Communication is an important part of any relationship. Many of us are 1 to share our experiences or emotions with our friends. But when it's our turn to lend a(n) 2, we soon become bored or are short of idea on how to 3 and offer advice.
That's because of what researchers call “listener burnout(倦怠)”. A friend might talk to us 4, often complaining about the same 5 problems. When we offer quick advice to 6 the situation, we may be unconsciously trying to 7 ourselves from burnout. However, good listeners 8 their natural tendency to solve the other's problems hurriedly and to keep the conversation brief.
To be a good 9, you need to use “active listening”. It starts with the real 10 to help others and think through their feelings. Don't 11 things. You can start by putting your phone 12 and sitting close to your friend. Let your facial expressions 13 what he or she is saying. 14 you are able to fully understand, acknowledge the other person's 15 by reflecting them back: “That must be really hard for you.” Use 16 words or even sounds such as “yes”, “right”, and “hmm” to 17 the other person to continue.
Of course, a 18 can be extremely hard if the other person is too critical. But don't get defensive. Effective listeners don't 19 negative criticism. Instead, they listen and understand what the person is trying to convey 20 responding.
It's true that “A small change can make a big difference” in our life. A better technical term that can well 1 this idea is the “Butterfly Effect”. A butterfly's 2 wings can make changes in the path of a tornado; it may 3 create or prevent a tornado at a certain location.
The “Butterfly Effect” plays a role in our 4 to a great extent. Small 5 could make a huge difference in our relationships. Most of the time we take things for granted in our 6 relations. We don't even think of saying “Thank You” to our parents as we 7 they are supposed to do things for us. Understanding some of the subtle（细腻的）feelings of our loved ones and 8 them the way they need would 9 change the relationship into a stronger one. I've come across people who feel 10 in their relationships as they 11 to address these small needs.
The “Butterfly Effect” also plays a role in our work. Looking 12 into the smallest details while starting a 13 is critical. A subtle mistake while taking care of our customer's 14 could end up creating big trouble at the end of the process. This would mean a huge expense to 15 at the final delivery stage.
Every morning, the time it takes me to 16 to my office depends on what time I start from my home. It usually takes 30 minutes if I start at 7:20 am. It takes more than a(n) 17 if I start at 7:30 am. At first I was 18 how just a 10-minute difference initially could add more than 30 minutes to the journey. 19 , the number of vehicles that come out on the road increases more than twice due to that 10-minute 20 and it looks like butterflies crowding on the road. Yes, this is nothing but the “Butterfly Effect”.
Our teachers always warn us not to waste time if we want to be great people in the future because time lost will never 1. It is quite 2. We don't know what time looks 3 and we can't see it or 4 it. No amount of money can buy it. Time is abstract(抽象的), so we have to 5 about it.
As we all know, time passes very quickly. Many students complain they don't have6time to review their lessons. In fact, they don't know how to make7 of their time. They often waste it playing, and 8 other useless things. Why do most people have to take buses 9 walking. The answer is very 10. We wish to save time because time is 11.
Now we are living in the 21st century. We12 time as life . When a person dies, his life ends. Since life is short, we must 13 our time and energy to our study so that we14be able to work and live well in the future. Laziness is the 15 of time, for it not only brings us 16 , but also does other 17 to us. If it is necessary for us to do our work today18 us do it today and not 19it until tomorrow. Time is much more 20.
People do not analyze every problem they meet.Sometimes they try to remember a solution from the last time they had a1problem.They often accept the opinions or ideas of other people.Other times they begin to act without 2; they try to find a solution by trial and error.However, when all of these methods 3, the person with a problem has to start analyzing.There are six 4 in analyzing a problem.
First the person must recognize that there is a problem.For example, Sam's bicycle is broken, and he cannot ride it to class as he usually does.Sam must 5that there is a problem with his bicycle.
Next the person must 6 the problem.Before Sam can repair his bicycle, he must know why it does not work.For example, he must 7 the parts that are wrong.
Now the person must look for 8that will make the problem clearer and lead to9 solutions.For example, suppose Sam 10 that his bike does not work because there is something wrong with the brakes.At this time, he can look in his bicycle repair book and read about brakes, talk to his friends at the bike shop, or look at his brakes carefully.
After 11 the problem, the person should have 12 suggestions for a possible solution.Take Sam as an example 13, his suggestions might be: tighten or loosen the brakes, buy new brakes and change the old ones.
In the end, one 14 seems to be the solution 15 the problem.Sometimes the16idea comes quite 17because the thinker suddenly sees something new or sees something in a 18way.Sam, for example, suddenly sees there is a piece of chewing gum stuck to a brake.He immediately hits on the solution to his problem: he must 19the brake.
