When I moved to America in the 7th grade, I did not speak any English. I had no choice but to keep working hard. Although I made1 when I reached the 9th grade, people still found it difficult to understand me because of my accent (口音).
One day, at a party, I was invited to play a guessing game. When it was my turn, I tried to 2 the object that I had in mind. Suddenly someone said with a laugh, "What did she say?" I felt 3 . Out of kindness, a girl gently advised me to repeat it, but I got stuck on the word "purple"—I couldn't 4 it. This time, everyone laughed while I was trying hard to get the word out of me. This5 had its own influence on me. When opportunities were opened up for the summer program I had been looking forward to, I6 to attend (参加) the interview. Luckily, I got tons of encouragement from people around me. So I decided to 7 .
At the interview, the other students in my group spoke very 8 but I didn't speak that much. I knew that I could hardly be understood because of my accent. Besides when I was nervous, it would be even more 9 for me to pronounce words clearly. After the interview, I stayed, said "10 " and explained to the teachers. I didn't want them to think I wasn't interested or I was being unfriendly. But they appreciated (欣赏) that I expressed11 . "It's OK. You don't have to say sorry. Your accent does not make you less than others," said one of the teachers.
Surprisingly, I was accepted into the 12 . Imagine how I felt!
Up to now, I still feel 13 that I took that step. It is a sign that I have changed. I did not let my accent 14 me. I'm sure I will continue to feel nervous about speaking English with strangers. 15 that's OK. It will not stop me from trying to be better.
Tai chi is common in China. It's a kind of sport and one of the (象征) of Chinese culture. If you walk through a park, you might see people doing tai chi, an ancient (艺术) called wushu. Doing tai chi is good for our health and helps us free ourselves from (压力). It can make us walk and move freely. Tai chi also (混合) slow actions and deep breaths perfectly.
But tai chi is more than a kind of sport. It shows how we see the world as well. The world is full of yin and yang, such as (黑暗) and light, soft and hard, full and empty, etc. Tai chi sets up good relationships between yin and yang, while they aren't (对面,相反). Just like the picture, a white circle is in the black area and a black circle is in the white area. After a long night, the sun will (升起). Leaves fall in autumn but grow in spring. Everything keeps changing. Yin and yang (依靠) on each other and make differences to each other. That is why humans can get on well with (大自然) and use softness to beat hardness. Tai chi makes full use of yin and yang.
In China, tai chi has been practiced for about 400 years. At present, more people are encouraged to join in tai chi and pass it on. (百万) of people in more than 150 countries and regions practice tai chi. It is getting more and more popular in the world.
Last summer, Brian helped guard the barrels (桶) in his father's factory. Every morning, his father gave him the 1 of brushing the barrels and putting them in order. But when Brian got to the factory the next morning, he 2 found the wind blew the barrels here and there overnight.
Brian was so 3 that he wrote a note to the wind, "Please 4 blowing down my barrels." After seeing that, his father asked him with a smile, "Can the wind read your note?" Brian said, "I don't know. I have no choice 5 to make this request (请求)."
The next morning, when the little boy ran to 6 the barrels, he found that the barrels were blown here and there again. The little boy felt 7 and cried. His father came and said kindly, "Son, don't be sad. We may have no way to deal with the wind, but we may have ways for 8 , so we can have our own ways to beat the wind." Then the little boy 9 his tears and thought over and over. Finally, he thought of an idea. He filled the 10 barrels with water. After that, he went home 11 .
The third morning, the little boy put on his clothes in a hurry and 12 . He was excited to find the barrels were placed in good order. The little boy 13 and told his father, "It's a very simple way, that is to make the barrels 14 ." The little boy's father smiled and nodded his head.
We can't change many things in the world, but we can change ourselves. To add the 15 to you is the only way not to be knocked over.
Chairman Mao once said that the Imperialism is .
—My father was in bad ____ last month. I had to stay at home to look after him.