind) of the Chinese couple forever.

I had to visit my sister in another town because her husband     1    (be) very ill. My children stayed back in     2    (they) father’s care, except for the youngest. I was nervous taking a train journey alone with my one-year-old daughter. However, I gathered all my courage and boarded the train.

It was     3    (surprise) that there were only three other passengers in that carriage, two old ladies and a young man. My daughter was crying, missing her dad. I tried to comfort her,     4    her crying wouldn’t stop.

Just then the young man offered     5    (take) my baby into his arms. He stood with her near the window and started talking to her in a soft voice. My daughter stopped crying     6    (slow). I was both surprised and relieved.     7    stranger handed my daughter back once she was asleep. During the long train journey this young man continuously helped me. He fed my baby, sang to her and told her countless     8    (story). I was grateful for this man     9    had come to my rescue.

After so many years, I still remember this stranger on the train with a     10    (thank) heart.