Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a famous 19th-century poet and artist.One day,he was1by an elderly man.The old fellow had some sketches and drawings that he wanted Rossetti to look at and tell him if they were any good,2if they at least showed3talent.

    Rossetti examined them carefully.After the first few, he knew that they were4,showing not the least5of artistic talent.But Rossetti was a kind man,and he told the elderly man as6as possible that the pictures were without much7and showed little talent.He was sorry,but he could not 8 to the man.The visitor was9 ,but seemed to10 Rossetti's judgment.

    He then11for taking up Rossetti's time,but12to ask whether he would just look at a few more drawings—these done by a young art student.Rossetti looked over the second batch of sketches and immediately became 13 over the talent they14 .“These,”he said,“oh,these are good.This young student has great talent.He should be given every help and encouragement in his15 as an artist.He has a great future if he will work hard and16it.”

    Rossetti could see that the old fellow was deeply17 .“Who is this fine young artist?”he asked.“Your son?” “No,”said the old man18 “It is me—40 years ago.If only I had heard your19then!For you see,I got discouraged and gave up—too20”

    When I was a kid, I kept using a bike with training wheels. And I didn't1much, so, of course, I didn't learn how to2. One day I observed that my younger sister was getting closer to3 how to get rid of the assistance than I was. I couldn't let her4 me! Like an out­of­control mad man, I grabbed(抓住) my bike, 5the training wheels, pushed it out, and pedaled(踩踏板) all over the neighborhood. I tried to stay near the6 as close as I could, so when I fell, I'd7 crash onto the lawn(草坪) instead of the street. After many short­lived8, I finally learned how to balance!

    The process seemed9, since I was afraid of falling. I10 the fear which held me back and gathered the11 instead. I tried my best to fall as much as I might have to, to12 getting hurt, and to quickly get back on the bike and try again. There might be some pain and13, and if so, I'd get hurt and bleed and keep going. It took me probably less than an hour to master the basic skill.

    What14 pushed me to set aside the fear and take action? Nothing but the feeling that I was15. My sister could ride without the training wheels while I couldn't. This feeling of 16 gave me a much needed kick. Using such pressure to motivate(激励) progress is 17. Go take action. Make the attempt. Fall. Get hurt. Get up and try again18 the very moment you create the19 results. Everything can be as 20 as riding a bike.

The sandwich man

    Michael rises every morning at 4:00, in good and bad weather, and walks into his sandwich shop. By 5:50, he's making the rounds of the shelters on Centre Streets. He 1 out 200 sandwiches to the homeless, before beginning his workday.

    It started 20 years ago when Michael came across a homeless man named John. He began to help him 2 effort then. Day after day, he brought John some food and, when it was really 3, a resting place in his car while he worked. Once he asked John if he wanted to get cleaned up. It was a(n) 4 offer, because Michael thought John would refuse. 5, John said, "Are you going to wash me?" Michael knew that he was looking at a 6 of his promise. It was at the moment that Michael 7 to help the homeless.

    Michael began his work. He received no sponsorship, saying, "I'm not getting media 8. I just want to do some good in my way. There are days when it's snowing, and I have a hard time leaving my warm bed and the 9 of my family to go downtown with sandwiches. But I've 10."

    Michael makes 200 sandwiches every day for the past 20 years. "I don't simply 11 the sandwiches on a table for the homeless to pick up. I shake their hands and 12 them a good day " says Michael. Once Mayor (市长) Koch came to make the rounds with him. They 13 the media, and it seemed like it was just the two of them. But of all Michael's 14, working side by side with the Mayor was not as important as working next to someone else…

    A man had 15 from the sandwich takers, and Michael thought about him from time to time. He hoped the man had moved on to a more 16 environment. One day, the man came back, greeting Michael and 17 sandwiches of his own to hand out. He said Michael's daily food, warm handshakes and wishes had given him the 18 he badly needed. After achieving some success, he decided to do the same thing as Michael.

