陳金文

A

I was raised in New York City where I saw the homeless shivering from cold every winter. In the sixth grade， a teacher offered 1

（bring） some students to a homeless shelter after school. I went with my friends and the teacher for several weeks， but when they stopped

2 （go） together I continued to volunteer. Because I was good 3

sewing， I was told to help out with the sewing kit

4 any guests requested some repairs. Throughout high school I continued to come each week after school， 5 （set） up my sewing kit that grew larger and larger. I got to know the guests 6 came regularly and I also got to know their clothes with gaping holes and sagging seams.

Later on， I started a sewing club with my friend and we taught 7 （we） fellow students how to sew. We made heart-shaped pillows for sick 8 （child） and the elderly. Every time it rained I would think about the umbrellas I 9 （sew） before. In the future I hope to continue helping others as much as I can. It is 10 most important thing I have ever done. Volunteer work has taught me to appreciate my own talents and the gifts.

B

I used to play soccer with my friends because I loved soccer so much. My greatest desire was to be a soccer player in the future. I had some skills and everyone would say that I was a 1 （talent） guy.

Those were beautiful days. One day I had 2 accident from which I stayed in a coma for three weeks. After I woke up， I couldnt feel my legs anymore. It was the 3

（bad） day of my life. The situation took me a few months 4 （get） used to， but then， I discovered another one of my skills—the skill to design. Actually， I always had that skill， but I had not paid much attention 5 it because I was so busy 6 （develop） my soccer skill. However， my current condition allowed me to focus on my design skill. I 7 （go） from a picture designer， cover， and many

8 things， and eventually moved into another area of design—the world of animation.

Now I work in a famous animation studio and devote myself 9 （complete） to my work. If you lose hope， dont surrender. Look for other alternatives. 10 makes you weak can make you stronger！

C

Ive dreamed of becoming a writer since I was a teenager. But 1 isnt easy to get a book of mine published. 2

Ive tried hard， none of my books have been published. This is really 3 （upset）.

This morning， I received a call from a publisher and 4 （tell） once again that there was no way my book would be published. 5 （feel） sad， I left home and went to the park near my apartment. At the park， I sat down on the bench near the grass.

While I was sitting there， I saw a little boy about one and a half years old. He was running on the grass， 6 his mother not far behind him. He looked so happy when he enjoyed the 7 （free） of running on the grass. He then fell on the grass， but he quickly got up and continued 8 （run） as fast as he could again even without looking back at his mother. He was still running with a smile on his face， as if nothing 9 （happen）.

Seeing that， I was truly inspired. I 10 （sudden） realized that I shouldnt get discouraged after experiencing failure. Instead， I should cheer up and keep on trying.

D

I dreamed of becoming a teacher when I was little. However my family was poor and couldnt afford my college fees. As a result， I didnt go to college after high school. Instead， I found 1 job and started working. But I didnt want to give up my dream， 2 it is the one I had always had since I was little. In order to make my dream come true， I returned to college after 3 （work） for six years. When I was 28 years old， I finally 4 （obtain）my college degree.

One day， I 5 （give） an opportunity for an interview at a primary school. Everything went very well. I thought Id surely get the job. However， the 6 （follow） day I received a phone call and was told I didnt get 7 . The head teacher who gave me the interview 8 （eventual） told me the reason. He thought highly of me until the end of the interview. He noticed a hole in one of my stockings. He said， “If someone doesnt take the time 9 （present） her best image at an interview， what kind of teacher is she going to be？”

Because of my 10 （careless）， I failed to get the job I wanted.

E

One day， I took a bus to downtown as usual. 1 I got on the bus， I took a seat and started reading a newspaper just as I often did. Usually， no one spoke on the bus. Although we might see the same faces every day， we 2 （prefer） hiding behind our newspapers 3 talking to people around us.

However， that day was different. While I was reading some news， the woman 4

（sit） next to me said， “Excuse me， Miss.” I was surprised and ran into 5 （confuse）. After putting down the newspaper， I saw 6 smiling face. “Are you talking to me？” I asked. She nodded， still smiling. When I looked around， I found some other people were talking. “Thats strange，” I said to 7 （me）.

Later， I found out why. The passengers had 8 （ask） to put their newspapers down and talk to each other by the bus driver. After I knew the reason， I started talking with the woman 9 （happy）.

I had always been glad 10 （talk） with others on the bus. But since no one did that， I had to be quiet， too. Now I could finally talk with others on the bus and it made my trip much more pleasant.