Yesterday I was walking along a busy road when I noticed a young man standing near the pedestrian crossing, selling toys.

Usually I would   (1)   and hurry past such sellers before being approached to buy something. But I found this young man was  (2)  , so I stood for some time without crossing the street. I wanted to see   (3)  he sold his toys.

   (4)  , a young mother with a small child came by and the child was   (5)  by one of the toys in a large box that made a noise. The young mother asked for the  (6)  and it was charged only one dollar. She   (7)  a 10-dollar note from her purse and told the young man that she was giving him 10 dollars and wanted the   (8)  back. I was wondering how he was going to give it back. He told the young mother to put the money in the bag  (9)  his neck and take out   (10)   change he owed her. She then out her hand into the bag and took out the balance while I was  (11)   her like a hawk（鹰）.

I realized that this young man depended on   (12)  people not to cheat him. There was no   (13)  of him knowing if someone took out more than they should have done. I was so   (14)   by how this disabled man believed in people that I bought a toy from him I didn’t  (15)  at all.

He said it cost one dollar and I, too. told him that I had only a 10-dollar note. He told me to do the   (16)   thing. So I put my 10 dollars in his   (17)  . I put my hand in, but didn’t take any change. I hope he will find that he has more   (18)   than he should when he gets home. As I walked down the street, I saw another kid walking with his father,  (19)   I gave him the little toy. Then, I walked on, hoping that two people would have a   (20)  smile on their faces that day.

I have always considered myself a positive optimist, trying to find the best in every situation. Iˈve recently become aware of how two little  (1)   have had a great impact on people.

My son  (2)  to tell me about a house he was interested in.I said, "Honey, I am glad that youˈve found something you like,   (3)  …"There, I continued, "Donˈt you think,with the gas prices, you might want to buy one  (4)  to your work?" As he told me all about the possible house, I could hear the  (5)  in his voice. The moment I spoke the word, BUT, it was  (6)   I pricked a balloon with a needle（针）.I could hear him slowly deflate（泄气）. I  (7)  that if I had used the word AND—"Honey, Iˈm glad you found a house in your  (8)  range, AND Iˈm happy for you."—he wouldnˈt have been  (9)  , and weˈd have both hung up feel better.

My daughter  (10)  at my door dressed like a princess on her way to the prom. I told her how graceful looked and I was  (11)  of the young lady she has become, and I said, "Sweetheart, you  (12)  having a great time, but please donˈt drink tonight." I know she doesnˈt engage in  (13)  behavior; sheˈs responsible and sensible. She looked as though Iˈd snatched her crown. "Mom!" The tone of her voice indicated how Iˈd  (14)  her feel. How I wish Iˈd said, "I want you to have a great time, AND I   (15)  you."

My husband helps around the house. I was  (16)  he had lightened my work load. I told him how wonderful he is, and I used that naughty word again."BUT,why did you  (17)  crumbs（面包屑）all over the counter? "Why?Why?Why didnˈt I say," Thank you, AND I am  (18)  or all you do around the house."

Iˈve been doing some  (19)  . I am going to remove that naughty little word from my  (20)  and replace it with the word AND. This is a decision I intend to keep!

We should show respect to everybody, especially our elders because they are ahead of us – in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education. Our   (1)  have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us  (2)   everything to their kindness and love.

When we   (3)  them respect, whether it is by bowing to them, or  (4)  them with a smile, or offering them any help they need, it is one way of   (5)  our own love and gratitude to them.   (6)   , elders have also been through all the years you are  (7)   and know a little more about the world than you do.

It is  (8)   that you do not agree with the belief of your elders, but this is nothing new. All younger generations have always  (9)  with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes  in human  (10)  . However much you disagree with them, give them credit for their    (11)    .

With changing times and  (11)   influences, youngsters no longer know what is interpreted as disrespect to elders. Youngsters should   (12)   express their views and if there are arguments, they should not   (13)  their voices.

If there is no space on sofas or chairs, children will immediately  (14)   their places, and sit on the carpet. In buses and trains, youngsters are  (15)   to give up their places to older people. This is not a   (16)  of who has more rights. It is simply that those who are younger have the strength to bear   (17)   , or tolerate unpleasantness, so it is natural to show consideration to those who are older and perhaps at a   (18)  disadvantage.

