My sixth-grade students were seated in a large circle on the floor of our classroom. Each student held a different tool in his or her hand, such as a hammer, a flashlight, and even an awl. The lesson had gone perfectly. The students discussed how words are like tools—they have the ability to build or to destroy, and they discovered how the right tool used at the right time for the right job can cause great results. The sixth graders freely shared personal stories of how they had experienced someone’s words used as a tool, , to wound or to heal. I watched and listened with a sense of satisfaction—they got it!

A few days later, one of my students, Laura, had an unexpected and uncharacteristic outburst of destructive behaviors in class. She refused to work with her group. I was aware from reading Laura’s file that she had struggled with disobedient (叛逆的) behavior in previous years, but we had developed a good relationship and she was always a respectful, thoughtful, and positive contributor to our class. Her behavior caught me off guard. I asked her to excuse herself and told her I would visit with her in our next door team center in just a minute, She refused to leave and sat silently glaring at me from the back of the room. I rather firmly told her she needed to excuse herself—this was NOT optional. She knew I meant it. She marched from the back of the room to our classroom door, shooting me an angry look, and slammed the door as she left for the team meeting room.

I continued our lesson and when the students were working together in their groups, I gently closed our classroom door behind me, then marched the five steps next door to cur meeting room where Laura was seated. In an unexpected and uncharacteristic gesture of frustration, I slammed the meeting room door behind me. As I stood over her, I began to express how disrespectful her behavior had been to our class. Her behavior angered me and I was sharp in my tone and my words. Without looking at me, she absorbed my anger.

When I paused for her response, she slowly turned and proudly stated, “You’re using your tool against me!”

For the rest of the day and the rest of the year; Laura never had another outburst.

It’s a great pity that I had not put forth the amount of effort required. I had spent too much time playing with my friends instead of improving myself. I had let down my teacher, who was the kindest, sweet, and prettiest one I had ever known. She laughed often, and never threatened any of us, yet she was able to “read”   the children, control the class, and teach effectively. Miss Pratt put a lot of herself into her work. Every day near the close of school, she would read to us, or even better, tell us stories about when she was a little girl. Most importantly, she made us feel that she cared about us and that we were important.

Because of a serious car accident when I was three and a half years old, I had a scar below my nose that was the result of a torn upper lip. Everything else had healed up without any after effects physically, but my emotions remained scarred. Meanwhile, having been called “Chief Running Nose ”and   “Scarface” by many insensitive children, my confidence had suffered. Although my parents and relatives referred to me as pretty, I did not see myself that way.

Focusing on my scar, I could not appreciate any redeeming features (可取之处). At the end of one school day, I remained in my classroom, waiting for the arrival of my mother, who was coming to take me to an appointment close to the school. Miss Pratt sat at her desk with a fellow teacher and chatted.

I glanced at the clock and realized it was time to get ready to leave. I put on my wool coat and hat. The teachers looked at my clothes and seemed to admire it. I was able to read their lips a little and my ears perked up to hear, “Who is she? She really is cute.” My teacher Miss Pratt answered, “I agree; Bernice is quite adorable.”

“Adorable” was exactly what grabbed me since it was almost my favorite word.

About two months later, Miss Pratt announced that I got first place in the final exam.

7 . According to a new study from Oxford Economics, a rise in artificial intelligence will result in an increase in “income inequality” as they estimate that 20 million manufacturing jobs will be lost in the next 11 years. In China alone, there could be 14 million robots taking work currently done by humans by 2030. While in the United States, more than 1.5 million workers would have lost their employment to technology by 2030.

The report predicts the use of robots worldwide has increased to 2.25 million over the past two decades. The researchers said, “As a result of robotisation, tens of millions of jobs will be lost, especially in poorer economies that rely on lower-skilled workers, which will therefore translate into an increase in income inequality.”

However, the researchers noted how “robotisation” has the potential to boost productivity and economic growth. They predicted a 5.3 percent rise in global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2030.The report said, “This means adding an extra $4.9 trillion per year to the global economy by 2030(in today’s prices).”

