【推荐1】When I was about 14, I had a friend who liked to tell me my shortcomings (缺点). For example: I was very short, I wasn’t a top student, I talked too much, I was too proud and so on. I became so _______ that I couldn’t stand her at last. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.

He listened to me ________ and asked, “Are the things she says true or not? Jane, didn’t you ever ________ what you’re really like? Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are ________. Pay no attention to the other things she said.” I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I ________ that about half the things were true. Some I couldn’t change, like being very ________. But many I could and I wanted to change. For the first time, I had a better understanding of myself.

I brought ________ back to Daddy. He refused to read it. “That’s just for you,” he said, “You know better than any other person the truth about yourself. ________ something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, ________ only hear the truth and do what you know. It is the right thing to do.

Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve ________ had a better piece of advice.

【推荐3】Mother’s Day is always a fun time at my house every year. This year is no exception. My brother and I want our mom to feel ________ by giving her a day off from family chores. In the morning, I woke up before everyone else to hang up a poster that said “Happy Mother’s Day!”. My dad also got up ________ and helped set up a rose bouquet(玫瑰花束) in a vase.

When my mom woke up, she read cards we laid out next to her bed with a big smile. While she was watching the morning news with my dad, it was time to ________ my cooking skills. I made some delicious food with my brother’s help. My mom and I love board games, so after a short walk around the neighborhood, we played all of her favorites. In my family, playing a fun board game turns into a big ________ and can become very heated. One of us always becomes a sore(痛心的) loser after being beaten in the game. The afternoon games made all of us tired. A delicious takeout dinner from my mom’s favorite restaurant ________ us. The festivities ________ with ice-cream and more quality family time, while watching one of my mom’s favorite movies from her teenage years. 

It was such a ________ day, and it was great to be able to show my mom how much we appreciate her and thank her for ________ she does for our family. Mother’s Day should be everyday.

“What’s wrong, Carina?” Collin asked. “Homesick again?”

His sister _______ .

“Yeah, me too.” Collin sighed (叹息).

Their family had moved to the new place nearly four months ago. The new place was housed inside a huge transparent dome (透明的圆屋顶). It still didn’t feel like _______.

“I miss my friends,” Carina said sadly. “And green grass and swimming, and _______. I even miss the sound of rain on the roof (屋顶). ”

“ _______ of all,” Carina continued, “my birthday is in two days, and I don’t think Mom and Dad are planning anything special. They’re too _______.”

“She’s probably right,” thought Collin. Life here was very busy for scientists like their parents. He doubted if they had _______ to plan a party. And how could they anyway? Things such as balloons and birthday candles didn’t exist here. They didn’t _______ have enough materials to make a cake.

“Don’t worry.” Collin put an arm around Carina’s shoulder.

Collin walked toward the agricultural center, _______ his mom worked. He found her taking notes on some tall tube-like plants.

“What are those?” he asked.

“Bamboo plants,” said Mom. “They’re strong and grow fast. They _______ good building materials.”

“May I have a piece?”

“Sure.” Mom handed ________ to him and made a note on her notebook.

The next day, Collin ________ tiny holes into the piece of bamboo and put small nails (钉子) into each hole. He poured a handful of pebbles (鹅卵石) inside and covered the open ends.

Collin held the bamboo piece carefully as he hurried home. He ________ it behind his back and opened the front door. To his ________, Mom and Dad were home early from work. Mom was carrying something that looked like a ________.

He looked closer and realized Mom had made a cake with dried apples and cinnamon (肉桂皮) sugar. A real treat, on the Moon.

Collin handed his sister the bamboo rod. “Happy birthday!”

“What is it?” Carina asked, looking at it ________.

“A rain stick,” said Collin. “Whenever you turn it over, the pebbles fall around the nails and it sounds like rain.”

Carina turned the stick, and the room was filled with a sound like rain drumming on a roof.

“It’s Moon Rain!” she said. “It makes me feel like I’m home.” She smiled at Collin and turned the rain stick over again.

【推荐2】We may have many difficulties in life, and sometimes it’s even unfair for someone, but it depends on how you face them. Sally is a student from a university. She made a _________ last August. She decided to take her grandmother _________ their hometown and live with her in a rented room (出租房) near her school.

Sally’s family have met a lot in the past few years. Her grandmother _________ her legs and she could walk only with a stick. Her father died because of illness. Sally’s mother plagued (受折磨) by these events. She lost the _________ to take care of others. “This was the only choice. No one else could _________ my grandma.” Sally explained.

Her grandmother has also had a _________ life. The old woman’s three sons have all died, and Sally couldn’t leave her alone where _________ could look after her. A room with two beds, a desk and a table is their new home. The room costs her several _________ yuan every month. In order to make money, Sally works in a supermarket after class and spends the money _________ the family. “I was brought up by my grandma, and now it’s my __________ to take care of her.” said Sally. When she was young, her grandmother “magically” prepared every meal __________ for her every day, even though she could not read a __________.

In the eyes of Sally’s teacher, the girl is a (an) __________ student. “Though taking care of her grandmother takes her lots of __________, Sally has tried to stay on top of all her courses. She is even preparing for an English singing contest.” Her teacher said. Sally even __________ help from others. “It’s kind of like only getting without giving.” she explained. At present, the girl is able to support the home with her weak shoulder.

【推荐3】In my school life, I have been taught by many teachers. But one that influenced my _______ most was a substitute teacher (代课教师).

One windy morning, our headmaster introduced a small，young and modestly (朴素地) dressed _______ teacher. She would be our new English substitute teacher. We were so excited because substitute teachers were _______ easy-going and could be made fun of.

“My name is Jenny Jiang. Nice to meet you...” She _______ her class with the usual introduction. We immediately nicknamed (取绰号) her “Double J” and told _______ to each other in class. She tried to stop us,_______ we didn't follow her. Not knowing what to do, her face turned _______ immediately. Then she said “Excuse me” and left the classroom angrily. The classroom was in chaos (混乱) and we knew _______ substitute teacher would come soon.

To our surprise, “Double J” came back in a few _______ with smiles. She said that she liked the name “Double J”, which made her ________ like a famous star. She went on sharing smiles and encouraging us to ________ . We could hardly find any hopeless expression ________ her face. That was so amazing!

The results were also ________ . The classroom soon changed. We ________ chatting and joking. Everyone was listening and learning carefully. It seemed that the ________ and modest young teacher looked so appealing (吸引人的) that all of us were attracted together by a magic power. We ________ the rest of the class and learned a lot.

As we know, there is no flat road in life. When challenges come, how will you ________ with them? Do you try to avoid them or face them ________? While for those who stick to their dreams, they just adjust themselves and keep going. They know in their minds that every challenge is a time to be ________ and better. Take the ________ to perfect yourself. Such is what I learnt from “Double J”.