Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them1side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud2filled the room and made them feel very happy.
The next morning, 3, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a4under their door during the night. One of their neighbor had written to complain(抱怨) about the sound of the piano. Dario's mother asked the building superintendent(管理员) if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all 5people and he couldn’t imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their6and apologize for their playing.
“Maybe we could go and7everyone in person.” his mother said.
“What if we invited them to come here for a 8instead? Dario asked.
They both loved the9. Over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts10their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers(彩带) and party lights.
Finally, the day of the party11. Some guests brought presents. Others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to12. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert,13Dario's mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.
“I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I14that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don’t think I disliked the playing.”
Dario's mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we15you an apology.” she said. “I didn’t16how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.
“You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.”She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such17music.”
“These songs are beautiful music.” Dario's mother said. “We will be18to play them in the evening.”
“And we won’t play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to19the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother's face. It gave him a feeling of20and made him feel that they were home at last.
A gentle breeze blew through Jennifer's hair. The golden red sunwas1. She was on the beach, looking up at the fiery（火红的）ball. She was 2by its color, deep red in the middle, softly fading into yellow. She could hear nothing but the waves and these agulls 3up above in the sky.
The atmosphere4 her. After all she had been through, this was what she needed. “It's getting 5,”she thought, “I must go home. My parents will be6where I am.” She wondered how her parents would 7, whenshe got home after the three days she was8. She kept on walking, 9herself to the bungalow(小房子) where she spent every summer holiday. The road was deserted. She walked slowly and 10 . Just in a few hundred meters she would besafe in her house.
It was really getting dark now. The sun had set a few minutes before and it was getting cold, too. She 11she had her favorite sweater on — it kept herreally warm. She imagined having it 12her. This thought disappeared when she finally saw her front door. It seemed 13. The outside garden seemed 14. She was shocked: her father was usually so strict about keeping everything clean and tidy.
She entered the house. First, she went into the kitchen whereshe saw a 15 written by her father. It said, “Ellen, thereis some coffee16I went looking.” Ellen was her mother but — wherewas she? She entered her parent's home.Then she saw her. Her mother, lying on the bed, 17. Jennifer would have wanted to wake her up but she looked too tired. So Jennifer just fell asleep beside her. When Jennifer 18, something was different. She was in her cozy bed in her pajamas.
It felt so good being back home.19she heard a voice, “Are you feeling better now? You know you got us very, very 20.”
Human growth is a process of experimentation, trial, and error eventually leading to wisdom. Each time you choose to trust yourself and take action, you can never quite be certain how the situation will 1
Sometimes you are victorious, and sometimes you become disappointed. The 2 experiments, however, are no less valuable than the experiments that finally prove successful; in fact, you
3 learn more from your "failures" than you do from your 4 If you have made what you think to be a mistake or failed to live up to your own 5 you will most likely put up a barrier between your essence and the part of you that is the alleged (F 7/ßfikJ) wrong-doer.
However, viewing past actions as 6 implies guilt and blame, and it is not possible to learn anything meaning while you are engaged in blaming. 7 forgiveness is required when you are severely judging yourself. Forgiveness is the act of erasing an 8 debt. There are four kinds of forgiveness.
The first is beginner forgiveness for yourself.
The second of forgiveness is beginner forgiveness for another.
The third kind of forgiveness is 9 forgiveness of yourself. This is for serious misbehaviors, the ones you carry with deep 10 When you do something that violates your own values and principles, you create a gap between your standards and your actual 11
In such a case, you need to work very hard at 12 yourself for these deeds so that you can close this gap. This does not 13 that you should rush to forgive yourself or shouldn't feel regret, 14 taking pleasure in these feelings for a prolonged period of time is not healthy.
The 15 and perhaps most difficult one is the advanced forgiveness of another.
At some time of our life, you may have been severely wronged or hurt by another person to such a degree that forgiveness seems 16 .However, harboring anger and revenge fantasies only keeps you 17 in victimhood. Under such a circumstance, you should force yourself to see the bigger picture. By so doing, you will be able to 18 the focus away from the anger and resentment.
It is only through forgiveness that you can erase wrongdoing and 19 the memory. When you can 20 release the situation, you may come to see it as a necessary part of your growth.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'd like you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me, such as teaching me, taking care of me, and loving me.
