1 . Once upon a time, there was a man who believed he could see the future through the stars. He called himself an astrologer and got used to _______ at the sky all night. He was always busy worrying about the _______ . The _______ often came to him, hoping to know what their future would be like.

One evening he was _______ on the main road outside the village. His eyes were fixed on the stars. He thought he saw that the end of the world was near. He was concentrated on thinking about the future. When he looked up at the stars, he walked without looking _______ . Suddenly he fell into a ditch (沟渠) full of _______ and water.

He was _______ in the muddy water, and _______ trying to climb out. Being unable to crawl (爬行) out and fearing for his _______ , he started to shout for help and his ________ soon brought the villagers running towards him.

As they pulled him out of the mud, one of them said, “You ________ to read the future in the stars, and yet you ________ to see what is at your feet! This may teach you to pay more attention to what is right in front of you, and let the future take care of itself.”

“What use is it,” said another, “to read the stars, when you can’t see what’s right here on the earth?”

We all want our future to be ________ and happy. However, the time doesn’t stop for anyone. There is always a tomorrow to look forward to and ________ , but you can’t go back to yesterday. So, maintain your ________ life while you work for a better tomorrow.

2 . It was New Year time, and it would be our first New Year away from Alabama. That winter, my mother and my stepfather moved our family to Southern California. My athletic little brother, Paul, was _______ about the climate that allowed him to go to the beach _______ he wanted. I, however, was a fat child with typical southern _______.

On my first day in the new class, I introduced myself in a low voice. All I said was my name and where I was from. The class burst into _______, “He talks funny.” I was so _______ that I went to place a call to Granny Smith after school, who was my biggest _______. But I didn’t _______.

On Sunday evening, the phone rang. It was Granny. She often took advantage of the discounted long-distance _______on Sundays. She said she’d _______ a New Year package. Sure enough, it arrived. Surprised at the box, large enough to hold a small refrigerator, we ________ it open. The smell of Granny’s house filled the room: a ________ of fried meat, sausages, furniture polish and decorations. While always filled with ________ holiday decorations and homemade food before New Year, Granny’s house, in my childhood eyes, was precious and fantastic.

There were countless tins and containers. We opened them to discover piles of holiday ________. She even included our traditional candy bars. The box was as bottomless as a magical box. There, ________ all these, was my familiar holiday.

Every New Year that we spent in California, the ________ service could call. Over the years, many treasures arrived in the box. For me, it’s always been the best part of the holiday.

3 . Agnes Lloyd’s 70th birthday came, but the day went normally. Her husband _______ many years ago. She had not heard from her children for a long time, which was _______.

The last bell of the day rang. She picked up her _______ and walked towards her car planning to buy herself a chocolate dessert although her doctors don’t _______ it for her age. But who cares? It was her birthday, and she _______ it.

The thought made her smile as she _______ her car when a sudden “MRS. LLOYD!” _______ her. Agnes dropped her purse onto the ground. She looked around and was _______ by what she saw.

Her students were standing there carrying birthday signs. She hadn’t _______ they had prepared such a surprise for her. Her student Christian came over, picking up her purse, and ________ her to the rest as they all started singing Happy Birthday.

As the song continued, tears ________ in her eyes. As they finished the song, small pieces of coloured paper began flying all over the place ________. But that wasn’t the best part.

Some of the students parted and her three children stepped out holding a birthday cake with two ________ that formed the number 70. “Happy birthday. Mom!” They exclaimed together, and that’s when Agnes lost her ________ for the first time.

Don’t forget your parents, ________ your life gets busy. We need to act and remind them that they are loved.

4 . Yesterday, a salesman called me to sell his phone plans. I was at work and as I usually don’t like spending time on those things, I _________ myself that I couldn’t talk yet and _________ that he call me back at 6 pm.

That’s what he did. So we talked about 20 minutes. He _________ to me his different phone plans. While listening to him, sometimes I was_________ in thought. I gave several “hmm hmm” as a sign of agreement and to_________ that I was still there. Sometimes, I felt a bit _________   . But I stayed calm and _________ until the end of the discussion.

Finally, he said the following to me: “Thank you, Olivier. You are the first person in a long time with whom I had an enjoyable conversation. _________, people shout at us and slam down the phone. Today, since 10 am, I haven’t had a phone _________ without arousing anger. I know you had a long day at work and you could have   __________ in front of your TV. But you listened so carefully to me. I am __________ and I sincerely thank you.”

