As a waitress I have met and seen all types of people. I think it is _____ that brings us all together. I was about to _____ my job one afternoon and go home when a family came in.

As they sat down, they _____ that they were on their way home. And they added they just had enough money to buy their children only a _____ snack and that all they needed was _____ I showed them a few things on the menu and _____ them what they would like.

As I walked away to _____ their order, I just couldn’t _____ to see this family leaving,_____ with just a snack and some water!______ , I asked some of the other waitresses to ______ me in helping this family. They ______ because they knew I was kind when it came to ______ others. It made them feel good too. So I ______ to the table and told them that they could order what they wanted because it would be paid by some ______ strangers. At first, they didn’t know what to say, but then they looked at the ______ to see what was on offer. They then ______ accepted the meal and said “Thanks” with smiles.

When they left, all I could see was the ______ on their faces. With tears in my eyes, I wished them a ______ trip. I learnt that with every kind ______ , you can get to know a person, and the feeling it gives flows both ways.

   I've come to the conclusion that I'm terrible at saying "No". For example，last Sunday I was sitting at my desk alone，totally ________ in my own business，when a colleague of mine phoned and asked me to get involved in ________ with her. I found myself getting all caught up in her enthusiasm and didn't want to ________ her. So I said "Sure，why not？" even before the talk ________

I found myself agreeing，without giving any ________ whether it was worth doing. We are both window-shoppers who go to shops but buy nothing and ________ a whole day in the street. Actually，I hardly have any time to spare because I am very busy ________  my normal job-I've also got a book to write，a business to ________ and a family to look after. And then there are my other projects to ________—my voluntary work and a couple of other interesting investments that I want to _________.I'm going to have to be more ruthless（残酷无情的）and not just agree to _________  people ask me to get involved in. In other words，I'm going to have to get _________ at saying "No". Usually I hate saying "No"，because having to disappoint someone usually _________ me. Now I realize _________  I haven't learned to say "No"，I've been feeling very _________.

We had better do what we think is right and what we are _________ to do. Sometimes it does not seem that bad to _________ others. In my case, if I _________ want to be involved in it, I' ll pay more _________ to it and do it quite well I' ll be enthusiastic and motivated and do something that is good for everyone and everyone will be happy. It' ll be a win-win _________. What's not good about that? So sometimes, we have to say "No".

   Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”

The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”

“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.

“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”

   When I was 17, I paid a long visit to Iowa to see a college I was thinking of attending. While the _______ was fun for the most part, I was feeling depressed and _______. I was realizing that I wouldn't be seeing my family _______ if I went to school here. I was also _______ the forests in Appalachian mountains of my home. I loved how the leaves turned a thousand _______ of green in spring and then became a sea of colors in autumn. I loved the _______ of the forget-me-nots and countless wild flowers that grew on the hillsides.

Here in Iowa everything was _______. The grass looked brown and _______. All that I could smell was a_______ of corn, mud, and pigs. One day I lay down on the ground. Eyes closed, I ________ being back home over and over again. When I ________ opened them, however, I saw something that ________ my soul: a prairie (草原) sunset. It seemed to fill the whole sky from the________. Gold, red, purple and pink clouds all flowed together and________ an amazing picture. It was so huge that I was________. In comparison with it, our mountain sunsets ________. I was filled with wonder and a sense of ________. I realized too that I had been picky and________. This place too had its own special ________

Over the years to come I learned something else. Each of us has a special beauty too —everyone has their own________talents and abilities to share.