Finally the solution is 20.Sam does it and finds his bicycle works perfectly.In short, he has solved the problem.
Nancy had just got a job as a secretary in a company. Monday was the first day she went to work, so she was very 1and arrived early.
She 2the door open and found nobody there. “I am the 3 to arrive.” She thought and came to her desk. She was surprised to find a bunch of 4on it. They were fresh. She5them and they were sweet. She looked around for a 6 to put them in. “ Somebody has sent me flowers the very first day!” she thought 7. “ But who could it be?” she began to 8.
The day passed quickly and Nancy did everything with 9interest. For the following days of the 10, the first thing Nancy did was to change water for the followers and then 11her work.
Then came another Monday.12she came near her desk she was overjoyed to see a(n)13bunch of flowers there. She quickly put them in the vase,14the old ones.
The same thing happened again the next Monday. Nancy began to think of ways to find out the 15.
On Tuesday afternoon, she was sent to hand in a plan to the16. She waited for his directives(命令)at his secretary's 17. She happened to see on the desk a half-opened notebook, which 18: “ In order to keep the secretaries 19, the company has decided that every20a bunch of fresh flowers should be put on each secretary's desk.”
Later, she was told that their general manager was a business management psychologist（心理学家）.
I was not looking forward to entering the ninth grade. High school is well known for being a battleground, where everyone seems to be going through1changes and emotional mood swings（情绪波动）.For me,2was my punishment.
I had always felt3and out of place as one of the4members of my class, standing a head above the other girls and standing at the 5of the line so as not to be sticking out.
I6hate being around large groups of7,like during the social hour after services at my church.8 the prayers were finished, I would 9as quickly as possible so I could10 some well-meaning congratulations," Ruthie! Look how tall you're getting!"
My grandfather would 11 me become increasingly uncomfortable, but he did not12 me or laugh at my self-consciousness（自我意识）. 13 , he would remind me.
“Stand14and tall,” he would say, as I15 tried to shrink（缩）myself. Even at age 15, I understood that his16 was about more than just feet and inches.
My grandfather17in war-torn Europe. When German soldiers18his hometown, he joined the army to19 for his country's freedom“ Stand straight, stand tall,”20 something else back then.
Teachers selected from each district school for the Teacher of the Year competition were recognized.The competition's winner will be1 in the spring.All those model teachers got me to think about some of my teachers through the years,and how they2me.
My college adviser,J.C.Casey,had a big3on my life.She was a teacher and friend.She4me to consider journalism as a career.My high school math teacher,Kathy Cloud,took the time to5math to me in a way I could 6 understand.I'd struggled with math until I got in Cloud's classes.She gave me the7 to realize I could do it.
My first-grade teacher,Darlene Dryden,held me back.Now,most people wouldn't8the teacher that kept them back a grade fondly,but Dryden has always been my9 teacher.I was the youngest person in my class and very shy. She thought I 10another year to mature before moving on to second 11.She didn't make me feel 12for having to repeat the grade.Instead,he made me feel13.I think I was her favorite,too.
My senior year of high school,right before 14,I wrote Dryden a note letting her.know that I'd become a good student and was going to 15 and that she'd had a16in that.
The Norman teachers 17 Wednesday are just a few of the many who are in the classrooms every day making 18 in their students' lives.They may not even know the19impact（影响）they're having.I know it's not an 20job, but teachers,just remember that you're a Mrs.Dryden to somebody.
Mr. Bard is the manager at his family's shoe company.He really1competence in his workers.He always tells the2and hard-working employees that he is3of them.But Mr.Bard does not only show his appreciation through words.The most competent workers are also paid4 .
Mr.Bard thinks when an5 works harder and produces higher quality shoes,the company earns more money.6 ,the employee should also earn more.But many of the less competent workers 7 .
“We are equal,”they protest（抗议）. “We do the same job,so we should get the 8pay!”
He is a kind man,but he is also9.If he keeps hiring the less competent workers,the whole company will 10, and perhaps all employees will lose their jobs.It will also be bad for his family and for the company is11 .
To12 the situation,Mr.Bard creates evening workshops（工作坊）to help13the employees who are not working at company14.They watch the most competent workers,who receive a special bonus for15their co-workers,and make lots of notes.They inspect the production line,ask lots of questions,and16until they are skilled and17.
Production at the company18and the customers are happier with the high 19 shoes!As sales increase, Mr.Bard is able to pay his workers better.And20 the company's smart pay system,the most competent workers can be highly rewarded.