I'm writing this thank-you letter, Mom and Dad, because I want you to know what a big 1 you have truly made in my life. You 2 me so many things about the world and myself. You were the first ones to tell me about the importance of 3 by telling me it was 4 to refuse all my other playmates from using my toys. And to this day, 5 those toys are long gone, I 6 to live by the idea of sharing my blessings (祝福) with the people 7 me.
Mom and Dad, you also 8 me to be sympathetic (同情) towards the blind old man. You told me that our pets are there for us to 9 and not to hurt. And because of those 10, I've learnt to be 11.
Thank you, Mo m and Dad. You gave me some of the nicest 12. Mom, I remember how you would let me sleep in your bed 13 how you used to bring me my favorite fried chicken and take care of me whenever I was 14. Dad, I remember how you worked 15 to make me a playhouse in the yard so my friends and I could 16 happily there.
I may have 17 you and your purposes when I was much younger. But now I know that 18 you did was for my own good.
Mom and Dad, I hope this thank-you 19 is enough to let you know how much I 20 everything you've done for me.
All the love,
Rex
My neighbor Abel and I have been good friends since we were little.One day, my1drove Abel and me to the Harvest Fair.When we2,Abel and I started with the ring toss（掷环）.After a million tries,I finally scored one and was about to share my3with Abel when he shouted “Is that you,Ethan?” “Abel!Great to see you,” said a boy in blue.“You know What?I just…” Almost immediately,they moved over to a patch（小块土地）of grass and4forgot my existence.
On the way home,my5were so hurt that I6not to hear Abel when he talked to me.Just before Abel left,I said7,“You are the world's8friend.”He looked surprised and a little angry.When he got out of the9,he thanked my mother but didn't10say good-bye to me.
Abel and I didn't speak to each other for an entire11.The next Saturday,though,we happened to meet,and Abel came over to me.“I can't12what I did wrong,” he said.“ Are you13?”I said.“ You14me when Ethan showed up!”“I was just surprised to see Ethan there.”Abel 15. “I'm sorry.”Abel continued,“Please forgive me.”I thought it seemed16to give up our friendship because of one little incident."OK,"I said.
As we know,17can happen between even the best of friends.When we're ready,talk then out with our friend and18that we listen to each other's point of view.If we decide that the19is worth it,try to20each other and get on with our lives!.
Standing on the top of a church tower not far from our home in Rome, Father said to me, “Look down, Elsa.” I gathered all my 1 and looked down. I saw the crisscross of twisting, turning streets 2 to the square in the centre of the village.
“See, my dear,” Father said gently. “There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can't get where you want to go by one road, try 3”
Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the 4 lunches that were served at school. But she 5 because she could not believe the lunches were so bad.
When I turned to Father for help, he would not 6 . Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a(n) 7 .
At school the next day, I secretly 8 my lunch soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I 9 the cook into serving it to Mother at dinner. The plan worked 10. She swallowed one spoonful and sputtered, "The cook must have gone mad!" Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would 11 the matter of lunches at school the next day!
In the years that followed I often remembered the lesson Father taught me. I knew where I wanted to go in life — to be a fashion designer. And on the way to my first small success I found the road 12 .
I was busy getting ready to 13 my winter fashions. Then just 13 days before the presentation the sewing girls were called out on 14 . I felt so depressed that I was 15 that we would have to cancel the presentation 16 show the clothes unfinished. Then it dawned on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?
We worked hurriedly and the showing took place as 17 . Some coats had no sleeves; others had only one. Many of our clothes were only 18 made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show what colors and textures the clothes would have when they were finished. It was our 19 showing that caught the attention of the public, and 20 for the clothes poured in.
Father's wise words had guided me once again. There is more than one way to the square always.
Most dogs have an easy life in the U.S. They eat, play, get attention from their1and sleep. But some dogs work hard. They are called guide dogs. Guide dogs help2people move from place to place safely.
Guide dogs and their owners are a3. Guide dogs don't lead the owners, and their owners don't4control the guide dogs. They work together. The guide dogs don't know where the owners want to go, so they5the owners' instructions. The owners can't see the obstacles (障碍物) along the way, so the dogs make decisions for the6of the owners. Guide dogs stop at all crossroads before7a street. They don't see color, so they don't know if the light is red or8. The owners decide if it is time to cross the street by listening to the sound of9The dogs help the owners get on a bus or train. They learn to10many tasks.
Most guide dogs are very11and friendly. A guide dog needs to work12distraction (分心) in noisy places, bad weather, crowds of people, and13situations. When you see a guide dog, it is important that you14that the dog needs to focus on its job. Don't pet or talk to the dog.15is very difficult, and it requires a dog's full16.
