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