As a sixth grader, I began noticing how other kids were separating into groups. I wasn’t sure where I belonged. I found it hard to fit in.

Our teacher had assigned “secret friends” for the coming week. She wrote each kid’s name on a piece of paper and threw them into a glass; then we each closed our eyes and catch one piece of paper from the glass on which was the name of a classmate who we were to secretly befriend and support each other over the next five school days. By the middle of the week, everyone, including me, had turned this assignment into a competition to see whose secret friend could leave the best gift. We left cards, pens and even money. It seemed that everyone was getting cool presents from their friend except me.

On the last morning of our assignment, I walked into my classroom and noticed there was a package. I opened the wrapping paper and inside was a box of powder (胭脂). The girls sitting near me laughed at the gift I had received. To make matters worse, the powder had already been opened.

I tried to forget about the embarrassing gift, but when I was in the bathroom during the break, the girls who had seen me open the powder started speaking ill of my secret friend. I quickly joined in: “How terrible”. I heard myself saying “What could my friend be thinking by giving me such a stupid gift? My grandmother wouldn’t even want it.” The girls laughed at my remarks and rushed out of the bathroom. I stayed to wash my hands and let the water run through my fingers as I thought about what I had just said. It wasn’t normal like me to say mean things like that about someone.

Then I saw my classmate Janet come out of a bathroom booth (厕所隔间), tears streaming down her face.

Along with my apologies, I explained the reason.

2 . Some of us regret that we no longer have parents to serve after their passing away. Then ________ not pay more attention to them when they were alive and with us?

A few days ago, when I went to a park for my evening walk, I came across an old couple sitting on a bench and talking to each other. Feeling a bit _______ after a long way, I’m curious to know about their ________ of discussion. So I went over and sat on the bench next to them. After a few moments, from their conversation I could _______ that their only son had moved to America. And they were ________ alone here.

Every sentence they said to each other conveyed to me their desire, their loneliness and their selfless ________ for their son. My eyes were filled with tears and I realized just how _______ we have become as children.

To achieve our goals and purposes we _______ to care little about the two most important persons of our lives: our parents, who ________ us when we were young, raised us heart and soul and guided us patiently on each step of our lives.

What has the life of these parents become now? Most of them are staying in old houses and leading a ________ life. Most of them even couldn’t be taken care of when they fall ill. Why do we always ________ that we are what we are now just because of these two special people who brought us into this ________?

Finally, I would like to use a few words written by a wise man which say, “When you were ________ and just a little way off, I ________ you with blankets against the cool night air, but now you are tall and out of ________, I hold out my hands and cover you with my best wishes.”

Lily was the only child in her home. She had just had a quarrel with her mother that afternoon and had run angrily out of the house. She couldn’t help crying when she thought of the scolding from her mother. Having wandered aimlessly in the street for hours, she felt a hungry and wished for something to eat. However, this was not possible for her, since she had no money. She stood beside a stand for a while, watching the middle-aged seller busy doing his business. With no money in hand, she sighed and decided to leave. The seller behind the stand noticed the young girl and asked, “Hey, girl, do you want to have some noodles?” “Oh, yes…but I don’t have money on me ...” she replied.

“That’s nothing. I’ll treat you today,” said the man. “Come in.” The seller brought her a bowl of noodles, whose smell was so appetizing. Lily thanked the man and started to gobble up(狼吞虎咽)the delicious food with silent tears running down her cheeks. “What is it?” asked the man kindly. “Nothing. I was just moved by your kindness!” said Lily as she wiped away her tears. “Even a stranger on the street will give me a bowl of noodles, while my mother drove me out of the house. She showed no care for me. She is so mean cruel!” Lily added.

Hearing the words, the seller smiled kindly and whispered, “Girl, do you really thinks so? I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you thanked me a lot. But it is your mother who has raised you since you were a baby. Can you count the number of times that she has cooked for you? Have you expressed your thanks to her?”

Lily sat there, speechless and numb with shock, remembering her mother’s familiar face and weathered hands. “Why did I not think of that?” she thought to herself. “A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful, but I have never thanked my mum for what she has done for me.”

At that moment, Lily knew that as soon as she arrived home, she would give her mother an apology for her terrible rudeness.