Guide dog training lasts about five months. Only about 72 percent of dogs that enter the training program “graduate”. Those that graduate bring their owners valuable17and love. In other dog training programs, trainers use18as a reward. In guide dog training, the trainers don't use food. They use physical affection (爱抚). This is19a guide dog sometimes takes the owner to a restaurant. It must lie20at the owner's feet without wanting to eat.
I always hold the view that every act of kindness can eventually change the world as generosity, gratitude and trust.
1 was parking at a hiking road when a man in the car next to mine looked out and started to ask me for help.“No1”I told him, as l was willing to help anyone in 2It turned out that his battery was3and no one would help jump to start his car!
I4him if he had cables（缆绳），which he did, and in less than five5I gave him a jump start and his car6at the drop of a hat. He thanked me and asked "How much do I7you?" and I looked at him in 8 and said "Not a thing!"
He said "You won't believe it 9I've been sitting here for so long and I asked at least three people to10me and no one would do it". That made me really11I was thinking that perhaps because of how he 12his background, or whatever,13 might think he was going to ask them for14or something and just automatically said "no" without even 15that they could help him so16He also told me that one man 17 him "My battery is old so it can't help you".
I was 18that the battery is like the love in our hearts. We get 19 more if we give it away to others! And it doesn't20our hearts to give. I'm happy that I charged his battery and he charged my "battery" with love.I got much more than he offered to me.
What would you do if you had $5, but were limited to two hours to make as much money as possible? Buy a lottery ticket. While this is the most 1suggestion from people, it means a significant risk in return for a 2chance.
Tina Selling, who invented the3for her students of Stanford University, has a 4story to tell.
Selling gave each of the fourteen teams a sealed envelope that contains five dollars of “seed funding”. They were5to spend as much time planning, but once they had6the envelop they then had two hours to make as much money as possible. The next week, each team were to7their project in a three-minute presentation.
It8that most of the 14 teams didn't use the five dollars9 They realized that focusing on the10actually limited the problem way too tightly. They understood that five dollars is essentially11and decided to reinterpret the problem more12what can be done if 13with absolutely nothing?
The average14on the five dollar investment was 4,000 percent! So what did they 15do?
One team started a stand on campus to check bike tire16for free and charged $1to refill tires. Another team made17at busy restaurants and then sold each of them for up to twenty dollars to customers who didn't want to18inline. The team who made the greatest 19sold their presentation time to a company that wanted to employ them to advertise. They 20a good business for that company in the three minutes' presentation and brought in $ 650,000.
A student at Hellesdon High School in England has been called “Rubbish Girl” by bullies (欺凌者) for her environmentally-friendly ways.1, that has not stopped her from cleaning up the environment.
Using the basket on her bicycle, 12-year-old Nadia has been 2 rubbish along her two-mile route to and 3 school since September of last year.4her good intentions, some of the kids at Nadia's school have nicknamed（给……起绰号） her “Rubbish Girl” and have bullied her for her selfless efforts to help the 5. But instead of letting them bring her down, she's using their 6as motivation（动力）.
“I'm not going to 7 doing the right thing because of them,” she said. “I'm doing something to 8 the world which they also live in. It's everyone's job. We are all 9for keeping this world safe, instead of 10 it's always someone else's job.”
Nadia's mom, Paula, said she is11 proud of Nadia for not only standing up to her bullies, but also standing up for what she believes in. “I told her she had two 12 — she could either stop collecting rubbish, stop attracting their 13 so that they would leave her alone, or she could face the challenge, be the “rubbish girl” and keep her 14”
As a result of the local 15 attention, Nadia has created a Facebook group named “Team Rubbish Girl”,16she shares updates on her green efforts. Positive 17 have poured in, all in 18 of Nadia, encouraging her to carry on with the green effort.
“Sweetheart, you are a star that 19 really bright above the rest. Hold your head high and never let others 20 you. You are doing something selfless and amazing. Shame on the bullies.” wrote one of the local citizens on her Facebook page.
The aim of writing a letter of application is to help you to "sell" yourself. It should state 1 the job you want, and should tell what your abilities are and what you have 2. It should be simple, human, personal and brief without 3 out any necessary fact.
In writing a letter of application, bear in mind that the things a possible employer is most 4 to want to know about are your qualifications, your achievements and your aims. The opening paragraph is perhaps the most important part. If the first few sentences fail to 5 the reader's attention, the rest of the letter may not be6 at all. Try to key your opening remarks to the needs or interests of the employer not to your own need or desire. For example, instead of beginning with "I saw your 7 in today's paper." you might say "I have made a careful study of your advertising during the past six months" or "I have made a survey in my neighborhood to find out how many housewives 8 your product and why they like it."
