We talk about the persistence(坚持不懈) needed to make our dream come true today. Just think of Wilbur and Orville Wright. Their 1certainly didn't happen overnight!
Wilbur was 12 years old and Orville 8 when their father brought home a2. It was a rubber3made in France. They4it so much that they played with it until it broke. Immediately, they began5copies. They were hooked on aviation(飞行器制造)! In 1900, as young men, having built their first glider(滑翔机), they decided to 6it out at Kitty Hawk on Kill Devil Hills. The place7consistent strong winds, and the somewhat cushioning effects of sand. That first flight was unsuccessful,8it didn't stop them. After several more tries, on December 17, 1903, with a much9plane, they risked their lives to drive it in the wind. They10flying the world's first powered airplane. Beginning at 10:35 a.m. that day, Orville11it 120 feet in about 12 seconds. At 12:00, Wilbur flew it 852 feet in 59 seconds! Johnny Moore, one of five men who12them that morning (in charge of dragging the plane across the sand for positioning), ran to the village of Kitty Hawk13, “They've made it!” This was the 14of aviation! At this time, Wilbur was 36 and Orville 32. Roughly 24 years had passed15their father gave them that toy!
If you have a16, work at it. If it doesn't turn out as17, don't give up! Try again! Who wants to live and say somewhere, “If only” or “What if?”18what you want and accomplish it. Don't ever give up!19in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more20than unsuccessful men with talent. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts(流浪汉). Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent(无所不能的).
I think I will never forget the special day in November. It was hotter than normal. This was the 1 my father and I had waited so long for, because we had been working towards this race for three years. Dozens of familiar faces from church and school flashed across my view. They had come 2 me. I saw worry and 3 on my father's face. Then the race began!
For the first two and a half miles, I felt 4. I had never before been so ready for something. The weeks leading up to the race were filled with controlled 5 and a strict diet. My friends hadn't seen me in weeks, but they understood the 6required to make my dream a reality. As in all of my races，I didn't 7 out in the front. I loved the pleasure of passing people as my strength overtook their premature speed.
Then without warning，my strength began to decrease. Neck and neck with one of my greatest competitors, I 8 see the finish line. I had begun the final dash into 9 when my knees became weak and my legs gave way. Nothing I could do would make them 10 weight.
I watched as runners rushed by me. 11 I knew my dreams of victory were destroyed, I had to finish the race. However, my legs hurt badly. With all of the 12 left in me, I got on my hands and knees and crawled (爬), inch by inch, across the finish line. Voices, both 13 and familiar, cheered me on. They gave me the courage to keep 14 until the very end.
The doctors were there in seconds, but my eyes searched the crowd for him. There was only one person I wanted to 15 to. I whispered, “I' m so sorry, Dad, I'm so sorry I 16 you.” He looked at me, saying, “You could never disappoint me. Sometimes these things just 17. All that matters is that you did your best.”
“But we worked so 18. What about our dream?” He reached over for my hand and said, “Don't you know that you are my dream and it has come true?”
It wasn't long before my running shoes were back on, marking a 19 path for my journey. I learned that all of the miles, the tears, the sweat, and the pain my dad and I experienced together were not for a 20. What I realized, though, was that to him, I was the greatest prize he had ever won.
Long ago I came to the city near my hometown to find a job. I met all kinds of 1 and so I used up all my money soon.
One day, I 2 a bus quietly at dusk when most people got off work. Suddenly, a 3 cried loudly, “Someone has 4 my money!” I felt 5, because his money was in my 6. Some people suggested the bus be 7 to the police station, but some were against it 8 they were in a hurry to go back home. The whole bus was very 9. The driver then 10 the bus by the road and turned on the lights to 11 the money. At that time, one passenger said, “Turn off the lights and give the thief a chance to take out the money.” Then the bus got 12. When I was still struggling (斗争) in mind whether to take out the money or not, the lights were on again. There was no 13 on the floor. Someone said again, “Give him one more 14 .” Then the lights were off again. My heart kept beating fast. The lights were on again but they got the 15result. The passengers were in heated discussion again. At that time, someone said again, “Give him the 16 chance!” Suddenly I felt 17 and took out all the money when the lights were off again.
