A girl who graduated from a world famous university wanted to do translation work for authority leaders. She was so happy when she entered the British Embassy (大使馆). She thought it was the greatest happiness in her life as many graduates wanted to get that job and she was one of the few people who got it!

   But when she started her new job, she realized that it was just a job of answering calls and recording staff members'arriving and leaving times. It was supposed to have no future. For some time, she felt disappointed and didn't know what to do. However, she didn't want to give up this job. She thought about it for one or two days and finally she decided that she would try her best to do this job. From then on, she learnt to appreciate her own job. She wrote down the names and phone numbers of the staff members on a notebook so that she could remember them. She found great pleasure in dealing with the daily chores. When a phone call came in, she picked up the phone as soon as possible. When someone asked her about who was not in the office, she would give the right name and even the time when he or she left. Nobody could do that except her.

   Her excellent work received praise not only from the embassy's members, but also from people in the local government. A leader of a famous company in Britain was deeply impressed by her, so he invited her to work for him. After that she became the leader's personal translator and she was appreciated by the foreigners.

   We cannot choose our destiny(命运), but we can choose the attitude with which we face our life. Maybe the attitude could change our destiny.

B

    "Face it, Andy. You sold your soul the day you put on that first pair of Jimmy Choo's." That line from the movie The Devil Wears Prada is an example showing how a shoemaker has become famous in the fashion world.

    Jimmy Choos (Zhou Yangjie) is a native Malaysian of Chinese origin (出身), born in 1961 into a family of shoemakers. He created his first pair of shoes at age 11. His family couldn't pay for his schooling, so he dropped out at a young age. He had to work with his father to support the family. But his dream to be a fashion designer never disappeared, so he did all he could to enter an art college and finally took up a position in the fashion world through his talent and willpower.

    Choo graduated from a college in London and had a small workshop there. He hit the international fashion scene when Vogue magazine described his designs in eight pages in 1988. His work was immediately popular and got love and support from Diana, Princess of Wales.

    Jimmy Choo shoes are known for their very high heels and pointed toes. However, he does some flats and lower-heeled shoes for other women. Choo co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd. with Tamara Mellon, UK Vogue editor, but left the company in 2001.

    Jimmy Choo shops have opened around the world, so his designs are more accessible to those who want a designer shoe, and can afford his prices. Choo also has a website where shoppers can view his ready-to-wear designs. The brand of Jimmy Choo has been comparable to top brands, like Channel, LV, etc. But it's still young and has a bright future.

    We can't imagine how hard it is for Choo to stand out in the worldwide fashion! He must have made greater efforts and had more difficulties than others. And so he did. So stop complaining about why good luck isn't always falling on you and devote yourselves to your work now.

Last week I went to an art show. A painting caught my eyes. To my amazement, it was painted by Steven, one of my {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Then many things about him came into my mind.

Steven was from a poor family. His parents{#blank#}2{#/blank#}not afford to buy him some basic things that he needed. Once our school provided gloves for poor children. I put Steven's name on the list. He was so {#blank#}3{#/blank#} when he received a pair. He loved to wear them and they were always {#blank#}4{#/blank#} than anybody else's. 

Steven had a gift(天赋) for painting and he could {#blank#}5{#/blank#} understand what I described in class. But he didn't have money to buy the paper for painting. So sometimes, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#} him some. He parctised hard. And I often showed his paintings of the class. He was greatly {#blank#}7{#/blank#}.

One day just before the summer vacation, he came to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} some art books. When the new term began, he showed some of {#blank#}9{#/blank#} paintings to me. I felt shocked . They were very good. Then we talked a lot. He said he would keep on. 

Later he was admitted(录取) to a famous art university. After graduation, he had many difficulties, but he never gave up. He was always {#blank#}10{#/blank#} his best to improve himself. His hard work and strong mind led to his success.

I hoped to be set free one day,so I was nice to the Lilliputians.Gradually,     ▲     .Sometimes the children even played hide-and-seek in my hair.

One day,the king said to me,"Gulliver,I invite you to watch an important performance.It is a contest called Rope Dancing".In the contest,a thin rope was tied between two poles very high above the ground.People had to dance on this rope.Each dancer tried to jump higher than the others.I had never seen such a dangerous sport.

"Your Majesty,"I said,"many dancers must fall and be hurt or killed."

"Yes,"he replied,"But I will give the best jobs in my kingdom to the men who are not afraid and jump the highest."What a strange way to choose who will work for the country!"I thought.

Then,as the king watched,I tied each corner of my handkerchief to a strong stick, and pushed the four sticks into the ground.My handkerchief was now under the rope but above the ground.Any dancer who fell would land on the handkerchief and not get hurt. The king was very pleased with my invention.His family and many other people watched the rope dancing.

Would you and the queen like to see better?"I asked the king.I gently put them on my hand and held it beside the rope.They had a good view of the dancers.One very skilled performer held on to the rope and flipped(翻转)his body right over it.The king and the queen clapped loudly and cheered.Later the king told me that he made this man one of his chief(首要的)advisors.

The king and I met often.He seemed to enjoy our conversations.One day,I said again,"Your Majesty, please set me free."This time he answered,"I have talked to my

advisors.We agree that you have been good to our people."