Each of us fails from time to time. If we are wise, we accept these failures as a 21 part of the learning process. But all too often 22 parents and teachers we disallow this same right to our children.
When I see a child 23 from this kind of pressure, I think of Donnie.
Donnie was my youngest third-grader. His 24 of failure kept him from classroom games that other children enjoyed. He 25 answered questions--- he was afraid he might be wrong. I tried my best to build his 26 . But nothing changed until midterm, when Mary Anne, a student teacher, was assigned to our classroom. She was young and pretty, and she loved children. My pupils, Donnie included, all 27 her very much.
One morning, we were working on maths problems at the chalk-board. Donnie had 28 the problems with pains-taking tidiness. Pleased with his progress, I 29 the children with Mary Anne and went for art materials. When I returned, Donnie was in 30 . He’d missed the third problem.
My student teacher looked at me in despair. Suddenly her face 31 . From the desk we shared, she got a container filled with pencils.
“Look, Donnie,” she said, kneeling beside him and gently 32 the tear-stained(弄脏的) face from his arms. “ I’ve got something to 33 you.” She removed the pencils, one at a time, and placed them on his desk.
“See these 34 , Donnie,” she continued. “ They belong to Mrs. Lindstorm and me. See how the erasers are 35 . That’s because we make mistakes too. But, we erase the mistakes and try again. That’s what you 36 learn to do, too.
She kissed him and stood up. “Here,” she said, “I’ll leave one of these pencils on 37 desk so you’ll remember that everyone makes mistakes, 38 teachers.” Donnie looked up with love in his eyes and a smile.
The 39 became Donnie’s prized possession. That, together with Mary Anne’s frequent encouragement, gradually 40 him that it’s all right to make mistakes--- as long as you erase them and try again.
21. A. small | B. basic | C. necessary | D. large |
22. A. for | B. as | C. to | D. with |
23. A. come | B. take | C. fall | D. suffer |
24. A. fear | B. lesson | C. chance | D. sense |
25. A. always | B. often | C. once | D. seldom |
26. A. self-protection | B. self-improvement | C. self-confidence | D. self-learning |
27. A. respected | B. disliked | C. avoided | D. minded |
28. A. written down | B. worked out | C. gone over | D. gave in |
29. A. left | B. offered | C. missed | D. parted |
30. A. surprise | B. astonishment | C. anger | D. tears |
31. A. darkened | B. brightened | C. pulled | D. loosened |
32. A. pushing | B. picking | C. holding | D. lifting |
33. A. help | B. show | C. reward | D. promise |
34. A. pencils | B. mistakes | C. marks | D. containers |
35. A. used | B. built | C. worn | D. damaged |
36. A. may | B. must | C. dare | D. can |
37. A. my | B. someone’s | C. the teacher’s | D. your |
38. A. still | B. also | C. even | D. not |
39. A. pencil | B. words | C. mistake | D. desk |
40. A. warned | B. informed | C. persuaded | D. reminded |