Approaching the doorway, Lily took a deep breath._

Her mother came back home, which called her mind back.

5 . A little boy told his mother that there was a teacher-parent meeting in his school. To the little boy’s_________, she said she would go. This would be the first time that his classmates and teacher met his mother and he felt _________of her appearance. Although she was a beautiful woman, there was a severe scar (伤疤) that_________nearly the entire right side of her face. The boy never wanted to_________why or how she got the scar.

At the meeting, the people were _________by the kindness and natural beauty of his mother_________the scar, but the little boy was still embarrassed (尴尬的) and_________himself from everyone. He, however,_________ a conversation between his mother and his teacher.

The teacher asked_________, “How did you get the scar on your face?”

The mother replied, “When my son was a baby, he was in a room that caught fire. Everyone was too afraid to go in because the fire was out of__________, so I went in. As I was running toward his bed, I saw a piece of wood coming down and I placed myself over him trying to protect him. I was knocked __________but fortunately, a fireman came in and saved both of us.” She __________the burned side of her face. “This scar will be permanent, but until this day, I have never__________what I did.”

At this point, the little boy came out running toward his mother with tears in his eyes. He held her in his arms and appreciated her great __________of sacrifice (牺牲), He held her hand __________ for the rest of the day.

14.

A．honour

B．spirit

C．happiness

D．pride

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.

My mother’s gift

A dandelion (蒲公英) in my dictionary always reminds me of my lunchtimes with my mother.

When I was in the third grade, I was picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had painstakingly (费力地) practised my lines with me. But no matter how easily I delivered them at home, as soon as I stepped onstage, every word disappeared from my head. Finally, my teacher took me aside. She explained that she had written a narrator’s part to the play, and asked me to switch roles.

I didn’t tell my mother what had happened when I went home for lunch that day. But she sensed my unease, and instead of suggesting we practice my lines, she asked if I wanted to walk in the yard.

It was a lovely spring day and the rose leaves were turning green. We could see yellow dandelions popping through the grass in bunches, as if a painter had touched our landscape with a little bit of gold.

I watched my mother casually bend down by one of the dandelions. “I think I’m going to dig up all these weeds,” she said, suddenly pulling a flower up by its roots. “From now on, we’ll have only roses in this garden.”

“But I like dandelions,” I protested. “All flowers are beautiful — even dandelions.” My mother looked at me seriously. “Yes, every flower gives pleasure in its own way, doesn’t it?” she asked thoughtfully. I nodded, pleased that I had won her over. “And that is true of people too,” she added. “Not everyone can be a princess, but there is no shame in that.”

Relieved that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry as I told her what had happened.

“But you will be a beautiful narrator,” she said, reminding me of how much I loved to read stories aloud to her. “The narrator’s part is as important as the part of a princess.”

Over the next few weeks, with her constant encouragement, I learned to take pride in the role. Lunchtimes were spent reading over my lines and talking about what I would wear.

Backstage on the night of the performance, I felt nervous.

After the play, I took home the flower I had placed in the pocket.

Mary frowned as she helped her mother and father set out the cooking supplies in the shiny steel kitchen. Her family had just moved here from New York, having bought a small restaurant, which was set to open in the next few days.

“Moving here was a stupid idea. I have lost all my friends in New York. What should I do now?” Mary grumbled (抱怨), mostly to herself.

“What’s that?” Her mother asked, opening a box and lifting out several pots. “Nothing,” Mary mumbled (嘟哝). The girl had been complaining about the move, but her parents had made the decision and were then too busy to listen to her complaints.

The first few days at her new school hadn’t been easy, either. She found it hard to talk to people she didn’t know, and it seemed that the students hadn’t even noticed her. Mary sighed and got back to wash dishes.

On the day of the grand opening, Mary’s parents were busy the whole day, welcoming customers into the restaurant, which was brightly decorated in gold and red. Even Mary was in a good mood as she rushed around, seating guests, handing out menus, and pouring glasses of water. This was a big day for her family.

At one of the tables sat a family with two daughters who were about Mary’s age. As she filled their glasses, Mary realized the twins were in her class. Mary ducked her head down. Her long hair covered her face, and she turned away from the table.

A few minutes later, Mary’s mother found her in the kitchen. “Honey, what are you doing back here? We need you out front with the customers.”