Many books have been written about “the art of giving”. And we also know that it's hard to give people a gift, 1 a personal one. If we want to make it better, we should understand who you will give the gift to and their likes and 2.
As is often the case, some little kids think they don't get enough gifts 3 some old people think they get too many gifts.Different people like different kinds of gifts. Some presents are never too 4. For example, when a little child just gives his or her mother a leaf from a tree,it is enough to make her very happy.
Gift giving is different in different 5. Here are some of their likes. In Japan, people sometimes give special gifts. But they are not opened. Later, the same gift may be given away to someone 6 , because many people have enough things and don't want too many gifts themselves.In Canada, a tree can help remember a person. In the USA, some people ask their families and friends to give money to charity rather than buying them gifts. In Sweden, doing something for someone is the best gift. People don't need to 7 too much money. Instead, making a meal for him or her is enough.
To make things easier, some people would rather just give money.In some cultures, however, 8 money can make people uncomfortable. “When someone gives me money, it just makes me think they're lazy,” says John Wilson. “In England, we have a saying：It's the thought that counts. When someone gives me money,I feel they don't think it about at all. I prefer to receive a gift 9 has some thought behind it.”
Different people have very different thoughts 10 this subject! So maybe the art of giving is difficult! What do you think?
A
Min Sun, with another name of Ziqian, was a famous man in the State of Lu during the Spring and Autumn Period. He was a student of Confucius. Among all students of Confucius, he was compared with Yan Yuan.
Min Sun's mother died very early. Later his father took another wife,who gave birth to two sons. The stepmother mistreated Min Sun—in winter,while two younger brothers wore warm clothes made of cotton, Min Sun only wore clothes made of reed catkins（芦花）.
One day, he followed his father to go out. When pulling the chariot（马车）, Min Sun felt so cold that he dropped the rope onto the ground. Then his father beat him. Just then the reed catkins flew out from the broken clothes and his father knew that Min Sun was mistreated. He was very angry.
After the father returned home, he wanted to divorce（休掉） his wife. Min Sun fell on his knees and begged his father to forgive his stepmother. He said, “If Mother stays at home, only I myself have to stand cold.But if you divorce Mother, all three children have to suffer from cold.”
His father was deeply moved and took Min Sun's advice. The stepmother heard of this, felt sorry and knew her mistakes. From then on, she treated Min Sun as her own son.
B
Mark Twain tells a boy's story in The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. Huck is a poor child without a mother and a home. His father drinks too much alcohol(酒精) and always beats him.
Huck's situation frees him from the restriction of society. He explores in the woods and goes fishing. He stays out all night and does not go to school. He also smokes. Huck runs away from home. He meets Jim, a black man who has escaped (逃脱) from slavery(奴隶制). They travel together on a raft (木筏) made of wood down the Mississippi River. Mark Twain started writing “Huckleberry Finn” as a children's story. But it soon became serious. The story tells about the social evil of slavery,which is seen through the eyes of an innocent child. Huck's ideas about people are formed by the white society in which he lives. So, at first, he does not question slavery. Huck knows that important people believe slavery is natural and this is the law of God. So, he thinks it is his duty to tell Jim's owners where to find him.
Later, Huck comes to understand that Jim is a good man. He finds he cannot carry out his plan to inform Jim's owners of his whereabouts (下落). Instead, he decides to help Jim escape. He decides to do this, even if God punishes him.
I loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it when mother sat doing letters. Looking at the ink bottle, pens and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother, “But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her get angry, and never saw her cry. I knew she loved me, and she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened and a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易动感情的)”, but she lived“on the surface”.
As years went by, I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way that she did forgive (原谅) me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer. It didn't come.
It seemed that nothing happened. I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to her.
I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told me that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work, though she had never been able to. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside...a photo of my father and a one-paper letter. Folded(折叠) and refolded many times.
Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
In the USA, there are many types of restaurants. Fast food restaurants are very famous. You can find McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken everywhere.You look at a menu above the counter(柜台), and say what you'd like to eat. You pay the person who serves you. There's no need to leave a tip. In a coffee shop you sit at the counter or at a table. You don't need to wait for the waitress to show you where to sit. She usually brings you coffee when you sit down. You tell her what you'd like to eat and she brings it to you. You pay the cashier (出纳员) as you leave.A diner is like a coffee shop but usually looks like a railway carriage (火车车厢). In a family restaurant, the atmosphere is casual, but the waitress shows you where to sit. Often the waitress tells you her name, but you don't need to tell her yours. You add an extra fifteen percent to the bill as a tip. In top class restaurants, you need a reservation (预定) and you need to arrive on time. The waiter shows you where to sit. If you have wine, he may ask you to taste it. You can only refuse it if it tastes bad. When you get your bill,check it and then add fifteen to twenty percent to it as a tip for the waiter.
