ThePowerofaNoteOnmyfirstjobassportseditorfortheMontpelier(Ohio)LeaderEnterprise,Ididn'tgetalotoffanmail,(16)___aletterthatwasdroppedonmydeskonemorningseemed(17)___tome.WhenIopenedit,Iread:
ThePowerofaNote
OnmyfirstjobassportseditorfortheMontpelier(Ohio) LeaderEnterprise,Ididn'tgetalotoffanmail,(16)___aletterthatwasdroppedonmydeskonemorningseemed (17)___tome.
WhenIopenedit,Iread:"AnicepieceofwritingontheTigers.Please (18)___thegoodwork."Itwas (19)___ byDonWolfe,thesportseditor.BecauseIwasateenager (beingpaidfor15centsacolumninch ),hiswordscouldn'thavebeenmore (20)___.Ikepttheletterinmydeskdrawer (21)___itgotrag-eared.WheneverI (22)___whetherIhadtheabilitytobeawriter,IwouldrereadDon'snoteandfeel (23)___again.
Later,whenIgottoknowhim,IlearnedthatDonmadea (24)___ofwritingaquick,encouragingwordtopeoplein (25)___."WhenImadeothersfeelgoodabout (26)___,"hetoldme,"Ifeelgoodtoo."
Not(27)___,hehadabodyoffriendsasbigasnearbyLakeErie.Whenhediedlastyearat75,thepaperwas (28)___withcallsandlettersfrompeoplewhohadbeenrecipientsofhis(29)___words.
(30)___theyears,I'vetriedtocopytheexampleofDonandotherfriends (31)___careenoughtowriteupliftingcomments,becauseIthinktheyareontosomethingimportant.Inaworldtoooftencoldandunresponsive,such (32)___bringwarmthandreassurance.Weallneedapushfromtimetotime,andafewlinesof (33)___havebeenknowntoturnaroundaday,evenalife.
Be (34)___withyourpraise.Superlativeslike"greatest""smartest""prettiest"makeusallfeelgood.Evenifyourpraiseisalittleaheadofreality,rememberthatexpectationsareoftenthe(35)___ofdreamsfulfilled.
16.A.so B.because C.for D.since
17.A.interesting B.strange C.joyful D.important
18.A.takeup B.pickup C.bringup D.keepup
19.A.played B.passed C.signed D.tested
20.A.inspiring B.moving C.disappointing D.depressing
21.A.if B.until C.as D.while
22.A.felt B.thought C.wonder