A year ago, August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but it was for Dave to find work, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at the risk of joining the millions of Americans who have their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely —$7,000, a legacy(遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. “It really made a difference when we were meeting difficulty.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were by what the Hatches had done. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in , it was more than $100,000.
It nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of . They preferred comparison shopping and would go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase.
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camps when their parents couldn’t it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you anything,” says their friend Sandy Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.”
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches their farmland. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents—should the whole community and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors—that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story.
A．happy B．hard C．easy D．nice
A．lost B．bought C．left D．wanted
A．gift B．money C．encouragement D．package
A．accept B．defeat C．win D．receive
A．amazed B．excited C．upset D．touched
A．the other B．another C．other D．others
A．surprised B．frightened C．pleased D．encouraged
A．kind B．generous C．living D．saving
A．afford B．buy C．offer D．keep
A．suffered B．enjoyed C．needed D．did
A．put away B．put up C．gave up D．gave away
A．enrich B．bless C．brighten D．expand
Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list in our past that we felt of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very 38 process, but there’ s always some soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then that we find ways to people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my , I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious . Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still . Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few , I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it.” Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to the past wrongdoings.
A．something B．anything C．somebody D．anybody
A．ashamed B．afraid C．sure D．proud
A．private B．secret C．interesting D．funny
A．foolish B．polite C．simple D．brave
A．expected B．suggested C．ordered D．demanded
A．connect with B．depend on C．make apologise to D．get along with
A．improve B．continue C．realize D．keep
A．notes B．list C．plan D．stories
A．any B．most C．none D．all
A．part B．game C．trick D．record
A．view B．sign C．attention D．remark
A．also B．even C．still D．ever
A．appears B．considers C．presents D．remembers
A．angry B．happy C．doubtful D．alive
A．words B．rings C．repeats D．calls
A．cold B．plain C．nervous D．lively
A．in case B．so long as C．unless D．because
A．around B．out C．on D．away
A．build up B．make up C．clear up D．give up
A．regret B．forgive C．right D．punish
Children find meanings in their old family tales.
When Stephen Guyer’s three children were growing up, he told them stories about how his grandfather, a banker, all in the 1930s, but did not lose sight of what he valued most. In one of the darkest times when his strong-minded grandfather was nearly , he loaded his family into the car and them to see family members in Canada with a , “There are more important things in life than money.”
The took on a new meaning recently when Mr. Guyer downsized to a house from a more expensive and comfortable one. He was that his children, a daughter, 15, and twins, 22, would be upset. To his surprise, they weren’t. Instead, their reaction echoed (重复) their great-grandfather’s. What they about was how warm the people were in the house and how much of their heart was accessible.
Many parents are finding family stories have surprising power to help children through times. Storytelling experts say the phenomenon (现象) reflects a growing in telling tales, evidenced (证明) by a rise in storytelling events and festivals.
A university of 65 families with children aged from 14 to 16 found kids’ ability to parents’ stories was linked to a lower rate of anger and anxiety.
The is telling the stories in a way children can hear. We’re not talking here about the kind of story that , “When I was a kid, I walked to school every day uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow.” Instead, we should choose a story suited (适合) to the child’s , and make eye contact to create “a personal experience”. We don’t have to tell children what they should take from the story and what the moral is.
A．missed B．lost C．forgot D．ignored
A．friendless B．worthless C．penniless D．homeless
A．fetched B．allowed C．expected D．took
A．hope B．promise C．suggestion D．belief
A．tale B．agreement C．arrangement D．report
A．large B．small C．new D．grand
A．surprised B．annoyed C．disappointed D．worried
A．talked B．cared C．wrote D．heard
A．good B．hard C．old D．modern
A．argument B．skill C．interest D．anxiety
A．study B．design C．party D．staff
A．provide B．retell C．support D．refuse
A．trouble B．gift C．fact D．trick
A．means B．ends C．begins D．proves
A．needs B．activities C．hobbies D．habits
Whenever you want to make a decision, just make sure to think twice and confirm it. This is what we learn from the following story. While two old beggars were sitting on a street corner, they watched helplessly as scores of people walked by. Some purposely them and others too caught up in their own cares didn’t even notice their . Every so often, a kind-hearted woman or a small child would drop a few coins in the which lay in front of them.
As the crowd began to die down, they started to their things and head for their evening . Just as they were getting ready to leave, they noticed a man walking toward them. He was obviously a man—they could tell that from his finely tailored business suit.
The first beggar whispered to the second with , “He’s coming our way!”
The two tried not to look at the man as he stepped closer to them, but they couldn’t gazing up with anticipation he reached into his pocket and took something out.
“Thunk” was the only sound they heard as what looked like a piece of hard , wrapped in tissue paper hit each of their waiting hats. The rich man and continued on his way, not making a backward glance.
“How insulting(侮辱人的)!” said the first beggar. “He could have left us a few coins or a spare bill, but he mocks us with a piece of rock candy. Who does he think we are? ? There’s no way we can even eat this—we have no .” He picked up the object and threw it into the gutter.
“I haven’t had anything like this for ages,” the second beggar thought. “I can’t chew it, but I can suck on it , and the sugary juices will stay in my for a long time. How nice of that man to offer me something so sweet！”
With that, he the white tissue paper, but to his , there was no hard rock candy inside. However, into his fingers fell a shiny white pearl worth thousands of dollars.
