A funny thing happened to Arthur when he was on the way to work one day. As he walked along Park Avenue near the First National Bank, he heard the sound of someone trying to start a car. He tried again and again but couldn’t get the car moving. Arthur turned and looked inside at the face of a young man who looked worried.

Arthur stopped and said, “It looks like you’ve got a problem.”

“I’m afraid so. I’m in a big hurry but I can’t start my car.”

“Is there something I can do to help?” Arthur asked. The young man looked at the two suitcases in the back seat and then said, “Thanks. If you’re sure it wouldn’t be too much trouble, you could help me get these suitcases into a taxi.”

“No trouble at all. I’d be glad to help.”

The young man got out and took one of the suitcases from the back seat. After placing it on the ground, he turned to get the other one. Just as Arthur picked up the first suitcase and started walking, he heard the long loud noise of an alarm.

It was from the bank. There had been a robbery (抢劫)!

Park Avenue had been quiet a moment before. Now the air was filled with the sound of the alarm and the shouts of people running from all directions. Cars stopped and the passengers joined the crowd in front of the bank. People asked each other, “What happened?” But everyone had a different answer.

Arthur still carrying the suitcase, turned to look at the bank and walked right into a young woman in front of him.

She looked at the suitcase and then at him. Arthur was surprised. “Why is she looking at me like that?” he thought. “The suitcase! She thinks I’m the bank thief!”

Arthur looked around at the crowd of people. He became frightened, and without another thought, he started to run.

As he was running, Arthur heard the young man shouting behind, “Stop! Stop!” _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The taxi stopped in front of the police station. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . Last Thursday, Michael and Linda were distributing (分发) meals to 4,000 homeless people for their wedding reception (婚宴) in the border town of Kills. The _________ had decided that instead of playing host to their friends and family with a traditional feast reception, they _________ to feed the homeless people from an earthquake-stricken area.

The idea came from Michael’s father, Ted, who _________ for a Turkish relief organization. For the past few years, the organization has handed out _________ meals to thousands of people who’ve suffered from natural disasters. He called Adam, who was _________ the organization, and suggested that the family cover part of the cost of feeding them for the day.

Then he told his son, who was surprised by the _________, but soon agreed. When he told that to Linda, she was really shocked but finally _________ because in southeastern Turkey there is a real culture of sharing with people _________. They love to share their _________, their table and everything they have. And afterwards she was quite __________ in it. So, they arrived at the __________ on Thursday to spend the day serving food and taking photographs with their grateful recipients (接受者).

On Tuesday evening, the __________ married couple were still pleased with their decision to __________ a personal celebration for one with greater good. Michael said, “A small act of __________ could make a big difference. __________, this will give the start for other wedding dinners to be held here with our brothers and sisters in need.”

6 . Usually, waiting for the holidays is the most beautiful and expected moment, when people can meet their friends and eat together. However, not everyone can_________ such a nice life.

One day, Carmen Mendes, a beautiful lady, went for a walk and dinner with her husband during the holidays. They were at a _________ waiting for their fresh meal when she noticed a(n) __________ woman at the front door. The woman was begging the passers-by and diners to hand their scraps (剩饭) to her. Some people just __________ her and passed her by while others just threw their scraps in front of her. The scene was so_________ for Carmen that she was much struck and________ to give hers, with a smile and respect. Then, when she met the woman at the entrance and handed her meal to her, suddenly she felt that she did something_________.

As Carmen said, she had worked with the homeless for many years, so she had a special__________ for them. Soon, quickly changing her__________, she asked the woman to sit and eat a fresh meal. As she was very hungry, Carmen immediately ordered fresh chicken strips with fried potato for the woman to have.

The kind gesture __________the woman so much that she was moved to tears! Then, both of them had an emotional hug!

Last Saturday, Jordon was taking a walk in the park near his home when he noticed a woman with a boy of about seven years old. When Jordon passed them, he heard the woman yell, “How stupid you are! You are good at nothing. ”Jordon stopped and looked at the little boy. The boy said nothing. He just stood there, looking upset.

Jordon was reminded of his English teacher Mrs Mary in middle school. He was often told that he was good at nothing. But one day it all changed. One day, in an English writing class, Mrs Mary asked them to read a novel. They were asked to write a new chapter of the novel after they finished reading the book. A few days later, Jordon handed in his story. But the next day to his surprise, the comment (评价) “well done” from Mrs Mary came into view the moment he turned to the page where the story was written. When Jordon read that, he almost burst into tears. That day after he returned home, he wrote a short story and gave it to Mrs Mary the next morning. And again he was praised.

