On a sunny afternoon, my father and I were reading together in the living room. My father, an amateur writer, was enjoying ______ reading his favorite short story writers' works. Suddenly he passed me one of them and said: "Don't try to analyze—just relax and enjoy it". I read it for a while and then looked at him and said, "Why not write a ______ myself like them? If you like it, give me a prize!" He agreed happily.

Back to my room I concentrated on writing. But when the hundredth draft still ______ gave me satisfaction, hopelessness filled my heart. I looked out of the window, and listened to the bird purposelessly. How could I make my father proud? Then I went ______ the living room to the study secretly for help, where I found an interesting story. I was so ______ that I took down everything I needed from the book without thinking. Then I took the story to my father.

He finished reading, nodded and ______ , "It is excellent, Jay. I am quite sure you can get what you want." Then he ______ a line, "Writing really takes study and imagination. I can tell you're a creative boy from this sentence. So there is ______ I can change."

I listened to his praise, my heart pounding and my hands sweating. ______ he said made me embarrassed. I didn't feel like a winner. Mark Twain should have won the prize, ______ he was the writer of the book.

I stepped back a bit and said, "Dad, I'm sorry. I ______ the story from a book, changing the setting and some words. I guessed you ______ not have read it, so ..." My voice choked, and the tears ran down the cheeks.

"Jay, I am glad that you can realize your ______ ." He patted my head and continued, "That's because, I know, you want to ______ your passion for writing to me and make me happy. But, my boy, no matter what you want to do, ______ always comes first. Remember?"

I nodded, trying to understand his words, which would be the most special prize for me in my life.

Every morning Grandpa got up early and sat at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson admired him very much, so the grandson always ________ Grandpa in every way he could.

One day, the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read books just like you, but I ________ what I read as soon as I close the book. What is the ________ of reading the books then?”

Grandpa thought for a while and said, “Take this coal (煤) basket down to the river and ________ a basket of water.”

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked (漏) out from the holes under the basket ________ he got back to the house. Grandpa saw what happened, but only replied. Let’s try again.” Then he sent his grandson back to the river with the basket to try again. The boy went back and forth again and again, trying his ________ to get a basket of water.

________, he found that it was impossible. He felt ________ and cried, “Grandpa, it’s useless!” “You think it is useless?” Grandpa asked “Look at the basket.”

The grandson looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was ________ different. It had changed from a dirty old coal basket into a clean holder. Grandpa smiled and said, “That’s what happens when you read the books. You might not understand or remember ________ when you finish a book. But when you read enough, you’ll be changed inside and out.”

A girl began lessons with an old Chinese Kungfu teacher. She practiced one move (动作) for three months and she did very well. But she didn’t know _______ her teacher just taught her one move.

“Teacher,” the girl finally said, “Can I learn _______ moves?”

“This is the only move you know, _______ this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the teacher answered. Although the girl couldn’t understand, she still _______ practicing.

Several months later, the teacher took the girl to her first match (比赛). At first, it was easy for the girl to win her first two matches. Then the girl was in the final match. This time, her opponent (对手) was bigger and stronger. It seemed that the girl would lose the match _______. But she didn’t _______. Soon after, her opponent made a big mistake (错误). The girl used her move again. To her _______, she won again. She became the winner.

On _______ way home, the girl still didn’t believe she was the winner.

“Teacher, how did I win the match _______ only one move?”

“You won for ________ reasons,” the teacher answered. “First, you mastered (掌握了) the most difficult move in Chinese Kungfu. Second, you tried your best to win it.”