My sister and I grew up in a little village in England. Our father was a struggling 21 , but I always knew he was 22 . He never criticized us, but used 23 to bring out our
best. He'd say, “If you pour water on flowers, they flourish. If you don't give them water,
they die.” I 24 as a child I said something 25 about somebody, and my father said,“ 26 time you say something unpleasant about somebody else, it's a reflection of you.”
He explained that if I looked for the best 27 people, I would get the best 28 . From
then on I've always tried to 29 the principle in my life and later in running my company.
Dad's also always been very 30 . At 15, I started a magazine. It was 31 a
great deal of my time, and the headmaster of my school gave me a 32 : stay in school or leave to work on my magazine.
I decided to leave, and Dad tried to sway me from my decision, 33 any good father would. When he realized I had made up my mind, he said, “Richard, when I was 23, my dad 34 me to go into law. And I've 35 regretted it. I wanted to be a biologist, 36 I didn't pursue my 37 You
know what you want. Go fulfill it. ”
As 38 turned out, my little publication went on to become Student, a national 39
for young people in the U. K.My wife and I have two children, and I'd like to think we are bringing them up in the same way Dad 40 me.
(21)A.lawyer B.gardener C.biologist D.manager
(22)A.honest B.special C.learned D.strict
(23)A.courage B.power C.warmth D.praise
(24)A.remember B.guess C.think D.imagine
(25)A.unkind B.unnecessary C.unimportant D.unusual
(26)A.Some B.Any C.Other D.Another
(27)A.at B.about C.on D.in
(28)A.by turns B.by chance C.in return D.in case
(29)A.review B.follow C.revise D.set
(30)A.understanding B.experienced C.serious D.demanding
(31)A.making up B.picking up C.keeping up D.taking up
(32)A.decision B.notice C.choice D.suggestion
(33)A.as B.even if C.as if D.and
(34)A.allowed B.persuaded C.suggested D.helped
(35) A.seldom B.almost C.always D.never
(36)A.but B.for C.therefore D.rather
(37)A.task B.belief C.dream D.promise
(38)A.it B.that C.this D.he
(39)A.program B.project C.newspaper D.magazine
(40)A.controlled B.comforted C.reminded D.raised