Last weekend, I had a chance to serve as a volunteer at a nursing home in another city. I don't have a car and even the1 train station is far away from my house.2, I wasn't sure how to get there.
I posted a request (请求) for a ride on the ride share board. Soon a person I'd never met3 that he'd be able to pick me up and drop me off at the station. He said he'd wait until my train arrived4 he drove away. My heart 5 and the stress I was feeling disappeared immediately and thus our friendship began.
I ended up arriving at the nursing home in time. The tiny team of servers there were6 for the additional (额外的) help. We all worked together as a team. I was glad to be a part of this and be of7 to the elderly.
That evening when my new 8 dropped me off at the station, he 9 that it was in a lonely area. So he parked his car and said, "We will wait for the 10 to come together." I couldn't believe his 11.
With five minutes left before the train arrived, he shared with me stories of his childhood. As a young boy, he 12 to sit near the edge of the train tracks, waiting 13 for the trains to rush by with all their force. That night he waited with me as my train approached (靠近). It didn't rush by with full force but I left that station 14 the full force of his kindness and generosity. People like him would always 15 me how to love and how to give.
When Charles Lee handed me the small red notebook in 1974, he changed my life. "You should keep notes on the things you see and do while travelling,1you will forget them some day," he explained. I was staying in his house when travelling in England.
I took his2. I wrote in the notebook every day during the homestay and back to university. l recorded weekend trips, my professors and ideas about my life and future.
When I wrote, I wondered about my3and purpose. Who would read this? Was I recording events and ideas just as a reminder to memory, or was there some larger purpose for this4exercise?
I got a big picture for the task. I was recording events, thoughts, words that were5to my life. I6a future me sitting down to read the pages. I wondered what it would feel like to read those words later.
I filled the notebook Charles gave me. I bought a new one and7it. Then another and another. Recently, I decided to look through my notebooks in the past 42 years. Charles had been8. I remembered the big9, the central happenings, but on each page were details(细节)I had10.
I hadn't written every day, but I always picked up the11when I wanted to. I often wrote in them at school12my students were writing. I wanted to pass on the13Charles had given me. These writings formed a continuous(持续的)14between my past, present, and future through events in my life.
It took several long evenings to read through notebooks. As I read, I suddenly realized they are a gift to the15me—I am now the person I was writing to throughout those years.
I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English army men of his time, General Scoresby. I couldn't describe my 1 when I saw this great and famous man. There he sat, the man himself, 2, all covered with medals（奖章）.
Next to me sat an old friend of mine. There was a 3 look on his face as he said to me in a very low voice—"Privately, Scoresby is a completely 4 man."
This came as a 5 to me. But I was sure that my friend always spoke the truth. So, I wanted to 6 more about our hero.
These are his exact words:
About forty years ago, I was a teacher in the military（部队的）school at Woolwich, when young Scoresby was given his first examination. I felt 7 sorry for him. Everybody answered the questions well, wisely, 8 he did not know anything. Then, the Crimean War broke out. He joined the army. To 9 the nation and him, I joined up with him.
The battle（战斗）grew 10. One mistake now would bring total failure. And what did Scoresby do this time —he just 11 his left hand for his right hand…that was all. An order came for him to fall back and support our right. 12, he moved forward and went over the hill to the left. And what happened—those surprised Russians thought it must be the whole British army. They ran away in great disorder, and we ran after them. In no time, there was the greatest 13 you ever saw. We turned failure into a sweeping and shining 14.
Scoresby became famous that day as a great military leader— 15 all over the world. That honor will never disappear while history books last.
From April 13 to 15, the 16th China Daily "21st Century New Oriental Cup" National English- Speaking Competition was held in Hangzhou. Jin Ruiqi, a 13-year-old boy from Shanghai, 1 the junior group's final prize. In fact, the road to his success was 2 and full of hard work.
During the competition, Jin amazed 3 of the people with his English and his critical (批判性) thinking abilities. Besides, he showed his 4 for observing(观察).
During the Q&A part, one judge asked him whether he liked memes (表情包). Instead of 5 answering yes or no, Jin explained his opinions in two ways. He said he didn't like memes made with photos of 6, as he believed this was against the law. Memes made with cartoon characters could make chatting online more colorful and easier.
