“Remember, your father is only one year (old) than you.” That was Mum’s usual excuse when Dad said the wrong things or did something
(fool).
Dad quitted drinking exactly one year before I was born. He joined a group of other people. He said they (stop) drinking, too. I loved my dad
I hated the way his weekly meetings took him away
me. It seemed that they were more important to him than I was. But with my birthday coming up I thought Dad would make an
(except). “Can’t you miss it just this time? Saturday is my birthday!” I begged him but
(refuse). He said I am chairing the meeting this Saturday. We will have your party on Sunday.”
Saturday evening I sat on my bed, (feel) sorry for myself. Dad started to leave, then paused and said, “Why not
come with me together tonight? It’s an open meeting. All are welcome”. would I do at a meeting? But maybe I needed to see why something Dad every week mattered so much.
After we arrived, Dad announced the theme of the meeting was going to be gratitude. He told his story about giving up smoking. Later, a man (call) Dave also told his story. Only then did I know it was Dad that saved his life from drinking. Showing up week after week and meeting with people, Dad was changing lives. Shame washed over me.
Now，Valentine’s Day _______(celebrate) in many countries around the world. However, the traditions often differ from place to place.
It is said that the first_______(record) Valentine’s card was sent by the imprisoned Duke of Orleans in 1415.
Valentine’s Day is the time of the year when couples show their love for each other by sending cards，flowers and chocolates. Its origins are________(clear) and hidden in the river of time.
One day, a tramp (流浪汉) was sleeping on a park bench, satisfied with the afternoon sunshine. A couple walked by. The man stopped, woke the tramp up, and asked him, “Excuse me. ___you have the time?” the tramp replied, “I’m sorry---I don’t have a watch, so I don’t know the time.” The man apologized and walked away with his wife.
The tramp lay down and went back to sleep. Just then, a woman, ______ was out walking her dog, shook the tramp’s shoulder until he woke up, _
__said, “I’m sorry to trouble you, but do you happen to know the time?” The tramp was a little annoyed at being woken up again, but he politely told the woman he didn’t have a watch and had no idea __
____ the time. After the woman left, an idea occurred to the tramp. He opened his bag and took out a pen and a piece of paper. He wrote down with all his strength, “I do not have a watch. I do not know the time.” He then hung the paper round his neck thinking that nobody would hold him back in his sleep. Fifteen minutes
___, a policeman noticed the tramp and the sign around his neck. Out of a sense of responsibility, he woke the tramp up and said, “It’s 2:30 p.m.”
My first roller coaster experience was not pleasant. It was in the summer of 2009, in Six Flags, Massachusetts, the US. I went with a group of friends. We were all very excited about roller coaster
waited anxiously for the ride to begin. As the roller coaster got up higher and higher, however, my heart started to beat
hard that I even could see my shirt move up and down. I could feel the wind getting stronger and brushing through my hair. Then the big drop came. I closed my eyes and told that it would be over in two seconds, but it felt like forever. I was pushed up from my seat as if I
to be thrown out of the car.
the time I finished the ride, I could barely stand up or speak. So when my friends asked me
I thought of the ride, I just answered with silence. No matter how hard I tried, I could not make
sound.