Try to 9 generalities. Be clear about the kind of job for which you are now 10 College graduates looking for their first positions often ask "What can I 11 in a letter? Employers want experience, which, naturally, no 12 has." The answer is that everything you have ever done is 13
It is important to write a good strong closing for your letter.14 a specific request for an interview or give the possible employer something definite to do or expect. An excellent 15 is to enclose (内附) a stamped, self-addressed (写上自己地址的) envelope with your letter. That makes it easier for a possible employer to get in touch with you.
Goal setting seems to be a hot topic, yet it's easy to know about but difficult to practice.
People set goals, work hard at them for even a few months, and then 1 them. Next year, they set the 2 goals. But why do so many people do it? They may be making goals too 3. But that isn't to say that they aren't 4 goals. They need to be broken apart into smaller and 5 pieces. Make spoon-size goals and you'll accomplish them 6.
Many people are probably unwilling to 7 you to reach your goals. They're 8 with you when you have your own goals. They may even be enthusiastic about your 9 to change something or accomplish something new. 10, as you change and accomplish, they may not like it. Why? It's usually because your changes and accomplishments 11 them that they could be doing it, too...12 they aren't!
You may have filled your 13 with so many things that there's little 14 for your goals to grow. We must be careful not to confuse busyness with 15, as goals are always achieved step by step. Be 16 about how you use your time and what you focus on. Success often comes when you know what to 17, rather than what to include in your life.
Goal setting is like the pig and chicken walking out early one morning. The chicken became really 18 when she saw a sign: “Ham & Eggs, $2.99”. She said to the pig, “Look, we've got double billing again.” The pig said, “That's 19 for you to say! For you, it's all in a day's work. For me, it's total commitment.” Goal setting is all in a day's work. Goal 20 is total commitment.
Lying in a Foreign Language Is Easier
Most people don't find it more difficult to lie in a foreign language than in their native tongue. However, things are different when telling the truth: This is clearly more difficult for many people in a foreign language than in their native one.
This 1 conclusion is the result of a study conducted by two psychologists from the University of Würzburg: Kristina Suchotzki and Matthias Gamer. The two scientists presented their2 in Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Their findings could be important for a lot of processes in which the trustworthiness of certain people must be 3. In such situations, reports by non-native speakers tend to be considered as less4 even though they may be truthful. Their discovery also explains another 5, namely that people communicating in a foreign language are generally considered as less trustworthy.
There are two research 6 to predict differences between deception and truth telling in a native compared to a second language.
Research from cognitive (认知的) load theory suggests that lying is more difficult in a foreign language. "Compared to truth telling, lying is a cognitively more 7 task," Kristina Suchotzki explains. Adding a foreign language imposes an additional cognitive 8 which makes lying even more difficult.
Lying is easier in a foreign language: This should be true according to the emotional distance hypothesis (假设). This assumption is based on the fact that lying is 9 more emotions than staying with the truth. Liars have higher stress levels and are more tense. Research shows that compared to speaking in a native language, communicating in a second language is less 10arousing. Accordingly, this 11 emotional arousal would promote lying.
To settle this question, the Würzburg psychologists conducted a number of experiments in which up to 50 test persons had to complete specific tasks. They were asked to answer a number of questions—sometimes 12 and sometimes deceptively both in their native language and in a foreign language. Some questions were 13; other questions were clearly emotional.
The results show that it usually takes longer to answer emotional questions. Answers in the foreign language also take longer. And generally, it takes longer to tell a lie than to tell the truth. However, the time differences between deceptive and truthful answers are less 14 in a second language than in the native language.
The data suggest that the increased cognitive effort is responsible for the prolongation (延长) of the truth 15 in the foreign language. The reason why this prolongation almost does not exist in lying can be explained with the emotional distance hypothesis: The greater emotional distance in a foreign language thus "cancels out" the higher cognitive load when lying.
Taking care of yourself is not being selfish. By caring enough to 1 your body well, you will be in 2 shape to take care of those around you. No one can take care of your health 3 yourself.
Believe in yourself and your4. Havea "can-do" attitude. Make a list of 5 changes that you have made in the past. It is easier to 6 a goal when you are 7. Use humor and laugh off occasional lapses (过失). Have confidence that you can get back on track with your healthy 8.
