Last year, I was assigned to work at an office near my mother’s house, so I stayed with her for a month. During that time, I helped out with the housework and contributed to the groceries.

After less than a week, I started noticing that the groceries were running out pretty quickly — we were always suddenly out of something. 【小题1】(wonder) how my mum could consume them so quickly, I began observing her daily routine for two weeks. To my surprise, I found that she would pack a paper bag full of canned goods and head out every morning at about nine. Eventually, I decided to follow her and 【小题2】happened truly amazed me. She was taking the food to the refugee camp, in 【小题3】she distributed it to children.

I asked around and found out that my mum was very well known in the area. The kids were very friendly with her and even looked up to her as if she were their own mother. Then it hit me —why would she not want to tell me about what she 【小题4】(do)? Was she worried about how I would react or that I would stop 【小题5】(buy) the groceries if I found out?

When she got home, I told her about my discovery. 【小题6】she could react, I gave her a big hug and told her she didn’t need to keep it a secret 【小题7】me. She told me that some of the children lived with an older lady in a shelter while others slept on the streets. For years, my mum has been helping out by giving them whatever food she could spare. I was so impressed by 【小题8】selfless she was.

While thousands of college students headed for warm climate to enjoy sun and fun during their week off from classes, seven local students had other plans.

The Northern Essex Community College (NECC) students and one of their teachers spent part of their spring break in New York City, helping repair an area 【小题1】 (destroy) by the hurricane. "I wanted to see for myself what happened, "said Terry. " I couldn't imagine 【小题2】 it is like to lose your home and everything that you know and the 【小题3】 (power) effect the hurricane had on those people. I wanted to do something to understand their feeling of helplessness. " The group headed into Brooklyn's Red Hook district, which was hit hard by the hurricane. There they met people from other parts of the country, 【小题4】 had also volunteered to help. Together, those volunteers and the NECC students worked 【小题5】(clear) rubbish out of a three-story building. They put on protective suits and gloves 【小题6】 they entered the building. Inside, broken doors and pieces of the building 【小题7】 (lie) all over the place.

The students returned to school with 【小题8】 sense of achievement, a feeling 【小题9】 they helped people in need. I was remarkable how a community lost so much and was still able to recover, and this leave the deepest impression 【小题10】 the students.