A young boy had many bad habits. His father was so1. He asked an old teacher for help. The teacher took the boy for a walk in the woods. While walking, he suddenly stopped and told the boy to pull out a small plant.
The boy held the plant and pulled it out 2. The old man then asked him to pull out a little bigger one. The boy 3 hard and the plant came out, roots (根) and all. "Now pull that one out. "said the old man, looking at a small tree. The boy had to use all his strength (力) to pull the 4 out. "Now pull this one out. "said the old man, 5 a big tree. The boy held the trunk (树干) and tried to pull it out. But it didn't move at all. "It's 6. "said the boy, out of breath.
"So they 7 bad habits, "said the teacher, "When they are small, it is easy 8 them out; but when they grow bigger, they cannot be pulled out." The old man's words made a great difference to the boy's life.
What we can learn from the story is: Don't wait 9 bad habits to grow in you. 10 when you have control over them, or they will control you.
