On Sundays my father always wore that gray apron(围裙)—the one with the race cars all over it. The ritual (老规矩) began. breakfast when Dad always announced, “Go ahead everyone. I’ll the dishes!” For the next hour Dad did the dishes, singing ballads (歌谣) like “I Had a Hat When I Came in.” and “Who Put the Chow in Mrs. Marphy’s Chowder?”
I suppose it was for a boy’s father to wear an apron—even one with race cars— I never thought much of it until the day that Dad broke with tradition. It was the last Sunday in August. As we home slowly from church together, my father seemed very . “Tommy,” he said letting my name roll off his . “There comes a time in every boy’s when he must take on responsibilities. It’s time you a greater role in the family. From now on, I want you to the dishes on Sunday morning, so your mother and I can work the crossword puzzle (纵横字谜) together.”
“The dishes!?” I in surprise.
“Anything wrong with taking over the dishes, son?” father said.
I started to say something about a man’s or woman’s work, but I knew immediately that my protests (抗议) would be .
I didn’t taste a bit of that morning. Dad seemed joyful as he described an American game.[]
At the end of the meal, my father , “Let’s go to read the paper, honey.” “Aren’t you doing the dishes?” my 51 asked surprisedly. Father smiled and said, “your oldest son has to fill the position.”
“I want you to have this apron on, Tommy. It’ll keep your clothes from getting .” And before I could go against it, he had put the thing on me. “Thanks, Son. Your mother and I this.”
With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked at the dishes. I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. He was always happy to help the family. My anger soon flew off and I began to sing.
A．Until B．During C．Before D．After
A．keep up B．take care of C．look for D．turn over
A．important B．natural C．strange D．exciting
A．but B．so C．because D．when
A．rushed B．hurried C．walked D．danced
A．happy B．angry C．sad D．mad
A．eyes B．tongue C．ears D．hands
A．death B．school C．work D．life
A．made B．played C．did D．carried
A．do B．buy C．break D．set
A．smiled B．laughed C．whispered D．screamed
A．game B．joy C．job D．feeling
A．turned down B．turned to C．turned up D．turned off
A．breakfast B．lunch C．supper D．juice
A．ordered B．announced C．demanded D．chatted
A．brother B．sister C．mother D．friend
A．started B．gone C．managed D．offered
A．cold B．warm C．dry D．wet
A．hate B．scold C．appreciate D．require
A．up B．down C．out D．on
The family had just moved．The young woman was feeling a little ．It was Mother's Day—and 800 miles separated her from her parents．
She had called them that morning，and her mother had how colorful their backyard was spring had arrived． Later，she told her husband how she those lilacs(丁香)in her parents’yard．“I know where we can find some，”he said．“Get the and come on．”So off they went．
Some time later，they stopped at a hill and there were lilacs all round．The young woman rushed up to the nearest and buried her face in the flowers．Carefully，she some．Finally，they returned to their car for the home．The woman sat smiling，surrounded by her ．
When they were near home，she shouted“stop”，got off quickly and to a nearby nursing home．She went to the end of the porch(门廊)，where a(n) patient was sitting in her wheelchair，and put the flowers into her lap．The two ，bursting into laughter now and then．Later the young woman turned and ran back to her ．As the car pulled away，the woman in the wheelchair with a smile，and held the lilacs ．
“Mom，”the kids asked，“ did you give her our flowers?”“It is Mother's Day，and she seems so while I have all of you．And anyone would be by flowers．”
This satisfied the kids，but not the husband．The next day he some young lilacs around their yard．
I was the husband．Now，every May，our yard is full of lilacs．Every Mother’s Day our kids purple lilacs．And every year I remember that smile of the lonely old woman．
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I lived in an orphanage(孤儿院）when I was 8. A gentleman came and taught us how to do woodworking projects.
I remember my first project ---a small table. I was so of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(n) . It had taken me six weeks to it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a . She was the head mistress of our orphanage, who was always with us.
As the tables were not dry, the man told us to wait a few days. But I was just so and happy that I couldn’t wait. I dashed out like a carrying my table.
When I was it in the dormitory, Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand it, she noticed that it was still wet.
“Were you to bring this home?” she asked.
“No, ma’ma,”I with my head down.
She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I opened the door to get it back. There was stuck all over. I brushed and cried.
