Mr. Black was over fifty years old. He sometimes made some mistakes in his work, and he lost his work. So he had 1 time every day to do something. Then he often met his old friends under a big tree. They had a drink there and 2 anything they liked.

    One day, some old men were sitting together again and talking about young people in this world. They all agreed that the old people were 3 than young people. Then one of the old 4 said that young men were stronger than old men.

    5of them agreed that this was true, 6 Mr. Black didn't. He said, "No, I am as strong now as when I was a young man." His friends were surprised 7 what he said.

    "Well," said Mr Black. "Near my house there is a big stone. When I was a young man, I used 8 to move it. But I couldn't because I was not 9. I am an old man now, and when I try to move it, I still 10. So I am as strong as when I was young. "

    In the dining room of my grandfather's house stood a big grandfather's clock. The table was always 1with wonderful food and 2as the main part. And always that grandfather's clock stood like a trusted old family 3, sharing our happiness.

    As I was a child, the old clock 4 me. I watched and listened to it during meals. I5how at different times of the day, even more wonderful to me was what my grandfather did each day. He never let that clock wind down and 6. He even showed us how to use the key to wind(上发条) the clock. Year after year, the clock became a part of my 7, a part of my heart. The clock stayed with my grandfather until he passed away.

    Several days after my grandfather died, I entered the dining room, with tears flowing8. My grandmother gave me the clock and the key. I opened the clock door with my 9 hand. Then slowly, gently, I entered the key and wound the clock. It began with tick – tock, tick – tock ,10 of the clock was breathed into the dining room, into house and into my 11. In the movement of the hands of the clock, my grandfather 12 again .

    Each of us makes mistakes from time to time. In fact, we can1 a lot from our mistakes.

    Donnie was a 2 student and never answered questions in class. He was afraid to make mistakes. He never finished his homework 3 he didn't want to make any mistakes. Nothing changed until Marry Anne, a teacher, came to our4 

    One morning, Marry Anne asked Donnie to 5 some questions. After a while Donnie was in tears because he made a mistake. Suddenly Marry Anne got a box full of erasers from the desk.

    "Look, Donnie," she said standing 6 him. "I've got something to show you." She took out the erasers, one at a time, and put them on the desk.

    "See these erasers, Donnie?" she continued (继续). "Do you know 7 the erasers become smaller and smaller? That's because we make mistakes. But we erase the mistakes and try again. That's what you must learn."

    "Here," she said, "I'll 8 one eraser on your desk, so you will remember that 9 may make mistakes."

    Donnie looked at Marry Anne and smiled.

    Donnie 10a lot from then on. He knew that everyone had the permission (许可) to make mistakes as long as you learned them and tried again.

    A rich man had only one son. His son made friends with some bad boys. What is worse, he 1 a lot of bad habits.

    The man was very 2 about the bad habits of his son. He tried different ways to make his son 3 the bad habits. However, he4succeeded. One day, he thought of an idea to teach his son a lesson. He went to the 5 and bought some fresh apples and a rotten（腐烂的）one. He went back home and asked his son to put all the apples in one 6.The son did as he was told.

    After a few days, the father 7 his son to fetch（取来） an apple for him. When the son opened the bag, he was 8 to see that all the apples had become rotten.

    After that moment, his father told him to see 9 one rotten apple had spoiled（使变质）all the rest. In the10way, one bad man could spoil his friends and one bad habit could destroy one person. Hearing this, the son decided to give up his bad habits and leave his bad friends.

    I took the bus to work for many years. No one 1 each other; the passengers all sat there sleepily in the morning. The bus was cheerless and silent.

    One of the 2 was a small old man with grey hair. He took the bus to the center for senior citizens (老年人) every morning. Nobody ever paid much attention to him.

    One July morning he said good morning to the driver and 3. The driver nodded guardedly (带着戒心地). The rest of us were 4.

    The next day, the old man boarded with a big smile again and said in a 5 voice: "And a very good morning to you all!" Some of us 6, amazed, and murmured (小声嘀咕) "Good morning, " in reply. We gradually began to nod and talk to each other.

    One morning he was 7 a nice suit and tie. He even had a bunch of 8 in his hand. The driver turned around smilingly and asked: "Have you got yourself a girlfriend, Charlie?" We never got to know if that was his name, 9 he nodded his head shyly and said yes. The other passengers clapped (拍手叫好) at him. Every morning after that Charlie 10 flowers. Some passengers also brought flowers for him. The bus became a happy place.

    Then, one morning, as autumn was closing in, Charlie wasn't 11 at the stop. When we came 12 to the center for senior citizens, one of the passengers asked the driver to wait. He went in to 13 "Charlie".

    The old gentleman was 14, but one of his close friends had died at the weekend. The next Monday Charlie was at the stop as usual. His hair had turned greyer. We were silent as he walked onto the bus. No one 15 his friend, but we each handed him a bunch of flowers. We wanted to be there for this man who brought us together that summer.

    Michael Hassard, a former engineer for NASA, hikes and camps, takes long bicycle rides and plays football. He always looks active, 1he cries quite often. "I keep paper towels at hand all the time," says Mr. Hassard.

    Mr. Hassard cries so2just because he is a Highly Sensitive(敏感的）Person(HSP). This kind of person is very sensitive to feelings-their own and3of others. Mr. Hassard first realized he was highly sensitive in his early teens. He said when he sang in the church, there were songs that he had a hard time4. Why? They moved him so much. Sometimes his friends5his tears and asked him what was wrong. He always answered," Nothing, I'm fine." Finally, he learned to control his feelings6practicing the songs over and over again in his free time.

    Researches of HSPs show differences in their neural(神经的）activity. Compared with non-HSPs, HSPs pay7attention to the environment around them and care more about the 8 of their friends and parents.

    Scientists say that high sensitivity can be 9 in at least 100 spices(物种). We cannot have the idea that HSPs are different from us and stay far away from them. Instead, we should help them find 10 to deal with their feelings. In modern times, HSPs can be excellent teachers, artists, reporters, etc.