Twenty-five years ago, we were on a family vacation, driving to see family in New York State. Mom and Dad, probably looking for ways to keep their two young kids busy, borrowed a sign about fifteen inches long and three inches high. On one side of the sign was painted “Smile” and on the other side “Thanks”. The sign got a lot of use on the trip. One of us would hold up the sign, so a car behind us could read “Smile”. If they did, we turned the sign over and they got the reward of “Thanks”.

The smile lesson is important, but no more so than the other side, the thanks! Playing this driving game was one of the many ways my parents taught me the importance and value of gratitude, most easily expressed with a simple thank you.

The story goes that a farmer took some of his corn to the State Fair and won the blue ribbon, for the best corn. A reporter asked him what he was going to do with the prized ears of grain he was holding. He said that he would share the seed with his neighbors. The reporter was surprised and asked, “Why would you want to do that?” The farmer calmly answered: “Don’t you know? The wind picks up pollen (花粉) from the ripening corn and blows it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily worsen the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

So it is with smiling. You are the wind. You can produce smiling faces by spreading your pollen. The cost to you is slight, but the fruits of your pollen will be felt all around.

【小题1】What is the purpose of the author’s family trip 25 years ago?

A．To influence others in a fun way.	B．To play a driving game together.
C．To drive to another city to visit family.	D．To go on a family vacation on the road.

【小题2】Why did the author’s parents make them hold up the sign?

A．To keep them fit.	B．To teach them a lesson.
C．To gain people’s gratitude.	D．To make other drivers laugh.

【小题3】The author tells the story of the farmer to show ________.

A．the importance of passing kindness	B．the necessity to keep good relationship
C．the significance of expressing gratitude	D．the pleasure of sharing with other people

【小题4】What is compared to “the fruits of your pollen” in the last paragraph?

A．The influence of smiles.	B．The work you are doing.
C．The reason for your smiles.	D．The people you smile at.