When you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become   (19)   that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness.

Recently, several friends came to me. They hadn’t   (1)   video games before. They had been told that video games were   (2)   . But they saw many people doing that and  (3)   that some had become millionaires because of video games. They felt very   (4)   . So they came to me and asked, “Keith, should I play video games?”

   It’s an interesting question for two   (5)   . Firstly, I write about video games for a   (6)   ; that’s my job. So what did they think I was going to say? “No, they’re a waste of   (7)  ” ? Secondly, a few years ago, people of my age   (8)   playing video games; now there are people feeling guilty that they’re not playing them.

   So should you play video games? Yes! Games have been proved to   (9)    hand-eye coordination(协作), decision making, and even vision. Games help players enjoy a   (10)   social life as some games   (11)   you to play together with others. Some may say that playing video games is a waste of time. If you’re    (12)    to watch TV for three hours a day or surf on the Internet for    (13)   important or talk with friends over the phone for hours, you cannot call video games a waste of time.

    So my   (14)   is: yes, you can play video games. But there is one important thing for you to   (15)  : just play the games that can   (16)    do good to you. So please think   (17)   about whether you should play a game or not before you start playing it.   (18)   you don’t know anything about the game, ask for others’ opinion or   (19)   on the Internet for comments. Also, don’t play too long every day. After all, for students   (20)   come first.

I realize that we all live in a world where trust is in short supply. It seems that everywhere I go, I have to   (1)   my identity and trustworthiness ― whether it’s a bank, shop or any office. I have been accustomed to living by the   (2)   that no one is trustworthy   (3)   proved otherwise. Yesterday I saw a young man who lived by a totally   (4)   rule.

I was walking along a busy intersection when I  (5)  a young man standing near the pedestrian crossing setting up a stall(货摊).   (5)   I would ignore and hurry past such sellers. But I noticed this young man was   (6)  , so I stood for some time without crossing the street to see how he sold his   (7)  .

Soon, a young mother with a little boy came by and the child set his   (8)   on one of teddy bears. The mother asked the   (9)   and it was only one dollar. She pulled out a 10 dollar note and told the young man that she was giving him 10 dollars and wanted the   (10)   back. I was   (11)   to know how he was going to do it. He told the mom to put the   (13)  in the pouch(袋子) hanging around his neck and take out whatever change he   (12)   her.

I realized that this young man’s whole mode of earning   (13)   on trusting people not to cheat him. There was no   (14)   for him to know if someone took out more out of his pouch of earning. I was so   (15)   by how this young man trusted people that I bought a car model from him. I did not need it,   (16)  . I just hoped to help a little.

Now I   (17)   believe that the world would be a better place if we could all learn to   (18)   others more, like the young blind street seller of toys.

Their wealth, fame and power put their heads and shoulders above us ordinary people. But according to these   (1)  , true happiness lies in some of life’s   (2)   pleasures. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nigel Farage all   (3)  that their families are the key to their well-being. But others gave unexpected brief ideas about their celebrity lives. The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, 55,   (4)   that what most keeps her spirits high was a   (5)   in magic and fairies. She said, “I do believe in fairies. I do believe in magic and when you blow on a dandelion（蒲公英）, you will see the light of the enchanted （被施魔法的）spreading their wings and   (6)  on their own journeys, just like you have today when you opened your eyes. Don’t let the day   (7)   without looking for fairies and magic. That makes me   (8)  , as every day is.”

Meanwhile, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney revealed that he got his   (9)   through his stomach as well as his family. He said, “I love to hear the noises in the  (10)   as the meal is prepared and then my little grandson climbs on my knee and   (11)  a bite for every bite that I take.”

Food was also   (12)   to Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman who said eating a bacon sandwich was enough to   (13)  a smile on his face, while rocker Rod Stewart, claimed that a simple cup of tea made him  (14)   happy.

For our most gifted sports stars,   (15)  , it seems the key to the good life is a   (16)  dog.

Tennis champion Andy Murray said he badly   (17)  Rusty and Maggie May when he was playing in tournaments around the world. Former England striker Gary Lineker   (18)   , saying, “Walking my dog makes me happy.” The joy at the word “ walkies” never decreases. Such   (19)    for something so simple is   (20)  satisfying. 

