I had never been more anxious in my life. I had just spent the last three endless hours trying to get to the airport so that I could travel home. Now, as I watched the bus driver set my luggage on the airport sidewalk, I realized that my anxiety had only just begun.

This was my first visit alone to the international terminal (航站楼) of the airport, and nothing was familiar. I couldn’t make sense of any of the signs. Where was the check-in counter? Where should I take my luggage? I had no idea where to go, feeling as if I were deaf and blind and stupid. I began to panic. What time was it? Where was my plane? I had to find help because I couldn’t be late.

I tried to ask a passing businessman for help, but my words all came out wrong. He just frowned (皱眉) and walked away. What had happened? I had been in this country for a whole semester, and I couldn’t even remember how to ask for directions. This was awful! Another bus arrived at the terminal, and the passengers came out carrying all sorts of luggage. Here was my chance! I could follow them to the right place, and I would not have to say a word.

I carried my heavy suitcase behind me and followed the group. We finally reached the elevators. Oh, no! They all fit in it, but there was not enough room for me. I watched in despair as the elevator doors closed. I was abandoned again! I had no idea what to do next. I got on the elevator when it returned and stared at all the buttons. Which one could it be? I pressed button 3, because I thought I saw those passengers pressed 3, though it was no more than a quick glance. The elevator slowly climbed up to the third floor and came to a stop. There were no check-in counters! I looked around shyly, only to find an elderly man standing at the corner. He was an airport employee.

Tears formed in my eyes as I saw the empty hall and realized that I would miss my plane.

When I turned to thank him for all his help, he was gone.

It’s funny that you can always tell when somebody’s laughing behind your back. Jodie hadn’t really heard anything, maybe a whisper(耳语), but when she turned around, the girls in the back row of the class were looking at her, trying to hide smiles and laughs. She looked back at her teacher. Mr Swales was talking about what people did all day. He also wanted to find out what his students wanted to be when they grew up. He called on Billy first.

“My daddy works in a bank,” Billy said. “I guess I want to work in a bank, too. There’s lots of money in the bank.”

“My daddy runs a company,” Emmy said. “My daddy is the big boss. And I want to be a boss, too.”

Jodie like it when Mr Swales asked them questions like this. He was about to call on Jodie when the girls in the back row suddenly started laughing. Shirley shouted, “Jodie’s daddy is a garbage man(清洁工)!” Everyone in the class laughed out loud.

Jodie felt her face turn red.

When Edith heard there was a competition to invent a brand-new machine, she longed to enter. Her idol (偶像), the famous inventor Mathew, was going to be the judge! Edith planned and worked on her invention every day after school. Finally, a huge light-up music box was finished—just in time for the competition. She was sure it would win first prize. Everyone would certainly be amazed when the lights shone and the music began to play.

However, when Edith slowly turned the handle (手柄), nothing happened. The machine needed more power.

Edith turned the handle faster, but no matter how quickly she went, she couldn’t get more than a flash from the lights. There was no way this would win and she had run out of time to fix it.

On the competition night, Edith went to the town hall with a heavy heart. She set up her music machine, feeling like a failure.

Mathew burst through the doors on his bike, whose pedals (脚踏板) gave off light. Everyone cheered excitedly. He got off the bike and walked around the rooms to see the inventions on show. Edith was nervous as he came over. “Can you tell me about your machine?” he asked. “It is a music machine that lights up.” Edith said in a low voice. Mathew clapped happily. “Amazing! Show me how it works.”

Edith turned the handle faster than she’d ever managed before. Terrible slow music started and the lights flashed on and off. Someone nearby laughed. Edith’s cheeks turned red. “Don’t worry.” Mathew smiled, “All my inventions went wrong when I was younger. You mustn’t give up.” Hiding behind the machine, Edith couldn’t wait for the competition to end.

The judging had almost finished when suddenly the lights of the hall went out. No one could get the lights to work and the competition couldn’t carry on. Edith thought for a moment. If only she were stronger, she could have turned the handle of her machine faster and lit up the room. In the dark, Edith could just see Mathew climbing onto his bike, with his pedals glimmering (发出微光).

“Don’t go!” Edith shouted, “I know how to light up the room!”

Everyone jumped with joy as light and music from the machine filled the room.

6 . I like travelling. In my younger years, my mother gave me some ________, “While you’re still young”, she said fondly, “________ as much as possible.” So whenever I have days off, I usually travel somewhere And ________ this habit, I met Taeko, a Japanese film producer, on the Isle of Skye in the UK.

I still remember the ________ Taeko and I first met. Skye is a mountainous island in Scotland ________ the transportation is inconvenient (不便的), I had to join a ________ tour, so did Taeko.

We didn’t meet ________ we had breakfast the next morning. It was very rare to see an ________ face on this far away and strange island, ________ we started to talk. I learned Taeko just took part in the 67th Cannes Film Festival.

After chatting for only 20 minutes, our friendship ________, We exchanged phone numbers and left for our separate bus journeys. ________, afterwards, we reunited again and again in different cities in the UK.

Taeko is a friendly and elegant (优雅的) lady who always speaks to people in a ________ voice. Although there’s a huge age difference ________ us, we understand each other. Taeko told me her husband was a professor in American literature. They all liked reading. It was the same love for ________ that brought them together.

But sadly, her husband ________ 18 years ago, and Taeko has remained single since then. She produces films, travels the world and makes friends. You can never ________ where she will be tomorrow.

When asked if she ever felt lonely, she said she never did. Instead, she feels________. She’s been doing exactly ________ she likes to do: be happy.