Last week, I had a wisdom tooth (智齿) pulled, leaving me swollen and unable to speak. It was very strange spending a few days in this _______ but judging from other people’s responses, not as strange as it was for them.

I thought my husband would be the first to feel upset. I tried to imagine how _______ it must be to have half of the house go silent. _______, when I found him in the kitchen at midnight, cooking potatoes for my _______ and singing “your lovely swollen face” to the tune of My Humps, I was surprised but also _______.

Later, I went to my local shop. It still _______ when I moved my face, so when I _______ a friend, I couldn’t say anything. The friend wanted my _______ on a Twitter disagreement. I didn’t seem bothered and it felt good to remember that.

Soon after, I visited my mom, who chatted away normally. She didn’t even _______ my silence, making me certainly believe that my family role is part ________, part listener.

People say ________ is golden and that sometimes it is wise to say nothing and to let people reveal themselves. Perhaps that is the ________ of the wisdom tooth. Maybe when they arrive with pain, forcing us — even just for a while — to move our ________ a little less, they give a lesson for living well: Listen, ________ and try being quiet now and then. Then maybe adulthood won’t be quite like ________ teeth.

In a house with more than one kid, there are bound to be some problems. There are natural ______ for conflicts between brothers and sisters. Your brother or sister may borrow stuff, and don't always ______ it. You might think mum or dad ______ your brother or sister more. These are typical problems found throughout the ______, everywhere in the world.

When brothers and sisters don't ______, they argue and fight. It's normal, but too much competition can make for a（an）______ home life. A little competition can be of ______ .Sometimes it can keep you working ______-like when you and your brother spend time shooting. If he's good at it, it may make you want to ______,   too. But some conflicts ______ arguing, like when you think your brother is ______ more attention from your parents. People who love each other might ______ sometimes but too much fighting is disagreeable for everyone.

Sometimes brothers and sisters are jealous of one another. For instance, if your sister always does well at school, it may be ______ for you, especially if your ______ are lower. Although you're probably ______ of your brother or sister, it's normal to be a little jealous, too. It may make you feel better to ______ more on doing your own personal beat, rather than comparing yourself with a brother or sister.

You can choose your ______ but you can't choose your relatives. Learn to ______ with brothers and sisters and accept each other's _____. As you grow up, your friends might ______, but your family is your family forever.

An American businessman who travelled in southern Mexico met with one young Mexican fisherman rowing a small boat at the dock (码头).

Inside the boat were several large_______. Enjoying the warmth of the sun, the American_______the Mexican for the quality of his fish. He thought they must bring the Mexican lots of money.

“How long did it take you to_______ them?” the American asked.

“Oh, a few hours,” the Mexican fisherman________.

“Why don’t you________ longer and catch more fish?” the businessman then asked.

The Mexican answered, “With these fish I have more than enough to________ my family.”

The businessman then became _______, “But what do you do with the rest of your  ________?”

With a smile, the fisherman answered, “I_______ with my children, watch ballgames, see my friends, sing songs ...”

The American businessman cut in, “Look, I have an MBA, and I can help you _______more money. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the______fish you catch. With the money, you can buy a bigger boat, then a third one, and so on, ________ you have an entire fleet (船队) of fishing boats. You could leave your village and move to a big city, where you could even further_____your business. Finally, you’ll be able to set up your company and become very______. What do you think?”

Having never______such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, “Really?________would I do with it all?”

The businessman said proudly, “Then you could______retire (退休) with all the money. You could_______ to your peaceful fishing village where you could play with your grandchildren, and watch ballgames. And you could _______ your friends often and sing with them.”

The story tells us: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much_______ than you think.