Animals are important in Indian culture and some are treated in a special way. For example, a lot of elephants aren’t     1    . They are domesticated (驯养). They aren’t kept as pets, but as working animals. Every working elephant     2     its own keeper. An elephant and its keeper meet for the first time when they are both young, and they grow up together. In fact, their relationship continues for the rest of the elephant’s     3    —perhaps 40 years. Lots of elephants work in the forest, moving heavy     4     when they are cut down. Some give rides to tourists, or     5     people during celebrations and festivals. Keepers take excellent care of their elephants, feeding them     6     and giving them a bath at the end of the working day.

    7     special animal in India is the cow. Cows are protected animals,     8     they aren’t kept on farms or killed for food, although people do use their milk. So in India you can often see cows walking around towns and cities, and nobody tries     9     them. If they sit down in the middle of the road, people     10     drive around them! Do you think it’s interesting?

Do you like travelling? When you travel to other countries, you may often feel lonely. Small talk is a good way    1     you make friends. If you travel to other     2    , do you know what to say to start small talk with foreign people?

In Britain, the     3       is a good and safe topic because British weather changes quite often. You can start small talk simply by saying “It’s a         4    day today, isn’t it?”       5     weather, it’s good to talk about gardens with British people. For example, you may say, “Those flowers look       6     beautiful, don’t they?” English people love their pets. So it’s also nice to start with “What a lovely dog! What is his name?”

In America, people like to talk about sports, such as American football. They also talk about clothes by     7       “It’s a nice shirt! Where did you get it?” Weather is a safe topic there, too. But don’t ask people “How old are you? Age, especially for women, is usually a secret. Never ask “How       8       money do you make?” It     9       people uncomfortable. Don’t ask       10       whether they are married （结婚）or if they have a girlfriend or boyfriend. Politics or religion (宗教) is not a good topic for two people.

A principal decided to honor his teachers to show his appreciation(感激) for their hard work. He     1     them how they made a difference in their jobs. Then he gave each of     2     a blue ribbon(缎带) that read, “Who I Am Makes a Difference.”

Miss Smith, one of the     3    , wanted to take this idea into her students. One day she noticed that a boy was unhappy,     4     she asked him the reason. The boy said that his father had been worrying     5     the job and often punished him for some little things. Hearing what he said, the teacher decided     6     him the ribbon to cheer him up. She said, “Dear,     7     your father has done doesn’t mean the lack(缺少) of love for you. He needs your understanding. Here’s     8     ribbon for you. Would you like to take this ribbon and pass it on? Let’s keep this ceremony     9     and find out how it affects people.”

That night the boy stood beside his father and said,“Dad, today my teacher gave me a blue ribbon for being kind and asked me to find somebody else to honor. I’d like to give it to you. I want to let you know how     10     I admire you and how much you mean to me. I love you!”

Holding doors open for people behind you, picking up litter, thanking people… these acts of kindness seem very     1    . But students at James Middle School know that such small acts make the world a better place. Eighth-graders from James Middle School took part in the Random Acts of Kindness Week     2     March 31 to April 4. During the week, they tried their best to do kind things for others.

Celeste Murray, an English teacher at the school, started the     3    . Since she was little, she has always tried to do small acts of kindness in her daily life. “I believe the world is     4     by small things,” she told the newspaper The Daily Times. Over the week, to     5     surprise, Murray also found great changes in her class.

Before that, she always needed to ask her students to push the chairs in     6     turn off the lights before they leave the classroom. Now, the students do those things by themselves. “The teachers have a lot of work,” said Jordon, one of Murray’s students. He learned to care     7     about others.

Eliza, another student, gave out more     8     to others. “It makes them feel happy and successful,” she said. The activity made students feel that they can     9    . Hailey decides to continue to do at least one act of kindness every week,     10     how busy she is. She believes her acts could encourage others.

Today, I want to write something about my mother. When I had something difficult to do, I often asked my mother for    1    . But she always said, “Do it yourself, dear.” I was not happy about this at all. I thought she was the     2     mother in the world.

For example, one day, I decided to     3    some friends to my home. My bedroom was not tidy. Books were     4    , and I didn’t make the bed. I asked my mother to help me clean it,     5     she still said, “Do it yourself, girl.”

Because of my “lazy mother”, I had to     6    my clothes and clean my room. I have to help my parents do     7    .  I even had to go to the dentist by myself. It was really hard for me to do everything well, but I have     8     a lot.

As time goes by, I understand my mother. She made me    9    and clever.  What a great mother!  A     10     mother is worth (值得) one hundred teachers! Do you think so?