I went to a dinner party at a friend's home last weekend and met her five-year-old daughter for the first time. Little Maya was all curly brown hair, dark eyes, and lovely 1 her shiny pink nightgown ( 睡裙) .I wanted to say, “Maya, you're so2!

    Turn around and model that pretty gown for me. You're beautiful!” But I didn't.

    “Maya,” I said,3into her eyes, “it's very nice to meet you.”

    “ Nice to meet you, too.” She said, in that4, talking-to-adults, good girl voice.

    “Hey, what are you reading?” I asked. Her eyes got bigger, and the practiced, polite facial 5gave way to real excitement over this6. But she seemed too7 to answer me.

    “I love books,” I said. “Do you?”

    Most8do.

    “Yes,” she said. “And I can9them all by myself now!”

    “Wow,10!” I said. And it is, for a five-year-old.

    “What's your favourite book?” I asked.

    “I'll go and get it! Can I read it to you?”

    Purplicious was Maya's11, and a new one to me, as she sat next to me and12read aloud every word. Then I told her that I'd just13a book, and that I hoped she'd write one, too, one day. She was crazy14 that idea. We were both sad when Maya had to go to bed,15I told her next time to choose another book and we'd read it.

    Try this the next time you meet a little girl. She may be16and unsure at first, because few people ask her about her17, but be patient and stick with it. Ask her what she's reading. What does she like and dislike, and why? You're just18 an intelligent (明智的) conversation that respects her brain. Tell her about your19 and accomplishments, and your favourite books. Set a good example for her of what a 20woman says and does.

    At the age of 13, I remember that my father would take me on short outings on Saturdays. On the way 1 from these trips, Dad frequently 2 at the Dairy Queen for 10-cent ice cream. Not every single time, just often enough. I couldn't 3 it, but I could hope and 4 from the time we started heading home to that 5 where we would either go straight for the ice cream or turn and go home 6. That corner meant mouth-watering excitement or 7.

    One day, we were 8 home, and I was hoping and praying for the beautiful sound of his 9. It came. “Would you like an ice cream today?” “That sounds 10, Dad!” But then he said, “It sounds good to me too, son. Would you like to 11 me today?”

    “Twenty cents!” I thought to myself, “I can afford it. I got 25 cents' pocket money and some extra for odd jobs. Well, 12 it is enough, ice cream isn't a good use of it.” Therefore, I said, “Well, in that case, I guess I'll 13.” My father just said, “Okay, Son.”

    But as we headed home, I realized how wrong I was and begged him to 14. But he just said, “That's okay, we don't really need one.” I felt 15 for my selfishness and ungratefulness. He didn't mind, or16 act disappointedly.

    From that I 17 generosity goes two ways and gratefulness sometimes costs more than “thank you”. On that day gratefulness would have cost 20 cents and it would have been the 18 ice cream I'd ever had.

    I'll tell you one more thing. We 19 another trip the next week. As we 20 the corner, I said, “Dad, would you like an ice cream today? My treat.”

    I learned this lesson a couple of years ago. That day, I took a 1 to Grand Central Station. We were driving in the 2 lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right 3 us. My taxi driver slammed (猛踩) on his brakes and almost 4 the car's back end by just ten 5!

    The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident,6 his car and started yelling bad 7 at us. The taxi driver just smiled and 8 at the guy. And I mean he was 9. So, I said, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost 10 your car and sent us to 11!” And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call “the law of the garbage truck.”

    Many people are like garbage trucks. They 12 around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of 13, and full of disappointment. As their garbage 14 up, they need a place to dump it, and if you agree, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump their 15 on you, don't take it 16. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and 17. You'll be happy at what you do.

    I started thinking, how often do I let garbage trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and 18 it to other people? That day I said, “I'm not going to do that anymore.”

    What about you? What will happen in your life if you let more garbage 19 pass you by? Life is too short to wake up in the morning with 20.

    Last spring, I was fortunate to be chosen to participate in an exchange study program. In my application letter, I was careful to 1 how much I wanted to see France; obviously, my excitement really came through in my words. Once I 2 that I was going, all I could think about was the fun of foreign travel and making all sorts of new and 3 friends. While traveling was inspiring and meeting people was4 ， nothing about my term in France was what I 5.