Jordon became very interested in writing. He often wrote short stories and asked Mrs Mary to read them and correct them for him. Mrs Mary always corrected them for him and gave him good advice to improve them. One year later, he was no longer that boy who lacked self-confidence. He gained his confidence and was hopeful about his future. Several years after graduating from college, he had his first book published and became famous as a writer in his country. And he owed his success to Mrs Mary's encouragement. Without her encouragement, his life might be very different now.

8 . An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money left. When she heard her daddy say to her _______ mother with desperation (绝望), “Only a miracle (奇迹) can save him now.” The little girl went to her bedroom and took out her piggy bank. She _______ all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Then she _______ her way six blocks to the local drugstore (药店).

“And what do you want?” asked the chemist.

“It’s for my little brother,” the girl answered back. “He’s really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle. His name is Andrew and he has something _______ growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him.”

“We don’t _______ miracles here, child. I’m sorry.” the chemist said, smiling _______ at the little girl. In the shop was a _______ customer. He stooped (弯腰) down and asked the little girl, “What kind of miracle does your brother _______?”

“I don’t know,” she replied. “He’s really sick and daddy says he needs a (n) an operation. But my daddy can’t pay for it, so I have brought my _______.”

“How much do you have?” asked the man.

“One dollar and eleven cents, but I can try and get some more.” she answered quietly.

“Well, what a coincidence (巧合),” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents—the ________ price of a miracle for your little brother. ________ me to where you live. I want to see your brother and ________ your parents.”

That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon. The operation in the hospital was completed without ________ and it wasn’t long before Andrew was ________ again and doing well.

The little girl was happy. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost—one dollar and eleven cents plus the ________ of a little child.

9 . There was once a captain who loved money so much that he cheated his sailors at the end of every voyage and took their wages.

On the last day of one voyage, the ship was in a small port. It was winter time, and the sea was very cold, so the captain said to his sailors, “If one of you stays in the water during the whole night, I will give him my ship. But if he comes out before the sun appears, I shall get his wages.”

The sailors had heard about the captain’s cheating, so they didn’t trust him. But then one of them, who thought that he was cleverer than the captain, said that he would do it. He got into the water, and, though it was very cold, he stayed in it. When it was nearly morning, some fishermen lit a fire on the shore about half a mile away.

“You are cheating”, the captain said to the sailor. “The fire’s warming you.”

“But it’s half a mile away!” said the sailor.

“A fire’s fire,” answered the captain. “I have won.”

The sailor came out of the water, and said, “Perhaps you think that you are clever because you have won my wages, but you can’t cook a chicken.”

“I can,” answered the captain.

“If you cook this chicken,” said the sailor, “I shall work for you without wages for seven years, but if you can’t, you will give me your ship.”

The captain agreed, took the chicken and said, “Where’s the fire?”

“There it is,” answered the sailor. “On the shore.”

“But it’s half a mile away,” said the captain angrily.

“A fire’s fire, you said,” answered the sailor. “If it is enough to warm me in the water, it is enough to cook your chicken.”

I had just poured my second cup of tea that morning and sat down to read the paper. From somewhere, an inner voice said, “Go see Jeff and bring him the chair to repair. Go right now.” it was such a strong need that I hurriedly dressed and carried a dinning-room chair to his door.  Jeff was a neighbor who had lost his wife a while back, and he sometimes did minor repairs for me because he enjoyed working with his hands.

I knocked on his door and waited a while. I was about to walk away when he answered. He looked like he was far away in his thoughts. I felt awkward about upsetting him so early. I greeted him and then asked if he could repair my chair. He invited me inside. We sat in his living room. He looked very sad and not his usual self. He said he had had a stroke recently, and while he was home now, he still needed to attend physical treatment. He had to build his strength back up. I apologized for the chair and told him I would just bring it back home. He said to leave it.

We talked for a while. He said that, before I arrived, he was seriously sad. So, my visit stopped his darkness. I listened to how hard it had been since his wife passed and how much worse it was now since the stroke. The longer we talked, the more I saw his mood lighten.

After I left his home, I went to the supermarket and gathered ingredients. I made him a hot meal I thought he would like. Carefully, I cut up vegetables and prepared stew (炖菜) for him. I believe it was the best stew I ever made. I made homemade biscuits and prepared fresh fruit for dessert. I realize there might have been healthier food, but I thought a hot meal would lift his spirits. I dropped it off for him. He was glad that someone cared. Emotionally, he seemed in a better place.

About a week later, he knocked on my door.