For many years I have felt 18 to the one who gave me three chances to 19 my mistake. When the first and second opportunities come, you may not be prepared well or don't have enough 20 to act. When the third opportunity comes you should know clearly what you should do.
We all love our parents and turn to them when we're in need, but would you like them to hear the 1 you have with your friends in the school playground or lunch queue? Social networking sites, such as micro-blog, blog and the Facebook, have actually become 2 of the school hallways(走廊), so would you add your parents as “friends” and allow them to 3 your online 4 and conversations with friends?
In the past the generation gap included a technology gap, where children were 5 with latest technology and parents were left behind, content to continue their day-to-day lives as they always had because they had no 6 to be good at new technology. 7, more and more parents are beginning to 8 just how important social networks are in their lives. This realization has given many parents the 9 to educate themselves about social networking sites.
These days many people are 10 to social networking sites because they can choose who they have around them; there's also a certain amount of control over 11 that we don't get in real life. Sometimes we feel that privacy is 12 when we must accept a “friend” request from a parent or family member.
It's a difficult choice whether or not to allow a parent to become a part of our 13 lives. On the one hand we don't want to “refuse” their request because that might hurt their feelings or make them feel you have something to 14. On the other hand if you do accept, then you could have a(n) 15 of being watched and no longer feel 16 to comment or communicate the way you did before.
A recent survey suggested that parents shouldn't take it personally if their child ignores their request: “When a teen ignores a parent's friend request, it doesn't 17 mean that they are hiding something, but it could mean that this is one part of their life where they want to be truly 18.” Perhaps talking with parents and giving explanations would help soften the 19 if you do choose not to 20 them to your friends list.
One day, a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They waited anxiously at their desks for the test to begin. The professor1the question papers, with the text facing down as usual.2he handed them all out, he asked his students to3the page and begin. To everyone's surprise, there were no4, just a black dot (点）in the center of the page. The professor, seeing the expression on everyone's face, told them the following:
"I want you to write what you5there."
The students, thoroughly6,got started on the inexplicable (费解的）task At the end of the class, the professor7all the answer papers and started reading each one of them aloud in front of all the students. All of them, with no8 ， described the black dot, trying to explain its position in the middle of the sheet, etc. After all had been9, the classroom was silent, the professor began to explain:
"I'm not going to grade this. I10wanted to give you something to think about No one wrote about the11part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot, and the same happens in our12.We have a white paper to observe and13, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a14given to us with love and care and we always15to celebrate: nature renewing itself every day, our friends around us, the job16our bread and butter and the miracles we see every day.17, we insist on focusing only on the dark spots: the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the18relationship with colleagues, the19with a friend, and etc.
The dark spots are very20compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds.
The summer before the ninth grade, procrastination(拖延 )affected my life in a deep way. With only a few days until the start of school, I had1just one of three homework tasks we were2Instead of enjoying my last few moments of 3, I spent that time doing homework, which was an4way to end the vacation.
Putting in 100 percent5, I always started with strong6at the beginning of each school year.7I struggled to maintain that energy as the weeks passed.
One night, my father and I were having a8about college. He told me, "It doesn't 9much whether you get into an Ivy League university or just a(n)10college-what matters is how you get there and what you do to11it". This really spoke to me, because it made me focus more on the12of my work rather than the quantity.
Thanks to that conversation, I13the way I went through life. I started to 14 that trying my15best is a thousand times better than simply doing something to get it done.
My effort began to16in my first year of high school. I had never17that my grades in some harder classes could be better than those in the easier ones I took last year.
Now I would rather work hard for something and enjoy the18of success, than not try at all or give up halfway. Motivation can 19become a habit if you repeat a(n)20that helps you avoid procrastination.