Angela a 28-year-old Canadian, was driving to visit friends in another city 800 kilometres away. Her kids, 5-year-old Lexi and 10-week-old Peter, were fed and the car was1 with all the necessities for a road trip: toys, milk powder and snacks.
The long journey had begun to2Peter, who started to cry. Angela inserted a nursery rhyme CD into the stereo and hoped it would help3him down. The soft music had a4effect. In no time, both children became5. Angela's eyes 6too, for just a few seconds.
When Lexi suddenly woke up, she found it was7. Airbags obsured (遮挡) all the windows. Lexi's neck hurt and Peter was crying loudly. She pulled the handle of the door, but the door was8. Turning onto her side, Lexi kicked at the door9it flopped (猛地打开) open.
That's when Lexi 10 her mother in the front seat. She tried to wake her up but Angela didn't11. At that time Lexi found their car was on a steep hill and it was kept from12by a large tree.
Her shoes had come off, but Lexi felt no13as she climbed over glass and rocks up the embankment (路堤) to the14her mother had driven off.
A driver was traveling on the highway15he saw a tiny child jumping up and down,16her arms, crying for help. He pulled over, and the child told him her mother needed help. The driver looked around but saw17. The barefoot child pointed to the destroyed car downhill. Without 18, he ran down the hill. Twenty minutes later, an19came. Angela was rushed to the hospital.
Later that year, the Royal Canadian Humane Association awarded Lexi a Bronze Medal for20.
Olivia Goldfarb likes to hike. But it isn't 1. The sixth-grader was born with a disease affecting her2. The condition makes daily 3, such as walking, difficult.
Then a four-legged friend named Ally 4 her life.
Olivia met Ally through the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN), a service-animal training program that places dogs into 5 relationships with people, like Olivia, who need 6 with daily activities. Now, Olivia has a helping “hand” wherever she goes. For balance, she holds a specially7 tool fixed on Ally that allows the two to get around.
“I used my walker before and it was 8 to go through doors. But now, Ally helps me with that,” Olivia says.
Olivia's mother says, “Ally really 9 Olivia, and when we were leaving, Ally went up to Olivia and put her head on the walker as if to say, 'I'm 10 with you.'”
Service dogs like Ally are 11 to help people with disabilities.12 it may seem harmless, distracting（分散注意力）them can actually affect their ability to 13 orders.
“She is a service dog, not a 14,” Olivia says. “The number-one 15 is people shouldn't pet Ally while I'm working with her.”
“It takes two years to train a service dog to know more than 60 16. Training can be 17, but it's worth doing,” says Sean Diamond, ICAN's director of training.
“Olivia's 18 a lot of strength and mobility（灵活性）,” Olivia's mom says. “She has a lot more 19 to do what she wants.”
So when the family hiked the Quaking Aspen Trail with Ally, Olivia was able to 20 the long walk.
Dear Seth,
You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you 1 , I hope you will find something 2 in what I am going to share with you.
Life can be 3.There will be people in your life who won't be very nice. They'll 4 you because you are different, 5 for no good reason. You will also face heartbreak and might be 6 by those you love. I hope you don't have to face these too much. But such things 7 .
Be open to life anyway. You'll find cruelty(残忍) and 8 in your journey through life, but don't let that 9 you from finding new things. Don't retreat(退却) from life, and don't 10 or wall yourself off. Be open to new things, new experiences and new people. You will 11 many times, but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will 12 many chances. Do remember failure is a stepping stone to 13.
You will meet many people who will try to do 14 than you, in school, in college, and at work. They'll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and so on… To 15, life is a competition. However, I believe life is a 16. If you always try your best to17 others, you are wasting your life. Learn to enjoy your life 18 and you will make it a journey of 19 of learning and of love.
Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are 20 a really wonderful journey, and I will always be there for you.
Love,
Dad
The year I went to college was a very difficult transition（过渡期） for me.1is probably true with many people，I got quite homesick and 2thought about going home. Although the 3time for many students is getting4from home，my mailbox(邮箱) was frequently5One day when I went to the mailbox, there was a postcard6out at me.I sat down to read it,7 a note from someone back home.8I became increasingly puzzled as 9postcards were like this； It was a full news report about a woman named Mabel and her newborn baby.I took the card back to my room and 10 about it. Several days later, I 11another postcard，this one 12news about Maybelline，Mabel's cousin.Soon after，another card arrived and then another, 13full of news of different people.I began to 14look forward to the next One，15to see what this author would come up with 16.I was never 17. Finally，the cards 18coming，right about the time I had begun to feel19 about college life.They had been such a happy distraction（调剂） that I have 20all the postcards and still bring them out to read whenever I need a lift.
