Chen Xingrong, 16, was diagnosed with autism (自闭症) when he was a baby. “We did not understand why such a thing would happen to us,” says Chen’s father Chen Xunhu. He _______ his job at a computer company and _______his full attention to the topic of autism. In 2012, C hen Xunhu learned that _______ could help people with autism _______ their physical fitness and growth. _______ . He spent months teaching his son to grasp the skill.

“Sadly, the efforts _______ in the first three months,” he recalls, after another three months, Chen Xingrong surprisingly learned to control his _______ under water, which significantly boosted the father’s _______ . “I used to plan all his exercises for him, but now it is all up to him. We _______ his choice.” In spite of all the hardships in life, Chen Xingrong ________ to become an outstanding swimmer, thanks to ________ training and the support of his parents, Last year, he won five ________ including a gold, at the eighth National Special Olympic Games.

In 2010, an autism - themed film, Ocean Heaven, ________ the big screen in China. It describes how a dying father attempts to teach his son to ________ without him. “My wife and I watched the film,” he says. “We ________uncontrollably because we could re son ate (产生共鸣) with the film’s ________ .”

Since then, helping his son learn basic life ________ has also been an important aim for the father. Thanks to his ________ , Chen Xingrong has learned to buy food in the market and do simple jobs at fast-food restaurants. “He is part of the community, and I hope he will live a ________ life in the future. There is ________ that we want more than that, “says Chen Xunhu.

An Angel Among Us

The Christmas of 2001, my husband Bob and I had four children, Peter, Ann , Laura and little Matthew. When Santa visited us, Matthew ________ on Santa’s lap and anyone who had their picture taken with Santa also had their picture taken with little Matthew.

We never knew how ________ those photos with Santa. Five days later, little Matthew died in an accident. I learned the first year after a death is the ________, as there are many firsts to ________ without your loved one. When our first Christmas without Matthew ________, it was hard for me to get into the holiday ________. Bob and I could hardly face putting up the decorations or ________ for gifts.

On Christmas Eve, something extraordinary happened to ________ our spirits. We were just finishing ________ when we heard a knock on the door. When we ________it, no one was there. ________, on the front porch was a card and a ________. We opened the card and read that the gift-giver just wanted to help us come through a rough time by ________ us up with his or her name ________ , like a fairy.

In the gift bag was a cassette of Christmas music, which included our favorite songs, ________ “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” We put the cassette in our player and, song by song, the spirit of Christmas began to ________ our hearts.

Each year since then, as we decorate our Christmas tree we play the songs. We give ________ for our fairy who was, we finally ________, our very own Christmas ________ . We never did find out who it was, although we have our ________ . We actually prefer to keep it that way.

"Mum, can I invite my classmate Brett over to stay tomorrow night, please? It's Friday, and we don't have any _______.   Can I, please?" Mum was sitting at the kitchen table.   Dad was _______next to her, resting his head on his arms.   Mum could _______that James wanted so badly to have his friend over.

"I'm so sorry, James," she said.

"I'm never allowed to have friends come to the house? Why, Mum?" James asked sadly, almost in _______.

"I know it's _______for you," Mum said softly.   "But I'm just worried other people might think we're a little. . .   strange.   And then they would make fun of you. "

"No, they wouldn't, Mum," James protested.   "We're not _______at all.   We're just ordinary people. "

Mum sighed heavily.   "To tell you the truth, James, my neck has been so painful that it's given me a heavy _______.   And your poor father — he doesn't feel _______.   He really needs a rest. "

"I can help, Mum!" James said.   " _______I can make you and Dad feel better, can Brett come over? Please?"

"Well. . . " Mum began.

"Great! Thanks, Mum!" James almost shouted.   "Just sit there, don't move. " He rushed over to the kitchen drawer and ________what he needed — two spanners(扳手).   "Hang on, Mum," he said.   "This won't take a second. " After some ________, James was finished.   With a smile of ________on his face he said, "There! How does that feel?" "Oh, James," Mum said.   "That's much better! How did you do it?"

"Easy," James said ________.   "Dad had tightened your neck bolts(螺栓) too much! I just________them slightly! I learned that in robotic science at school. "

"What about your father? Can you ________him?" asked Mum.

"I'll try," James replied.   He ________up Dad's hair at the back of his neck, and plugged the electric wire into Dad's head.   Then he turned the ________on.   Dad opened his eyes and ________immediately.   "He just let his ________run too low, that's all," James said.   "Shall I tell Brett to come over straight after school tomorrow?"

"I guess so," replied Mum.   "Your friends will just have to ________that we are a very unusual family.   Thanks, son!"