A few weeks ago, my friend offered to sell some of our things for us. I thought it was a good opportunity to 1my 7-year-old son's room and 2some toys that were no longer suitable for him to play with. We 3 that all the money we got from selling the toys would be his money.
The night before the 4 we loaded(装载)up the truck with toys and a little bike that was too 5for him. In the yard he 6 the bike for the last time and then happily put it onto the truck. This little bike had at least two previous (以前的) owners as far as we 7 .It was certainly not 8, but the tyres (轮胎)were 9 good.
We put a price of $ 10 on it, but it didn't sell. So, after the sale was 10 , my friend put it on the sidewalk, with a sign that 11 "FREE BIKE". Within five minutes her doorbell rang. A little boy was 12 there. In poor English he asked whether the bike was 13 free. She said yes and that he could have it for 14He smiled, got on the bike and rode away.
Later that evening when I told my son how much money he had made at the sale, he was very 15 , shouting happily. He asked about a few of his things, wondering 16they had been sold. When he asked about the bike, I told him about the little boy and that made him 17. He was much happier than when I told him how much he had 18 He was so happy to 19 that someone else would make good 20 of that little bike!
Society has certain standards for beauty. 1 Romanian photographer Mihaela Noroc, who Spent nearly four years 2 photos of women from around the world, is 3 these standards.
She believes that beauty can 4 many forms. “Beauty just means being yourself.” Noroc told NPR. “I think we just have to 5 ourselves as we are and don't 6need to change.”
Noroc has 7 to more than 50 countries and regions since a trip to Africa in 2013, which greatly 8 her. She published a book in 2017 called The Atlas of Beauty, Women of the World in 500 Portraits to show how many different kinds of 9 there are in the world. A new edition of her book has recently caused heated 10 on social media.
From a struggling Russian dancer to a talkative cafe owner in New York, Noroc's 11 would often engage her in deep 12. Noroc found out what moves them, what their daily 13 and joys are, and what brings beauty into their own lives.
Her encounter with Ala, a student at a 14 school in Jordan called “She Fighter”, left a(n) 15 impression on her. Wearing a white hijab, Ala 16her clenched fists as she looks 17 the camera. Noroc describes She Fighter as “the first self-defense school for women in the Arab world”, and writes, “I discovered an amazing cause and a splendid 18.”
In Iran, Noroc met Norocmet Farnoush, a woman who lives in two worlds. “In one she is an economist, by profession. In the other, she is an artist, because this is her passion”. For Noroc, the women's beauty lies in how 19 and comfortable they appear 20 just being themselves.
On his knees, a cute boy is packing the sand into a bucket at a beautiful beach. He turns the bucket upside down and 1 it. To the 2 of the little architect, a castle tower is created. He works all afternoon packing the walls, building sentries (哨兵) with bottle tops and bridges with sticks. And a sandcastle will be built.
In a big city with 3 streets and traffic, a man is working in an office. He packs papers into piles, holds the phone between his 4 and shoulder and 5 the keyboard with his fingers. Contracts gets signed and to the joy of the man, a 6 is made. His pension will be sentries and capital gains will be 7 . An empire will be built.
The two builders of the two castles have very much 8. They both 9smallness into greatness. They both make something beautiful out of 10 . And for both, the tide will rise and the 11 will come. Yet that is where the 12 stop. The little boy sees the end of his castle while the man 13 it. As the dusk approaches and waves near, the child 14 to his feet and begins to clap as the waves wash away his 15 . There is no sorrow, no 16 and no regret. He smiles and goes home.
The man in his office is not very 17 like the child. As his empire is fading, he is terrified, trying to 18 it. "It's my castle!" He 19 at the incoming tide.
Go ahead and build your dreams, but with a child's heart. When the sun 20 and the tides take, just applaud. Salute the process of life and go home with a smile.
