When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelon was expensive. One of my father’s friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St. Paul.
Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie’s place. We’ d sit on the edge of the dock（码头）, feet dangling（摇晃）, and got ready for a big meal.
Bernie would take his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we’d bury our faces in watermelon, eating only the heart—the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, most seed-free part—and throw away the rest.
Bernie was my father’s idea of a rich man. I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie’s wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon.
What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the watermelon. If you don’t take the time to dangle your feet over the dock and enjoy life’s small pleasure, your work is probably hurting your life.
For many years, I forgot that lesson I’d learned as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy making all the money I could.
Well, I’ve relearned it. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That’s the heart of the watermelon. I have learned again to throw the rest away.
【小题1】 We learned from the second paragraph that the writer and his father were feeling ______.

从方框中选择恰当的词或短语并用其正确的形式填空。

1. －Our city is becoming more and more beautiful.

－Yes, great changes ______________since 2008.

2.After running two miles in ten minutes. Millie arrived at the cinema _____________.

3.－You’re _____________a child. You should learn to stand on your own feet.

4.－Miss Li, I can’t finish the project by ____________.

－Why don’t you ask your classmates for help?

5.－Are the children playing outside?

－No, they ____________in the sitting room.

6.－Who designed the National Grand Theater?

－It ______________by Paul Andreu from France.

7.Many of the old man’s friends have moved away, so he ____________from time to time.

8.－What’s the news about?

  －_____________people in the southeast of China are suffering from drought(干旱).

9.Don’t have too much junk food(垃圾食品)! It may ________________your health.

10.While Sandy was listening to music, Max ______________his friend online.