In America hitching a ride（搭便车）is very common. Many people there love hitching a ride during     1     (they) trips. I also once hitched a ride when I was travelling in America.

I     2     (drive) on the road when my car stopped. I was going to a town that was     3     (far) than I had expected. My tank（油箱）became empty     4     I got to the town. Standing there, I didn’t know what to do. I just knew I needed help. But I could see nobody around. Who could I turn to? Then I thought     5     the scenes that I had seen in Hollywood     6     (movie). I remembered that people in America loved hitching a ride. I told myself that I could do that too.

So when a car was coming, I tried to hitch a ride. To my joy, the car     7     (real) stopped in front of me. The driver was     8     old man. After knowing my problem, he said he could help me out. He took me to the nearest gas station. But then he left as he had something important     9     (do).

I couldn’t walk all the way back to my car. Therefore, I tried to hitch a ride and I was     10     (help) out once again. I was greatly moved.

The “kindness” I experienced today...was from the universe, in the form of a tiny bird. I     1     (believe) that the gift was that of true trust, patience and love.

This lovely little one must have     2     (hit) the glass while flying today. I came out and found her sitting right outside the door. I waited,     3     she wasn’t moving so I     4     (careful) picked her up. I cradled (托着) her in both hands for a while,     5     (warm) her and sending healing energy. When she fluttered(拍打) her     6     (wing) briefly(短暂地) I tried to let her fly, but she didn’t want to leave     7     (I) hands! She hopped off under a bush at my gentle     8     (encourage) in the end, where she sat even after I had to go back inside. I observed her, and after about 15 minutes she finally jumped     9     one foot, and then flew off! The sweet, gentle appearance and trust of my little friend have stayed in my heart all the time.

I am     10     (fill) with gratitude for my experience.

Outdoor activities are getting more and more important. Teachers in the school ask the students to go out of the     1     and play sports on the playground. They would like to     2     the students play soccer and basketball with their classmates after class. The students can     3     do some other activities at school, such as running and jumping. Parents take their kids out to do different outdoor activities on weekends. They go to the farm and spend (度过) time with animals. They go to the rivers and do     4     fishing. And they go to the park to     5     a picnic. Why out door activities are important to the students? Because the students need a rest and relax (放松) after they study     6     a long time. And these activities can     7     them strong, too. Then the students can study and work hard.

High school students have to decide something important about their future. Should they go to college after they finish high school? Or should they take a gap year (休学一年) before they     1     (go) to college?

A gap year is a break from school. It     2     (give) students time to experience the world and find themselves. Some may decide to get jobs and make money. Some may take a trip and get relaxed.

However, most     3     (decide) to do things to help them grow. Many spend their time     4     (help) others. They do volunteer work for the poor or the old. Many also go abroad to learn other languages or     5     (experience) other cultures.

For some, gap years are great. They are helpful for     6     (student). They get out of their comfort zones (区域) and see new things. They     7     (learn) new skills to help them become good speakers and leaders.

Also, they learn about themselves. Some even get a clear idea of     8     (they) future. They want to make that happen, when they go back to school, they work     9     (real) hard, and they do better in their work.

For others, gap years aren’t great. They aren’t very useful, and they can be very     10     (expensive). What’s worse, they may forget what they have learned in high school. Should you take a gap year? Only you can decide that.