Last year, I was assigned to work at an office near my mother's house.1 ， I stayed with her for a month. During that time, I helped her out with the housework and contributed to the 2.
After less than a week, I started to3 the groceries were running out pretty quickly.4 ， I began observing my mother's daily routine for two weeks. To my 5 ， I found that she would pack a paper bag full of canned goods and 6every morning at about nine. She took the food to the slums (贫民窟) and distributed it to street 7.
I asked around and 8 my mom was popular in the area. The kids looked up to her as if she were their own mother. Then it hit me—why didn't she want to tell me about what she'd been doing? Was she 9 that I would stop buying the groceries if I knew the truth?
When she got home, I told her about my discovery and 10she could react, I gave her a big hug and told her she didn't need to keep it a 11 from me. She told me that 12of the children lived with an old lady in a shelter while others 13 on the streets. For years, my mom has been helping out by 14them whatever food she could 15. I was so moved by how 16 she was. She used what was 17 for her to help others in need. And I was so18 of her.
I 19 to buy groceries for my mom. But now, I always add a(n)20 bag for her other children.
One day when I was about nine years old, I ran into my mother's bedroom and opened the dresser(化妆台). Then in the top drawer(抽屉) was a small1jewelry box. I was fascinated by its treasures. Then I saw there was something2under a piece of cloth.3the cloth, I found a little white chip (碎片) of china. Why did my mother keep such a4thing? Shining slightly in the light, it5no answers.
Some months later, I was setting the dinner table when my neighbor Marge knocked at the door. Coming in and6the table, Marge said, “Oh, you are expecting company(客人). I'll7another time."
“No, come on in,” Mum replied. “We are not8anyone.”
“But isn't that your good china?” Marge asked. “I'd9trust kids to handle my good dishes!”
Mum laughed. “Tonight's my family's favorite meal. If you set your best table for a(n)10meal with guests, why not for your own11? A few broken plates are a small12to pay for the joy we get. ” Then she added, “13, every chip and crack has a story to tell.”
Mum went to the cupboard and took down a plate. She said, “Seeing this14on the edge(边缘) here? It happened when I was 17.”
Her voice15. “One day my brother invited a young man to dinner and sat him next to me. I was so 16that when I took the plate, it17and knocked against the fork. As the young man was leaving, he18a piece of broken china in my hand without saying a word.”
I couldn't forget about that plate with the19chip. I went up to take out the little wooden jewelry box again. I examined the chip20. The chip which my mother had saved with care belonged to the plate she broke on the day she met my father.
The little stream in the green forest flowed past and the beautiful wild flowers surrounded the small house there.
All of a sudden, a deer raced into the yard, where a little boy was 1. The deer caught the boy's 2 with its antlers (鹿角). This scared the little boy so much that he 3 a loud cry, which brought his mother 4 out to see what the matter was. She came out just in time to 5the deer running off towards the mountains with her little boy.
The boy's mother was greatly 6! She ran after the deer as fast as she could, and not too far away, she found her little boy sitting 7 on the grass. When he saw his mother, the little boy laughed and reached out his arms to her. His mother lifted him up and 8 him tightly. She was so happy that she 9.
She hurried back to their home with her precious(珍爱的) son. When she got there, she stopped dead in her tracks, 10 at what she saw. The huge tree behind their house had fallen over 11 she was out running after the deer to save her son. The whole house was destroyed under its great 12.
Then the little boy's mother 13 the day about a year before when a deer 14 from a hunter had run into her house. She felt sorry for the frightened deer, so she covered it with some clothes, 15 it with some fresh grass and let it return to the forest later.
The deer seemed to 16 that she had saved its life, because as it left, it kept bending its head to her, as if thanking her for her 17.
She never imagined that the deer 18 remember her kindness. The deer 19 knew the tree was going to fall and hurt her, so it came back to show its 20.
When the boy's mother thought of all this, she said, "Saving the life of another is the same as saving your own life."
I'm a big fan of pop music and I enjoy listening to music quite a lot. Although people can listen to1music on their music players when they are travelling, working or studying, 2festivals and concerts are becoming more and more3. This is because I believe they offer two main 4.
The first one is that the sound is much5 at live concerts where the music and voices come 6from the musicians. This makes it a much more emotional(有感染力的) 7because you have direct contact with the8 and you react(回应) to them and they react to you.
The second advantage is the atmosphere(气氛). 9 listening to a recording10on your personal music player, at a concert you are 11 with a huge crowd of people and 12the music together. This means it is a 13as well as an artistic experience.