A．distant B．busy C．broad D．narrow
A．aided B．observed C．noticed D．ignored
A．existence B．situation C．appearance D．expression
A．hats B．hands C．pockets D．bowls
A．put up B．cover up C．pack up D．end up
A．party B．flat C．shelter D．shadow
A．wealthy B．healthy C．poor D．proud
A．confusion B．happiness C．excitement D．amusement
A．carelessly B．calmly C．sadly D．directly
A．help B．escape C．wait D．prevent
A．then B．while C．as D．since
A．cake B．candy C．coin D．bill
A．quit B．declined C．turned D．returned
A．easily B．hardly C．suddenly D．finally
A．Babies B．Children C．Adults D．Old men
A．hands B．teeth C．bowls D．money
A．in a while B．for a while C．after a while D．once in a while
A．pocket B．hand C．mouth D．hat
A．threw B．undertook C．unfolded D．wrapped
A．satisfaction B．amazement C．horror D．disappointment
People say one man's trash(垃圾) is another man's treasure. That comes to me as I the house purchased in 1962 by my parents. My mother passed away in 1996. My father left the house my sister and me when he died a few months ago.
After Dad was , we looked around the house where we grew up and that Dad loved so much. At first we felt so all the stuff(东西) left. Like so many of their generation, my parents everything. And like many in my generation, we faced anxious about what to abandon and what to keep.
As we started throwing out old phone books and every medical bill from every my parents ever saw, I also many hidden treasures. Mom's pocketbook was in their bedroom closet, which had everything in it, her hairbrush with hair, as if she were still here. And Dad, who was a World War II veteran(退伍兵) and a world traveler, everything -- from little spoons from all over the world to every letter he wrote to his parents while in the . The letters he wrote during the war his thoughts as a young man. Later, in the basement, I our old kitchen table, which brought back of my parents and sister and me having breakfast together.
I'm realizing all these things my parents' life journey. Each time I go to , I find something that reminded me of my childhood or teaches me something about my parents I knew. , from the shabby furniture to all the hidden treasures, means more to me than all the money in the world.
A．coincidence B．goal C．principle D．thought
A．looked for B．looked through C．looked into D．looked after
A．to B．for C．with D．by
A．retired B．ill C．gone D．injured
A．clean B．strange C．empty D．modern
A．pleased with B．familiar with C．astonished at D．disappointed at
A．saved B．enjoyed C．purchased D．designed
A．decisions B．bargains C．challenges D．responsibilities
A．person B．doctor C．neighbor D．child
A．bought B．discovered C．buried D．lost
A．just B．even C．only D．yet
A．liked B．bought C．kept D．lost
A．countryside B．school C．college D．army
A．receive B．direct C．sense D．describe
A．repaired B．cleaned C．spotted D．set
A．introductions B．memories C．descriptions D．communications
A．represented B．recognized C．instructed D．confirmed
A．the supermarket B．church C．my office D．the house
A．merely B．always C．really D．never
A．Everything B．Nothing C．Anything D．Something
When I was fifteen, I announced to my English class that I was going to write my own books. Half the students smiled , and even worse, the rest nearly fell out of their chairs laughing. “Don’t be . Only geniuses can become writers.” the English teacher said, “And you are getting a D this term.” I was so that I burst into tears. That night I wrote a short poem about broken dreams and mailed it to the newspaper. To my , they published it and sent me two dollars. I was a published and paid writer. I showed my teacher and fellow students. They laughed, “Just plain dumb luck,” the teacher said. I tasted ; I’d sold the first thing I’d ever written. That was more 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 poems and letters. By the time I graduated from high school, I had scrapbooks (剪贴簿) with my published works. I never my writing to my teachers, friends or my family again because they were dream .
I had four children at the time. While the children slept, I typed on my ancient typewriter. I wrote what I felt. It took nine months. I chose a and mailed it. A month later I received a contract, an advance on payments, and a request to start another book. Crying Wind, which became a best seller, was translated into fifteen languages and sold worldwide. My first book also became required in native American schools inCanada.
In the year I ever had as a writer I earned two dollars. In my best year I earned 36,000 dollars. People ask what college I , what degrees I have and what qualifications I have to be a writer. The answer is: “None.” I just write. I’m not a genius. I use an electric typewriter that I paid a hundred and twenty nine dollars for six years ago. I do all the housework and fit my writing in a few minutes here and there. I’ve written eight books. To all those who dream of writing, I’m shouting at you: “Yes, you can. Don’t listen to them.” I don’t write right but I’ve succeeded. Writing is ; it’s fun and anyone can do it. Of course, a little dumb luck doesn’t hurt.
A．unkindly B．happily C．willingly D．crazily
A．curious B．depressed C．excited D．silly
A．unlucky B．ashamed C．moved D．unconfident
A．sad B．innocent C．disappointing D．puzzling
A．puzzlement B．expectation C．astonishment D．disappointment
A．coldness B．failure C．success D．prejudice
A．furnished B．linked C．combined D．filled
A．remembered B．concluded C．described D．mentioned
A．killers B．makers C．designers D．creators
A．writer B．reporter C．publisher D．manager
A．working on B．going on C．turning on D．putting on
A．writing B．reading C．selling D．buying
A．busiest B．unluckiest C．worst D．highest
A．worked B．attended C．admitted D．participated
A．easy B．hard C．convenient D．practical