Trekking (徒步旅行) 500 miles across Spain is no easy task for anyone, but for the wheelchair user Justin Skeesuck, achieving the dream seemed nearly impossible. However, Skeesuck’s lifelong best friend, Patrick Gray, simply didn’t accept that idea. He said, “We’ve done everything together so far. Why don’t we have one more adventure?”

That’s exactly what he did — pushing Skeesuck across northern Spain’s Camino de Santiago. Though Skeesuck has a muscle disease similar to ALS (肌萎缩侧索硬化) and high blood pressure, he first got the idea to go on the journey after he watched a travel show about the trail. He said, “I knew immediately since my heart was just telling me, ‘You need to do this.’”

With Gray on board and the blessings of their family, the two best friends from Idaho set off to make Skeesuck’s dream of going for the journey a reality. However, neither Gray nor Skeesuck realized how physically and emotionally arduous the trip would be. Not only did they have a strict time limit — about six weeks to get from start to finish, but they also faced extremely difficult obstacles (障碍). With Gray pushing Skeesuck in a three-wheel wheelchair, the pair crossed mountains, rivers and a desert. “I’ve never been that physically exhausted in my entire life,” Gray said. The pair came across countless kind people during their trip who were eager to help them finish their journey, but they refused their help with gentle words. 34 days later, the two best friends finished their journey, realizing a dream that helped them learn about themselves and others. “The adventure has taught me for sure that when you do something with faith, and never give up, amazing things can really happen,” Skeesuck said.

Gray recorded their incredible trip in a book — “I’ll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends and One Wheelchair”, which would be published soon. Skeesuck and Gray are also working on a children’s book that will tell the story of their adventure. They hope that the book will give kids strength when they deal with difficulties.

I'm glad to hear that you will come to study in our school.

Yours,

Li Ming

I have a good friend whom name is Rose. Last month, she borrowed one of my favorite book. Yesterday I asked her to return the book back to me. To my surprised, she said that she had already given the book to me. I search my desk and school bag, but I didn't find one. I became very angrily with her and shouted at her. She left the classroom with tears in her eyes. However, when I came home last night, I was surprised to find my book lain under my pillow. Now I regret quarrelling for her. I am afraid I will lose friend, so I want to get her back. What should I do？

   We all know that the friendship is a good thing. But do you know that friends have a great influence on your happiness and quality of life？Good friends provide comfort and joy，and even improve your health. 【小题1】 Many of us struggle to meet new friends and develop good connections. Even when we're willing to put in time and effort，we don't always know how to go about it.

Why are friends important？

Our society often places stress on romantic relationships. We think that if we can just find that right person，we'll be happy. But research shows that friends are more important to psychological（心理的）well-being than our love and family relationships. 【小题2】 Studies show that a lack of social connections can be as damaging as smoking，or as drinking too much. The quality of our friendships is even tied to longevity（长寿）.

【小题3】

Technology has changed the meaning of friendships in recent years. With the click of a button，we can add a friend or make a new connection. 【小题4】

Technology can provide social opportunities by helping you reconnect with old friends，start new relationships with people around the world who share similar interests，and keep relationships with friends who don't live nearby. However，online friends can't hug you when you're upset，or celebrate a happy event with you after work.

【小题5】 So make it the most important thing to stay in touch in the real world，not just online. You'll get a lot more out of an in-person conversation than you will over text.

   Old friends They finish your sentences, and they tell you the truth when you've had a bad haircut. ____ mostly, they are always there for you-whether it's in person or late-night phone calls-in good times and _____. But as the years pass, it becomes increasingly _____ to see each other, to make new memories. ___, my high school friends and I promised to have reunions.

A few months ago, we met up for a two-day _____ in the American Southwest. We grew up together in Maine and have said for years that we should have a（n）_____ event, yet it was often put off or _____ due to schedule conflicts（冲突）. Not this year.

The weekend _____ long talks by the pool, wonderful meals, and a hike that brought the entire group to _____. Not tears of sadness or anger, but a close tie with such physical ______ between us. It's heartbreaking that we can't spend our days together in the same neighborhood. But that's ______. Grown-up life.

The most ______ is the group's adaptability to one another. The time we ______ apart is non-existent. No need to get reacquainted, we jump back in the saddle（车座）and it's as comfortable as ever. Old friends—friends with an ever-present ______ of support and sisterhood, friends that know each other-are hard to come by and yet we ______ today as we were years ago, laughing in the back row of Mr. McKechnie's 9th grade math class.

Life today,______, has no math class. Our world is full of ______, full of fear. Yet it ______ me— now, more than ever—how important it is that we stay ______. We may have questions about our future, but we have true faith in our past, and though this reunion of friends has come to a close, we are already ______ our plans for the next one.