“My dad does everything for me! Even without much money, he________to buy me an ice cream.” said Davi about his father, Damiao.

Upon hearing the words, tears________from Damiao’s eyes. In their culture, men hardly cry in front of others. But________crying has been a normal part for him. Damiao’s childhood was________: he and his 11 sisters and brothers all started working from an early age. Agriculture was the only________he learned in life.

Later, Damiao got married and had three children. He continued to________to support the family. In their culture, it’s_________for men to work hard on the farm. A year ago, Damiao received a message from his wife________that she would be leaving. She asked the________where they would like to live. They preferred to stay with their father. So she said her________and left.

“I was shocked and sad. I________thought about killing myself. What made me give up this idea was that my children need me and that I cannot________them.”

Damiao’s heart was weighed down by sadness again. Luan, Damiao’s youngest son, was traumatized (精神受创) by the________in the family.________,with the support of the staff at a caring center, the family learned to________,even through their heartache.

Although challenges________, the love that Damiao’s children have for him shows what a________father he is. He cannot________everything they want. But he promises to never leave. Even on his darkest days, he________to give up. “Being a family is being________. It doesn’t matter what happens.” Damiao says.

One morning in 2001 Ellen phoned me and asked if I wanted to go to Bosnia. I was ______ because it had just experienced a war.

Ellen ______ and told me that UN was badly in want of volunteers there. I told her I would think it over. For the rest of the day, I was torn by ______ thoughts. Bosnia may be dangerous; do I really want to put myself in the peril? Then other ______ flashed into my mind. I liked challenges. And it’s a fairyland for marvels. If I ________the invitation, I may never get another chance. In the end, the ______ thoughts won.

A few weeks later, I ______ a plane to Tuzla, Bosnia where I spent three interesting weeks. After I returned, I was asked if I’d like to return and participate in another ______. I said “yes” firmly.

It is twenty years since I let my optimistic thoughts ______ my negative ones. I have finished many other tasks in many other countries since then. When I ______ my first Bosnia assignment, I had traveled to three foreign countries. My ______ is now fifty-eight. I continued to volunteer ______.

Had I listened back in 2001 to the ______ inside telling me not to take a risk, I wouldn’t be uttering this   ____. Fortunately, I followed the voice that said, “_______ it” and I found a brand new life after sixty!

Dad is a liar(说谎者), definitely. He never tells the truth about anything_______, or anything that he thinks is bad to me, even though I_______that I don’t mind hearing these things.

He is the kindest man I have ever met, who never_______others, as well as the_______man, for he’s always hard on himself. Every time I_______home from college and asked Dad how his_______was getting on, he would always reply, “Oh, couldn’t be_______!” When I asked my mum the same question on the phone,_______, she honestly told me every_______with Dad’s business. I didn’t blame Dad for his________. I felt a deep sympathy for him.

Dad is a miser (吝啬鬼), undoubtedly. I hardly see Dad wear________clothes. In fact, his closet is half empty. Even in this half, two-thirds is occupied by Mum’s clothes and the other________belongs to him. I urged him to buy some new clothes,________he simply shook his head, “The old clothes are still good enough.” Were they? I saw________in them.

It________my heart up when I saw Dad________terribly with his hand covering his mouth. When the pains became unbearable, he________took some pills.

So it surprised________when the day came that Dad got sick. He was lying in bed. And all the family gathered around him. I knelt(跪) by his bedside, tears filling my eyes.

Dear Dad, you’ve been________yourself too hard, which you should not have. I know I might as well________a river to flow backward as hope to talk you out of working so hard. But I still want to say, “Dad, take better care of yourself!”