Seek out a friend or co-worker who will make you feel comfortable. You will find out 9 friends is a happy thing in the world. Regular phone calls, emails or visit over coffee could help you keep a good contact with them. 10 your cheerleader could become your exercise buddy (密友).
11 yourself as you make simple changes that in the end will 12 in achieving your overall goal. Celebration is part of successful change. Create a list of incentives (动机) that will 13 you motivated.
Adopt eating and physical activity habits that can become part of your 14. Have a backup plan 15 those days when your plans to eat well and be active are challenged. If you can't walk 16 the weather, have an exercise video to use. If you have no time to pack a 17 lunch, choose a small fast food sandwich and side salad.
Go on a 18. Work and family are two most important things in people's lives. People try to tackle the two things at once, 19 most of them fail. Just as an old saying goes: People who know how to rest 20 how to work. Go out with your family and have a good time.
If you are heading to the gyp in the hope of losing weight, try to do it before you eat your breakfast. Exercising before the first meal of the day is more 1 than after it, a British study has found. Although the 2 of exercise is well-known, people have been unsure about whether it is better to do it on an 3 stomach or a full one.
Dr. Jason Gill, who 4 out the research, said that while exercise in itself is good, any done before breakfast may be extra good, because it 5 the body to rely on its stores off at for 6. "When people talk about losing weight, they 7 mean losing fat." he added.
Ten men who made three 8 to his laboratory were given breakfast each time. On the first visit, the men didn't do any 9. On another, they did an hour's walk ahead of breakfast and on the third they did the walk 10 breakfast. Those who exercised 11 more fat than those who simply sat around. And those who did their walk before breakfast 12 up 33 percent more fat than those who exercised after eating. Tests showed they also 13 a bigger drop in the blood fats that raise the risk of heart disease.
However, those who exercised after breakfast shouldn't 14. Dr. Gill said, "The biggest 15 is between doing nothing and doing something. You are still going to 16 a huge benefit. Those who exercise before 17 only burnt off around a tenth of a pound more fat than the men who had a relaxing morning. 18 they did an hour's walk everyday for about ten days, they would 19 about a pound, which is about as fast as you can really 20 to lose weight."
Few Americans stay in one place for a lifetime. We 1 from the city to the suburbs，from high school to college in a different state, from a job in one region to a better job 2, from the home where we 3 our children to the home where we plan to live in 4. With each move we are 5 making new friends, who become part of our new life.
For many of us the summer is a special time for forming new 6. Today, millions of Americans go on vocation 7, and they go not only to see new sights but also — in those places where they do not feel too 8 — with the hope of meeting new people. No one really 9 a vacation trip to produce a close friend, but the beginning of a friendship is possible. Surely in every country people 10 friendship？
The word "friend" to American people can be 11 to a wide range of relationships — to someone one has known for a few weeks in a new place, to a close business companion, to a childhood playmate, to a man or woman, to a 12 colleague. There are real 13 among these relations for Americans — a friendship may be 14, casual, situational or deep and lasting. But to a European, who sees only our surface behavior, the differences are not clear.
As Europeans see it, all kinds of "friends" flow 15 of Americans' homes with little ceremony. They may be parents of the children's friends, house guests of neighbors, members of a committee, business associates from another town or even another country. 16 as a guest into an American home, the European visitor finds no 17 differences. The atmosphere is 18. Most people, old and young, are called 19 first names. Americans' characteristic openness to different styles of relationship makes it possible for us to find new friends abroad with whom we feel 20.
I would like to suggest that for sixty to ninety minutes each evening all smart phones in the family be put away.
Let us take a 1, reasonable look at what the results might be if such a (n) 2 were accepted. Families might use the time for a real family hour. Without the distraction of phones, they might 3 around together after dinner and actually talk to one another. In fact, it is well-known that many of our 4 in every aspect of our life, from the generation gap to the high divorce and to some forms of mental illness are caused at least 5 by failure to communicate. By using the quiet family hour to 6 our problems，we might get to know each other better and to like each other better.
On evenings when such a talk is 7 , families could discover other active pastimes(消遣).8 from smart phones，forced to find their own 9 ，they might take a ride together to watch the sunset 10 they might take a walk together. With free time and no smart phones，children and adults might discover reading. They might find there is more 11 in a good book than in an electronic game. According to educators, the generation 12 with smart phones can hardly write an English sentence, 13 at the college level. Actually，14 is often improved through adequate reading. So with more time on books, a more literate(有文化的)new generation could be a(n)15 of the quiet hour.
