Goodbye, John
Dear John,
It is not easy to tell you this, but I still need to say it. I’m leaving you. Our relationship has been great, but I’m afraid it’s over.
Leaving you truly breaks my heart because you’re really a fun friend, and I am never bored when you’re around. You have inspired me to connect with others and to communicate better. I can ask you anything, and you will probably help me find the answer. You’ve introduced me to so much—new music, new games, new knowledge, new friends, and so on.
In fact, things have been completely different since you came into my life. When I wake up, you’re always there to help me go through my friends’ updates on Instagram. Because of you, I check my LINE app throughout the day. When it doesn’t show any new messages, I still refresh the screen, just in case I’ve missed something. All of this might sound romantic, but it is really difficult for me to focus on my schoolwork.
In addition, having you around is hurting my relationships with others. When my friends and I hang out, I turn to you for Instagram updates and ignore1 everyone else. My friends try to talk to me, but I am too busy paying attention to you. Then, when I’m at home, I always just play with you or respond to messages. Doing this late into the night means I seldom speak to anyone in my family!
As a result, my parents are both angry and disappointed with me.
Please don’t take any of this personally. You’re truly awesome, and I’ll miss you very much.
But right now, I really need to focus on my studies and spend more time with my family and friends. Therefore, I am turning you off for the last time, goodbye....
Best wishes, Sally
職一 NO:1
2
Yes, You Can!
During the triathlon, a man swam and pulled a disabled boy in a boat behind him. Then, the man rode a special bike and had the boy sit on the front. Finally, in the last part of the race, the man pushed the boy in a custom-made wheelchair. The crowd was amazed and deeply touched. They all cheered3 loudly when the two crossed the finish line.
This “super” team was made up of Dick and Rick Hoyt, a loving father and his only son.
Unfortunately, Rick was born with cerebral palsy. He had great difficulty moving and speaking, and there was little chance of him leading a normal life. However, Rick’s parents noticed that his eyes would always follow them as they walked around. They therefore believed that Rick was intelligent and kept homeschooling him. At the age of eleven, he started using a computer that enabled him to communicate even better with others. Finally, at the age of thirteen, Rick could go to school like other kids.
When he was fifteen, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a five-mile race.
Dick was not a runner, but he agreedto push Rick in his wheelchair. They took part in the race and finished second to last. However, Rick was very happy. “Dad, when I run,” he said, “it feels like my disability disappears!” In the following years, the father and son completed over 1,000 races together. They even ran and biked across the US!
Dick and Rick are known as “Team Hoyt.” They made a wonderful team because they really loved each other and never gave up. They also set up the Hoyt Foundation, an organization that aims to make disabled young people feel confident about themselves.
Sadly, Dick Hoyt passed away in March 2021. The father and son team will never race again, but their spirit “Yes, you can!” will live on forever.
職一 NO:2
Making the Most of Our Flaws
Once upon a time, a wise old man lived on the bank of a river with his family. This man strolled to the river every morning to collect water in two jars. However, one of the jars that the man used was old and cracked. Therefore, as the man walked along the path back to his house, water leaked out of this flawed jar and dripped onto the ground.
The old jar itself was very ashamed of this and felt awful for not doing its job properly. So, one day, when the man was fetching water as usual, the old jar decided to share its feelings and to apologize for its terrible flaws.
“Kind sir,” it said in a voice which was heavy with emotion, “I’m so sorry that I always let water leak out. To be honest, I have no idea why you keep using me.”
The man looked at the jar, smiled, and replied, “Actually, you’re doing a wonderful job. Just look at the ground, and you will see how helpful you have been!”
The jar looked down and saw many beautiful flowers and vegetables which it was dripping water on.
“I was aware of your cracks all along, my friend,” the man explained, “so I decided to scatter seeds from time to time on your side of the path. You have watered them every day for the past few months and helped them grow very nicely indeed. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to decorate my home with many fresh, sweet-smelling flowers. I’ve also been able to give my family delicious carrots and cabbages to eat. All this has only been possible because of you and your cracks.”
Just like the cracked jar, some people are good at certain things and not at others. However, if we look at our shortcomings from a different point of view, we may find that flaws can sometimes be useful, too.
職一 NO:3
4
The Heart of a Champion
The starting gun sounds in the stadium with a loud bang! The crowd watches the UK’s Derek Redmond take off, and many think he has a good chance of winning the race. Years of training and dedication have brought him to this moment: a four-hundred-meter race at the Olympics in front of a crowd of 65,000. He has his heart set on winning a gold medal. Four years ago, he was forced to miss the Olympics due to an injury, but now this is his moment. This is his time to show the world what he can do. One hundred meters. He’s hungry for success. Now he must speed up. He races ahead of the others, and the medal feels closer with every step. One hundred and fifty meters....
Suddenly, the muscles in his leg feel like they are on fire. The pain is unbearable, and he grabs his powerless limb in horror. Immediately, he realizes what has happened: his right hamstring is completely torn. All eyes in the crowd are on him, watching him collapse to the ground in pain. In spite of starting off strong, he has now lost both the race and his dream.
