【推荐1】I grew up in a small town in Ohio, where everyone knew a man called Tom. Uneducated, he couldn’t talk plainly. And because he was good-natured and not very smart, everyone teased him. I _________ he was an easy mark.

One day, he came walking by. I was about 12 and thought it would make me feel grown-up to _________ him like the adults did.

He asked how I was doing. I told him my father was _________, and that we lacked money. I could hear my friends laughing in the background so I went on with the lie. I had him _________ so completely that every time he inquired about the _________, I would make it seem increasingly worrying.

I knew he made a living by doing odd jobs (打零工), so it seemed _________when he asked me if we needed anything. I told him that we didn’t know if we would _________. He responded, “You poor thing. I will _________ for you.”

That night I heard the _________ rattle (作响) softly. Thinking it was the wind beating against it, I __________ it. Later when I opened the door to go outside, I found g box of groceries. I knew who had given the food. I ____________the small box of canned food with tears in my eyes. I felt __________ and wanted to return the groceries.

My father would not let me take the box __________. He said it would hurt Tom. Each day when we were to have dinner, my father would ask, “What side dish are we having from the __________ box today?”

It was hard for me to eat the food. I knew Tom had given __________. He gave the best he had, but I did not deserve the gift.

【推荐2】My family moved into a newly constructed home in Calgary 10 years ago, looking forward to a new start. And that year was full of _______ . We waved at the _______ of incoming families during their move-in days. But we saw less of each other as winter approached. Names were _______ .

As the snow _______ , many of the neighborhood began to be nearby, sitting and chatting on the curb (路边). Dad wanted a place for everyone to leave the house and join the community. He began imagining _______ .

He started _______ doors and reshaking hands. He chatted with Eric, a builder from across the street. The cost of materials would be _______ . He then met with the designer from a few doors down. _______ began with me and my father hauling pieces of lumber (木材) and steel out of his truck. Within minutes there was a flock of young neighbors _______ , each claiming they could help. None of us knew each other well, but all hands were on deck (全员出动).

After a few hours, the project was __________ . Three benches __________ a semi-circle on the boulevard (大道). That afternoon marked the first of many weekend Neighbor Days when weather __________ . Kids raced each other around while parents brought out food. Later in the evening, someone put a firepit in the center of the benches so that the __________ would carry on into the night. We often ended up there the following afternoon, as well as __________ afternoons and evenings in the years since.

I moved out for university four years ago, having learned to __________ value community. But I’ve never lived somewhere as social as my family neighborhood since.

【推荐3】When I was tidying out my drawers, I happened on a few diaries that I’d kept long before. The writing showed a youthful or rather __________ hand. I casually took up one to have a look.

“Today the teacher __________ the results of the term examinations. To my greatest surprise, I was ranked No.5 on the list, the first time I’ve failed to achieve No.1. I was so __________ that I wept bitterly and kept myself from supper. I must punish myself, for it is the greatest__________ I’ve suffered in my life.”

At this I couldn’t help__________. I could __________ remember what the actual situation was like. For more than a decade since then, I’ve suffered lots of failures, any one of which is much__________ than an examination failure.

Then I turned over to a new page and read the following.

“I was very upset today. I __________why Mum should have done so. Isn’t she my mum, my blood relation? I really want to __________ her. In a few days I’ll take part in college entrance examinations. I’ll apply for __________ to colleges or universities in other provinces far from home. When I go, I’ll never come home again.”

This__________ astonished me. I tried my best to recall what my mother had done __________ me so much. But however hard I tried, I still failed to call it to mind.

I glanced over several pages and the entries showed what was termed as “very painful” or “most unforgettable” things are __________ significant, or even laughable from today’s point of view. Then I picked up a new one. Opening it, I saw on its title page the following.

To the one I love most:

Your love will __________me all my life.

My love for you will never change.

It reminded me of someone — a vague (模糊的)__________ emerging before my eyes — the boy sharing a desk in class with me. I used to look on him as the whole of my life. But since we left school, I’ve never met him again. I know nothing about him: where he is now or what he is doing. All I know is that his love doesn’t keep me company __________ my love has already changed.

Having undergone so many changes of persons and things, I’ve come to realize that nothing in the world is __________. Not only nice cheerful things will go, painful and troublesome things will also __________. And you’ll find the easiest to change is none __________ you yourself, and what remains unchanged is only the childish __________ for nice things.

【推荐1】On a Friday night, a _______ young artist stood at the gate of the subway station, playing his violin. The music was beautiful, and many people who were _______ home slowed down and put some money into the hat of the young man.

The next night, the young artist _______ a large piece of paper and _______ it on the ground. Then he began playing. The music sounded more _______. Some people came and they found the _______ on that paper, “Last night, a gentleman put an important thing into my hat. Please come to get it back.” When the people saw that, they felt very _______ and guessed what it could be. After about half an hour, a man rushed there _______ and said, “It can’t be true! You… you…”

The young violinist asked. “Did you _______ something?” “A lottery ticket (彩票),” the man answered ________.

The violinist took out a lottery ticket. “Is it?” he asked.

The man was too excited to say a word. He bought a lottery ticket a few days ago. The awards (奖) ________ yesterday and he won $500, 000. He felt so excited that he put 50 dollars into the hat when hearing the music. However, the lottery ticket was also thrown in without being ________. After the violinist finished his ________, he found the lottery ticket.

When he was asked why he returned the lottery ticket, the violinist said, “________ I don’t have much money, I live happily; if I lose ________ I won’t be happy forever.”

【推荐3】A group of doves (鸽子) flew long distances but did not get anything to eat. All of them were now completely ________.

A young dove asked the King Dove, “Please allow us to take a ________.” The king replied, “Have courage, my dear. We shall surely get something to eat very soon.”

The young dove started waving his ________ with force and soon left everyone behind. After some time, he turned back and spoke to the others, “I see lots of ________ down there.”

Hearing this, all the doves started rushing towards the grains under a tree. ________ the King Dove said, “There is something wrong. It may be a trap.” But the doves were very ________, and the grains were too inviting. Without giving a thought to the king’s ________, they flew down and started eating the grains. After having a big ________, they tried to fly away only to find that they were caught in a net. Then the King Dove said, “All of you must try to fly with the ________ at the same time and in the same direction, all of you.”

Just then they saw a ________ approaching towards them. The King Dove said, “Now all of you, fly together”.

So all the doves flew away together with the net. The hunter couldn’t believe what he had just seen.