A little boy was visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot (弹弓) to play with out in the woods. He 1 in the woods, but he could never hit anything. Getting a little2, he headed back for dinner. As he was 3 back he saw Grandma's pet 4. Just out of impulse (冲动), he let the slingshot 5, hit the duck right in the head and killed it. He was shocked and 6.

    In a panic, he hid the7duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said 8.After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the 9." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he10to help in the kitchen." Then she11to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny washed the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Before they left, Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I12Sally to help me make supper," Sally just smiled and said, "Well, you needn't worry about it13Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went 14 and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of doing both his15and Sally's, he finally couldn't 16 it any longer. He came to Grandma and admitted that he had 17 the duck.

    Grandma squatted down(蹲下), gave him a 18 , and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the 19 thing, but because I love you. I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a 20 of you. If you make a mistake, just be brave to admit to it and promise not to make it again. In that way, everyone will forgive you."

    One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They waited anxiously at their desks for the test to begin. The professor1the question papers, with the text facing down as usual.2he handed them all out, he asked his students to3the page and begin. To everyone's surprise, there were no4, just a black dot (点）in the center of the page. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone's face, told them the following:

    "I want you to write what you5there."

    The students, thoroughly6,got started on the inexplicable (费解的）task At the end  of the class, the professor7all the answer papers and started reading each one of them aloud in front of all the students. All of them, with no8 ， described the black dot, trying to explain its position in the middle of the sheet, etc. After all had been9, the classroom was silent, the professor began to explain:

    "I'm not going to grade this. I10wanted to give you something to think about No one wrote about the11part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot, and the same happens in our12.We have a white paper to observe and13, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a14given to us with love and care and we always15to celebrate: nature renewing itself every day, our friends around us, the job16our bread and butter and the miracles we see every day.17, we insist on focusing only on the dark spots: the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the18relationship with colleagues, the19with a friend, and etc.

    The dark spots are very20compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds.

    I was at the post office early that morning, hoping to be in and out in a short while. Yet, I1 myself standing in a queue that went all the way into the hallway. I had never seen so many people there on a weekday. It seemed someone might have made an announcement, welcoming customers to carry as many 2 as they could and bring them in when I needed to have my own package 3. The queue moved very slowly. My patience ran out and I got4. The longer it took, the angrier I became. When I got to the counter finally, I finished my5quickly and briefly, and then walked past the queue that was now extending past the front door.

    "Excuse me," I said, trying not to be too pushy. Several people had to move 6 to make room for me to get to the 7.

    I stepped out, complaining about the 8 conditions. Thinking I was going to be late for my dentist appointment, I headed into the parking lot.

    A woman was coming across the lot in my 9. She was walking with determination, and each step sounded very heavy. I 10 that she looked as if she could breathe fire. It stopped me in my tracks. I 11 myself and it wasn't pretty. Had I looked like that? Her body language said that she was having a 12 day. My anger melted away. I wished I could wrap her in a hug but I was a13. So I did what I could in a minute14 she hurried past me－I smiled. In a second everything changed. She was astonished, then somewhat 15.Then her face softened and her shoulders16. I saw her take a deep breath. Her pace slowed and she smiled back at me as we passed each other. I continued to smile all the way to my 17. Wow, it's amazing what a simple smile can do.

    From then on, I became aware of people's 18 and my own, the way we show our feelings. Now I use that 19 every day to let it 20 me that when facing the world, I can try a smile.

    A few days after Christmas, my friend Zachary came over with his snowboard. Zachary was very good at snowboarding, but I could 1 do it at all. I wondered if maybe my new board wasn't the right size for me, so I tried 2 Zachary's board, but I still didn't get very 3.

    While I 4 with Zachary's board, he was making run after run down the hill. He asked me if we could go to his favourite hill to do more runs, and not wanting to 5 his fun, I 6 said I would go.

    While out on the new hill, I still struggled to stay 7. I had fallen a few times when a teenager that I had never 8 before noticed that I was getting 9, and called me over to give me some advice. I don't talk to strangers as a 10, but my mom was with me, so I felt 11. So I listened to what he had to 12, and then I made another 13. He watched, and then came over to give me more 14. I did what he told me, and I was able to get all the way down the hill without 15. It seemed much easier with the instructions he gave me.

    This guy was so nice and helpful about 16 me. He could have chosen to make a few more runs for the day, 17 taking the time to help me. As 18 preteens, sometimes when we think of teenagers, we think of those who are troublemakers, or those who scare us. But this teenager made me feel 19 around him and was really helpful and kind to me.

    I'm a much better snowboarder now, thanks to the very 20 teenage stranger.

    When we finished eating, I quickly grabbed (抓住)the check and 1 to pay. Before I could get to the counter(结账处)a man 2 me over to his table, saying "I know you saw 3 at you and I'm sorry if it made you4. It's just because you look like my old classmate 40 years ago." Then he asked if we would be with them for a few minutes.5, Danielle and I sat down. We talked for about 10-15 minutes and then I 6 I had something 7 to do. As I stood up to leave, the man 8 across the table and took my 9 out of my hand. Before I could explain, he said "I would really like to 10 this meal for you." He continued," The only thing I ask 11 is that some day when you can help others, please pass on the 12."

    As I walked to my car 13 what just happened, Danielle started jumping up and down with 14 , saying, "Mama, now we can get a Christmas tree!" 15 , we bought a Christmas tree for $8.97, which I still have today. I never put an angel (天使)on the top because it has a 16 one! Although I never met that man again 17 the years, there's hardly a day that goes by that I don't think of his 18 .He was right. I have been able to pass it on. I became a speaker and passed on his 19 to as many people as I could reach.

    Whether he's divine (神圣的)or not doesn't 20. I still think of him as a guardian angel.

    Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a famous concert. After they were seated, the mother1a friend and walked over to greet her. Seizing the2to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy got up and explored his way3a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE (禁止进入)". When the lights became less bright and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her4and discovered that the child was missing.

    Suddenly, the curtains5and the lights focused on the stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard,6Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

    At that moment, the great piano master, Paderewski,7on the stage, quickly went to the piano and8in the boy's ear, "Don't9. Keep playing."

    Then, leaning (倾斜) over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began10in a bass (低音的) part. Soon his right arm reached11to the other side of the child and he added a beautiful piece of music.12, the old master and the boy13a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative14.

    That's the way it is in life.15we can complete on our own is16noteworthy (值得注目的). We try our best, but the17aren't exactly graceful or flowing music.18when we put our trust in the hands of greater power, our life can be truly beautiful.

    The next time you set19to create great performances, listen carefully. You can hear the20of the master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."