It often appears that we have more to gain by speaking than by listening. One big advantage of speaking is that it gives you a chance to control others’ thoughts and actions. Whatever your goal is — to have a boss hire you, to  (1)  others to vote for the person of your  (2)  or to describe the   (3)  that you want your hair cut ... the key to success seems to be the  (4)  to speak well.

    Another    (5)  advantage of speaking is the chance it provides to  (6)  the admiration, respect, or liking of others. Tell jokes, and everyone will think you’re really a   (7)  man. Tell them all you know, and they’ll be   (8)   by your wisdom. But keep quiet, and it seems as if you are a   (9)  person.

    Finally, talking gives you the   (10)  to release (释放) energy in a way that listening can’t. When you’re  (11)  , the chance to talk about your problems can often help you feel better. In the same way, you can often  (12)  your anger by letting it out orally. It is also helpful to  (13)  your excitement with others by talking about it,    (14)   keeping it inside often leaves you feeling as if you might burst.

    While it is true that talking does have many advantages, it’s important to   (15)   that listening can do good to listeners, too. As you’ll soon read, being a good listener is one good way to  (16)  others with their problems; and what better way is there to have others   (17)   you? As for controlling others, it may be true that it’s hard to be persuasive while you’re listening, but your   (18)  to hear others out will often make them open to your ideas  (19)  . Listening is often reciprocal (互惠的). “You get what you   (20)  .”

The day I received my letter of acceptance to New York University, I was extremely excited. It was my dream university, and my _  (1)   _ were pleased for me. But they also hadn’t  _  (2)   _  me to get into such a competitive school. In fact, the best thing they ever did for me was to  _  (3)   _  me from doing things  _  (4)   _ —indeed, when I was in elementary school, they offered to buy me a present  _  (5)   _  I got a C.

It _  (6)   _  when I was in third grade. An only child in an Asian family, I had just  _  (7)   _  with my family from Taiwan to Los Angeles. Months into third grade, I developed a strong feeling of  _  (8)   _  about getting bad grades. Seeing my anxiety, Dad said, “Kate, tell you what. If you get a C or  _  (9)   _ , I’ll buy you a present. If you score higher than that, I won’t buy you anything，because you won’t  _  (10)   _  it.”

Clearly dad wasn’t the  _  (11)   _  Asian tiger parent, pressuring me to work tirelessly for the best  _  (12)   _ , and neither was my mom. They didn’t want to push me. They wanted me to be _  (13)   _  and healthy. Dad’s  _  (14)   _  of a “failing grade” gift amazingly _  (15)   _  my worries and pressure. What’s more，I  _  (16)   _  getting A’s and B’s throughout high school, but without the added stress and fear of failing. I think it was my parents’ lack of stress on grades that gave me  _  (17)   _  to encourage my own desire for achievements.

I now realize I was  _  (18)   _  when I thought I didn’t receive a present from my dad that day. He gave me two invaluable  _  (19)   _ : the space to develop my own desire for excellence, and the healthy mind to _  (20)   _ it.

When I was a young boy I traveled to Africa with my family. While I was there I learned what it meant to help others and the   (1)   that could come from it.

My father, mother, sister and I were traveling by car from the city to our home at the lake when we were caught in a terrible storm. The roads were always getting   (2)   out by floods. The car soon stopped when the water   (3)   above the engine. My mother tried to keep us   (4)   in the car while my father   (5)   to get the car started again.

Just when it seemed that there was no hope in   (6)  , several local people came running to give us   (7)  . Fifteen people pushed our car to   (8)   ground. I remember thanking them for a hundred times.

Although we were   (9)   from the water, we still couldn’t move because the   (10)   was filled with water. After sitting   (11)   along the roadside in the rain for quite some time, a large truck stopped at the side of the road. The people in the truck got off and   (12)   to pull our car to a repair shop.  (13)   we waited for our car to be repaired, the family that helped us   (14)   to make sure we were safe. After talking with my parents, they all   (15)   that they had met a few years ago through the introduction of a friend.I remember the feeling of   (16)  . We were in trouble and some   (17)   friends of my parents’ just happened to be   (18)   by and gave us a hand. This was the first real life   (19)   I received. It taught me what it meant to help others. We remained in   (20)   with them over the years.

  I believe that taking a minute, an hour, a day, or more to help others can lead to a great friendship and the feeling of joy.