1 . Mario Green and Mary Brown from Riverside High School give up several hours each week to help others.

Mario loves animals and wants to be an animal doctor. He volunteers at an animal hospital every Saturday morning. Mario believes it can help him to get his future dream job. “It     1     (is) easy work,” he says, “but I want to learn more about how     2     (care) for animals. I get such a strong     3     (feel) of satisfaction when I see the animals get     4     (well) and the look of joy on their     5     (own) faces.”

Mary is a book     6     (love). She could read by     7     (she) at the age of four. Last year, she decided to try out for a volunteer after-school reading program. She still works there     8     (one) a week to help kids learn to read. “The kids are sitting in the library, but you can see in their eyes that they’re going on a     9     (difference) journey with each new book.     10     (volunteer) here is a dream come true for me. I can do what I love to do and help others at the same time.”

7 . Jordyn Perez was about to turn 8 years old when her mom suggested a new way to celebrate her birthday. “What would you think about donating your gifts to a children’s hospital?” her mom said. At first, Jordyn wasn’t sure. Then she gave it some thought. “I was like, ‘Okay,’” Jordyn said, “I already had everything. In needed and these kids that were going through things at the hospital—they needed it more than I did.”

“Just to see these kids’ little faces when Jordyn hands them the gifts at the hospital, that’s always been our favorite part,” says Jordyn’s mother. “Seeing these kids’ reactions just touches our hearts.” Kids can be in the hospital for lots of reasons, asthma, a condition that affects breathing. Whatever the patient’s ailment is, a hospital stay can be stressful. Efforts like Jordyn’s are a bright spot during a difficult time.

Since that time, it has kicked off each year in early November, five or six weeks before her birthday. Along with an invitation to her party, gifts might include building blocks or toy trains. “And for the teenagers, my age or older,” it might be music player or books.”

Natalie Gutierrez works in the public relations office at Baptist Children’s Hospital. She has seen first-hand the effect of Jordyn’s gift-giving. “She puts smiles on the faces of these little patients in our hospital and on our nurses and staff, ”Gutierrez says. Jordyn’s efforts to help kids in the hospital have inspired others to follow in her footsteps. More boys and girls have collected and given gifts for their birthdays too. “Giving to others, it’s just a good feeling to have at the end of the day,” Jordyn says. “I want to keep doing this as long as I can.”

8 .

Mary is a middle school student. She lives in the center of the city (城市). Next to her _______ is an old people’s home. On weekends, she always goes there with her _______ Alice, Sam, Tony, Betty and Henry. They try their best to _______ the old people happy.

Mary and Alice like _______. Mary can play the piano and Alice can sing for the old people. Tony and Sam do well in telling stories. They often tell stories to _______. Sometimes, Tony and Sam _______ some interesting storybooks to the old people. Betty and Henry love sports. They _______ kung fu for the old people and play ping-pong. After that, they talk to the old people and play chess _______ them. The old people look very happy.

When people ask Mary and her friends, “ _______ do you always go to the old people’s home?” They always say, “Because it is ________ and meaningful.”

Do you know that when you’re kind to others, it’s good for your own happiness too? Even small acts of kindness can make you more confident and help you feel more connected to the people around you.

_________

Kindness means doing something thoughtful and generous for others without thinking anything in return. It could be a small, simple act, like holding open a door, or something that takes time and effort, like making a playlist for your friend. Kindness isn’t just something you do. It also means thinking about others’ feelings, as well as your own.

_________ Scientists have discovered that when you are kind to someone, your body is filled with good feelings that make you feel calmer, healthier and happier. When you volunteer for a local farm, for example, you feel part of a community. This can make you feel better about yourself and build friendships. Kindness is also something that flows outwards, like ripples (涟漪) in a pool.

_________ Bring more kindness into your life.

Start with something simple and easy, like sending a message to a friend you haven’t spoken to for a while. Try to do something you enjoy, while remembering that you are doing it for others, and see if you can turn kindness into a habit. _________ “Being kind to ourselves can feel difficult at times,” the Mental Health Foundation says. “Try to find ways each day to be kind to yourself, like reading a book or listening to your favorite song. Use kind words when describing yourself or the things you have done that day.”