【推荐1】My parents turned my whole world upside down when they told me they were getting a divorce (离婚). I couldn’t ______ our family was going to break up.

It changed my life completely. My mother and I moved ______ a small apartment (公寓) across town, ______ my father and brother, Bill, remained in our house.

And very soon I had my soon-to-be stepfather (继父), Dan. Although I wasn’t very nice to him, he ______ gave up on me.

As time went on, I realized that we had some things in ______, especially when it came to movies and TV shows. We began to spend a lot of time together ______ out. It gave us a chance to talk ______ get to know each other.

______ still, Dan was always around when I needed help on school or friends. Once I grew to warm to Dan, the ______ of us began spending a lot of time together. We often went out to eat and took short trips. Eventually (最后), I discovered I had the ______ family that I had never had before.

My father found happiness, ______ – he remarried and had ______ child, my half-sister, Michelle. ______ 13, I learned an important truth – ______ is not always for the worse. Sometimes, it is just something ______ we need the most. We should learn to accept it bravely.

【推荐2】Long long ago, there was a man named Lazy. He wanted to own a big house and it ________ him more than a year to build one. The house was ________ beautiful that all of his neighbors admired(羡慕) him very much.

But ________ time went by, his house started to have some problems. One day, an old neighbor went past it and said, “Your house is beautiful, but the grass in the yard is a little overgrown.” Lazy answered ________, “I know, but it’s OK. I will cut it tomorrow.”

A few days later, a mailman ________ with a letter for Lazy. The mailman said, “Sir, your house is wonderful, but the windows are a little ________, you can make it more wonderful by cleaning them.” _________ replied reluctantly(不情愿地), “I know, but it’s OK. I will do that tomorrow.”

Weeks passed by, Lazy’s yard was ________ a mess(乱糟糟). The paint was falling down and the windows were covered ________ dirt. One day, his brother came over to visit him. He was ________ at what he saw and scolded him angrily, “Lazy, I know why you’re called Lazy. You’re just ________ your name! What have you done for your house? It could fall down at any minute!”

Just the next day, after a heavy rainstorm, Lazy’s house ________!

There are many Lazys around ________. Are you lazy, too? Have you ever put off “something” ________ “tomorrow”, “next month” or even “next year”? It’s much ________ to just deal with(处理) things today than to wait until some imaginary(想象的) “tomorrow” that might not actually come.

When I was nine years old, I loved to go fishing with my dad. My father could catch many fish but I caught _______. I usually got very sad and kept asking him _______. He always answered, “Son, if you want to catch a fish, you have to _______ like a fish.” “But I am not a fish,” I said. “And I don’t know what fish like.”

As I got a little older, I began to understand what my father really _______. So I read some books on fish and I even joined a local _______ Club and started attending the monthly meeting to know more about it. I learned that fish are cold-blooded（冷血的）animals and water _______ is very important to them: That’s why fish like shallow（浅的）water better than _______ water because shallow water is warmer. _______ water is usually warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade. Also, fish don’t have any eyelids（眼皮）and the sun hurts their eyes. The more I understand fish, the better I am at finding and _______ them.

When I grow up, I go into the business world. It is not a easy job to sell things to others, but I do it well because I have the secret—that is to think more like ________ I have learned this lesson from fishing.

【推荐1】One day little Gary went to see his grandfather in the countryside. He felt stressed out and wanted to know ______ he wasn’t able to reach all of his goals.

After his grandfather ______ Gary’s story, he told him, “Come and help me boil a kettle（水壶）of water!”

Gary saw a big kettle standing in the corner next to a small stove（炉子）, but he didn’t find any ______ So he went out to search for some.

He came back with some dry wood, filled up the kettle with water and put it ______ the stove. Then he put some wood in the stove and made a fire. When the wood was burned up, the water did not boil. He realized that the kettle was too ______ and he had to get more wood to boil the water.

When he returned, the water had nearly turned cold. This time he ______ his lesson and prepared more wood in advance. And the water boiled very ______.

“If there isn’t enough wood, how will you boil the water?” his grandfather asked. Gary thought for a moment but didn’t know the answer, ______ he shook his head. “Pour out some water from the kettle!” his grandfather said.

At first, you had so many dreams and set too many ______. It’s just like the large kettle full of water. You didn’t have enough wood, so you couldn’t boil the water. ______ you want to make the water boil, you have to either pour some out or prepare more wood!

【推荐2】My dad loves history. He learned an old highway was open to the public. So, when I was 14, we took a bike trip to ________ this historic road!

My dad chose a 16-mile part of the road for us to ride. It ________ a tunnel (隧道) called Sideling Hill. Before going there, we made sure our bike lights had enough electricity. My mom made some sandwiches for us. She ________ prepared some fruit and plenty of water for us.

After a two-hour ride, we reached the road. It was a cool afternoon in early fall. As we got close to the Sideling Hill Tunnel, I felt ________ as it was completely dark inside! But my dad encouraged me. He said he would be right beside me. He ________ me to keep my light on!

When we entered the tunnel, the ________ of our bikes echoed (回响) through the darkness. And I ________ I was being watched! I was pretty scared, but following my dad helped me relax. ________ we rode half-way through. I could see the light coming from the other end of the tunnel. That gave me courage to keep going. And I was so ________ to ride out into the bright afternoon!

Now many years passed, but whenever I am going through difficulties in life. I remember this ________. It reminds me that my father is always beside me. He turns on the light of hope in my hear, and gives me courage to keep riding through life’s dark tunnels.

【推荐3】Sam went to a restaurant near his new house for the first time. He looked at the menu and wondered the meaning of these names.

Sam thought he would get ice cream in a cup. However, he got a cup of frothy coffee (泡沫咖啡) _______. Sam thanked the waiter and _______ if he used the wrong word.

Sam took the cup and _______ at the table. Why was English so easy for him in his class in his country, but he couldn’t even get what he wanted to eat here? Just then, Sam _______ a girl at table near the window. She looked at him. He smiled at the girl. She stood up and came over to Sam’s _______. “Are you Professor Ben Ammar’s son?” she asked.

“Yes!” Sam _______ happily.

“I’m Luisa. Welcome to the city!” the girl said, “Hey, don’t feel _______ about your English. You’ll get better at it if you live here for a short time. I’m from Spain. And the first time I wanted to _______ a salad here. I ended up with a bowl of pig’s feet.”

Sam felt much happier after he _______ this. He wasn’t the only one with such _______ in communicating (交流) here. The new city began to feel like a home to him.