Many years ago there lived two brothers in London. They were both very rich. They had 1 ideas about money. They were quarrelling about what would happen if a poor fellow could 2 a million pound note(钞票). One thought that anyone with such a note would have whatever he wanted; the other thought that it would be 3 for him to get anything with the note. They couldn't agree with each other. So they 4 to make a bet(打赌).

    It happened that a young man named Henry was wandering through the street that day, who had come to Britain only by chance. Without home and job, he looked 5 and hungry. Suddenly he saw an apple 6 away by a child. The man was so hungry that he was thinking of 7 it up to eat. Just as he was reaching out his hand, he heard a 8 calling him. He looked up and saw the two 9. They gave him an envelope. They told him not to open it until two o'clock. They said. ‘'Nothing but 10 in it.” Then they left.

    Tom travelled to London. He 1 the railway station quite early. The train would not leave until five to twelve. He saw 2 people waiting there. Some were standing in line, 3were walking around. There was a group of schoolgirls. Their teacher was trying 4 them in line. Tom looked around, 5there was no place for him to sit.

    He walked 6 the station coffee shop. He found a seat and sat down in front of a large mirror on the wall. He looked at the clock. It was only eleven. Just then, Tim, one of Tom's workmates came in and sat with him.

    "What time is your train?" asked Tim. "There is7 time," answered Tom.

    They talked while 8. Then Tom looked at the clock again. “Oh! It is going backwards!”he cried.

    "You looked at the clock in the mirror," said Tim. Tom was so 9. The next train was not to leave for another hour, and from then on Tom10liked a mirror.

    It was a hot, sunny day .The waves(浪)off Santa Barbara were almost three feet high because of a strong wind. Surfers(冲浪者)were having fun. Then the fun 1. One surfer started shouting. Surfers on the 2 saw his arms going up and down. He went under water. Then he came back 3, shouting for help.

    "He was in big 4," said one woman. She called 911. He was still shouting and 5.

    They could not see a shark(鲨鱼), but they 6 the surfer was being attacked(袭击)by one. Again, the surfer went under. Four surfers jumped onto their boards and swam quickly out to the surfer. By the time they got to him, he was 7. The shark had given up on the taste of the swimwear and the fight with the surfer.

    The 24-year-old man was in great pain, but he was still alive. The surfers put him on a board and swim back to the beach. "I don't think he's going to make it," said someone on the beach. "Look at his 8."

    A helicopter(直升机)arrived quickly and doctors jumped out. They 9 the surfers and the woman for their help, and took the man to the hospital. An hour later, the hospital said that the surfer would keep on 10. The man lost one of his legs but he was still so lucky

    A young man was interested in jade (玉) stones. So he went to Mr Smith, a gemologist (玉石家), to learn from him. Mr Smith refused because he feared that the young man would not have the1to learn. The young man asked for a chance again and again. 2Mr Smith agreed and told him, "Be there tomorrow."

    The next morning the young man came. Mr Smith put a jade stone in the young man's hand and told him to 3 it. He then went about his work. The young man sat quietly and waited.

    The following morning, Mr Smith again 4 a jade stone in the young man's hand and told him to hold it. On the third, fourth and 5 day, Mr Smith did the same thing and repeated his 6. On the sixty day, the young man held the jade stone, 7 he could no longer stand the silence. "When am I going to learn something?" asked the young man.

    "You will learn," said Mr Smith and went about his work.

    Several more days went by and the young man felt very 8. One morning he was asked to do it once more. As soon as he held it, the young man shouted 9 looking at his hand, "This is not the same jade stone!"

    "You have begun to 10," said Mr Smith.

    A man got a new car and he was very proud of it. One day, when he came back home, he saw his three-year-old son happily hitting the new car with a toy 1. He broke off the paint on the car. The man was so 2 that he ran to his son, took away his hammer (锤子) from him, and used the hammer to hit the boy's 3 as hard as he could for punishment. The poor boy cried 4 but his father didn't care at all.

    When the father calmed down, he took his son to the 5 as soon as he could. Although the doctor tried to save the broken bones, he had to 6 the fingers from both of the boy's hands in the end.

    When the boy 7 in the hospital and saw his hands, he innocently (天真地) said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your car." Then he asked, "But when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father felt very sad and regretted this very much.

    Think about this story when someone steps (踩) 8 your feet and you want to argue (争吵) with him. Think first before you 9 your patience with someone. Cars can be broken, 10 bones and hurt feelings often can't. So always remember: excusing is greater than argument and think before you act!