Due to the bad weather, the flight 1 made me trapped at the O Hare Intermational Airport. In order to kill time, I 2 up and down the terminal for some exercise. When I passeda coffee bar ,a piece of music 3 into my ears. Following the music, I went into the bar and 4 to find an empty table. Most seats were 5 by people who were attracted by the beautiful music. A young woman was playing the piano 6 .I could only describe it as beautiful classical music. Being exposed to the wonderful music, I totally 7 the annoying wait.

Soon, on a break,I thanked her and she told me that she just wanted to make the wait less 8 .When I sat alone, two women 9 an invitation to let me join them. We had a long chat, sharing our 10 about music, travels and life. Hearing that 11 music, and then meeting such interesting people, who generously shared their wisdom with me, were truly joyous.

These moments were 12 for me. They made me begin to 13 the positive influence of strangers. Over the years, I have met many interesting people who have different occupations 14 .Most of them tend to enjoy life more and are more willing to 15 with people around. Life is not a competition and reaching destinations shouldn't be the only goal.

It was the end of the school day, and I was tired. I grabbed a pile of about 130 exam papers to1 on the train ride home. I'd bring them back the next morning.

My principal (校长) pushed her head into my classroom and said, "Friendly2 ! You need to make sure your word wall is3 by tomorrow morning." She then moved on to the next classroom to4 the message. I sighed and thought, "Are you making a(n)5 ? What a waste of my time!"

My principal was6 about making our school beautiful, while my goal was to get my students to pass the Algebra Regents Exam. She wanted every classroom to have a word wall, where student's works on creative projects would be7 . She brought in beautiful planters (花盆) that8 the hallways with greenery. However, I assume that school and classroom9 aren't important when it comes to learning. To me, spending time and money making our school and classrooms beautiful was just a distraction (使人分心的事). Those things don't10 my students with math.

However, after three years of teaching, I went to graduate school in part to study how resources 11 teachers and students. What my research found 12 me: When teachers 13 their classroom environment resources, their students did better on standardized tests. My principal was 14 . She was creating more than just a beautiful 15 —she was building a welcoming and positive environment for students to learn and teachers to work.

A children's choir (合唱团) from the snowy highlands of Tibet recently1 their beautiful singing to the capital, Beijing.

The Qomolangma Children's Choir was2 in 2020. They recently paid a week-long trip to Beijing to3 their music skills and show their4 to national audiences.

When journalists met the choir on Saturday, the children were 5 the recording of a music program at CCTV in Beijing. Before 6 the program, they received professional 7 from teachers at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM). 8 , they also visited scenic 9 in Beijing such as the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City and so on. Tenzin Dunyu, a 10-year-old member of the choir, told the journalists that he has been playing the zhanian for five years. The zhanian, a beautiful 10 , is widely used in songs and dances  in Tibet. For him, coming to Beijing and 11 in Tiananmen Square was both a nervous and 12 experience, marking his first journey outside Lhasa. Another 10-year-old member, Tsering Lhamo, has been singing for a year. Her trip to Beijing 13 her horizons, and when it came to what 14 her most, she said she 15 enjoyed the cheerful songs of the choir performed at CCTV. 

Geng Muyao was the choir's16 from CCOM to help the children with training. She17 that the choir was set up by the Tibetan government and18 by CCOM. "Many members were19 of vocal (声 乐的) training due to poor condition, so this choir experience means a lot to them. "she said.

Including children from all over Tibet, the choir primarily shows Tibetan folk culture. Though the members are 20 , the choir has performed at important events, achieving amazing success in a short time.

I was shocked when my socially awkward sister, who had suffered from Asperger Syndrome (阿斯伯格综合症), decided to sing in front of the school. I knew she would1 me in some way, so I protested. However, my parents insisted that she2 and I would have to be part of the audience. I silently hoped that something would happen to 3 me from watching her losing face. 

As I waited in the hall, sweat4 my forehead. I comforted myself that no one knew she was my sister and tried to persuade myself that it would be 5 . The lights darkened and the 6 opened to reveal (使露面) my sister standing alone on stage. She seemed 7 , taking a minute to stammer (结结巴巴地说) her name and class. 8 began to be heard in the audience. 

I shifted nervously in my seat, afraid what was about to happen. But as my sister started to sing, I was 9 . Her voice flowed effortlessly and melodiously, filling the hall with its10 . I watched in wonder, realizing I had never known she could sing so 11 . I listened carefully to the lyric ( 歌词) she had written herself, feeling ashamed for doubting her 12 . My heart gave way as I heard the heartfelt words. 

In that moment, guilt and shame flooded my heart. 13 my unwillingness to support her, she had never taken anything that I had done to her to heart. It was then that I determined to love her 14 . It was as if a veil (面纱) had been 15 from my eyes, and my heart was full. 

____ our climate.

Table Talk

As we got out of the car, our son announced, "Phones stay in the car."

"Why do you always have to tell us that?" complained our fifteen-year-old grandson.

Our son's wife winked at us and then explained, "We have a family1 that no one may bring anything electronic to the table."

We 2 our phones in the car. Even though the restaurant was filled with families, there was little noise. All I heard were a few quiet conversations and the ding of forks on plates. The 3 unnerved me. I looked around. Everyone, even the young kids, was 4 at some kind of screen. 

The silence was broken when the six of us sat down, and started talking. The waitress stood patiently and waited for our orders. When our food came, we continued to chat. 

An elderly couple at the next table were finishing their dinners and conversing quietly. I noticed that they shot us a few glances, and wondered if our constant chatter was annoying them. 

After the dessert, my son signaled the waitress for the check. She hesitated when she brought the black folder to our table. My son opened the black folder — it was5 . "You forgot the check," he told her.

"There isn't one. Someone else6 your bill — and the tip too." she said with a giggle (咯咯笑).

"Why?" asked our son, his wife and myself at once.

"They loved it that no one was connected." she continued. "They loved watching you guys7 . The old lady went on and on about how nice it was to see a family eating and talking instead of looking at ‘electric games'."

For a moment, everyone at our table was at a loss for8 . Then we all started talking at once. My son's voice rose above the others. "Where are they? We want to thank them."

"They left after you ordered dessert," the waitress replied.

We spent the next fifteen minutes discussing this goodness and camp up with a 9 . Next time we see a family eating at a restaurant 10 looking at anything electronic, we'll pay it forward, just like what happened to us.

Every August, teams with players about 10 years old play baseball across the US, with the aim to become Little League1 . In this year's game, Isaiah Jarvis, a Little League batter (击球手),2 the pitcher (投球手), Kaiden Shelton, who threw a baseball that hit him in the head. The3 scene brought tears to the eyes of the crowd in the stadium.

On August 7^th, Kaiden Shelton, from Texas, 4 Isaiah Jarvis, from Oklahoma, at the plate. With two strikes against Isaiah, Kaiden 5 lost control of his pitch. The ball hit Isaiah in his helmet, sending him to the ground. The field staff immediately 6 him and found him to be OK. He decided to remain in the 7 . Yet Kaiden, the pitcher, appeared to be 8 .

Isaiah called a timeout upon seeing his9 battling emotions. He calmly walked toward Kaiden and gave him a big hug, trying to10 him. "Hey, you're doing just great." Kaiden later shared with NBC News. "These11 words from him really helped me."

A video of the moment was posted online and attracted more than 6.5 million views. Danny Graves, a sports announcer, said Isaiah's12 was the best thing he had ever seen in Little League baseball.

The Texas team won the game 9-4 to 13 to the Little League World Series. And Isaiah was also 14 to the game to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The pair told NBC News they think their newfound 15 will last beyond any tournament.