A different 16 of reading might also be done as it was in the past: reading aloud. The quiet hour could become the story hour. When the quiet hour 17, we may find it hard to withdraw from our newly-discovered activities and 18 the next story time.
At first glance, this idea seems radical(极端的). How will we spend the time then? The fact is that it has been only ten years 19 smart phones came to control our time. Those of us twenty-five and older can remember childhood without smart phones. It wasn't so 20 as we think.
Almost everyone around us uses a phone. Phones provide a simple and efficient way to conduct work or 1 with social arrangements from day to day. Several times in the course of a work day, you may be 2 by your workmates, students or friends by means of phone. If you want a/an 3 with your department head, you will 4 call him and arrange a time with him. If you are unable to 5 your appointment, or if you find you have to be 6 for it, you will phone and change the 7. In this way, no one 8 time waiting for someone who is not coming. If you want to buy something, you will “let your 9 do the walking”. That is, you call ahead to make sure the store has what you 10. If it is an expensive item, you might call several stores to 11 prices so that you can buy the cheapest one. If you want to 12 a train or plane, after finding out the prices, you can call to 13 the ticket; if you want to shop for clothes after work, you might call to ask how 14 the store is open before you travel all the way there.
Phones are easily 15. In streets, you can see public phones in which you feed coins to make a call. Phones have 16 answering services; if you are not at home or in the office, or don't wish to be 17, you switch on a machine, which will answer the call for you. A pre-recorded message will say to the 18, “I'm sorry, I'm not available at the moment. Please leave your name and number and I will call you 19 as soon as possible.” It's more efficient to 20 one's name and number than to waste their time calling again and again.
When I woke up the next morning, I was dying of 1. I seemed to have a hole instead of a stomach. I dressed quickly and hurried down to the dining room. It was a big room with six tall windows and the ugliest wallpaper I had ever seen! 2, I had been told the hotel was not beautiful but that you were better fed there than in any other hotel; and that was 3 I wanted just then.
The waiter came hurrying up. Before I came downstairs I had prepared 4 carefully for what I must say. I had looked three times in my dictionary to make sure 5"breakfast" really meant "breakfast". I had tried to get the right 6 and I had stood in front of a mirror and twisted my mouth until it ached.
The waiter asked me 7 I could not understand, but I spoke only my one prepared word "breakfast". He looked at me in a puzzled way. So I repeated it. Still he did not understand. It was 8 that English people didn't understand their language. The waiter 9 his head and went away, but he came back in a minute and brought a tray with tea, bread and butter—enough to feed a small army—and went away. But I was hungry, and I left 10. When the waiter came back I thought his face showed a little 11, but you can never tell what a waiter's face really shows. In another minute he brought 12 tray with some bacon(熏猪肉) and some eggs. He 13 have misunderstood me, but I thought it was no use explaining to the people who don't understand their own language, so I just set to work on the bacon and eggs, wondering whether I could possibly clear that plate.
Well, I finished the bacon and eggs. I got up and made my way slowly to my room—at least five pounds 14. I never believed until then that any meal could 15 me, but on that day I met my Waterloo(滑铁卢).
Family meals are an important part of living with a family. A recent survey shows that most American children and their family 1 a meal at least four times a week. This is a(n) 2 sign, in my view. It is 3 dining together is able to 4family members.
Firstly, having a meal together can help a family stick together, which helps strengthen each family member's sense of 5. Family meals can teach younger people about their 6 by eating traditional foods. Family members can also 7 together during this time, temporarily leaving the worries behind, and enjoy each other's 8 . Routine socializing helps family members show each other 9 which cannot only be expressed on Thanksgiving Day.
Secondly, family meals also play an important part in a child's 10. For example, parents are able to 11 their children's psychology (心理) at this time based on their deeds and expressions. If parents 12 to lead kids to tell something about it, they can eventually figure out what their psychology looks like. If there is something wrong with it, parents and kids can discuss about it and find the 13. Studies show eating together means that kids had little 14 to smoke, get into frights, or commit suicide. Children who eat with their families are more likely to 15 high grades in the end than those who do not eat family meals. And such kids are probably to be more 16 , and make more friends.
Through family meals, parents can also 17 that their children are eating 18 foods to have strong bodies. It's because children who eat together with their families can be taught to be not particular about meals.
These families 19 to eat more fruit and vegetables, 20 often eating at fast food restaurants like the others.