His thoughts were logical (有逻辑的) and reasonable. A professor said Jin had great critical thinking abilities, which 7 let him think things in an all-around way and 8 many difficult problems. Of course, it 9 Jin a lot of time to learn his skills. Jin said the best way to 10 these kinds of skills was to read and think a lot.
He prefers to read in the morning, which makes him 11. Whenever he finishes a book, he writes an English report, recording his opinions of the book. He also likes to 12 with classmates and teachers, so he can get new ideas by hearing different people's points.
He believes being a good 13 is helpful. "I enjoy finding interesting things 14 me and doing research. For example, why do 24-hour convenience stores have locks on doors? At the beginning, I'll search for the 15 online, and then consider other possibilities after doing more research," Jin told TEENS.
In the end, he added, "Learning is a lifelong journey. I will keep fighting!"
We may have many difficulties in life, and sometimes it's even unfair for someone, but it depends on how you face them. Sally is a student from a university. She made a 1 last August. She decided to take her grandmother 2 their hometown and live with her in a rented room (出租房) near her school.
Sally's family have met a lot in the past few years. Her grandmother 3 her legs and she could walk only with a stick. Her father died because of illness. Sally's mother plagued (受折磨) by these events. She lost the 4 to take care of others. “This was the only choice. No one else could 5 my grandma.” Sally explained.
Her grandmother has also had a 6 life. The old woman's three sons have all died, and Sally couldn't leave her alone where 7 could look after her. A room with two beds, a desk and a table is their new home. The room costs her several 8 yuan every month. In order to make money, Sally works in a supermarket after class and spends the money 9 the family. “I was brought up by my grandma, and now it's my 10 to take care of her.” said Sally. When she was young, her grandmother “magically” prepared every meal 11 for her every day, even though she could not read a 12.
In the eyes of Sally's teacher, the girl is a (an) 13 student. “Though taking care of her grandmother takes her lots of 14, Sally has tried to stay on top of all her courses. She is even preparing for an English singing contest.” Her teacher said. Sally even 15 help from others. “It's kind of like only getting without giving.” she explained. At present, the girl is able to support the home with her weak shoulder.
Amy was a lovely little girl, but she often1time in getting ready to do her tasks, instead of doing them at once.
In the village in which she2, Mr. Brown kept a store where he sold fruit of all kinds, including strawberries. One day he said to Amy whose parents were quite3,"Would you like to make some money by yourself?"
"Oh, yes," replied she, "for I want some new shoes, and4has no money to buy them with."
"Well, Amy," said Mr. Brown, "I5some fine, ripe (成熟的)strawberries in Mr. Green's farm today, and he said that6was welcome to pick them. I will pay you thirteen cents a kilo for all you will pick for me."
Amy was7about making some money; so she ran home to get a basket, trying to go8to pick the strawberries.
Then she thought she would like to know how much money she would get9she picked five kilos. She thought about it and finally got the answer—sixty-five cents.
"But10l should pick twelve kilos," thought she, "how much should I get then?" "Dear me," she said, "l should get a dollar and fifty-six cents."
Amy then11how much Mr. Brown would pay her for fifty, a hundred, and two hundred kilos. She spent some time doing this, and then it was so near dinner time that she had to stay at12until afternoon.
As soon as dinner was over, she took her basket and hurried to the farm. Some boys had been there13dinner, and all the ripe strawberries were picked. She could not find even a kilo.
As Amy went home, she thought of14her teacher had often told her, "Do your task at once; then think about it, for one doer(实干家) is worth a hundred15."
A passenger told an air hostess (空姐) that he needed a cup of water to take medicine when the plane just took off. She told him that she would bring him the 1 soon.
Twenty minutes later, when the 2 ring for service sounded, the air hostess realized it at once. She was kept so busy that she 3 to bring him the water so the passenger didn't take his medicine on time. She hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he 4 it.
In the following hours on the flight, 5 time the air hostess passed the passenger, she would ask him with a smile 6 he needed help or not. But the passenger 7 paid attention to her words.
When he was going to get off the 8, the passenger asked the air hostess to hand him the passengers' booklet (意见薄). She was very 9 . She knew that he would write down 10 words, which might make her lose the job. 11 , with a smile she handed it to him.