The main14 is that you cannot listen to live music 15you want like you can on a personal music player. Besides, the 16 from the audience sometimes17the quality of the sound.
In my opinion, 18, the best way to enjoy music is the wonderful atmosphere of a live concert. It is more exciting19you are surrounded by other20who are dancing with you happily.
When I was a boy there were no smart phones or computers. Still, I never felt bored. The fields,1and woodlands around my home were the perfect playground. I can remember once hiking to nearby2and walking slowly around it. At the back of it I was amazed to find an old dirt road that I had never seen before. It was full of muddy tyre tracks and deep woods bordered it on both sides, but 3it still seemed like a fine adventure.
I 4on and on for what seemed like hours. I was sure my guardian angel（守护天使）was5in my ears to turn around and 6back home but I was 7and even a bit stupid, so I walked on. There was still neither a car nor a house 8. My legs were getting tired. I noticed that the sun was starting to go down and I grew 9. I didn't want to end up 10on this road in the dark of night, and I was worried that it would be dark 11I could make my way back to the lake again.
I continued to walk on with the fear growing inside of me. My heart was 12faster and my legs were aching more seriously than before. When I 13one last corner and saw a house that I 14, I jumped up and down and laughed out loud. I knew the way home! It was still over a mile away, but my 15felt like feathers. I 16into the house with a big smile just in time for dinner. Then I ended my adventure with a good night's sleep.
I remembered this recently when I saw a 17, saying, "All roads lead home". This is true. I also remembered a sage（圣人）compared life to a journey. Are we going to make this life a terrible 18or are we going to make the life a joyful one？ It19 our own choice.
All roads no matter how they twist and turn, can 20us home in our hearts. May you always walk your path with love! May you always help your fellow travelers along the way!
Many people like to search the Internet. Exploring the Internet is one of the most important activities of the day. The Internet1 the outside world closer to people's homes. Some people say the world is 2than before because of the Internet.
What's going on in 3 countries? How do people live in places far away? Is there a good sports game 4? What's the life like in the 5 part of the sea? 6 you want to answer all these questions, 7 come to the Internet. Of course, people can also learn 8 reading or listening to the radio. But with the Internet they can learn better and more easily. A lot of 9 can be collected at great speed.
Can we go shopping without leaving 10? Can we see a doctor without going to the hospital? Can we 11 without going to school? Can we draw money without going to a 12? All these things used to be impossible, but now they have become quite 13. The Internet helps us open our 14. The Internet often gives us new ideas. In a word, it helps us in many 15. Great changes have taken place in our life since the use of the Internet.
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you 1 which one it is, you will know 2 what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a reason, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to 3 you with guidance and support, to 4 you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They are there for the 5 you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at any inconvenient time, they will say or do something to bring the relation-ship to a(n) 6. Sometimes they die, sometimes they walk away, and sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What you must 7 is that your need has been met, and your desire 8. When their work is done, it's time to move on.
When people come into your life a 9, it is because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you 10. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. 11 it! It is real! But only for a season.
Lifetime relationships teach you lifetime 12; those things you must build upon in order to have a 13 emotional foundation. Your job is to 14 the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other 15 and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is sensible.
In a word, thank you for being part of my life, whether you were here for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
Mike Mason, 63, a former top police officer, is a bus driver in Virginia for Chesterfield County Public Schools.
"Each morning at about 5:30, Mason carefully1 his bus to ensure that it's safe for students to ride. He 2 nine students and drops them off at the Faison Center in Richmond, which 3 educational programs for autistic（自闭症的）children.
Mason 4 the struggle that students have faced throughout the pandemic. It's what finally motivated him to 5 when the man saw the 6 of school bus drivers from a local news story. Despite Mason's impressive resume, he wasn't 7 to become a school bus driver 8. It took several weeks of 9 to get his commercial license.
And driving a school bus has been 10 for Mason, particularly when he saw a shy student smile for the first time, or when a child waved at him as he 11 the school to pick up kids. Still; it hasn't come without 12 . Some days are full of noise and chaos, and he can't 13 to stop the bus. But he never becomes angry. More than anything, the well-being of the students…14 Mason.
Although there are few 15 between his former position and the 16 one, Mason feels the same sense of duty. "That is a(n) 17 that I will always remember and treasure, "he said.
Mery. Daugherty, the headmaster, emphasized the 18 of bus drivers —whose job extends beyond providing 19 . "They have a great deal of 20 on students' success, ". he said.
"Mason is a role model for our students, and for all of us, " Daugherty continued.
