We did homework in the kitchen while my mom cooked. Usually, I complained (抱怨) about my classmates treating me______. “She didn’t even save me a seat.” or “He______my pencil.”

One afternoon, I complained about my classmates again, my mom turned to me and said_______, “If everyone around you is being a stupid person, then it is you who is behaving like the most stupid one of all.” I was______and argued that it was the ______ of other kids. I felt so________that I didn't think I could ever forgive my mother.

But a week later, after a______day when my classmates refused to play with me, I decided to see if Mom was right in action. It was a(n)______with my own behavior.

That Monday at school, I no longer______everyone there to change their behavior to fit me.______, I tried to change myself. Properly my attitude______everything. I no longer felt like I was a victim (受害者), but a victor. I______my classmates.

Tolerance (宽容) in our own lives helps us recognize and______the imperfections in others. Now I______my mom’s words in this way, “If everyone around you is______, chances are that you are the kindest of all.”

The rangoli (印度传统地画艺术) was a giant good-luck charm. Grandma used to make one for the start of the new year. First, she would draw on the floor with chalk. Then, she would fill the drawing with uncooked _________ rice.

This year, Manju was old enough to help. He _________ paper into a cone (圆锥体) and filled it with rice. Side by side, he placed rice across the drawing together with Grandma. Sometimes his rice skittered (轻快地跑跳) outside the drawing; sometimes he used the   _________ color. And sometimes he rubbed away the _______, so Grandma had to redraw it. But _________, the bright swirls of rice were transformed into a beautiful peacock. When Manju admired the peacock, he _______ a small piece of tile(瓷砖) peeking through on Grandma’s side.

A _________? But Grandma was away to answer the telephone. Should he fix it?

“I’ll surprise Grandma!” He decided. He _________ across, trying to reach the gap. Almost. His left leg inched up. There! Suddenly, Manju began to _________. His proud smile vanished. “No!” He crashed down on to the rangoli, scattering rice ____________.

Manju rose to his feet and pushed the rice back. But the colors were __________.When Grandma came back, Manju   __________. He said, “I’m sorry. I should have waited for you.” Grandma shook her head. “You saw a __________ and tried to fix it. I’m proud of you.” They picked up the rice, __________ each grain by color.

Just before nightfall, they finished fixing the rangoli.

Grandma lit candles around the rangoli. In the flickering light, the peacock seemed __________ with mystical powers. Manju smiled. The new year felt full of good luck, thanks to Grandma and him.

All Quiet in a Darkened Library

After my mother died, my father, who was 75 at the time, began to regularly visit the local library in Epping. He loved going there _______ he enjoyed reading different kinds of books, especially reading the newspapers on Saturdays. The library had a small area, where the soft carpet, folding chairs and lap desks _______ a comfortable space for independent reading. My dad would sit there for hours. This particular wintery Saturday, at about 12 noon, after being there for two hours, my dad _______ that it was very quiet and darker than usual. He looked around, realizing that all the staff had left and he had been _______ locked in.

My dad was a “panic merchant” at the best of times, so I can only _______ what he was like when this happened. The doors had been locked from the outside and he had no way _______. He must have felt completely at a _______, since he didn’t know some _______ for handling this kind of crazy situation. My dad looked at the noticeboards to try to find a _______ phone number—a staff member or someone he could ring to help let him out—but without __________. So he rang the police station and they kindly got in touch with the head librarian.

The head librarian immediately rang my dad back at the library, and __________ that she would be soon there. She tried to __________ him and even explained how he could make a coffee if he wished. This was very nice, but my dad was in too much of a “__________” to do so.

Thankfully, the head librarian arrived __________ the hour and let my dad out. She apologized for the __________ it had caused my father and sent my father back home in person. We were very grateful, since she could easily have been __________ at having to come back to work. The next day my dad seemed to __________ from this accident. He almost forgot all about the unpleasantness, and even found his experience quite __________.

I guess the entire staff now makes extra sure that the library is __________ before they leave. What’s more, my dad has learned an important lesson by himself—never again became quite so __________ in his reading.