【推荐2】There was an old man living in a small village. He seemed unhappy all the time. When people tried to cheer him up or offered to help, he would rudely turn _______ away.

The longer he lived, the _______ he became. Day by day the villagers avoided talking to him because it seemed wrong to laugh or even smile when he was around. They all tried to stay away from him.

But one day when he became _______, an unbelievable thing happened. The man was no longer rude _______ angry. Instead, he seemed calm and kind.

_______ whole village gathered together to see the old man. They _______ not believe that he became happy and polite. One of the villagers asked him, “ _______ happened to you?”

“Nothing special in fact,” the man said with a smile. “I _______ to find happiness for the last 80 years, but it ends up with nothing. I grow anger. No one would like to be _______ me any more. So I decide to stop looking for happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now.”

It is important ________ that everyone has bad days sometimes. If someone tries to cheer you up, don’t be rude to them. Just try to accept their help.

【推荐3】Some time ago, an old businessman had a large store in Boston. He wanted a boy to work for him, and he put up ________ advertisement in the newspaper. The next morning, many boys came to the old man’s office to ________ the job.

The businessman pointed to a nail on the door ________ his office, took out a walking stick and said, “Everyone has three chances. If anyone can hit the nail on the head with this stick more than once, I ________ him the job.” The boys thought it was very easy. They all tried, but ________ could make it. So the old man said, “I’m sorry I can’t take any of you.” And they left.

He kept the advertisement in the papers, and the next morning many more boys came, and among them he saw a thin boy who had been there the day before. The boy hit the nail ________ for three times. The old man felt excited and asked how he ________ that. “I also failed yesterday,” said the boy, “but I thought if I kept ________ I could do it. So I went home and practiced hitting a nail with a stick ________ I could do it, and I got up very early this morning, and tried again.”

The old man said, “You are the boy for me.” So the job ________ to him by the old man. Whatever the boy had to do, he tried to do his best. It was not very long before he became the best clerk in the store.