I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch(牧马场). The last time I was there he told me his story. When he was young, his family was too poor to have a house to live in.As a  result , when he was in high school, all the students were asked to write a paper about what they wanted to be and do when they grew up. That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of owning  a horse ranch. He also drew a picture to show a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a beautiful farm. The next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F. Roberts asked, “Why did I receive an F?” He teacher said, “This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money.” Then the teacher added, “If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”

The boy went home and thought about it for a long and hard time. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, “ Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.”Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He told his teacher “you could keep the F and I still keep my dream”.He tells me this story because I am sitting in his 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of the 200-acre horse ranch. “I still have that school paper now.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two years ago that teacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’dreams. Luckily, you had enough gumptionnot to give up on yours. ”

Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.

The teacher stood before his class of 30 students and hand out the final exam papers. “I know how hard you have all worked to prepare for this test.” he said, “And because I know you are all able to understand this material, I am ready to offer a “B” to anyone who would prefer not to take the test.”

   A number of students jumped up to thank the teacher and left the classroom. The teacher looked at the remaining students and said, “Does anyone else want to get a “B”? This is your last chance.” Two more students decided to go.

   Seven students stayed. The teacher then handed out the papers. There were only three sentences which were written on the paper：Congratulations! You have received an “A”. Keep believing in yourself.

   I never had a teacher who gave a test like that, but I think that it is a test that any teacher could and should give. Students who do not have confidence in what they have learned are “B” students at most.

   The same is true for students in real life. The “A” students are those who believe in what they are doing because they have learned from both success and failures. They have learned life’s lessons, whether from formal education or from events in their lives, and have become better people. Scientists say that by the age of eight, 80% of what we believe about ourselves has already been formed. You are a big kid now, and you realize that you have some limits. However, there is nothing you can’t do. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to reach the top of Mount Qomolangma said, “We do not conquer the mountain, but ourselves.”

“The Chinese Dream”is a hot topic of this year．Many Chinese young people are inspired by the Chinese Dream．Everyone has their own dreams．They give us courage and confidence to keep us going through difficulties．Here are some advice on how to realize our beautiful dreams．

Never giving up is the key to make our dreams come true．We may fail from time to time，but we can learn from failure，correct our mistakes and try again until we achieve our goals．Our life is like a long journey which is not all roses．  It   sometimes has wind and rain．We believe rainbows will appear after storms．

Cooperation is also necessary．Everyone likes a person who is good at cooperating with others．Besides，in our society most problems can’t be solved by one person alone．Cooperation is becoming one of the most important ways for people living in the developing society．

At the same time，we should learn to examine our abilities because it helps us know our advantages and disadvantages as well as get a full control of ourselves．Then we may be confident enough to face challenges．

Follow the suggestions above，and our dreams are sure to come true．

My friend’s grandfather came to America from a farm in Thailand. After arriving in New York, he went into a cafeteria (自助餐厅) in Manhattan to get something to eat. He sat down at a table and waited for someone to take his order. Of course nobody did. Finally, a young man with a big plate full of food came up to him. He sat down next to him and told him how a cafeteria worked.

“Start out at that end,” he said, “Just go along the long table and choose what you want. At the other end they’ll tell you how much you have to pay (付钱).”

When I was in Grade I in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Carl. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on Friday? He must be a fool." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend tomorrow afternoon), so I shook my head and went on. Suddenly, a crowd of kids ran toward him, knocking all his books out of his arms and making him fall down on the mess. His glasses went flying, and I saw them fall on the grass about ten feet from him. He felt low and terrible. As he touched around looking for his glasses, I ran over to him. I handed him his glasses and said, "Those guys are awful. They really should be educated to be better."

   He smiled at me and said, "Hey, thanks!" I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. Then I knew he lived near me and he had studied in a private school before. We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. I found him a pretty cool kid actually. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. The more I got to know Carl, the better I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him.

   Over the next two years, Carl and I have been best friends. One day, he told me he had to prepare a speech for graduation (毕业). I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I hugged him and said, "Hey, big boy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with a real grateful look and said thanks.

   As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began, "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you get through those hard times. Your parents, your teachers, your sisters and brothers, maybe a coach, but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give him or her. I am going to tell you a story."

   I just looked at my friend surprisingly as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend at that time. He mentioned how he had cleaned out the lock in his heart. He looked at me again and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the silly." He continued. I heard my own breath go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Morn and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize the meaning of their smiles.

   Never underestimate the power of your behaviors. With one small action, you can change a person's life. For better or for worse.

Life is like a train ride. We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are delays（延误）. At certain stops there are surprises. Some of these will change into great moments of joy, some will have bad results.

When we are born and we first get on the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the whole journey. Those people are our parents! Sadly, this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us as long as we completely need them. They, too, have journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of their love, emotion, friendship, and so on.

There are others who get on the train and who become very important to us after a long time, in turn. These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and someone we know, whom we will learn to love, and take care of.

Some people consider their journey like a pleasant and happy tour. They will just go merrily along. Others will encounter many upsets, tears and losses(失落) on their journey. Others still, will stay on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need.

Some people on the train will leave a deep impression when they get off. Some will get on and get off the train so quickly, they will hardly leave a sign.

We will sometimes be upset that some passengers, whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment（车厢）and leave us to travel on our own. Then again, there’s nothing that says we can’t seek them out anyway. But when we found them, we may not even be able to sit next to them because that seat will already be taken.

That’s okay …everyone’s journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, difficulties and goodbyes.

根据短文内容，选择正确答案。

A true friend is always helpful. I didn’t believe it until one thing happened（发生）to me when I was in Grade 8.

Jason was one of my classmates. He and I were also neighbors (邻居). He always listened to his mother but I didn’t like listening to my mother. I didn’t think it was necessary for her to teach me anything. Jason knew all about that but he said nothing to me.

One weekend, Jason invited me to watch a movie. I liked movies very much so I went to the cinema with him happily. The movie was about the love between a mother and her son. After watching it, I began to know how great the love of the mother was. I felt sorry that I didn’t listen to my mother before. I decided to think more about my mother than about myself. After I told that to him, Jason smiled (微笑) and said, “It’s really necessary for you to watch this movie. It’s good for both you and me.”

At that time, I knew why he invited me to watch the movie. Just at that time, I knew a true friend is always helpful.