Heated     1     (argue) and cold silences are common in parent-child relationship due to several factors. For one thing, teenagers’     2     (anxious) about physical changes can often result in parents being the first target of their anger. For another thing, it is a struggle     3     (balance) the developing mental needs as teenagers desire     4     (depend) but still need parents’ love and support.

Though it may seem     5     (possible) for teenagers to get along well with their parents, measures can     6     (take) to improve the situation. The key to     7     (keep) the peace is to communicate with them regularly and honestly. When teenagers can’t see eye to eye with their parents, it is better to calm down and try to understand the situation from their parents’ point of view. Perhaps they have experienced something similar and don’t want you to go     8     the same pain. After thinking it over, explain your actions and feelings calmly, listen carefully, and solve their concerns.

Please remember it is     9     (complete) normal to deal with the stress     10     parent-child tensions create, and that both sides can work together to improve the relationship.

It was the final part of the 2016 World Triathlon Series in Mexico. With just 700     1     (metre) to go, Alistair Brownlee was in third place and his younger brother, Jonny, was     2     the lead. Alistair pushed himself towards the finish line in the     3     (burn) heat, but as he came round the corner, he saw his brother about to fall onto the track.

Alistair ran towards Jonny,     4     (catch) him and started pulling him towards the finish line. Alistair then pushed his brother over the line. The move put Jonny in second place and Alistair himeself in     5     (three).

The Brownlee brothers have been doing triathlons     6     they were children. Alistair says that they encourage each other as much as they can when they train. Despite this     7     (argue) over “stupid things” now and then, Alistair     8     (agree) that having a brother is     9     advantage. “Throughout my entire life, I’ve had my brother trying to beat me at everything I do. It has been an     10     (enormous) positive force.”

As an old saying goes, “Friends are like wine, the     1     (old), the better.” Many people consider old friends to be more important than new     2     (one). For example, if two pieces of advice     3     (give) to solve a problem, one from a new friend and the other from     4     old friend, people would prefer the latter one to the former one, even though the new friend’s advice may be better. However, I disagree     5     the old saying, believing that new friends are not     6     (necessary) worse than old friends. It is not always right to determine your friendship by the length (长度) of time.

Once you call someone a friend, he must be a person who is reliable and whose interests are in common with     7     (you). It is mainly his character and interests that make him your friend. It actually has little     8     (do) with time. People’s     9     (appear) may change, but their character usually stays the same. Therefore, on this point,     10     is no difference between old friends and new friends.

Friends play a very important part in everyone’s life. Friendship     1    (usual) develops during childhood. New friends are made when you progress through school. Those friends     2    you make as a student can usually last long. Friends influence your development, maturity (成熟) and sense of responsibility (责任). A familiar expression is “You can tell a lot about a person by     3    (know) who his fiends are.” Friendship     4    (base) on common interests. If you like sports, most of your friends     5    (be) likely to be athletic (竞技的). If you enjoy reading and shopping, most of your friends do     6    same.

Some people call you their friends for the wrong reasons. These people are not really friends. They are superficial (表面的) only “friends”on the outside, not the inside where it counts. Superficial friends only want to be your friends if is to their advantage. True friends are there if you are rich or poor.    7     is easy to have many so-called “friends” if you are rich. By this time you should be able to separate your friends into the real or the “phoney”.

True friends are most special. They are also difficult    8    (find). You can consider yourself very     9    (fortune) if you have one true friend. This friend is eager to help you whenever necessary. He or she knows you would do the same for them. A true friend is someone you can talk to about any subject or problem. You and your true friend have good understanding of each other. True friends give you a great deal of    10     (encourage), take your side, and build up your confidence.

Although sometimes it may seem impossible to get     1     as a family, you can take action     2    (improve) the situation. The key to     3    (keep) the peace is regular and honest communication.     4     you disagree with your parents, take a minute to calm down and try to understand the situation     5     their point of view. Perhaps they     6    (experience) something similar and do not want you to go through the same pain. After you have thought it     7    , explain your actions and feelings     8    (calm), listen carefully, and address     9    (they) concerns. Through this kind of healthy discussion, you will learn when to back     10     and when to ask your parents to relax their control.

On March 25, 2010, Kate and David Ogg heard the words every parent dreads: One of their newborn twins wasn’t going to make       1    . Doctors had tried to save the boy       2     saw no improvement. His heartbeat was nearly gone and the baby had just moments       3     (live).

“I saw him gasp, but the doctor said it was       4     (use),” Kate said. “I know it sounds stupid, but if he was still gasping, that was     5     sign of life.”

Still, the couple knew this was likely goodbye. In an effort to cherish her last minutes with the tiny boy, Kate asked to hold him.

Kate unwrapped the boy,     6     the couple had already named Jamie’, from his hospital blanket and ordered David to take his shirt       7     and join them in bed. The first-time parents wanted their son to be as warm as possible and hoped the skin-to-skin contact would improve his condition. They talked to him     8     (gentle), explaining his name and telling him how much he       9     (love).

Then something miraculous happened. Jamie came back to life,     10     (breathe). Finally, he reached for his father’s finger.

Eight years later, Jamie and his sister, Emily, are happy and healthy.

Over the past many years, we     1     (spare) no effort at work overtime, thus ignoring our family life. We spend time with people who we have nothing     2    common with, and attend social activities we have no interest in or     3     (curious) about. We always find ourselves living our lives in the way that pleases others and intend to make ourselves     4     (impress) to others instead of being ourselves. In fact, most of us only think about ourselves a little and rarely give ourselves     5     second thought, as a result of     6    , we often end up behaving     7     (happy) and out of place.

In view of this, it’s time to think about ourselves, our own family, and start creating a lifestyle that     8     (reflect) our own likes and dislikes. We’d better think it over next time when     9     (require) to work extra hours. Trying to be a loving parent or good friend    10     (be) very likely to give us far more pleasure and a feeling of security, connection and belonging.

Knowing me, knowing you

Two weeks ago my grandfather passed away. It really put me into deep sorrow because my grandfather held a unique position in my life. For me, my grandfather was not only a beloved family member     1    a tutor(导师) who encouraged me to work hard and write well.

I’ll never forget the first time I read a long piece of his writing. It was when I applied for Princeton and he offered to write to the university for me.

    2    (typical), my grandfather valued hard work. Every time he came to visit us in New York, he would praise my brothers and me for our good performance.     3    (inspire) by him, I had more confidence in myself and always pulled my     4    (weigh). I knew he had worked hard to raise the big family during the Great Depression. The reason     5     he was awarded many military medals was that he had won many battles in the Navy in World War Ⅱ.

At the funeral(葬礼), by accident I met with my grandfather’s friend,     6    (live) next to his house. He walked to me and said that my grandfather had told him about a small book that had been written by me a few years before. After it came out, I had it sent to my grandfather but     7    (receive) no reply. This man told me that my book hit my grandfather’s heart and brought tears to his eyes.

Now I feel it is even more worthwhile to write well because I know my grandfather appreciated it. I should also learn to be     8    (independence) later in my life. I often take my grandfather’s words     9     account. I hope I will be     10     excellent professional writer in the future.