The report remained positive about the use of automation and urged lawmakers not to sand in the way of robots in the workplace, despite the threat of job losses.

The researchers said, “These findings should not lead policy-makers to seek to prevent the adoption of robot technology. Instead, the challenge should be to distribute the robot profits more evenly by helping workers prepare for and adapt to the big changes it will bring about. Explore all policy options from training, initiatives (新方案) and new welfare programs such as universal basic income.”

8 . Renting a home today is more popular than buying a house. You can choose an apartment for rent either on your own or with the help of a specialist from a rental agency.     1     After all, a professional will be able to protect the client from scammers(骗子) and select the best options for renting.

First of all, it will be necessary to determine the quality and variety of infrastructure(基础设施) in a particular area. You should find out what objects are located in the immediate neighborhood.     2    . A drug store, as well as a clinic or medical center should be located nearby.

If you plan to move into a rented apartment with children, you should find out which educational and preschool institutions are located nearby.     3    . They are needed so that residents can easily get to any area of the settlement using public transport.

You should also pay attention to the building itself, in which you plan to rent a home.     4    , which will allow you not to worry about noisy neighbors. The questions, like what problems the building has or how often the elevator breaks down, are also worth asking.

    5    . You should check the performance of all engineering systems. You should also find out how often the water is turned off in the building. Even the sockets(插座) should be checked. To do this, you can take a charger for your mobile phone with you. It will help determine the quality of electrical systems and the presence of wiring problems in specific locations.

Dave had loved basketball for as long as he could remember and he had never had a day without playing it. At primary school and junior high school he joined basketball clubs, attended training programs and watched basketball games, from which he learned the moves of the star players, wishing to play in a professional team like them and shine on the court.

Now as a senior high school student, however, his dream of becoming a professional player was dimming (变暗) because he was only of average height. He had to give up the hope of joining the school team. The guys on the school team were all tall boys who played matches and won honors for the school. They were like heroes. Dave watched them play and cheered them but he knew he would never be one of them.

Dave felt it a pity not to be tall enough, but this didn’t stop him from pouring his passion into basketball. He just played for the love of the sport. He played in the school gym with other boys or by himself every day, even during holidays and weekends, when it was open for two hours in the morning. He enjoyed every minute on the court making every effort to play better.

It was one Saturday morning. Dave was playing in the gym by himself, as all the other boys were busy with other weekend affairs. Then he noticed a tall boy approaching. It was Lankas. Everybody knows him as captain of the school basketball team. “Hi, Lankas,” Dave greeted him. “My name is Dave.” “Hi, Dave,” Lankas replied as he got closer. “Nice to see you here. Do you need an opponent to play against?” Dave was shocked, frozen right there, unable to believe his ears but somehow, he answered, “Why not?”

10 . Egyptian table tennis player Ibrahim Hamadtou didn’t win a medal, or even score a victory. But he has become one of the most_________stories at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Hamadtou lost his_________ in a train accident when he was just 10 years old. But that did not_________his love of sports. He used to play both football and table tennis. After the accident, he felt lost and stayed _________at home for three years. Then he went back to football, but football was too_________ for him. With no arms, he couldn’t protect himself when he fell!

After several _________, he found that he could play table tennis with his mouth. It took him nearly a year of_________to hold the racket (球拍) with his mouth and make the _________with his feet.

He first competed at the Rio Paralympics, and was finally able to fulfill his lifelong _________of competing in Paralympics. He lost his first two matches, but did _________ the respect of other players like David Wetherill. “He’s a legend in table tennis,” said Wetherill. “I know I won today but I think he has_________ far more skills than I have.

In Tokyo, he lost to a Chinese player and a player from South Korea,_________all the competitions at his second Paralympics. However, he has a(n)_________ for the world about what disability really means, in his eyes.

“I want to tell everybody that nothing is _________, and everybody should work hard for what you love and what you think is good for yourself,” he said. “The _________ is not in arms or legs; it is not to stick to whatever you would like to do.”