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.

In your daily life, there are many 【小题1】(example) where your parents control hundreds of things for you when you are a kid, such as the clothes you wear, the food you eat, 【小题2】 you go and how you get there. As a matter of fact, kids need this kind of 【小题3】(protect) and help because they are not old enough to take care of 【小题4】and make decisions 【小题5】(correct). But with kids growing 【小题6】(old), the part of being a teen is 【小题7】(develop) your own identity, one that is separated from your parents’. Different attitudes towards events like partying may lead to arguments, because your parents will always want to protect you and keep you safe, no matter how old you are. As 【小题8】 result, your parents feel it hard to get used to the new situation with 【小题9】(increase) anxiety. What kids should keep in mind is that in most cases, your parents can relate to what you’re going through because they 【小题10】(be) teens once.

The Italian dinners we had every Sunday when I was a boy were feasts (宴会)fit for a king. There 【小题1】(be) slices of Italian bread ready to be eaten. They were great with butter and even   【小题2】(good) when served with the sauce (调味汁). My grandma,   【小题3】we called “Nanny”, would always bake them a day ahead so they would be ready. I remember   【小题4】(watch) her hand make the dough (面团). I would often ask to help but only because I wanted to have a bite of the dough before she placed it in the pans to bake. One day I 【小题5】(foolish) asked Nanny why she didn’t just buy bread at the store 【小题6】(save) time. “Because they’re not as good,” she said   【小题7】 her thick Italian accent. Then she laughed, smiled, and gave me a piece of dough to eat. Nanny was right. Today I buy my bread at the store and it isn’t as good. It is factory-made and lacks all the tastes,   【小题8】 (warm), and love that Nanny put into hers. Store-bought happiness is a sad substitute (替代品) for homemade joy. 【小题9】you want lasting love, permanent peace, and endless joy, then you have to bake them on   【小题10】 (you) own.