The other day, my husband and I took the kids for dinner at a branch of Pizza Express. There was a very friendly lady 1 alone at the next table. When the time came for her to pay the 2 , her bank card was declined. The waitress told her, in a very kind way, that there was a 3 but that she would call her manager for help. Seeing this, my husband 4 got up and told the waiting staff that we would pay for the lady's meal. 5 , when the manager arrived, he explained to the lady that although she couldn't use her 6, there was no need to 7 . Pizza Express authorizes (授权) the restaurant to 8 two free meals per month and on this 9 , they would like to provide her with a free meal.
She was extremely grateful and apologetic that she had been 10 to pay. We were relieved that the lady had been 11 with dignity instead of being placed in a 12 position.
Then, the manager 13 our table. He said that, 14 we had shown such generosity, he would like to donate the second free meal that the restaurant was able to 15 to us! We were absolutely 16 ! I had never heard of any chain restaurant behaving in such a(n) 17 way. We were quite 18 with gratitude. I made sure that the lady was able to get home OK, and then we 19 the staff and left ourselves. I was really impressed by how the restaurant had treated this 20 case.
I want to do the right thing by the environment, and so do you. But, let's face it: it isn't always 1.
The moment one thinks about the seriousness of the 2 we face, it is difficult not to feel profoundly hopeless. For example, in order to 3 this article, I visit The World Counts (www.theworldcounts.com), which offers all the latest 4 statistics (统计数据), and it was 5 to send me to bed for the day.
There's one thing I find 6 about trying to be 7. It is choosing between all the countless 8 on offer. Are bamboo toothbrushes better than electric ones? Do trains always cause less pollution than planes? Should one replace old but perfectly usable smart phones with 9 and high-tech versions? There is so much 10 out there to analyse. When I find myself in despair (绝望), I 11 an article by Loren Eiseley in which two men are walking along a beach covered by thousands of 12, dying starfish. One of the men 13 throwing individual starfish back into the water. The other man 14 that as there are so many starfish in trouble, his companion's actions will make no 15. But the first man 16 that it will make a difference to each starfish he manages to 17.
It is an oft-repeated story, but that doesn't make it any less 18. Someone has put it in a nutshell when he said, "it is the greatest of all 19 to do nothing because you can only do a little — do what you 20."
Years ago I had a falling-out with a friend due to a misunderstanding that was completely my fault. I was afraid to 1 that I was wrong, so we hadn't spoken for years. Then we bumped into each other and decided to meet for lunch. It was so 2 that we kept meeting. After two or three meals together I felt forced to apologize for my 3 years earlier.
My experience isn't unique. Many people 4 apologizing because the idea of admitting to wrongdoing makes them 5 uncomfortable. Apologies force us to admit to ourselves that we don't always 6 our standards. We might also fear that the victim(受害者) won't 7 our apology. We all like to 8 ourselves as good people—as kind, considerate and moral. For these 9, an apology can be very difficult to give.
Given my experience, there is no 10 that an apology is an important tool for 11 relationship to make it functional again. Usually a(n) 12 apology is called for, but if the victim is angry at the wrong behavior, it may be more 13 to wait, because their 14 may stop them from accepting our apologies. Also a delay 15 an apology's effectiveness because it conveys that the offender has time to reflect on his/her 16. But a heartfelt apology has more powerful effects, which can improve our mental health and repair our 17 personal relationships. 18, expressing regret and acknowledging responsibility are also vital. Without 19, it's a good reason of your actions; without responsibility, it's an excuse.
My friend and I had lunch recently 15 years after my belated apology. Admitting that everything had been my fault helped us heal our relationship. We're both 20 to have our friendship today.
When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write and publish my own books. Half the students sneered, and they 1 fell out of their chairs 2 . "Don't be 3! Only geniuses can become 4 ," even one of them said rudely. "And you got a D last semester." I was so badly hurt that I 5into tears.
That night I wrote a short sad poem about broken dreams and 6 it to The Capri's Weekly newspaper. To my astonishment, they published it and sent me two 7. I was a published and paid writer! I showed my fellow students my work. "Just plain dumb hick," they said. However, I tasted 8. I'd sold the first thing I'd ever written. That was 9 than any of them had done and if it was just dumb luck, that was fine with me.