It set me thinking. He had been the __________ of verbal violence (语言暴力) all through his working day. Physical __________ do not exist in this situation but dehumanization (去人性化) seems to happen. __________, he was only doing his job. I felt a sense of   __________ that I hadn’t treated him so rudely.

5 . I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch (牧场). He has let me use his _________ to raise money for poor students. _________ I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a boy who was the son of a poor horse trainer.”

One day the boy was _________ to write a paper about what he wanted to do when he grew up. He wrote a paper describing his _________ of someday owning a horse ranch. Two days later he _________ his paper back. On the front page was a large red “F” with a note _________, “See me after class.”

The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, “Why did I receive an F?” The teacher said, “This is a(n) _________ dream for a young boy like you. You have no coins. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money.” Then the teacher added, “If you _________ rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will _________ your grade.” The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. Finally, the boy ____________ the same paper, making no ____________ at all. He said, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my ____________.”

Having told the story, Monty said, “I tell you this story ____________ you are sitting on my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper ____________ over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that the same teacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.”

When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream ____________. Fortunately you had enough determination not to give up.” Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what happens.

6 . I was a happy kid with a supportive family and a lot of friends. But frankly speaking, growing up was really _________ and even painful. During my childhood, I spent much time trying to achieve perfection in every aspect of my life, which made me extremely tired and anxious. I wanted everyone’s compliments and hugely feared criticism. But I didn’t realize that I was the one who _________ myself in the toughest way.

After I graduated from high school, my desire to be “thin” began to trouble me. I went on a diet. In the beginning I dieted by controlling food and gradually I started _________ meals. I lost weight day by day and felt super good. What I didn’t see was that I was slowly _________ myself.

People around me began to _________ my weight loss. They said with concern, “You’re losing too much weight.” “Elisa, you’re so skinny.” All their words only suggested that I was getting closer to “_________”.

Sadly, I took my physical _________ the first important in my life, believing that it was the way to become attractive and accepted. Then I cut down my food more and more, until a _________ day including half a teaspoon of nonfat yoghurt and black coffee in the morning, and a cup of grapes at night.

But my poor nutrition began to cause me to lose _________. Then one night, like many nights before, I couldn’t sleep, and my heart felt as though it might beat out of my chest. I tried to __________, but I couldn’t. The beating became so rapid and so strong that I could no longer __________. What I had done to diet nearly caused me to have a heart attack. I stood up, and immediately fell down. I was really __________, and I knew I needed help. My roommate rushed me to the hospital, beginning the long road to my __________. It took a lot—doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and food supplements.

And more importantly, a sense of what was true about myself got back on track with reality. I realized that, with my __________ of trying to be “perfect” on the __________, I had sacrificed who I was inside my body. Now what I know is, we are—every one of us—already perfect enough.

8 . Peter loved his wife Marion, loved adventure, and loved his camper van (野营车)called Schoen. The pair made numerous unforgettable road trips in Schoen. But after Marion died, the ______ Schoen had fewer and fewer outings. With Schoen’s adventuring days seemingly over, Peter decided to put it up for ______

Elise and her husband, Domenic, had always dreamed of owning their own “happiness bus” and travelling in a camper van. One day, Elise ______ the sales information on Schoen and the couple instantly decided to take a look. Elise fell in love with Schoen______, but Peter asked for $39, 000, well outside their______.

Feeling extremely disappointed, the couple left. “We were______to have met Peter,” said Elise with a smile. “We shared with him our story and dream of owning a van like that.”

A few days later, Peter called to invite them back for a second look. ______the young couple came again, but without much______Peter said he had so far received two offers for Schoen, and both met his asking price. But they were from ______, which would likely mean the van’s______gathering dust in a garage or display. Peter asked how much the couple would be able to______. Domenic told him the most they could spend was around half of what he was ______ . Peter, holding back tears himself, told them he would ______their offer only if they promised to have adventures with Schoen.

Now Schoen is on glorious adventures somewhere, helping Elise and Domenic create wonderful family ______.

“Peter is definitely a hero for us,” says Elise. “Finding Schoen and making that______ to Peter had totally changed our life. ”