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    Some girls are talking about their dreams. They want to do different (不同的) jobs when they grow up (长大). The first girl says, "When I grow up, I want to work with animals. I like them and they are so cute." The second girl says, "Oh, Mary, I think it's boring to be with animals, because they can't speak. I want to be a reporter (记者), so I can meet and talk to interesting people every day. "The third girl says, "Jenny, I don't think it's a difficult job for you, because you are good at talking with others. I want to be a teacher, because my mom is one" The last girl says, "I like your mother's job, Sally. I am writing a story about that job. My mother says I can be an author (作家). But I want to be a doctor, because I like helping others."

    In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the filmmaker Walt Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work on Disney's cartoon (动画片) film for children. When Walt Disney heard Nash's voice, he said “Stop! That's our duck!”

    The duck was the now famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat (水上住家) and wore his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year, he became a star after an eight­-minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audience liked him because he was lazy and greedy (贪婪的), and because he lost his temper (发脾气) very quickly. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey's eight nephews (侄子). Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn't a goody-­goody like Mickey.

    In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational films about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966, Donald Duck and his voice disappeared — there were no more new cartoons.

    Clarence Nash died in February, 1985.But today's children can still see the old cartoons on television and hear that famous voice.

It must have been around nine O'clock when I drove back home from work because it was already dark. As I came near to the gates I turned off the headlamps of the car so as to prevent the beam(光)from swinging in through the window and waking Jack, who shared the house with me. But needn't have done so, I noticed that his light was still on, so he was awake anyway— unless he had fallen asleep while reading. I put the car away and went up the steps. Then I opened the door quietly and went to Jack's room. He was in bed awake but he didn't even turn towards me.

    "What's up, Jack?" I said.

    "For God's sake(看在上帝面上), don't make a noise," he said.

    The way he spoke reminded me of someone in pain who is afraid to talk in case he does himself a serious injury(伤害).

    "Take your shoes off, Neville," Jack said.

    I thought that he must be ill and that I had better humour (迁就)him to keep him happy, "There's a snake here" he explained, "It's asleep between the sheets. I was lying on my back reading when I saw it. I knew that moving was out of the question. I couldn't have moved even if I'd wanted to." I realized that he was serious. "I was relying on you to call a doctor as soon as you came home." Jack went on." It hasn't bitten me yet but I daren't do anything to upset it. It might wake up. I'm sick of this," he said," I took it for granted that you would have come home an hour ago."

    There was no time to argue or apologize for being late. I looks at him as encouragingly as I could and went out to telephone the doctor.

    When someone shouts at you or says something that can hurt you, how will you feel and what will you do? Last week, I learned an important life lesson from a taxi driver.

    Last Tuesday, I called a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane(车道)when suddenly a black car jumped out. My driver quickly stopped his car and almost hit the other car! The driver of the other car turned his head around and started shouting at us! My driver just smiled and waved at the guy. I mean, in a really friendly way.

    So I asked, "Why did you just do that? That driver almost hit your car and sent us to the hospital!" However, he said, "Many people are like garbage trucks（垃圾车）. They run around full of garbage一all kinds of bad feelings. As their garbage adds up, they need a place to dump （倾倒）it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people."

    His words touched me a lot. Since then, I have started to see "garbage trucks" everywhere. I see the load(负载)they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.