Many years ago, there was a young girl named Pepsy. She thought she was _______ and didn’t like going out. She doesn’t like to hear people _______, “Pepsy is not beautiful.”

But there were times when she had to go out shopping. She was unhappy and sometimes even _______ because people might say something about her bad look.

One night, a strange old woman came to Pepsy’s house. She said to Pepsy, “My child, let me help you. Put this magic (有魔力的) flower in your _______, and you’ll become beautiful.”

Pepsy did what the woman said. _______ strange happened. She became beautiful! Pepsy was surprised to see herself so wonderful in the mirror (镜子). She ran _______ out of her house. She walked on the street and _______ at everyone who looked at her. She became very friendly and nice, very different _______ what she was before. Almost all the people said, “Pepsy is so great today!”

Finally, Pepsy went back to her home. But _______ she went into the house, she saw the magic flower on the floor. She ________ the flower there before she hurried out. She didn’t wear it when walking on the street!

A long time ago, trees in forests kept their leaves all year round. That’s just the way it was. But one winter, things ______ , and would never be the same again.

The cold winter winds were blowing, and all the birds were flying south where it was warm except one small bird with a broken wing.

As the injured bird watched its friends going south, it stood thinking, “I will not ______ this coming winter.”

The little bird hopped(跳行) along ______ one wing hanging(垂下) uselessly at its side. It came to a huge oak tree. “Please, Mr. Oak,” said the bird. “May I take ______ on your branches?”

The oak tree huffed and puffed. “I am the king of the forest. I will never ______ you on my branches.”

And so, the bird came next to a white birch tree. The birch tree thought it was the ______ tree in all the land. When the little bird asked for help, the birch tree said, “Go away from me! You will get ______ and eat my leaves. I must take care of my beautiful leaves. Move along.”

The winter was fast approaching(接近). The injured little bird ______ came to a big spruce tree. “May I take shelter on your branches?” pleaded the bird. To its surprise, the spruce tree ______ . “Come, little bird. I will do my best to keep you ______ .”

A pine tree noticed this and said, “I will stand here all ______ , little bird. Do not worry. My branches will keep the ______ from you. You will be safe with us.”

Later, the cold north wind came to blow in the forest. It blew so ______ that it knocked all the leaves from the oak and the birch. It was going to blow the leaves ______ the spruce and pine too. But its father said no, for he had seen the good work of these trees in helping the bird.

And dear friend, that is why some trees ______ their leaves in winter, and some do not.

【推荐3】In a village, an old man named Marcus used to spread rumors (谣言) about everyone he disliked.

One day, Marcus had a quarrel with Alfred because of a small thing. So Marcus started to shout that Alfred was a ________. Then there were rumors flying around the village and poor Alfred was ________ by the police. ________, the police found that Alfred didn’t steal anything at all soon and set him free. However, Alfred was ________. Then Alfred took Marcus to the judge (法官).

Marcus said to the judge, “They were just some words, and they did not harm ________.” The judge, before passing sentence (判决), said to Marcus, “Write ________ you want to say on a piece of paper. Tear (撕碎) the paper into small pieces as you go back home. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence.” While Marcus was walking back to his home, he did as the judge told him.

The next day, the judge told Marcus, “Before ________ the sentence, you have to go out and collect all the pieces of paper that you threw yesterday.” Marcus said, “I can’t do that! The wind must have ________ them and I won’t know where to find them.”

After hearing that, the judge replied, “In the same manner, simple words may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it.” Marcus realized his ________ and he promised that he wouldn’t do that again.

Choose your words ________, or you may hurt others!