Do you often communicate with your parents? Some parents are always comparing their 41 with themselves when they were young or with other people when they were children.

"When I was your age," a father said to his sixteen-year-old son one day, "I was at the top of my class every year. And I  42  what I wanted to do when I left school. I had goals (目标). You are always at the bottom (最后) of your class  43  you have no goals."

The man's son said nothing. He had already heard this from his father many times. "And when your mother was your age, " the young man's father  44  , " she had a good job and she  45  lots of money. You don't even have a part-time job .You earn nothing. " The man's son still said nothing. He had heard this before, too. "And when your  46  brother was your age, "the young man's father said, "he studied hard. But you just waste your time."

And the man's son still said nothing.

Finally, the young man's father said, "And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he worked all day and studied at night."

This time the son  47  stay silent. "

And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, father," he said, "He was the President of  48  United States.  49  are you?"

His father had no answer  50  this.

Are your parents always comparing you with others? And what's your reply? Do you have a better way to communicate with each other?

1. A. children              B. students         C. teachers         D. friends

2. A. know              B. knew                 C. will know            D. have known

3.A. although           B. or               C. and              D. but

4.A. went away          B. went over            C. went up          D. went on

5.A. won                B. made                 C. received             D. gave

6.A. old                B. young            C. older                D. elder

7.A. can                B. can't                C. could                D. couldn't

8.A. a                  B. an               C. the              D./

9.A. What               B. How              C. Where            D. Who

10.A. to                    B. with                 C. of               D. on

Each day I took the same route to work and passed by a security guard (保安）.  1  greeted everyone walking by and made small talk with many of the passers-by and wishing them well. His simple “hello” made people feel   2 . His cheerful smile became a part of my day. When he was absent, many people noticed it, and I felt a little bit empty.
The first few times, I didn’t say hello back to him when he greeted me. I was   3  in my own world. On Monday the security guard asked me:“How was your weekend?” I told him about my visit to California, to see my mother, who had colon cancer. I  4 how I visited her each month. “The time with my mother is so precious(珍贵的),   5  I know that each time may be the last.”
He listened like a close friend I’d known for years. He felt my   6 and my love. He shared how he had lost his father to cancer two years before. He said, “I understand what you are going through. My father passed away while I was serving in Germany. Because of some reasons I was unable to fly back in time. I was unable to say goodbye to him. I wish I could have been with him, given him a hug, and told him I loved him. You are really lucky to have the gift of   7 .”
As I walked away, I realized I did not even know his name. The following day, on my way to work, I said: “After we spent all that time   8 yesterday, I still don’t know your name.” He answered, “Gary.” I responded back, “I’m Deborah.”
After that, we talked and shared stories about our weekends, dreams and families.
Later, Gary got   9  a new job and moved away. It’s been several years since I last spoke to him, yet the memory feels like yesterday. Gary reached out to me,   10  me and made my morning the best part of the day. I experienced the beauty of friendship and love.
In the business of life, we often forget to wish a stranger hello although how easy it is, and how great and lasting a   11  it can make. When you say hello to a stranger you become like a pebble(鹅卵石) thrown into a pond. With each ripple (波纹）you create, you spread love that continues to   12 . Make a point of saying hello to a stranger today. You will give the gift that keeps on giving.

Dear friends,

My name is Helen. I’m 12 years old. I   36   from Taxas, America. I’m really   37   in Chinese geography. It’s fun! And I hope you can tell me more. I like hamburgers best,   38   I try to eat them twice a week   39   it’s a kind of   40   food. And I like to drink lemon   41   . As for sports, I often go swimming with my parents on weekends.

I   42   in Cobb Street School. My   43   subjects in school are ME and art. They are really fun! After school, I like to go to the   44   with my family or friends. I like action movies and cartoons. They’re   45   How about you? Do you often go to the cinema with your family or friends?

Yours,

Helen

1.A．come       B．comes        C．coming       D．to come

2.A．different B．interested C．same     D．great

3.A．so          B．and        C．but          D．or

4.A．because B．with          C．and          D．or

5.A．Asian       B．delicious    C．healthy       D．unhealthy

6.A．tree      B．food C．juice           D．game

7.A．study       B．start         C．ride           D．meet

8.A．like     B．hate         C．favorite      D．first

9.A．library     B．playgroundC．hospital     D．cinema

10.A．boring   B．exciting      C．awful         D．difficult