Little stream ran down from a high mountain through many villages and forests. Then it reached a desert.“I went through so many difficulties. I should have no problem crossing the desert," she thought. As she started, she found herself slowly disappearing into the sand. After many tries, she still failed. "Maybe I can't reach the ocean," she said sadly to herself.
At this time, a deep voice said, "If a breeze（微风）can cross the desert, so can a river." It was the voice of the desert. But the little stream answered, "That's because a breeze can fly, but I cannot.”
“That's because you can't give up what you are. Let yourself evaporate（蒸发）into the breeze, and it can take you across,” said the desert. "Give up what I am now? No! No!" The little stream could not accept this idea. "The breeze can carry the vapor（蒸汽）across the desert and let it leave as rain. The rain will form a river again," said the desert. "And whether you're a river or vapor, your nature never changes." Hearing this, the little stream went into the open arms of the breeze. It carried her to the next stage of her life.
The course of our lives is like the experience of the little stream. If you want to go through difficulties in your life to head for success, you should also change the way you are.
阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A,B,C,D四个选项中，选出最佳选项
Last fall a beaver moved into the small stream beside our house. He began taking down small trees right away. and in a couple of weeks our stream turned into a pond(水塘).Every day,he added more to his dam(水坝)and to his house. We're sure you've all heard the saying, "as busy as a beaver". Now, we understand this saying as we saw the work that this beaver did over a very short period of time.
We thought that would be the last of the beaver's busy activity as winter came. To our amazement, however, he started chewing(咀嚼)on a very large tree. The tree was over 18 meters tall and around 1.5 meters in diameter(直径).We were amazed at the challenge this beaver was trying. All winter, he chewed and chewed. He had setbacks(挫折)as we faced major winter storms and ice-cold weather. But sure enough, when the weather allowed, he would come back and chew a bit more.
The beaver's first goal(目标)was to survive--to build home for the winter. Working every day with that goal in mind, he successfully achieved that goal. But the large tree he started chewing on last fall was a future goal一he wanted the large tree to provide new food and branches(树枝)for the coming spring. Even with the setbacks he faced over the winter, he never gave up until he reached it.
Our beaver's experience reminds us that we need to set goals for tomorrow. Sometimes just surviving seems to take up all of our time. But, if you do just a little bit when time allows and stick to your future goal, you will achieve it.
When faced with setbacks, have your goal in heart and don't let the setbacks stop you. Keep chewing like the beaver, and you will achieve your goal in the end.
The day before yesterday, my uncle told me never to speak to him, his wife, or my two cousins again. Earlier, I made a joke. I didn't mean to hurt my aunt's feelings, but it did.I spent the evening in an ugly blue telephone booth (电话亭). crying as I spoke to a family friend who lived in England.
When I left the phone booth, I went back to a silent house with three closed bedroom doors. In the morning, I heard everyone get up and leave for work and school. I wrote a note to say sorry and pulled my bags to the train station. When I got into London, I had to take the underground to Angel Station to get to my family friend's house.
I was familiar with the underground, but at the time, it was just endless white tiles（瓷砖).Coming to England seemed like a bad decision. Crying yet again, I tried to lift my suitcase up the stairs.
When I was trying hard to walk forward, there were hands. Each time I faced another group of steps,a hand would lift the suitcase. At the top of the steps, the hand would let go, and I'd pull the suitcase to the next group. And just as I wanted to try again，another hand would appear.
It happenedseveral times. I never looked up, because I couldn't stop crying.Each hand looked different, and many different people helped me, without asking or saying anything. I couldn't look up. I wasn't able to say thank you.
I went on to have anamazing year studying in England, but that was the last time I saw or spoke to any of my uncle's family. Yet when I think about that terrible loss in 2008, I remember those strangers' hands. They were there when I needed them, and even now, they help me out of the sadness of that memory. I think of them as I ride the underground in Washington D. C. today, and I watch the citizens and tourists to offer hands at any time.
An elephant and a monkey were arguing.
“Look, how big and strong I am!” The elephant said.
The monkey disagreed, “Look, how fast I can run and climb! Can you?”
At last they asked a wise tiger, “Which is better—to be strong or to be quick?”
The tiger said, “Go across the river and pick the fruit on that tree for me, then I can tell.”
So they went to the river, but the water ran fast and the monkey was afraid.
“Get on my back,” said the elephant proudly, “I shall carry you.”
Soon they crossed the river. There stood the tree. But the fruit was too high for the elephant to reach. He also tried to pull the tree down, but failed.
“Don't worry.” The monkey climbed quickly up the tree, and picked the fruit.
Then they returned and gave the tiger the fruit. “Which is better—to be strong or to be quick?”
The tiger smiled, “Neither of you could get the fruit alone. It took both the elephant's strength and the monkey's quickness to get it.”
