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The second Sunday in May is a volunteer day in my neighborhood. Last year, my neighbors and I decided to ________ in the cancer ward (病房) at the Royal Children’s Hospital. As Children’s Day was coming, the hospital wanted us to make some ________ with children.

The day before we went to the hospital, many of us were feeling quite ________. We didn’t know how we would react when seeing those sick ________. As we were preparing morning tea for them, I ________ some neighbors to make chocolate bread and candies at my home.

We arrived early at the hospital and were greeted ________ by the staff—it was ________ to know that they were welcoming us and the brightness we would offer. Our first ________ was to offer morning tea to the children who seemed a bit shy—it seemed that nothing broke the ________ better than candies!

It was then time to start making cards—we brought crayons, glue and shiny things to ________ the children! We talked with them and helped them make cards. It was surprising that our ________ immediately went away. Although they were seriously ill, they were ________. Most of them chose to use bright colors as they believed they would be ________ soon. For a time, we even ________ they were ill.

We left the hospital when it was dark. Although we were tired, we were happy to see ________ on those children’s faces.

Many of the Earth's creatures die because of humans' choices. These choices have nothing to do with food or shelter or anything else that helps humans survive. What kills millions of animals all over the world is that humans want to make money by doing so.

People use parts of animals for everything from hats to handbags, from jewelry to ashtrays and to make powders that supposedly improve a person's life. Deciding that a species is endangered and protecting it by law are not always enough. People who kill wildlife illegally rarely get caught.

During the late 1980s, saving elephants became a popular cause. Wildlife protection groups made sure everyone saw pictures or films of elephants with their faces cut off for their ivory. These groups also proved that certain populations of elephants were decreasing. As a result, most people stopped buying objects made of ivory. Laws against poaching (偷猎) were made stronger. Many countries made importing ivory illegal. Killing elephants for their Ivory became more risky and less profitable (有利可图的).

However, concern for certain species will become weak after a while. In the late 1970s, people protested (抗议) against the killing of seal babies. Everyone was shocked to see young seals being killed in their icy habitat. The cruel activity stopped. But ten years later, the number of seal babies killed was higher than ever.

Other animal protection movements have come and gone, such as saving the whales and protecting dolphins. The whale population appears to have increased for now. And the laws are finally changed in America to protect the dolphins that swim with tuna fish in parts of the Pacific Ocean.

In the years to come, people's attention will probably turn to some other endangered species. Plenty of them urgently need attention. During this time, will the elephants be forgotten?