A young painter had just completed a beautiful painting. To get people's opinions about his painting skills, he put his 1at a crossing on a busy street. And below it a board read, "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. 2 I'm new, I might have made some mistakes in my work. Please put a cross  3you see a mistake."

    When he came back in the evening to 4his painting, he was completely shocked to see that the whole painting was filled 5 crosses. And some people had even written their opinions on the painting. 6 , he ran to his master and said to him, "I'm 7and if this is what I have learned to paint, I'm not worth teaching. "

    The master 8and suggested, "I'll let you know that you are a great 9. Now go to paint the same painting once again and give it to 10."

Then they went to the same street the next morning and put the same painting exactly at the same place. Now the master  11another board which read, "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. I might have made some mistakes in my painting. I have put a box with colors and 12 just below. Please give me a hand. If you see a 13, pick up the brush and correct it." The master and the young painter went back home. Two days later, they came back to the place. The young painter was  14to see that actually there was not a single correction done!

    It's easier to criticize(批评) but difficult to improve. If you want to help people  15 their behavior, you'd better learn how to help people change their attitudes or skills. Also, always remember not to judge yourself by someone else's criticism and feel upset.

    Jack's love for birds started when he made his first birdfeeder about six years ago. He filled the feeder with seeds (种子), put it in his backyard and then 1 started coming. He got really 2 in birds as more came. Then he joined a local society. As he realized that more and more birds were dying very 3, he wanted to try his best to help them.

    Besides what he has done, he has his own group called Protecting Out Birds. He does 4about birds, run a website to teach people about birds and how to help them, and 5 boxes for birds. Not long ago, he found that the bluebirds were nesting（做窝）in the dead trees which were often cut down, 6 he began to make bluebird boxes for the birds in order to save them. Now he wants to use these boxes to 7 the dead trees. He hangs these boxes up in trees and takes 8 down every week to see if the birds are nesting in them. He also writes articles, hoping that more people will 9 protecting natural ecosystems(生态系统). “Researching birds is10 to protecting birds,”jack says, “In order to protect birds, we have to learn and really know about the birds. ”

    A long time ago, there was a seed. Because he was only a seed,1noticed him. So the seed thought he was not important in the world.

    One day, a wind2the seed and threw him on an open field. Later, he enjoyed the water on wet days and the3on clear days, which helped him grow. Years later, another day he saw a traveller sitting by his side.

    "Wow, how lucky I am! I can have a rest4a tree on such a hot day the traveller said.

    "What are you talking about "the seed quickly asked. He thought the man was making fun of him because no one ever spoke to him like that.

    "5just spoke?" the shocked man asked.

    "It's me, A seed."

    "The man said. Are you joking? You're not a seed. You are a big 6!"

    "Really?"

    "Yes! People often sit here to7your shade! Don't tell me you didn't know that."

    The traveler's words made him happy. The seed thought and8for the first time in his life.

    The years of torture by the sun and the rain helped him9grow up. "Oh! That means I' m not a little seed any more! In fact, I can make people feel10. Wow! That's great to be helpful."

    Papercutting is a kind of the traditional folk art in China. Papercutting has a long history of about 1,500 years. Let's learn something about papercutting.

    Wonderful meanings

    Papercutting has some wonderful meanings. Some papercutting means happiness and good luck. In the Spring Festival, people paste(粘贴) "Fu" on doors or windows. At a wedding, people paste "Xi".

    The largest Chinese papercutting

    The largest papercutting was made by Gao Xiaodong. It has an area of about 456 square meters. It is as large as a basketball court.

    Why is it red?

    In the old times of China, people think highly of the sun. Red was the color of the sun. They always regarded red as the symbol of hope and life. Now, we can also see red everywhere in China. The walls of old palaces are red. Lanterns are red. Weddings are always full of red things, too.

    Black papercutting in Shanzhou

    Much of the papercutting is red. But papercutting in Shanzhou, Henan Province is black. Black is the best color there. Shanzhou is a dry place. People make black papercutting and wish for rain.

Two months ago, my husband's hand was badly hurt after an accident at work. Then we had to, drive to the hospital to do the physical therapy(治疗)for his hand three times a week.

Today while we were driving to the hospital. We saw a young man standing in the strong and cold winds. We stopped and asked if he needed a ride. He gladly accepted and jumped into the back seat. His name was Dan and he wasn't going far.

As we dropped him off, we noticed he had many large piles (堆) of cut wood in his yard. We asked if he was interested in selling any. He said," Oh, you can just come by anytime, even if I'm not here and take all you want." We asked how much it would cost for a trunk load (一箱). He answered," It's free. We have more than we'll ever use. So just come by and get it anytime. Thanks for the ride and have a great day!"

We still wanted to pay for it and would only get it when someone was home, but he just kept saying what he already told us.

Dan just wanted to repay (回报) us with the wood, never knowing how much that would mean to us because my husband isn't able to chop any wood for us this winter.