Fishing with Grandpa

    One day, my grandfather went fishing, and let me go with him. He handed the rod (钓竿) to me, held my 1 and taught me how to throw my line into the water. Our bobbers floated (浮标漂浮着) together as we sat there, hoping for a bite. The sun 2 us. We sat and talked, “I remember when I could sit here and watch the fish 3 in the water,” he said. “Sometimes, they'd jump out and 4beside me. I didn't need a rod and bait (饵) at that moment.” “We have to be 5,” he continued, “The fish may come or they may not. It doesn't matter. We're out in the 6. It's a beautiful day. We're lucky to have the warmth of the sun. If it had rained, we wouldn't be here. ” He sat against a tree. “Yes, it's a 7 day,” he said. I watched our dobbers. 8 fish pulled them under that day. It didn't matter. I was with Grandpa. I felt grown up. Just being with him was special. He was well loved by everyone and I wanted to 9 him when I grew up. He'd worked hard all his life for what little he had, but he could still find time to laugh. He was a relaxing man. In the short time we had together, he 10 me many things: how to hold a rod, the value of a good time, the value of a good friend, respect for my elders, and the importance of working hard and living harder. The list is long.

    When I was in primary school, I had a big argument with a boy in my class. I can't remember what it was about, but I have never forgotten the 1 I learned that day.

    I was sure that I was right and he was wrong. 2, he strongly believed that I was wrong and he was right. The teacher decided to teach us a lesson. She 3 with a good idea. She brought both of us to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her grey desk and me on the other. In the middle of the desk was a large, round object. It was 4 for me to see that it was black.  She asked the boy what color the object was. "5," he answered in a loud voice.

    I couldn't 6 that the object was white, considering that it was certainly black! One more argument started between the boy and me, this time 7 the color of the object.

    The teacher told us to change our 8, and then she asked me what the color of the object was. I had to answer, "White." It was then that I knew what was wrong. It was an object with two 9 colored sides, and from his side it was white. Only from my side was it black.

    My teacher taught me a very important lesson that day: You must 10 in other person's position（位置） and look at the situation through their eyes in order to truly understand their ideas.

    Once there was an old man who was very proud of 1 things. One was his long white beard (胡子) The other was his ability to fall asleep the moment his head 2 the pillow(枕头).

    One day, his 3-year-old grandson asked him 3 he did with his beard when he slept : did it go under the quilt(被子)or above the quilt?

    The old man had never paid attention to this 4 and he didn't remember whether hisbeard remained above or went under the quilt. So he promised to 5the answer. It was very cold that night. The old man got into bed early and pulled the quilt over6Then he suddenly remembered his grandson's7.

    He knew that his beard was under the quilt. He 8it from under the quilt, and placedit above the quilt. This made him fell that something was not quite 9.So he put the beard under the quilt again. But he soon felt it would be 10if it was out. In and out went the beard; first under the quilt, then above it, then under once again. The old man had a sleepless night.

    The next morning the first thing he did was cut his beard. It wouldn't trouble him forever.

    Can you imagine trying to write music if you are deaf? Most of us can't imagine it. But for the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven, there was no1at all.

    Beethoven wasn't born deaf. He was2on December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He lived a3life, and faced much sadness. One of his piano pieces, Fir Elise(《致爱丽丝》)，was written for a failed love interest—a woman4Therese Malfatti.

    At the5of about 28, Beethoven began to lose his6. Yet he was7to go on writing music through hearing vibrations(振动). After the performance of his famous Symphony NO. 9(《第九交响曲》)，people cheered and clapped(鼓掌). Beethoven could not hear them clapping, and when he turned8and realized, he began to9.

    Before Beethoven, most music was very controlled(克制的). He10this and created a powerful, violent sound. At first, many people hated his music, saying it was too emotional(情绪化的). But today, his name is a symbol for passion(热情)and genius(天才).

    One day an angel (天使) came across three peas. She said she could help each of them 1 a dream.

    The first pea wanted to fly in the sky, and the second one's 2 was to swim in the sea. The third one said it had been 3 going to a place where it could bring happiness to others. The angel 4 them where they wanted to go. The first pea fell onto the5 after a long flight and was eaten by a hen. The second one sank into the sea and had to stay in the darkness alone all its life. The third one flew into a flower pot (花盆) whose 6 was a poor little girl. Having been ill for a long time, she was very 7 and couldn't go outside.

    One day, when the girl was walking as usual in the house, she 8 a small pea plant in the flower pot. 9 the plant only had two tiny leaves, it seemed to be cheerful. When a light 10 came, it danced and seemed to be encouraging the girl to cheer up. "I will grow up like this plant and I will be better soon," she said in a confident voice. From then on, the girl stayed beside the little pea plant, watched it and talked with it. Day by day the plant grew taller and taller, and 11 the little girl became better and better. Finally, the pea plant flowered and the girl returned to her 12.

    Then the angel came. The pea plant waved its leaves to her and said, "Look! My 13 has come true and I feel I'm the 14 pea in the world!" The angel smiled, "Only the dream that can 15 others will bring happiness in return!"