2 . On my first day in America, I was excited, but nervous as well. It was my dear neighbor Susan who helped me   _________ my new life far away from home.

There was a knock at the door. When I _________ it. Susan came in with a homemade apple ple. She hugged me and said, “Wow, you   _________ be the precious (珍贵的) Chinese dull (娃娃)!”

With a big smile, she   _________, “Alice, I am sure you have never tried a home-made apple pie before! You are going to _________ it so much!”

To be honest, I was greatly surprised by this welcome from a _________. And the apple pie made me _________.

Susan was very helpful to me.

When I was thinking about the clothes to wear on Halloween, she suggested I _________like a traditional Chinese girl. “I happen to have a traditional Chinese dress and guess _________, I’m a great make-up artist!” She said. Susan did not hide (隐藏) her excitement, when she pushed me to the __________ to examine our work after an hour of hard work. The clothes fit me perfectly! I am sure that I stood out from the crowd that Halloween, and I am __________ for her help.

My first Thanksgiving was another highlight (亮点). __________ the festival morning, I was surprised to find a gift box in my front yard. There was a note on it: “Hello Alice, I’m the Thanksgiving bunny (兔子)! Enjoy your __________!” I looked around and caught Susan looking at me from her porch (走廊). Seeing that she had been __________, she hurriedly picked up a newspaper and pretended (假装) to __________ it. I couldn’t help __________. When I walked up to her, she said, “ __________ was not me. It was the Thanksgiving bunny!” Susan is such a __________ person; She is the American above all others I need to thank.

I saw that the spirit of the Chinese saying, that “Neighbors carry more__________ than distant relatives”, is alive and well in America. Susan filled my heart with   __________ and joy, just as angels do.

6 . Most kids have nothing to worry about except homework and basketball matches. But things are ______for the kids who have lost their parents. _____ these is Milly Bell, a nine-year-old girl from Exeter, England. She is doing something to make life _____better for children like her.

A few years ago, Milly’s father ____ a serious disease. Milly was very sad and thought that only bad things happened to her. Her mother told her that ____ a lot of kids like her, however. So Milly began to think, “_____can I help other children if they are also losing someone?”

Sadly, Milly’s father   ____ since 2006. Then, Milly found a way to help other children. She has written a book _____My Daddy is Dying.

“Although I’m still sad and often think of Daddy, it_____ easier as time has gone by. I know it’s important to speak out and cry about my feelings _____when I feel sad.” Milly said. “I hope this helps other children get through the same thing, and lets them know that they are not the only ones.”

Everybody wants a healthy relationship with their dad. When your dad is happy with you, you’ll get the best treatment from him and most likely be happy too. It can be difficult to please your dad but it’s important to do so for a healthy family. By focusing on the way you interact with your dad, you can achieve a happy family relationship.

    1    

It can be difficult to spend time with your dad, especially during school days as your schedule is busy and your dad is at work. Making that extra effort to spend time with him and share your opinions and thoughts will strengthen the bond between you.

    2    

Take time to ask your dad about his youth, his dreams, his career, and his favourite memories. These are stories to cherish as you grow older. They might also help you understand his values.

    3    

Consider asking your dad for advice on school work or friendships or matters of finance (经济) if you have or are seeking a job. This will show him his opinion matters. Even if your dad doesn’t have experience with a certain situation, he can still give you advice on how to approach it or where you can best learn how to approach it.

Show affection (关爱).

Show your dad that you love him. Speak to him in caring words, in a warm tone of voice, or show him affection through hugs and kisses. Some dads don’t like being too affectionate and even you might find it strange to be physically affectionate. Know that caring human touch is a basic need.

9 . I sat behind the wheel of my dad’s car and tried to fight back my fear of driving. For years, my dad _________ me to and from work without any complaint. He knew I was _________ of driving, so he never pushed me. It seemed as if he actually liked driving me around and I_________ it as much.

Now he pushed me to drive and I wondered what had caused this___________. My chest started to feel as if someone was sitting on it, and it was becoming harder to _________. He put his hand on my shoulder to _________ me. “Just take a deep breath and start the car.” I_________ and eased my way out of the parking lot and onto the street.

I couldn’t believe it. I was_________ driving. I didn’t know why I was scared in the first place-until I saw a speed sign that someone had run over. Scenes of_________ car crashes flashed into my mind. I held the wheel tightly.

“Remember your first cycle ride?” He tried to__________ my fear. “You kept falling off but you were so__________. I told you that you could do anything you set your mind to.”

“Why did you make me drive today?” I asked. He said, “My__________ was poorer, and I even ran into a sign. It’s probably just my blood pressure again.” My dad once again eased my fear.

__________, that was the last drive I had with my dad. It wasn’t his blood pressure; it was__________ that had given him only a few months to live. I never__________ driving. Every time I get behind the wheel, I could feel his comforting hand on my shoulder.