Yesterday evening, when I went to town with my 1, we met a strange old man. It was raining 2and we had no umbrella. We were trying to get into a taxi when he came up to us. He was carrying a nice 3 and he said he would give it to 4 for only one pound.  He said he had 5 his wallet and he needed taxi fare(费用) to go back home. My mother didn't believe 6 he said at first, and asked him a lot questions. but she finally believed the man and gave him a pound. She was 7 to buy a good umbrella for so little. but the old man didn't get into a taxi. We followed him and found he went into a pub(酒吧) and bought 8a glass of whiskey(威士忌) with a pound. 9he drank it, he put on his hat and took one of the many wet umbrellas there and went off with the new one. Soon after that, he 10 it again.

    A young painter had just completed a beautiful painting. To get people's opinions about his painting skills, he put his 1at a crossing on a busy street. And below it a board read, "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. 2 I'm new, I might have made some mistakes in my work. Please put a cross  3you see a mistake."

    When he came back in the evening to 4his painting, he was completely shocked to see that the whole painting was filled 5 crosses. And some people had even written their opinions on the painting. 6 , he ran to his master and said to him, "I'm 7and if this is what I have learned to paint, I'm not worth teaching. "

    The master 8and suggested, "I'll let you know that you are a great 9. Now go to paint the same painting once again and give it to 10."

Then they went to the same street the next morning and put the same painting exactly at the same place. Now the master  11another board which read, "Gentlemen, I have painted this piece. I might have made some mistakes in my painting. I have put a box with colors and 12 just below. Please give me a hand. If you see a 13, pick up the brush and correct it." The master and the young painter went back home. Two days later, they came back to the place. The young painter was  14to see that actually there was not a single correction done!

    It's easier to criticize(批评) but difficult to improve. If you want to help people  15 their behavior, you'd better learn how to help people change their attitudes or skills. Also, always remember not to judge yourself by someone else's criticism and feel upset.

    Mr. and Mrs. Brown were teachers. They lived in a big 1.Last year they went to the countryside for their summer vacation. They 2 it very much because it was a quite clean place.

    One day they went for a 3 in the morning and saw an old man. He sat in the 4 sun in front of his house. Mr.Brown went to him and asked, “Do you like 5 in this quiet place?”

    The old man answered, “Yes, I 6.”

    Mr. Brown asked, “What are the 7 things about it?”

    The old man answered “Well, 8 here knows each other(互相) well. They often come to see me, and I often go to visit 9, too. Also, there are lots of children here.”

    Mr. Brown said, “That's interesting. Well, 10 are the bad things?”

    The old man thought for a short time and said, “Well, the same things.”

    One day, the students of Class 6 were reading in the classroom. Mrs. Brown came in and told the whole class that they would have to change a 1 in March. The naughtiest(调皮的) class in the grade could not 2 it. The pupils all disagreed with the decision, so they shouted when Mrs.

    Brown said it was because a new pupil would be3 the class. The class was in disorder. (杂乱地) "Why must we move to another classroom just because someone new is coming?". One of them asked 4 Mrs. Brown waited patiently before the class without saying anything. The students saw it and they became quiet. Mrs. Brown told them to be 5 to their new classmate and then she left.

    The following week, the class understood 6. The head teacher himself brought the new student to their class.7, Mr. White pushed the new student to the class because the student was disabled. Mr. White 8 the new student as Jeff and asked them to be friendly to him. He said that Jeff now was a 9 of the class and they should work together. He added," A house divided (分开) against itself cannot stand."10 could completely understand what Mr. White meant at first.

    Over time, they began to understand what their head teacher meant. Jeff was a 11 student and often lent a helping hand to students who did not understand 12 work. They felt very thankful to him. They took turns (轮流) to push him 13 they knew well that when someone did something for you, you 14 do something back in return (作为回报) .Their results 15 and their behavior (行为) became better. It was a special year Class 6 would never forget.

    Have you ever showed your love to your beloved ones by speaking out "I love you"? Do it right now, otherwise one day you may regret not1so.

    Our 20-year-old son was killed in a fire on Friday night. That day, how I2I had told him, "Jim, I love you, and I'm so proud of you." I would have taken time to appreciate his beautiful smile, the3of his laughter and his true love for people.

    Every time we 4his good points, we forget about the radio that was always too loud, the haircut that wasn't to our liking(合我们的意), and the5 socks under the bed. It really doesn't matter much now. I won't get 6chance to tell my son all I would have wanted him to hear, but you have.

    If you know it will be your last talk, tell your family and friends7you will want them to hear. The last time I talked to Jim was the day he died. He called me to say, "Hi, Mum！I just called to say I love you. Got to go to work. Bye." He gave me 8 to treasure(珍视)forever. If there is any purpose of Jim's 9, maybe it is to make others appreciate more of life and to have people, especially families, take the time to let each other know just how 10they care.

    Don't wait till the last moment. Do it today!