I really love volunteering, for example, volunteering at old people’s homes. It’s one of my favorite ________.

At my old school, I often helped my classmates. It was really fun to ________ their studies. I wasn’t really a top student who always got the ________ grades, but I could explain to them ________. Now when I’m ________, I often volunteer on my town’s main street. Every weekend, other ________ and I make a lot of dishes to feed everyone who crosses the street. There are always about 400-550 people. The long day makes me tired, ________ it also brings me great joy. The looks of joy on those people’s faces would make my weary (疲意的) day into a ________ day.

From my volunteering, I ________ that helping others not only makes others happy but makes ________ happy, too. And maybe one day, the people once you helped would help you back.

Several years ago, Ed’s teacher asked him to take part in a volunteer activity. It brought normal children and disabled children together. Each week Ed spent an hour in the special school helping the disabled children with their schoolwork, games and eating. Ed’s mother was a teacher, so he often met a lot of children. At first, Ed thought it would be scary to be with children who were so different, but later he found there was something special with those children.

Every Wednesday, Tom, Susan and Anna couldn’t wait to see Ed. Tom had to sit on the wheelchair. He was only able to say some simple words like yes or no. Susan, a deaf girl, always welcomed Ed with a big smile. As for Anna she was born with an illness, and it made her really small for her age. In a normal classroom, it would be common to stop children playing with something, speaking loudly or making noises. However, in that school, the teachers didn’t mind noises. They were signs of the children’s feelings.

Working with those children made Ed learn to notice others’ needs. One of Ed’s teachers said, “We should be part of something bigger than ourselves.” Ed never understood that until he worked with those children.

In some Western countries, many children do chores to get pocket money. They usually start to do this when they are ten years old.

School students have to do homework and study for tests. They don’t have much free time on weekdays. They often do chores on weekends.

Young kids only do easy chores. So they don’t get much money. But that’s enough. Many of them only want to buy candy. And candy is cheap! They often help do the dishes, sweep the floor, or feed the pet cat or dog.

When they get older, they want to buy more and more things. They want things that are more expensive than candy. So they have to work harder! They often help their parents wash the family car, cut the grass, or cook meals.

Some jobs are a good way for kids to learn new things. For example, they can learn how to use a lawn mower or how to cook. Of course, their parents help them at first.

If you think you’re too shy and want to be brave (勇敢的), try the following. You can make it. Tell people you’re shy. There’s no need to hide (隐藏) it. When they get to know you’re a shy kid, they’ll understand you better. This also helps you feel more relaxed in talks.

Try to smile (微笑) more. When you smile, people think you’re friendly and easy to talk to. Remember that other people have feelings too and most people will stay away from an angry-looking face.

Learn to be a good talker. If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn’t it make you want to keep talking to that person?

Get your attention (注意) elsewhere. Think more about ways to enjoy parties or games. Don’t waste time worrying about your look or whether people like you or not.

Take one small step at a time. Each time when you say “Hi” or smile at someone, say to yourself, “You did it.”

Keep trying and you are sure to do better.

In a primary school, a teacher asked her students what they wished to become when they grow up. There were several     41     (answer): a doctor, a teacher, a film star and so on. One of the students     42     (give) a strange answer. This child said, “I want to be a television!” The teacher asked the child     43     he had such a wish. He said, with his eyes full     44     tears (眼泪), “There is no one at home to watch me or care for me. Everyone     45     (sit) around the television. If there is anything wrong with the TV, they give great attention to it and     46     (fix) it at once.”

The loving teacher met the     47     (child) mother and talked about this with her. The mother said, “My husband is     48     very busy businessman. He n    49     has time to look after the child.” “But what about you?” the teacher asked the mother. “I’m the head of the women’s club. I have so many meetings and activities.” The teacher now understood why the child felt lonely at home.

“I think children want their parents to s    50     more time with them,” said the teacher.