Do you often communicate with your parents?

    Some parents are always comparing their 1 with themselves when they were young, or with other people when they were children.

    “When I was your age,” a father said to 2sixteen-year-old son one day, “I was at the top of my class every year. And I 3 what I wanted to do when I left school. I had goals. You have no goals, 4your are always at the bottom of your class .”

    The man's son said nothing. He had already heard this from his father 5 times.

    “And when your mother was your age,” the young man's father, 6 , “She had a good job and she was earning money. You don't even have a part-time job. You earn nothing.”

    The man's son still said 7. He had heard this before, 8.

    “And 9 your elder brother was your age,” the young man's father went on, “he studied hard. But your just 10your time.”

    And the man's son still said nothing.

    Finally, the young man's 11 said, “And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, he worked all day and studied at night.”

    This time the son 12 stay silent(沉默).

    “And when Abraham Lincoln was your age, father,” he said, “He was the president of13United States. 14 are you?”

    His father had no answer to this.

    Are your parents always comparing you 15 others? And what's your reply? Do you have a better way to communicate with each other?

    Once lived a family with eighteen children. Two of the children loved painting very much, but the family was too 1 to send both of them to study at the 2 college at the same time. After many discussions, they would toss (抛) a coin. The loser would go down into the mines (煤矿) to earn money and 3 his brother to study. And the winner would learn art at the 4. Albecht Durer won the toss and Albert went down into the mines.

    Albecht Durer worked hard and his paintings were much 5 than those of most of his teachers. After graduation, he made a lot of money for his paintings.

    When Albecht Durer returned, the family held a big dinner for his great 6. Soon after the meal began, Albecht Durer said to his dear 7, "Albert, now you can go to the art college and your 8 will come true. I will take care of you."

    But Albert said 9, "Brother, the four years in the mines has done too much to my hands, so it's too late. Now I can't even hold a glass."

    To show his great love and respect, Albecht Durer 10 his brother's hands with fingers towards the sky. He called his drawing "The Praying Hands", which became very famous years later.

    Walt Disney, the great film­maker was born in Chicago in 1901. His greatest wish was to be a famous 1. When he was young, he went to a 2office in a city named Kansas. There he had some 3. He took some pictures of himself and wanted to get a job. But he had 4 luck. They looked at the pictures and said, "Sorry, young man. We don't think there is 5 interesting in your pictures. "

    But he didn't lose 6. He went on to draw pictures. His family was 7. One day a mouse came into his room and played on the floor. He stopped 8 and watched it. The mouse came to him and sat on his desk, so he gave the mouse a piece of bread. Then the mouse came nearer and was given more bread. 9 this way after some days the mouse became his good friend.

    Disney went to the west of the USA after a few years. He tried to get work as an artist, but he was still 10. One day he remembered the cute mouse. He picked up his pencil and began to draw. He drew some different pictures of the mouse. He called it Mickey Mouse. Now most people know and love him all over the world.

    Band practice had just ended. Jimmy and Ben started packing up their1. Before Kevin could put his trumpet into the box, he2a music stand. It fell and hit right on his trumpet.

   "Oh, no!" Kevin yelled.

    Jimmy picked up the trumpet and checked it3 before handing it to Kevin. "Well, it already has a lot of dents(凹痕). One more won't matter."

    "I know.  But it's my4," Kevin said. "And he's coming over this weekend."

    "Maybe he won't notice the dent," Jimmy said.

    "Maybe he won't care," Ben added,

    A bunch of "5"ran through Kevin-s head on the bus home.

    Maybe he could pretend（假装） he felt sick.

    But he didn't like6.

    Maybe he could get his baby brother, Jace, to take all of Grandpa's attention.

    Or maybe Grandpa wouldn't ask him to play this time.

When7finally arrived, Kevin still hadn't figured out what he was going to do.

    "Hey, Kev. How're things?" Grandpa asked as he walked in.

    "Good." Kevin could have told him the8right then, but he froze.

    After dinner, Grandpa asked Kevin to play9classics—Ode to Joy and Oh, Susanna. Grandpa said, "I think you're 10 than I was at your age."

    Any other time, Grandpa's praise would have made Kevin feel great. But not this time. "I'm 11about the dent," he explained what had happened.

    To Kevin's surprise, Grandpa smiled, "Instruments become part of12when you play them a lot. You can't always protect them. The13thing is that you told me."

    Grandpa pointed to the scratches opposite the dent Kevin had made. "I got these when I fell over it14one night."

    "So I'm not the only clumsy(笨拙的)  one in the family?" Kevin said.

    Grandpa laughed, "Every dent and scratch can tell a story, and15you stick with it, someday you'll have your own."

    Grandpa handed the trumpet back to Kevin. "Now tell me a story with music."

    Kevin lifted the trumpet and filled the room with happy noise.