It was a beautiful Southern California morning with a blue sky, a cool breeze and warm sunlight. I walked through the parking lot of the shopping centre, thinking of my appointment with the cake at the local bakery. As I wandered in front of the grocery store next to the bakeshop, I noticed a young woman standing at the store entrance with bags of groceries neatly piled. As is my practice with strangers, I made eye contact with her and said with a smile, “Hello, there! And how are you today?”
She smiled back and responded with a Southern accent. I had only taken a few steps past her when I heard her say, “Thank you for seeing me!”
Still smiling, I turned around and walked over to her. For the next twenty minutes, I listened attentively to Dominique sharing her story. She had grown up in Louisiana. Three years ago, she moved to California alone, where without contacts or the promise of employment, she struggled to create a life of purpose and fulfillment. She spoke with an easy Southern charm and a smile with joy.
A friend of hers came to pick her up. I helped her load the groceries into the back seat of the car. She thanked me and opened the front passenger-side door. "My daddy used to say that a person will remember how you made them feel long after they've forgotten what you said. I know I'll remember this for a long time.” I smiled, knowing I would as well.
One of my favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa: “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” I have found that the benefit of doing these small things not only helps me maintain a positive outlook on life but may even sow a few seeds of hope for someone else.
【小题1】What made the author come back to the woman?| A．Her big smile. | B．Her kind words. |
| C．Her funny accent. | D．Her good appearance. |
| A．She used to dislike contacting others. |
| B．She is living a boring and lonely life now. |
| C．Her life in the past three years may be tough. |
| D．She often forgets what her friends have said. |
| A．Generous and caring. | B．Independent and friendly. |
| C．Ambitious and humorous. | D．Aggressive and demanding. |
| A．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| B．The more you sweat，the luckier you get. |
| C．Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. |
| D．It doesn't take much to brighten others' life. |
