I strongly believe that we can have an important effect on anyone we meet. The right words at just the right time could totally change someone's life. That's what happened to me years ago.

When I was a 3-year-old boy, my parents discovered I was totally deaf. After asking many doctors, educational specialists and parents of other deaf children, they decided to put me in a mainstream school. All of my classmates and teachers would have normal hearing.

From the time I started going there in the third grade, I was the only deaf child at Blue Creek Elementary School in the small town of Latham, New York. From almost the first day there, the other kids made fun of me and called me names mainly because of my hearing aid and the way I talked.

I worried throughout Elementary school because, except the problems of "fitting in" with the other students, I also struggled with most of my schoolwork.

Although I seemed outgoing, my self-esteem(自尊心)was quite low. I saw myself as an ugly kid wearing a weird-looking box around his neck who wasn't even smart enough to keep up with the other kids.

Mrs. Jordan, my fifth-grade teacher, changed all of that with a simple three-word phrase. Mrs. Jordan was a large woman with a voice that bounced(反弹)off the walls of her tiny classroom. One morning, she asked the class a question.

I read her lips(嘴唇)and immediately raised my hand. For once I knew the answer. But, when she called on me, I was afraid. I took a deep breath, stood up slowly and answered Mrs. Jordan's question in a low voice.

I will never forget what happened next.

Mrs. Jordan pointed directly at me. With shining eyes and a wide smile she cried: "That's right, Stephen!"

For the first time in my life, I was an instant star. My confidence soared like never before.

I decided right then and there that I would make a place for myself in this world. No matter how many difficulties I might meet in life, I knew I could overcome them. A simple three-word phrase delivered with incredible enthusiasm had totally changed my young life. "That's right, Stephen!"

1.A mainstream school educates children who________.

A.are blind, deaf, ugly or foolish B.have no physical disabilities

C.have loud voices and wide smiles D.are talented and knowledgeable

2.Which of the following is the correct order according to the story?

a. He made up his mind to change.

b. He was sent to a school in a small town.

c. He had a hard time in the first year.

d. Mrs. Jordan praised him with three words.

A.b-c-d-a B.b-c-a-d C.c-d-a-b D.c-b-d-a

3.When Mrs. Jordan asked the boy to answer the question, he felt ________.

A.proud B.nervous C.peaceful D.surprised

4.From the passage, we can learn that ________

A.life is full of ups and downs B.knowledge starts with practice

C.right words make a great difference D.chance favors only the prepared mind

Everyone speaks a language, but language is not just for talking. It is our most important communication tool. Through language, we can tell other people what we think, how we feel, and what we need. In fact, civilization (文明) itself depends on our ability to communicate.

In the long history of human, languages survive, grow, disappear, move from place to place, and change with time. There are about 6,000 different living languages around the world today, and there are many thousands more that are no longer in use. Languages might sound different, but they are thought to have come from a single ancient language.

Nobody knows exactly when people first started using languages. Some scientists say that people first spoke to one another about two million years ago.

Today, our complicated (复杂的) languages get fully used in the magazines, novels, science books, and movies that fill our libraries and bookstores. As humans, it is important that we can tell the long stories, which separates us from the great apes (类人猿). Other animals may use kinds of methods to communicate, but we humans can send complicated messages through space and time.

Throughout history there were many languages that served as a lingua franca (通用语)—a common language that could serve as a bridge between people of different cultures. Today, English is the main language that plays that role around the world. Many people have studied English as a second or third language.

Language helps people to work together, to share knowledge, feelings, and build up modern societies. The development of humanity’s many languages was an important process that helped humans move forwards towards civilization.

Language

Language is our most important communication tool

● With the help of language, we tell others our 1., feelings and needs.

● Our ability to communicate leads to civilization.

Some facts about languages

● There are about 6,000 different languages that are being 2. around the world.

● People started to speak to one another two million years ago, according to some scientists.

● Humans’ languages make it 3. for us to send complicated messages through space and time.

● English is used most 4. around the world today.

The 5. of language

● Language helps people to work together, to share knowledge, feelings, and build up modern societies.

● The development of humanity’s many languages was an important process that helped humans move towards civilization.

Anna arrived far too early. Usually she left things to the last minute, but today was very ______. She got there almost an hour beforehand. She hoped the plane would arrive sooner. ______ raced through her mind. "Do I look all right? Will he notice that I'm wearing a new suit? Will he even recognize me?" It was a year almost to the day since she had ______ seen Joe. She ______ got a mirror out of her handbag and looked at her face carefully. Too much make-up? Joe had never said anything, but she knew that he did not like heavy make-up. It was funny how important she thought it to be to make a good impression on him. After all friends do not judge each other by ______. All the same, it was the first meeting after a long separation, and she wanted everything to go off right.

Looking out of the window, through a break in the clouds, Joe caught a first sight of the town far ______. This was his third visit, and looked like becoming a yearly event. Certainly it was very lucky that they had ______ him to be the guest lecturer again. The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, as a matter of politeness, had ______ to meet him at the airport, as he had done before. This time, however, it was not ______, partly because Joe was quite familiar with the city, but mostly because Anna had said that she could ______ the afternoon off in order to come and meet him.

1.A.serious B.exciting C.special D.pleasant

2.A.Dreams B.Thoughts C.Blood D.Honour

3.A.last B.first C.seldom D.never

4.A.luckily B.properly C.politely D.quickly

5.A.job B.clothes C.appearance D.fashion

6.A.below B.above C.around D.behind

7.A.increased B.invented C.invited D.introduced

8.A.failed B.refused C.offered D.managed

9.A.helpful B.common C.important D.necessary

10.A.set B.have C.put D.keep

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