My son, daughter and I all needed new glasses this year. After searching for an optometrist (验光师) we scheduled a(n) _________. The exams went well and we all_________ our new glasses. The_________ was enough to make my wallet weep, though.

When the new glasses arrived, we all tried them on and_________ seeing clearly again. Like I always do, I put the_________ ones in an old shoe box, which was full of glasses_________ stored. I felt bad about all of them just sitting there_________ dust. My daughter soon found a company that accepts second-hand glasses and then gives them to those who need but can’t_________ new ones.

As we packed all the_________ to mail out, my mind went back to a time when I was the one in need. I can still remember____________ my broken, plastic glasses’ frames(镜框) for the twelfth time because we couldn’t afford new ones. I didn’t know why we____________ so much when my young family didn’t do anything wrong. It was one of those questions I asked but never expected to get a____________.

At present I think I____________ know what that answer is. The truth is that we all____________ pain, struggles and suffering in this life. We can use them to grow selfish and bitter or we can use them to grow loving and kind. May you always choose____________ . May you always choose love.

When The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern begins, we meet George Pratt the day before New Year. ______, George finds himself on a bridge outside his small hometown considering his life a complete waste. Suddenly, a ______ man appears. The two characters ______, and we learn that George believes he is just an ______ banker with a family doing the same thing every day, and wishes he had never been born at all. Hoping to teach him a ______, the man grants George his wish.

After the man ______, a confused George Pratt travels back to town. Nothing appears ______ until he walks by Hank Biddle’s tree. The tree should have been damaged from the time George ran his car into it. But in this moment, the tree looks ______. Soon, George discovers the town he knows so well doesn’t know him at all.

As George walks around town, he notices he is a ______ to everyone. Not only that, George learns that the lives of his family have taken a turn for the ______.

First George learns that his beloved brother ______ because George was not there to save him. The loss of George’s brother continues to bring enormous sorrow to their ______ parents. Later George finds out that Mary, his wife, ends up in a difficult ______ to someone else.

George realizes these dark changes may stay forever unless he does something. He returns to the ______ to find the man and ______ for his life back. Once again, his wish is granted. The story closes with George racing back home to embrace Mary and their children on the New Year.

Long ago, in a small village of Wakefield lived two farmers, Harry and Peter. Harry was very hard working while Peter was _______. Every day Harry got up early and came home late, but Peter walked around for fun.

One summer there was no _______ and the crops(庄稼) were dying. Harry thought, “I must do something to save these crops, or they shall die.” With this _______ in mind, he went out to find a river so that he could dig a canal(沟渠) to his field. He walked on and on, feeling tired and thirsty. After a _______ search, he found a river full of blue water. He was very happy. He started digging a canal to his field._______ it was noon his wife sent their daughter to bring Harry home _______ lunch. But Harry did not go. He did not want to leave his work unfinished. He completed his work _______ at night. He was very satisfied.

He went home and had a good meal and _______ into a sound sleep.

Peter did the same. But he was not at all determined(有决心的). He also _______ digging a canal to his field but he didn’t have his work completed. His field did not get ________ water and all his crops died.

Harry’s field would be watered when needed.He had a good harvest because of his hard work.