    The moment I arrived in Paris, I was 6 by a nice French couple who would become my host parents. My entire experience was joyous and exciting 7 I received some shocking news from my program coordinator (协调人)：there had been a death in my host parents' extended family. They had to travel outside France for several weeks. That afternoon, I had to 8 out of one family's house and into another. The exchange coordinator told me I'd have a 9 this time and asked whether I could share a bedroom with an English speaker. To avoid the temptation (诱惑) to 10 my native language, I asked not to be 11 with an English­speaking roommate. When I got to my new room, I 12 myself to my new roommate Paolo, a Brazilian(巴西人) the same age as I, whom I was surprised to find playing one of my favorite CDs! In just a few hours, we knew we'd be good friends for the rest of the 13.

    I left France with many 14, so when people ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, they are always 15 to hear me talk about my Brazilian friend Paolo and the scores of weekdays in class, weeknights on the town, and weekends 16 France we enjoyed together. I love how people 17 seem so different, but end up being so 18. The most valuable lesson I gained from studying in France wasn't just to respect the French people 19 to respect all people, for your next best friend could be just a continent away. I would recommend an exchange program to anyone who wants to experience foreign cultures and gain meaningful 20.

    William Weaver was one of 14 black students integrating(使融合进入) the all—white West High School. A teacher told him that he “didn't belong.” He had a test and the teacher 1 him and then just took the paper away and said, “ 2 is up.” The first report card he got was 3 F's. So he started to think maybe he didn't belong and that he was 4 .

    One evening he was at home and Edward Hill, his science teacher from the 5 school, came by to visit. Weaver told Mr Hill that the white school were trying to 6 him away. Mr Hill asked Weaver to come to his old school after 7 . So every day waiting for him would be Mr. Hill with other teachers and they 8 him. Once he got past those F's, he stopped 9 himself. But no matter what he did, he was never 10 at that school. Weaver never had a 11 with a counselor(辅导员)about going to college. But, to his 12 , he got a letter telling him he had been awarded a scholarship. Weaver 13 it and went on to 14 Howard University.

    Many years 15 , Weaver came across Mr Hill and told him, “Mr Hill, if I had not gotten that 16 , I don't know what would have happened. And I don't know 17 I got the scholarship because I never even applied for it.” Mr Hill said, “I know, because I filled in the 18 and sent it off for you.” So Mr Hill stepped 19 and changed his life, 20 at that time Weaver didn't realize how much he was being helped.

Insight Without Sight

    At the age of eighteen I couldn't wait to get my first job, which meant I made the first step toward adulthood.

     But it was difficult to get a work permit. One day I was dropped off by my parents at the 1, where applicants took their physical tests for work permits.  Although I had night blindness, my vision was clearer during the day, which helped me walk2by myself.  Then the doctor began the3. He looked into my eyes with a bright light. "I4your parents take you to an eye specialist," he said, "I suspect you have a retinal(视网膜) disease. If you do, you'll never5a day in your life…"

    My parents did take me to specialists. After much time and money spent seeking an6result, it was determined that I had an eye disease that slowly7a person of sight. But still, during daylight, I could walk without8. I could read, but not for hours. My eyes began to 9and words slipped off the page when I read more than a few pages. However, no matter how tired my eyes became, I never gave up reading. I knew the10of great writers as well as I knew the most popular music stars. Their words were powerful, which11me to try writing. Soon writing brought me a lot of12each time I completed a paper.

    Then an important phone call from an editor changed my life. An article I13 appeared in a local newspaper. The newspaper, to my14, continued to print my work. Next, a book series published several of my essays. I got interested in writing and15up with each acceptance. On the pages, readers never knew of my blindness16I chose to present it. For me, finding my voice through writing gave me the pride and satisfaction I17so many years ago. Now, I have numerous essays and articles in18.

    Should I be thanking that misguided doctor? By falsely predicting that I could never work a day, he fueled my19into success. He set the bar too20 and focused on what I wouldn't be able to do. Yet I proved what I could do.