Within seconds, medical staff members rush to his side. But before they can reach him, Derek slowly and painfully rises to his feet. Somehow, he finds the courage to keep going. Somehow, he finds the strength to finish the race. In tears, he hops toward the finish line. He doesn’t even hear the officials trying to stop him. The whole stadium stands and cheers in support. There’s only one thing on his mind: finishing the race despite the burning pain. Nothing else matters.
As he keeps moving forward, Derek suddenly feels a familiar arm around him. Derek’s father, Jim, has run down from his seat in the stands and has made his way past the security guards and officials. No one can stop him from helping his son. With tears in his eyes he says, “You don’t have to do this, son! You’re already a champion. You’ve got nothing to prove.” “Dad, I have to finish this!” is all that Derek replies. “In that case, my boy, we’re going to finish this together!”
Arm in arm and in tears, the Redmonds struggle toward the finish line in one of the greatest moments in Olympic history. Pride, courage, and a father’s love
carry them through as 65,000 emotional spectators watch in admiration and respect. The people of the world have seen someone fall and rise again—despite the disappointment, despite the pain.
They have seen the heart of a champion.
綜高一 NO:1
My Mouth’s in Airplane Mode
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ve now reached an altitude of thirty thousand feet and will be serving breakfast soon. But I must warn you that it might taste a little different from what you’re used to.
And...you probably won’t enjoy it as much as you do on the ground. Please remember that this isn’t our fault.
Thanks, and enjoy your flight!”
Needless to say, you’ll never hear an announcement like this. However, research has shown that it’s not the airlines’ fault if in-flight food tastes a little “special.” For a start, believe it or not, your tongue doesn’t work the same up in the air. Because of the lower humidity and air pressurein the airplane cabin, your tongue is actually not as sensitive to different flavors as it usually is.
Similarly, your nose, which normally helps you distinguish between different tastes more accurately, becomes so blocked that it doesn’t function well high in the sky.
You can’t just blameyour tongue and your nose when the food on your plate doesn’t taste so great, because even your ears can affect how much you enjoy your meal. An airplane cabin can be quite a noisy place where passengers’ attention is often distracted from what they’re eating. In fact, experiments have indicated that food doesn’t taste as sweet or salty under noisy conditions as it does in a quieter environment. Your cuisine in the clouds, therefore, might taste quite bland because of the noise of the airplane engines.
Of course, airlines have realized how our organs are affected during a flight and have come up with different solutions to the problem. Firstly, they usually add more flavoring to the dishes that are served during flights to make them tastier. They’ve also introduced more savory ingredients to their in-flight recipes, such as tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach, because of their rich flavor. In comparison with other foods, these remain yummy, regardless of the height of your tummy! In addition, some airlines like British Airways have even tried providing passengers with nasal sprays before meals. These sprays, the airlines say, can help clear passengers’ stuffy, dry noses and therefore improve their high-altitude dining experience.
“We will soon be landing, ladies and gentlemen. Hope you’ve had a pleasant flight and enjoyed your in-flight meals. We look forward to serving you again soon. Safe travels!”
綜高一 NO:2
6
Mammon and the Archer
Old Anthony Rockwall was a successful millionaire who believed money could solve any problem. Therefore, when he noticed that his son, Richard, had been quite upset lately, he assured him that money could be the solution to all his troubles. Richard, however, disagreed. “There are some things that money can’t accomplish,” he replied. “Tell me something money won’t buy,”
Anthony challenged.
Richard told his father that money couldn’t buy time. As Richard explained, he was
desperately in love with Miss Lantry but had had no chance to express his feelings. The reason was that Miss Lantry was a popular socialite and every moment of hers was filled with engagements.
Furthermore, she was going to depart for Europe in two days and would stay there for two years.
The only time Richard and she could be alone was a few minutes the next evening, when the two would take a cab together to the theater—hardly enough time for him to declare his love.
That night, Anthony talked about the matter with his sister, Ellen. She didn’t believe money was the answer, either. The next day, Aunt Ellen gave Richard a ring which had belonged to Richard’s deceased mother. “Good luck in love she said it brought,” Aunt Ellen told him. Richard put the ring in his vest pocket and went to meet Miss Lantry.
As Richard and Miss Lantry were on their way to the theater, Richard accidentally dropped the ring. He got out of the cab to look for it, and when he returned with the ring, a car stopped right in front of them. The cab driver tried to pass the car but was cut off by a wagon. Soon, the cab got stuck in a traffic jam. As they waited for the road to clear, Miss Lantry was curious about the ring and asked if she could see it....
Later that evening, Aunt Ellen informed Anthony that Richard and Miss Lantry were engaged.
She described the traffic jam and how it had given Richard the time to propose to Miss Lantry. She announced that it was the ring, a symbol of love, that had brought the pair together. Anthony did not argue with her. He just said that he was glad to see the boy get what he wanted.
The next day, a man showed up at Anthony’s house to report how much money he had paid drivers and policemen to create the traffic jam. The millionaire gave the man a check and jokingly asked if he had seen a naked fat boy shooting arrows at the scene of the traffic jam. “No,” said the man, confused. Anthony laughed, satisfied with himself for having proven that money could buy time. However, was it money or the ring that brought love?
綜高一 NO:3