I hid the table in my closet and never it. After cleaning up, I gave the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent(宿管员), thinking that she would it away.
Thirty years later at a reunion, I that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her to get something. I followed her into a dark corner. She picked something up. she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.
Mother Henderson still kept the little table!
Today, I look at that table with bitter-sweet memories but full of to Mother Henderson, who kept it for an orphan who tried very hard to himself.
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They call themselves “The Soul Knights(骑士)” and come from different universities in Guangdong Province.
During their summer vacation, the team, consisting of five male and two female students, more than 3,000 kilometers from Guangzhou to Beijing. It took them days to complete the journey.
The Soul Knights have a noble , which is to advocate civilized travel by taking photos of graffiti(涂鸦) by tourists.
“When we heard that a Chinese tourist wrote his name on an Egyptian temple, it made think a lot. We wanted to use photos to everyone how important it is to protect historic relics,” says Zhang Zhihao, 22, the team’s captain.
On their trip, the team had a clear of duty. Some provided medical care, some were fund, and others updated the team’s micro blog.
Cycling is a great way of enjoying the landscape, but it’s . On the way they passed through many cities heat waves with temperatures well above 40 degrees.
They rode about 20 kilometers per hour. They got up at 6 am, departed at 7:30 and at noon to cool down. Sometimes they borrowed sheets of cardboards from restaurants and slept trees.
After cycling for one month, the team arrived in Beijing, their destination. it wasn’t the end of their journey yet. The team a small exhibition on the Great Wall of China, one of the country’s most visited attractions, to show everyone the they had taken of graffiti in various places.
To their , many visitors showed their support for the young team’s project by their names on the banner(横幅)they had prepared.
“We do this adventure, for sending a message to the public about protecting our country’s cultural heritage(遗产) is a very rewarding ,” said the team’s captain.
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A wise gentleman retired and bought a modest home near junior high school. He the first few weeks of his retirement peace and satisfaction. Then a new school year began. The very next afternoon three young boys, full of youthful, after-school enthusiasm, came down his ，beating happily on every trash can they ．The noise continued day after day, finally the wise old man decided it was time to take some .
The next afternoon, he walked out to the young boys as they banged their way down the street. them, he said, " kids are a lot of fun. I like to see you your happiness like that. I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Will you do me a favor? I'll give you each a dollar if you'll promise to come around every day and do your thing，
The kids were and continued to do their job on the trash cans. After a few days, the old man greeted the kids again, this time he had a sad smile on his face. "I lost a lot of money in the stock market," he told them. " , I'll only be able to pay you 50 cents to beat on the cans." The troublemakers were displeased, but they did accept his offer and continued the afternoon .
A few days later, the old man approached them again as they went their way down the street. "Look," he said, "I haven’t received my Social Security check yet,
I'm not going to be able to give you more than 25 cents. Will that be okay?"
"A quarter?” the leader exclaimed．"If you think we are going to our time beating these cans around a quarter, you are crazy！No way，mister. We quit！"And the old man enjoyed for the rest of his days.
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There was a rich man who wanted to choose a husband for his only child from a great number of pursuers. The man all the pursuers to a river and pointed to the crocodiles there, saying, “Anyone who can swim across the river safely will marry my .” The pursuers looked at each other and no one take action. At that moment, a man plunged into the river and swam _ surprising speed to the other side. All the people there him with a great sense of admiration for his courage. , the man, after landing on the bank, shouted , “who pushed me into the river just now?”
Maybe the man, thinking about the whole and the happy consequences of his act, will eventually be to the one who pushed him into the river. In life it is fairly for disadvantages to turn into advantages and misfortunes into fortunes! But many of us are to realize the true of our “rivals” to success. Generally speaking, many people would see the one who “pushes him into the river” as an opponent. However, the one who “pushes him into the river” gives you a feeling of urgency and stimulates (激励) your ambition and to strive for success! You try your best to your difficulties and progress to the next stage in life!
If a man does not have rivals, he be satisfied with the present and will not strive to improve his . He would in the face of difficulties and sink into laziness. Therefore, your rivals are not your opponents. Instead, they are good ！In our lives, we need some rivals to “pushes him into the river,” leading us to strive ahead in difficulties and competitions. Thanks to our rivals, we can show our to its best. Thanks to our rivals, we are able to make continuous progress while competing with them!
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