With a wide smile on her face, 15-year-old Sirin eagerly rushed to her mom to show off her new painting. But Mom raised her eyebrows with eyes wide open, and spoke impatiently, “No time, baby. Right now I am busy with an important talk. Just wait for some time, OK?”

Holding her oil painting, she frowned (皱眉),and then searched for her dad. “Dad, see what I have done,” Sirin exclaimed cheerfully. Her dad turned around while adjusting his tie, grinned at her, and showed his thumbs up!

Immediately, Sirin replied angrily, “Dad, you haven’t seen it yet.”

He smiled at her saying, “No time, baby. I will see it later.” He just patted her back lovingly, kissed her forehead, and rushed for his office.

She was not a kid to be pleased with simple gesture or smile. She stood there for a few seconds, and then stormed off to her own bedroom. Hot air was blowing from her nostrils (鼻孔) ; her face turned into apple red. She threw the painting on the table, slammed the door and threw herself on her bed.

“Why is everybody so busy?” She recalled thousands of incidents that hurt her in preschool, middle school and even in high school too! She assumed at least her own family members would give some values to her thoughts, but they were no exception. Unconsciously, her eyes were filled with tears.

The knocking sound on the door put a sudden stop to her thought. Her mom was calling her for dinner. Sirin deliberately (故意地) came late to join them. She kept silent and didn’t look at anyone, scratching the table mat with her nail. Her mom was puzzled at the unusual behavior. Suddenly the morning incident came to mind. Softly, she asked, “ Honey, did I do anything wrong? ”

At this very moment, Sirin could no longer resist her anger.

When back from school the next day, Sirin was surprised to see her beautifully-decorated paining on the wall.

3 . When was the last time you had great fun with your family?     1     So stand up and plan to have fun with your family.

Going to the zoo is definitely a number-one pick for family activities. Other than visiting animals, most zoos nowadays have rides that you can enjoy with your family. Meals are served in the zoo.     2     To add some fun, ask to be the photographer for the day and you might be surprised by how creative you can be.

Having a picnic at the park is also a good activity for your family. Even though you might not be really keen on outdoor activities, you can still enjoy your time by playing together after having your lunch.

Visiting the nation’s capital would be your choice if you want to go on a trip with your family. Learn more about the history by visiting historical sites.    3    

A treasure hunt is a popular activity, so going hunting with your family is a nice choice. You can train yourself by asking to be the person in charge who can hold the treasure map and make decisions.

Create a video clip (片段) with your family.     4     You may talk about your family life in the clip, about your interests or even create a drama.

    5     Plant flowers and mow(修剪)the lawn. After a day of hard work, you can all sit back and enjoy a barbecue at your beautifully cleaned backyard.

6 . 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. Though 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. __________ all these, there 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.

7 . My husband and I arrived in a new country just a month ago. We were a bit ___________ about what was waiting for us. However, when we ___________ at the airport, a tall man with smiling eyes greeted us. The days and months were ___________ made easy for us by this kind man.

He greeted us every day with his smiling face. He ___________ us in going to the bank, in buying our groceries, in telling us ___________ to buy almost everything. He told us he was our big brother.

___________, We watched the match in a coffee shop. During the first get-together, he ___________ us that we were lucky—my husband and I were ___________ in this foreign land. He said he had been ___________ for eight years then because he rarely saw his family, ____________ they were in his home country.

During the second get-together, he ____________ told us that we were his family. He said that he loved us and that he would ____________ us because he was given a ____________ of 45 days to go back to his home country. That night, he spoke these words which ____________ a great effect on my life: “You changed my life...”

That night deep in our hearts we were ____________ by our friend's words. We texted him upon reaching home, ____________ him for being a Big Brother to us in the foreign land. We told him ____________ that we felt safe in going out when we were with him, to which he ____________, “You are my family here.”

On the first week of October, we are going to ____________ him back from his vacation. We'll watch the football match again in that ____________ shop that holds dear memories.

10 . For the past ten years, my dad and I have attended the same school — he as an administrator and I as a student. Our relationship, in and out of school, has been totally unpredictable.

When I was younger, all that my dad said was doctrine (信条) and anything he did I,_________, copied. We played games together, and stayed up late reading bedtime stories. I could_________my dad taking me to school, running into him_________during the day and riding home with him every afternoon.

As I grew older, we were not as_________as we used to be. He wasn’t cool any more. He wore his socks too high, listened to_________country music and laughed too loudly in front of my friends. He became a total embarrassment.

However, the_________that happened in school were even worse. The worst one happened in seventh grade. My dad came to our New Year party,_________as Donald Duck, guitar in hand, singing silly songs. Just kill me! I wanted to run away.

This_________continued into high school, but we began to find a balance. Things started to_________around the time of my 10th-grade physics project. The__________was to build a wood bridge with the best strength-to-weight ratio (比率). All the students and physics teachers__________. So did my dad, the only administrator! Embarrassed, as usual, I__________the scene. __________, later when I learned from my friends that my dad__________all competitors and won everyone’s admiration, I found that mixed in with my__________was a touch of pride.

I had needed someone else to show me what I__________in my dad. It wasn’t the fact that he’d won; it was more than that. I began to__________that we have many of the same values and sometimes the same opinions. No matter how much I had tried to__________him, he still influenced me.

I feel__________to have such an unusual father. The__________I have developed with my dad over the years has enabled me to look back and see how I’ve grown.