Because I'm a writer and book lover, others would naturally think that I started to like literature (文学) from an early age. Actually, I once saw reading as a frightening thing that would always be difficult. Then I discovered books that caught my imagination-stories like The Little House Series and A Little Princess. Can you imagine how a reluctant (不情愿的) reader became a book lover and later an author?

This row of books that changed my life now decorates my desk. These stories are so dear that they feel like part of me.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett—I began to think that if I looked carefully enough, I would find a secret garden in my backyard and bring it back to life.

A Friend in the Storm by Cheryl Ricker—This book of poetry got me through some of life's most difficult times.

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl—This is the book that made me want to be a writer someday.

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo—Inspired (鼓舞) by it, I wrote a three- part blog post for books, started giving it to kids as gifts, and still listed it as one of my favorite stories.

Every book in the row inspired, comforted, or challenged me. I know today that, while many are well-known titles and a few were written by not-so-famous authors, they all remind me that we can never know what we will do with our talents. What can we do? Just follow our hearts.

1.Which book helped the author get through hard times?

A.The Secret Garden B.A Friend in the Storm

C.Les Miserables D.Anna Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

2.The book Anna Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl made the author want to be a ______ in the future.

A.writer B.teacher C.farmer D.doctor

3.What's the author's suggestion for us?

A.Showing our talents earlier. B.Following our hearts.

C.Reading books with famous titles. D.Never caring what others think of us.

“How much does it cost to have my shoes shined?” A man in black stood in front of me and asked. Before I could answer, I had started brushing away on his shoes.

“How much do you make a week, boy?” he asked me again. I knew he was laughing at me. All the time I was wondering where I had seen the man. Suddenly I knew I had seen his picture in the post office many times. He was a big swindler—one who cheated money out of others, wanted by the police in many states.

“You know,” he was saying, “it’s imagination people lack. You’ll never get anywhere as a shoeshine boy. Along with imagination, it takes courage. The courage to take a chance. When I was sixteen, I had made $2,500 of my own,” he kept talking away.

That’s when something reminded me. Was it $2,500 or $5,000 or $25,000? I wasn’t sure. I knew a big reward was offered for him.

But what could I do about it? Hit him with a can of shoe polish? A man his size could put me under his power easily.

Suddenly I saw Officer Dailey coming across street. Then, very fast, I began to tie the man’s shoelaces together. The man was watching the officer. “That’s enough, boy!” he said, “I got to be going.”

The policeman was at the window when I shouted, “Officer Dailey, help! This man is a cheat.”

“Shut up,” the man said angrily. I saw a gun in his hand. He was starting to run away when he fell on his face and knocked himself out.

There was a reward of $7,500 for the man,” the officer said. “That’s clever of you.”

“Well, it really wasn’t my idea,” I said. “It was his …

1.What did the boy do to make a living?

2.Where had the boy seen the man in black?

3.Why was the man wanted by the police in many states?

4.Was the big reward for the man $2,500, $5,000 or $25,000?

5.How did the boy stop the man running away?

6.What do you think the boy would say? Please complete the the last sentence in the passage.

“It was his _________________________________________________________________.”

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