In my generation, most people assume (假设) a lot. We assume that after getting a driver’s license, we should see a brand new car sitting in our driveway. We assume that the latest iPhone product should be in our hands as soon as something goes wrong with our old one. We also assume that college, being as expensive as it is, should be given. However, what we don’t realize is that all of these things are very special privileges (特权).

New cars, the latest technology and college fees are something that most people have in the place where I live. I’m not necessarily complaining about this. I live in a very fortunate area, and I try to remind myself of that every day.

Getting nice things is great, but sometimes, the competition that rules our lives gets too fierce. When someone else gets something great, you begin to think, “Why can’t I have that?” When everyone around you goes to college, you think that one day you will obviously do the same, because who doesn’t?

Even now, having almost done with my first year of college, I constantly see people who forget why we’re here, and how lucky we are to be on this campus. All of the distractions can surely keep you from doing your best, and they can easily make you forget your real purpose at college. The parties, friends, events, and overall social life can move you into a never-ending whirlpool (旋涡) of not doing schoolwork. Having fun is a part of life, but balance is the key when it comes to college.

Appreciation nowadays is slowly changing into a distant thought. We constantly forget how lucky we are to have the things and the life that we live. Surely, who doesn’t dream of a new car waiting for them, or that brand new iPhone that you see in all of the commercials? But wanting something is different from expecting it. Setting yourself up with an “ I should get this” attitude will only push appreciation further away.

Appreciate what you have, but don’t expect what you don’t have. Say thank you to those who help and support you, and realize that whoever you are, you’re lucky in a great way.

   Cancer treatments left 5-year-old Isabella Harvey nearly bald (秃顶的). She felt _____ for not feeling as “beautiful” as her favourite Disney princesses, ______ a magical photo shoot lifted her _____ and moved many of her supporters to tears.

D’ Antoni, who is a member of Gianna Nicole’s Heart of Hope, a foundation that _____ cancer patients and their families, had known the Harvey family for years. She _____ to organize a photo shoot activity in a (n) _____ to cheer up Isabella. The photo shoot was held at the Oakes ide Bloomfield Cultural Center in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Dressed _____ a beautiful princess gown (女裙) , Isabella remained _____ about her bald head, and didn’t want to take off her hat. But all that changed when a famous performer Chelsea Knutson _____ as Cinderella, a Disney princess with a ______ head.

Isabella was excited to see Knutson in character. She took her hat off ______ and said, “ Wow, she looks just like me!” And in a moment she ______ from a shy little girl into a confident and brave princess!

“I didn’t ______ her in advance that Cinderella was going to be bald,” Pina Harvey, her mother said. “I wanted to ______ her. When Knutson came down the stairs as Cinderella, her face ______ She looked very cheerful.” D’ Antoni was equally ______. “When Isabella saw that Cinderella had no hair, she had a ______ from ear to ear. She knew that she wasn’t ______ ,” she said.

Isabella continues to fight cancer, going to the ______ every week. She hopes her fight can help ______ other kids to be brave and feel beautiful, too.

I’m sorry to hear that you didn’t do good in your last exam. You are not the only one who seems to try your best but ends up in failure in exams. Quite a number of student feel the same way and they tend to lose their confidence but don’t want to study hard any longer. I’m sure you knew that it’s not wise to do so because you might be left far behind.

I was once in the same situation as you. Failure is the mother of success. In the face of failure, which we need to do is to calm down and reflect our learning methods and make some possible changes or to ask the teachers for advice. Anyway, Rome is not built in a day. Only by stick to studying persistently can we make a progress step by step till success. I truly hope I can be of some helpful to you.

Yours ever,

Li Ming

Advertisements are forcing their way into people’s lives. People 【小题1】 advertisements in their daily life because they are consumers. The advertisers are usually manufacturers, retailers and salesmen. Their products need to be 【小题2】 to bring themselves to the 【小题3】 of the customers. Thus nearly every product is advertised 【小题4】 To a large extent, good advertising leads to success 【小题5】 bad advertising means 【小题6】.

There are many ways to advertise and ads come in 【小题7】 forms. Newspapers carry advertisements. Some products are publicized (宣传) on TV and radio 【小题8】 bring them into the notice of a wide audience. Billboards also carry advertising. Advertising is a big industry now. 【小题9】 , advertising is not always truthful, so millions of people who have bought advertised products feel 【小题10】 with them.