Off the plane, she 12 he booklet. To her surprise, she saw the words, "On the flight, you asked me if I needed help for twelve times 13. How can I refuse 14 twelve sincere smiles?"
That's right! It was the twelve smiles of the air hostess that touched the passenger 15 and of course she wouldn't lose her job!
One thorn( 刺 )of experience is worth many times of warning.
Ralph Wick was seven years old. In most things he was a fine boy, but he would cry from time to time.
When he could not have what he wanted, he would 1for it. If he was told that it would hurt him, and he could not 2it, he would also cry.
One day, he went with his mother into the3. The sun shone. The grass was cut. The flowers were starting to come out. Ralph thought he was, for once, a good boy. A 4 was on his face. He wished to do as he was told.
Ralph helped his mother with the work and he was very happy. " Now you must be tired and 5," said his mother." Have a good rest here and eat some cookies. I will get a beautiful red rose for you. " So his mother brought the red flower to him. When he saw his mother still had a white rose in her hand, Ralph6it.
" No, my dear. " said his mother. " See how many thorns it has. You must not touch it, or you would be sure to hurt your7. "When Ralph found that he could not have the white rose, he began to cry, and 8took it away. But he was soon very sorry. The thorns hurt his hand. It was so9 that he could not use it for some time. Ralph would never10 this. From then on, when he wanted what he should not have, his mother would point to his hand which had been hurt before. He at last learned to do as he was told.
Doreen Sykora is now a student at McGill University. She had a difficult time1 she first began college. She said," I was always well prepared for my examinations 2 when I go into class to take the exam, I would fall apart. I could3 because of nervousness and fear." Hitoshi Sakamoto, an anthropology(人类学) student at Temple University in Tokyo reports similar experiences.
These two young students were experiencing something4 text anxiety. Because a student worries and is stressed about a test, his or her mind does not work as5 as it usually does. The student cannot write or think clearly6 the serious worry and nervousness.
Now there are special university courses to7 students. In these courses, psychologists(心理学家) try to help students by teaching them to manage8 anxiety. Such a course helps students learn to live with stress and not fail because of9 , First students take a practice test to measure(测量) their worry level. If the tests show that their stress level is10 the students can take a short course to manage the fear. These courses teach students how to relax their bodies. They get training to become calm in very worrying situations. By controlling their nervousness, they can let their minds11 more easily. Learned information then comes out without difficulty on a test.
Doreen Sykora saw immediate results12 taking such a course. She now has a great interest in the relaxation ways. "13 what I do is imagine myself in a very calm place. Then I imagine myself picking up a pencil. I move slowly and carefully. I14 easily and let all the worry out. With each breath, more worry leaves me. It really works too. My grades have improved greatly! I'm quite doing well at McGill now. This relaxation15 works not only on examination, but it has improved the rest of my life as well.
For Hitoshi in Tokyo, the results were much the same. He is enjoying school a lot more and learning more.
One day, the students of Class 6 were reading in the classroom. Mrs. Brown came in and told the whole class that they would have to change 1 in March. The naughtiest (调皮的) class in the grade could not 2 it. The pupils all disagreed with the decision, so they shouted when Mrs. Brown said it was because a new pupil would be3the class. The class was in disorder (混乱). "Why must we move to another classroom just because someone new is coming?" one of them asked 4. Mrs. Brown waited patiently before the class without saying anything. The students saw it and they became quiet. Mrs. Brown told them to be 5 to their new classmate and then she left.
The following week, the class understood 6. The principal (校长) himself brought the new student to their class. 7, Mr. White pushed (推着) the new student to the class because the student was in a wheelchair (轮椅). Mr. White 8 the new student as Jeff and asked them to be friendly to him. He said that Jeff now was a 9 of the class and they should work together. He added, "A house divided (分开) against itself cannot stand. "10 could fully understand what Mr. White meant at first.
Over time, they began to understand what their principal meant. Jeff was a 11 student and often lent a helping hand to students who did not understand 12 work. They felt very thankful to him. They took turns to wheel him about (推他转转)13 they knew well that when someone did something for you, you 14do something back in return (回报). Not only did their grades15, but their behavior (行为) became better. It was a special year Class 6 would never forget.