During the next two years I sold dozens of 10, letters, jokes and recipes. By the time I graduated from high school, with a C minus average, I had several scrapbooks(剪贴簿) 11 with my published works. After graduation, I never 12 my writing to my classmates again.
I had four children later. While the children 13, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I 14. It took me nine months to finish my first book. I 15 a publisher at random（随意地）and mailed it without making a copy of the manuscript.
A month later I received a contract, an 16on royalties(版税),and a request to start 17another book. Crying Wind, the title of my book, became a 18and was translated into fifteen languages and Braille and was sold worldwide.
Writing is easy, it's 19and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck
doesn't 20 .
When I married my wife Martha, it was the most beautiful day of my life. Halfway through the reception, my 1 tapped me gently on the shoulder I heard her whisper, "Will you 2with me, sweetheart?"
"Sure," I said, smiling, when some guests pulled me off in their direction. An hour later my mother 3 again. And again I readily 4, smiling and reaching for her with a (n)5but letting some old college friends place a beer there instead.
Then my wife and I were off on our honeymoon. A nagging (烦人的) 6 grew in the back of my mind during the honeymoon. When we finally 7our new home, a phone message told us our pictures were 8 at the photographer's. We unpacked slowly and then drove to pick them up. Hours later, after we had examined every one with 9 memories, I held one out to reflect upon in private. It was a picture of two happy guests, sweaty in their dancing. But it wasn't the couple I was 10 .There, in the background, I 11 a familiar figure -my dear mother who was 12 .
And I didn't think they were tears of 13 . I then drove to my mother's apartment a few miles away. "I'm sorry, I never danced with you, Mom." I said. Mom looked at me and said something I'll never 14 , "Nonsense, dear. You've danced enough with me in my lifetime. And while you were being the perfect 15and making all of your guests feel so special, I watched you and felt nothing but 16 .That's what a 17 is, honey. Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue."
"Well, this old woman, who was wearing blue, watched you dance with your beautiful new bride, and I 18 I had to give you up, 19 I had you so many years to myself, but I could only borrow you until you found the lady of your dreams."
Both of our tears covered her sofa that day. And after the talk, I asked Mom for a dance. Unlike me, she didn't 20
Just like everyone, I have experienced ups and downs in my life. I am an aerospace engineer from India. I was told by my relatives, close friends and others that it was1for a non-IT student to pursue a master's degree in IT and graduate from a US university.
I had never taken courses 2 to computers or programming. I was never interested in being a 3, but things changed. Computers became my companion and I 4 how dependent on them I was. I 5 imagining the back end processes happening inside the CPU and they amazed me. That's why I 6 to pursue a master's degree in IT.
At first, it was way too 7 . Coming from a middle-class family, the huge cost per credit was a big8. My English accent was terrible. Most 9 , the course seemed impossible at first. But I never 10.
I got a few offers, but I decided to choose my university 11 it promised its students to help them learn practically. During my first month, it was difficult to understand the Americans' 12 and finish my assignments. But I never gave up. I walked two miles to the 13 every day so that I could use my travel money to buy a meal. I started looking for 14 and I got an offer to work as a student assistant, which meant lifting benches and chairs every day.
I took it as a(n) 15 , and I believed that hard work was my strength. Right now I am graduating with a GPA of 3. 96/4 and a job offer from a multinational company that has asked me to start right after 16 .
If you think you can never achieve something, you need to 17 yourself and start working on your 18 . Hard work always pays off. To be 19, you need to start from somewhere and always question yourself about the limits of how far you would go to 20 your goals.
When we were growing up, our mother, a single parent of seven kids, always took on two jobs, so it fell to Nina, the oldest, to take care of us. Because of Nina, pop music was an 1part of our home, and growing up with the music of the 1960s was an added 2. One of her favorite 3during the 1960s was 96 Tears. I 4her turning up the radio and singing along when it was 5. I was 9 and she was 15.
