1 . Emily Bhatnagar loves reading. “As a kid, I was really shy, so I always read books,” she said. “They became my best friends when I didn’t have one.”

In 2019, Bhatnagar’s father got a serious illness (病). The news was terrible for the family. Books helped Bhatnagar change (改变) her bad feelings into something good. After her father got well, she came up with an idea to help others with books.

Soon Bhatnagar started a book drive (捐书) called For Love ＆ Buttercup in her hometown to collect (收集) books and give them to the ill children in local hospitals. Her father was not astonished after hearing about this plan. “She was always interested in books and wanted to do things for others,” he said. Bhatnagar started it on the Internet by asking people in her area to donate (捐赠) books. At first she felt she wouldn’t get much attention (关注). But after news stations started reporting it, lots of people were ready to give a hand.

Campbell works at one of the hospitals where Bhatnagar has donated books. She said, “The sick children in the hospital don’t have many chances to read. The books have brought them hope and made a big difference to their life.”

Now Bhatnagar is still running the book drive and she has collected over 10,000 books. She still remembers the first time she visited the children who had received her books. “It was the best day of my life.” she said. “I think I want to do this kind of work forever.”

Recently, a young man failed in his postgraduate (研究生) exam and then he sent a message to his father who died three years ago. In the message, the young man said to his father, “Dad, I ______ you so much. Would you appear in my ______? I really want to meet you.” To his ______, he received a “reply” and found out that the message was from a person. The person is using his ______ old phone number now. The message said, “Never mind, boy. You will grow up through failures. Cheer yourself up and keep ______. I know my boy is the best. I miss you, too.”

“Having seen such a message from ‘my dad’, my tears came out.” the young man said. People need love and care, especially in ______ times of their life. If they fail, they are thirsty for comfort and help. ______ the reply from a strange person really gave him encouragement.

“At first, I thought someone had sent a ______ message,” the “father” said. “But after reading it ______, I found out the sender must be in trouble and need some ______. So I decided to reply in his father’s name. It is normal that people who have lost their parents will miss them more than usual, especially in trouble.”

5 . Some rich and beautiful ladies were sitting on the bank of a river, enjoying their picnic. When they were washing their hands and feet in the clean water, they saw their reflections (倒影).

Seeing their reflections in the water, they started to praise their own beauty. One of them said, “How beautiful my hands are!”

Another woman said her hands were even more beautiful. A third one said the same thing. Soon, an argument (争吵) broke out among them.

They saw an old woman passing by. She was walking with the help of a stick and her clothes were dirty. Seeing her, one lady suggested asking the old woman about whose hands were the most beautiful. They all agreed. When the old woman came near, they showed her their hands and asked, “Who has the most beautiful hands?”

The old woman said, “I am hungry and thirsty. Give me something to eat and then answer you.”

They refused and asked her to go away.

A poor woman saw all this. She went to the old woman and made her sit comfortably. She opened her lunch box and shared her food and water. Then she helped wash the old woman’s hands and feet, while giving great comfort to her.

After the old woman felt a little better, she went back to those rich ladies. Pointing to that poor woman, she said, “She has the most beautiful hands.”

All the ladies laughed. “What do you know about beauty?” Hearing this, the old woman replied, “Beautiful hands belong to those who do good and serve the people who need help.”

6 . One day, I took my kids to the local playground. The minute we got there, my daughter ran to the swing (秋千) and asked for a push. When I was helping my daughter, I _______ another girl trying to make her own swing go high by herself. Her old grandmother was sitting on the chair nearby and smiled at me. Maybe she was too old and tired to play together _______ her granddaughter. I gave my daughter a big push and then walked towards the little girl. I asked gently _______ I could do for her. She smiled and said quietly but happily, with her big shining eyes, “Could you please give me a push, too?” For the next two hours, I kept pushing the swings and playing with my two little children and the little girl. When we got home, I was very tired. But my heart was flying much _______ than the swings.

One day, two years later, after a long day’s work, I was a bit tired. But I needed to _______ kids before going home. While I was waiting outside the school gate beside my car, a little girl came over and smiled sweetly at me. She gave me a big hug _______ she got on her school bus. As I watched her running away, I didn’t feel _______ anymore.

In life, the love we give to _______ will find its way back to us. It may travel from heart to _______ or it may blossom   (开花) in the heart which it was planted in. The love we share, the kindness we give, and the happiness we create will always come back to us ________ a big surprise.

Next Saturday is the Volunteer Day of our community (社区). Here is the plan.

10 . Once a young man was asked to paint a boat of a rich man. While painting, he ________ a small hole in the ship’s hull (船体) and quietly fixed it. After finishing his work, the young man got paid and left.

The boat’s owner ________ at the young man’s house the next day with much money, far greater than the painting payment.

“You’ve already given me ________ for painting the boat, Sir!” said the surprised young man.

“This isn’t for the paint job, it’s for repairing the ________ .” said the rich man.

“But it was such a little service. You don’t need to ________ me that much.” said the young man.

“My dear boy, I forgot the hole when I asked you to paint the boat. After you finished painting it, my ________ took the boat and went on a fishing trip. Then, I suddenly remembered the hole. I was scared to death. Imagine how ________ I was when I saw them return home safely. After that, I ________ checked the boat and discovered that you had repaired the hole. You ________ my children’s lives.” said the rich man.

So, no matter what, where, when or how, try to be ________ . Because sometimes, the smallest act of kindness may be worth more to others.