I lived a quiet life with my mom, dad and two sisters But one day my dad told me something and my life started to be different -- We would move to a new town. I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} for months about starting a new school.

    On the first day of school, I walked into my new classroom and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} very hard not to look scared. But it wasn't {#blank#}3{#/blank#} when twenty-eight students looked at me. They all looked so cool. Mr. Bernstein introduced (把……介绍给) me to the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} and asked me to sit in the back of the room, next to another .girl. Her name was Janet. "What is she like? Does she like sitting with me?" I{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    After class, it was lunchtime. I walked to the dining hall with Janet. We sat at the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} table. We ate and asked each other questions. Sisters? We both (两个都) had two, and we were both the youngest (最年轻的) in the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Home? We lived quite near. It was only fifteen minutes' walk from her home to {#blank#}8{#/blank#}. We had more smiles (微笑) on our faces when we got to {#blank#}9{#/blank#} more about each other.

    At the end of the day, my morn asked me {#blank#}10{#/blank#} it was going at school. "I can't wait for the second day to come," I said. I knew it would be a good year for me.

A group of classmates got together to visit their old teacher. These classmates all had good jobs and made lots of money. They talked {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.The teacher asked them the difficulty they had had. Then their talk soon turned to talking about the stress (d压力) in work and life, The teacher went to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}kitchen and came back with a large pot of coffee and many{#blank#}3{#/blank#}—China ones, plastic ones and glass ones. Some are plain looking, some are expensive and some are lovely. The teacher told them to help{#blank#}4{#/blank#} to the coffee.

    When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the teacher said,“ Can you notice that all of you took nice-looking expensive cups, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones? You want only the{#blank#}5{#/blank#}for yourselves, and it is the source of your problems.”

    “What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup{#blank#}6{#/blank#} you went for the best cups and then began looking at each other's cups.”

    “Now{#blank#}7{#/blank#} about this; life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society {#blank#}8{#/blank#}the cups. They are just tools to hold, and do not change the life. Sometimes, by caring only about the cups, we{#blank#}9{#/blank#} to enjoy the coffee.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} don't let the cups drive you, and enjoy the coffee instead.”

    Last year I was 14 years old. I had an " enemy", a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺点). Day by day her list grew: I was very thin; I was {#blank#}1{#/blank#}; I sometimes didn't respect the teachers, I talked too much: I was too proud, and so on. At last, I couldn't stand it. I cried and{#blank#}2{#/blank#}to my father. He listened to me quietly. Then he asked," Alfred, are the things she says true or not? Didn't you ever wonder what you are really{#blank#}3{#/blank#}? Well, you now have that girl's opinion. Go and make a list of everything she{#blank#}4{#/blank#}and find out the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things you heard."

    I did {#blank#}5{#/blank#}my father told. To my surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn't change （like being very thin）, but a large number I could and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I got a fairly clear picture of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}.

    I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it. "It's just the case for you, he said," you know better than anyone the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}about yourself But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you'll find it will be of great help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don't shut your ears, listen to them all, but hear the fact only and do what you know is right thing{#blank#}8{#/blank#}.

    In my life. I've never {#blank#}9{#/blank#}a better piece of advice. Thanks for the shortcomings that someone has pointed out for us. They can make us know ourselves more and improve us{#blank#}10{#/blank#}as we grow up.