I think music was 6to her because it kept her grounded and reminded her that she was stI'll a 7, even though she had so much responsibility. I remember the music always became the 8. We would wake up 9the morning show as we got ready for school, and then into the night. The 10was always on.
Nina wasn't much older than me, but she shouldered great 11while my mother worked. I didn't 12 much of it then, but years later, and especially now she is gone, I realize how much she must have 13because of caring for us. I don't ever remember her complaining, but 14remember the music and the sisterly friendship.
Recalling my childhood, I think things could have been 15for a house full of kids ranging in age from 3 to 15 years, but somehow, I remember it as a relative happy time, thanks to Nina's 16ability. Now, that song reminds me of my 17sister, as well as the sacrifices she made for me, and the 18childhood I experienced because of her. 19that song makes my eyes water, but sI'll a 20touches the corners of my mouth.
On the side of love
I woke up at midnight and was unable to get back to sleep. Then I1the living room to watch a little television. The news on TV didn't2 me at all. So I3a book and tried to read but could feel my eyelids getting heavier and heavier. A short4would be just what I needed
After a while I5something awaking me from my sleep. It was warm6hitting me right in the face. I slowly7my eyes and saw a long, sweet looking8covered in white and gold fur. Its pink nose was breathing on me and its big, brown eyes were looking at me with9. I smiled and said," Hello Fluffy".10my face was covered in dog11while his curled tail wagged joyfully. I12his neck, petted his head, scratched his belly, and laughed as he continued to13me with his love. I thought to myself: "If only we humans could love each other as purely and unconditionally as our14love us, what a15world this would be."
Dogs are our best friends and greatest16of love. We should not17the lessons they teach. We should live our lives on the side of love. We should spend our days creating18and making this world a19place. We should see everyone20how they look or what they believe as our brothers and sisters. We should love ourselves and everyone else.
My husband, our children and I have had wonderful camping experiences over the past ten years.
Some of our1 are funny, especially from the early years when our children were little.
Once, we2 along Chalk Creek. I was3that our 15-month-old boy would fall into the creek (小溪). I tied a rope around his waist to keep him near to our spot. That lasted about ten minutes.
He was4, and his crying let the whole campground know it. So5 tying him up, I just kept a close eye on him. It6he didn't end up in the creek. My three-year-old, however, did.
Another time, we rented a boat in Vallecito Lake. The sky was clear when we7, but storms move in fast in the mountains, and this one quickly8our peaceful morning trip. The 9picked up and thunder old. My husband stopped fishing to10 the motor. Nothing. He tried again. No11We were stuck in the middle of the lake with a dead motor. As we all sat there12a fisherman pulled up, threw us a rope and towed (拖) us back. We were13Now, every year when my husband pulls our camper out of the garage, we are filled with a sense of14 , wondering what camping fun and15 we will experience next.
My mom is about to have a spinal (脊柱的) operation. The operation is 1minor, but does carry a risk of paralysis (瘫痪). Friends and family have 2 to this news by talking in such pessimistic terms that Mom has come to 3this kind of talk as "psychological theft". It occurs when other people increase your anxiety 4providing comfort.
Last week Mom5Geoff who works for the local school. "How are you?" he asked. "Not great," she replied, "I have been having some trouble with my back and I'm going to need a (n)6""Oh, the back the most 7place to operate on! My mom had that and she was in terrible pain." He responded. Geoff's8had been kind. He'd given his own mother's story to show sympathy, 9Mom only heard danger and pain.
People could have 10things that would be equally true, but more 11to patients. "The specialists in our hospitals are among the best in the world." that's a good one. "You're going to feel much better 12"that's another.
I'm not suggesting patients should be13from the reality of the risks they're taking. But if the decision to have an operation can't really be 14 ， what's the purpose of stressing the 15?It's just common sense to say, "Get well soon, and how can I help?"
