Pigs Teach Us about Life

    China and Western countries may have different cultural beliefs about certain animals, but when it comes to pigs, we have reached a(an) {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (同意) —that pigs are ugly, lazy and stupid. Just look at the idioms and phrases "Boiling a dead pig", "A pig looking in the mirror is still a pig" and "Eating like a pig", {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (没有一个) of them are words of praise.

    But the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (真相) is that pigs do have some finer qualities. And there's probably no better time to clear their names than now, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (尤其) with the arrival of the Year of the Pig on Chinese Spring Festival.

    Science long ago found that pigs aren't stupid at all. Pigs are {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (相似的) to dogs. They have good long-term memories. And they know the difference {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (在……之间) those who treat them well and those who don't.

    There are cute pig characters in cartoons too. Peppa Pig, for example, has been one of the most popular cartoons in 180 countries since it {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (出现) in 2004. The story of Peppa Pig which {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (翻译) into many languages, teaches children from all over the world about love, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (友谊), and the value of family.

    Perhaps these are the qualities of pigs to keep in mind when we {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (庆祝) this Chinese New Year—their intelligence, bravery and cuteness.

    It was at an exhibition of the artist's works organized by the Red Cross. I was invited as a special g{#blank#}1{#/blank#}to attend the exhibition. During this period, two cute girls of 16 or 17 years old came to me and asked me for my signature(签名).

    "I haven't brought my pen.  Is the p{#blank#}2{#/blank#}okay?" Actually, I knew they wouldn't r{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. I just wanted to show a well-known writer's good manners to the c{#blank#}4{#/blank#}readers.

    "Certainly," the young girls readily a{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. I could see they were very excited. Of course, their excitement also made me feel more pleased and satisfied. One of the girls h{#blank#}6{#/blank#}her fine notebook to me. I turned over the cover of the notebook, wrote a few words of encouragement n {#blank#}7{#/blank#}, and signed my name. The girl read my signature, frowned (皱眉), looked at me carefully and asked, "Aren't you Robert Charboss?"

    "No," I told her proudly, "I'm the author of Alice Adams, the w{#blank#}8{#/blank#}of two Pulitzer Prizes."

    The young girl turned to the o{#blank#}9{#/blank#}shrugged (耸肩) and said, "Mary, lend your rubber to me." At that moment, all my p{#blank#}10{#/blank#}turned into a bubble (泡泡) immediately. Since then, I always warn myself: no matter how outstanding you are, don't think highly of yourself.