My father sold everything we owned, took all the money and disappeared from our lives. My mother suddenly found herself 1 to care for five boys. I worried about the situation, but my mother stayed2 ， and assured us that she would keep us together as a 3and safe from harm. Although small in size, she could 4heavy horse ­ drawn plows. Besides, she 5found time to help us with homework.

    As Christmas approaching, my mother didn't seem to smile as much. I 6she had no money to buy us presents. Considering myself practically grown, I hid my7.

    One day, my mother took a saw (锯) into the forest and 8with some tree branches. She left them in the barn (畜棚) and didn't tell her 9children what they were for. She worked on her project10I was in school, but I looked 11into the barn when I had a chance. Several days later, I still couldn't 12her purpose. When later I saw she used nails and paint, I 13that she must be making presents.

    By Christmas week, my mother was her 14happy self again. Her project was apparently 15 ， and she obviously kept it secret because I'd looked everywhere without16.

    On Christmas Eve, I lay awake for a long time,17 Christmas morning.

    The next morning, my mother handed out the handmade presents happily in front of her delighted kids. Many difficult years would follow that particular Christmas, but I never again doubted my mother's 18to care for us. We were never hungry, and she made sure we got a(n)19 in school. She taught us to have faith in our own abilities. That faith still 20me.

    Once a group of 50 people was attending a seminar. Halfway through his talk, the speaker stopped and decided (create) a group activity. He went around the hall and gave each person a balloon. Each one was asked to write his or her name on the balloon (use) a marker pen. Then all the balloons were (collect) and put in another room.

    The speaker then led the group to the room full of balloons and asked them to find the balloon had their name written on, within five minutes. Everyone was (hurried) searching for their name, bumping into each other, pushing each other around. It was chaos. At the end of the five minutes no one could find (them) own balloon.

    Now each person was asked to randomly collect balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within two minutes everyone (have) their own balloon. When everyone quieted down, the speaker began to talk, saying that this is exactly what was happening in our (life)．Everyone is hurriedly looking for happiness, and not knowing where it is.

    Our happiness sometimes lies in the happiness of other people. Give them happiness you will get your own happiness.

    You signed up for soccer, and played every game of the season. Sure, you're not the best player on the team, but most days you gave it your all. Do you deserve a trophy (奖杯)?

    If the decision is up to Carol Dweck, the answer would likely be no. She's a psychology professor at Stanford University, California. She says a player doesn't have to be the best to get a trophy. But those who receive an award should have to work for it. She suggests trophies go to the most improved player, or the one who contributed most to the team spirit, as well as to those who play the best.

    “The trophy has to stand for something，” Dweck told TFK. “If we give a trophy to everyone, then the award has no value.” Dweck argues that giving kids trophies for particular reasons, such as improving in a sport, and teaches kids that adults value hard work and trying our best.

    Others say that there's no harm in giving awards to all kids who play a sport, regardless of how they played or whether or not they improved.

    “I think we should encourage kids' participation in sports，” says Kenneth Barish, a psychology professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City. “A trophy is one way to encourage kids' efforts.”

    Barish argues that when we only single out the best or even the most improved players with a trophy, we are teaching kids the wrong lesson. We are sending the message that winning is everything. “Winning is only part of the equation (等式)，” Barish told TFK.“Playing sports also teaches kids about teamwork and the importance of exercise.”

    There will be plenty of opportunities for kids to learn about competition as they get older, says Barish. They'll soon realize that only one soccer team wins the World Cup and only one football team wins the Super Bowl. For now, he thinks there's nothing wrong with letting all kids who play a sport feel like winners. That means trophies for everyone.