    The moment needed no 19. The two men worked silently, side by side, handing out their sandwiches. It was another day on Centre Streets, but a day with just a little more 20.

    The day I received my letter of acceptance to NewYork university, I was extremely excited. It was my dream university. And my1 were pleased for me. But they also hadn't2 me to get into such a competitive school. In fact, the best thing they ever did for me was to 3  me from doing things4 - indeed, when I was in elementary school, they offered to buy me a present5I got a C.

    It 6 when I was in the third grade. An only child in an Asian family, I had just 7 with my family to Los Angeles. Months into the third grade, I developed a strong feeling of8 about getting bad grades. Seeing my anxiety, Dad said, "Kate, tell you what. If you get a C or 9, I'll buy you a present. If you score higher than that, I won't buy you anything, because you won't10 it."

    Clearly dad wasn't the 11Asian tiger parent, pressuring me to work tirelessly for the best12, and neither was my mom. They didn't want to push me. They wanted me to be13 and healthy. Dad's 14  of a "failing grade" gift amazingly15 my worries and reassure. What's more, I16getting A's and B's throughout high school, but without the added stress and fear of failing. I think it was my parents' lack of stress on grades that gave me 17 to encourage my own desire for achievements. I now realize I was 18 when I thought I didn't receive a present from my dad that day. He gave me two invaluable19 : the space to develop my own desire for excellence, and the healthy mind to 20it.

    On the night of August 24, 2001, everything changed when my friend's car hit a wall with me inside. I lost most of my right 1, and I was left bleeding with several broken bones. 2, my mind was still very clear in the hospital. I just kept telling myself to 3 and I 4 with the doctors that once I could roll onto my side, I would leave. They agreed. Two weeks later, I was 5 to go home.

    6 I left the hospital, the fight was far from over. My left knee was badly injured, which 7 different surgeries (外科手术) over the next few years. And soon, more of my right leg had to be 8. This made it harder to wear my false leg, so I donated it to a nurse who couldn't 9 one for herself, from 10 I gained greater happiness than the joy I felt on any day I was able to wear it myself.

    People often tell me they're 11 of me for staying strong. But in my mind, I can do 12 but stay strong. So, on the 13 I left the hospital, I made a promise to myself to 14 live life to the fullest. I soon 15 everyday life again, until one day I realized I wasn't living my life as 16 as I wanted to. After 13 years of thinking I was confident, 17, I knew I should help people around me.

    In 2014, I even started modeling. My dream is that one day a little girl will see me in a magazine and say, Wow, she's 18, and she had only one leg. I could do that too some day, even though I have a 19. My dream is simple, to 20 people to believe they are beautiful the way they are.

    Even though it was only October, my students were already whispering about Christmas plans. With each passing day everyone became more 1, waiting for the final school bell. Upon its2  everyone would run for their coats and go home, everyone except David.

    David was a small boy in ragged clothes. I had often 3 what kind of home life David had, and what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so 4for the cold winter months, without a coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David 5. I can still remember he was always6 a smile and willing to help. He always 7after school to straighten (使变直)chairs and mop the floor. We never talked much. He 8just simply smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly9home.

    Weeks passed and the 10over the coming Christmas grew into restlessness(骚动) until the last day of 11 before the holiday break. I smiled in 12as the last of them hurried out the door. Turning around I saw David 13standing by my desk.

    "I have something for you" he said and 14from behind his back a small box.15it to me, he said anxiously, "Open it" I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid (盖子)and to my 16saw nothing. I looked at David's smiling face and back into the box and said, "The box is nice, David, but it's 17."

    "Oh, no, it isn't" said David. "It's full of love. My mum told me before she died that love was something you couldn't see or touch unless you know it's there."

    Tears filled my eyes 18I looked at the proud dirty face that I had rarely given19to. After that Christmas, David and I became good friends and I never forgot the meaning 20the little empty box set on my desk.