Each of us fails from time to time. If we are wise, having enough experience and knowledge, we will regard these failures (失败) as a necessary and 1 part of learning. But often as parents and teachers, we don't 2_this right (权利) to our children.

    Donnie was a student in my class. His 3 about failure kept him away from classroom games which other children enjoyed. He 4 answered my questions—he was afraid of making mistakes.

    I tried my best to build his self-confidence. But nothing changed 5 midterm, when Mary, a new teacher, came. She was young and pretty, and she was loved by every student6 Donnie. She made a big difference to Donnie later.

    One morning, Donnie copied the math problem clearly and 7, but he missed the fourth problem and began to cry with his head in his arms.

I didn't know what to do. Suddenly, a smile 8on Mary's face. From the desk she got a box that 9 pencils. “Look, Donnie,” she said gently, kneeling (蹲在) beside him. “I've got something to 10 you.” She took out the pencils, one at a time, and placed them on his desk.

    “See these pencils, Donnie,” she continued. “They 11 Mrs. Landon and me. See how the erasers are worn (磨损)? That's because we make mistakes, too. But we erase the mistakes and try again. That's what you12 learn to do, too.”

    She kissed him and stood up, “here,” she said, “I'll leave one of these pencils on 13 desk, so you'll remember that everybody makes mistakes, even teachers.” Donnie looked up with 14 in his eyes and a smile.

The pencil became Donnie's prize. That, together with Mary's encouragement, gradually made him understand 15the meaning of making mistakes is —it's all right to make mistakes as long as you erase them and try again.

    One day, a poor young man went to Paris to visit one of his father's friends and 1 that his father's friend could help him find a simple job for living.

    "Are you good at math," his father's friend asked him.

    The young man shook his head.

    "How are your history and geography?"

    The young man shook his head again.

    "How about your law?"

    The young man 2 his head embarrassedly.

    His father's friend asked again and again,3 the young man could only shake his head and told him he himself couldn't find out any4.

    "Then write down your address first."

    The young man wrote down his address and turned to leave, but he was stopped by his father's friend. "Your name is written very 5 which is your advantage. You shouldn't satisfy yourself with finding a job only for 6"

    Years later, the young man wrote the classical works that won the world fame. He was Alexandre Dumas, a famous French writer of 18th century. One of his greatest works 7 The Three Musketeers was popular 8 a great number of readers.

    There are many ordinary persons in the world who all have many 9advantages, but they are neglected (忽视) because of their self-abasement (自卑). In fact, there is a gold mine (矿) in every ordinary life. If you're willing to dig, you will dig out treasures to 10 yourself.

I am David. My home town, Bao Loc, is just a small town in Vietnam (越南). But for me, it's really a paradise (天堂). 

The weather is very comfortable. It's not very hot or cold. In the centre of the town, there is a beautiful lake. You can lie on the bank (河岸) and see the white clouds in the blue sky or count (数) the stars at night. You can go there just to relax when you have a lot of things to think about. One of the most famous places is Dambri Waterfall (瀑布). You can enjoy this beautiful waterfall if you come. Don't forget to take some pictures with your camera. 

Bao Loc is very small. It will take you 45 minutes or 1 hour to go around this town. It's so small that people here know each other. They are very friendly. 

Tea and coffee are Bao Loc's local food. I think you will like them very much. 

Why does Bao Loc become a paradise? Because my family are here and they always make me feel warm and safe.

This story took place during the Warring States (战国) period. At that time, kings would often 1 each other's sons as hostages (人质) to protect their kingdoms (王国).

Now it was the prince of Wei's turn. He was going to Handan, the capital of Zhao, as a hostage. Pang Cong, an official, was going with him. Before they 2 , Pang Cong said to the king of Wei, "If someone comes to report that he has 3 a tiger in the market will Your Majesty (陛下) believe it?"

"Of course not," the king answered.

"If another man comes to say the same thing, will Your Majesty believe it?"

"I'll start to 4 about it."

"Then, what if a third man comes with the same report, Your Majesty?"

"Maybe I will think it is 5 ."

"Well, we all know that no tiger dares to go to the market. But since three men have said the same thing, everyone now 6 that there is a tiger there. Handan is much 7 from our capital than the market is from the court (王宫), and more than three people will talk against me behind my 8 . When I'm away, Your Majesty will not fail to judge (判断) what you hear, will you?"

"I know 9 to judge," the king said impatiently.

Then Pang Cong said 10 to the king and left Daliang, the capital of Wei, with the prince. But as soon as he had left, the king's ears were 11 with words against him.

After a few years, when Pang Cong 12 to Wei with the prince, the king would not see him again. He was no longer 13 .

So, "three liars (说谎的人) make a 14 " is used to say that if a lie is 15 often enough, people may start to believe it, even though it is not a fact.