21世纪大学英语课文5b.pdfVIP

先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。——范仲淹

21世纪大学英语课文5b

EasyWaystoAvoidanArgument

SamHorn

1】Myfive-year-oldsonandIstoppedatourlocalice-cream

storetogetdessertforhisbirthday

party.Theplacewascrowdedwithpeople.Ahigh-schoolgirl

wasalonebehindthecounter.Though

workingasfastasshecould,sheseemedtobefallingfurther

andfurtherbehind.

2】Atlastshecalledournumber,andIaskedforthreequarts

ofchocolateice-cream.“Three

quarts!”shesaid.“Doyouknowhowharditistoscoop

threequarts?”

3】Iwastemptedtoletloosewith“Well,excuseme!I

thoughtthiswasanice-creamstore!”InsteadI

heldmytongueandaskedmyselfaquestionIoftenraise

whenI’monthebrinkofanargument:

Whywouldshesaysomethinglikethat?Realizingthenhow

overwhelmedshemusthavefelt,I

asked,“Hasitbeenoneofthosedays?”

4】Herhostilitymelted.“It’sbeennonstopsincethis

morning.I’mallalone,andIwassupposedto

getoffatoneo’lock,but...”Shecontinuedtounburden

herselfasshepackedourice-cream.When

weleft,shegaveusabigsmileandafriendlywave.

5】It’snaturaltotakeoffenseifsomeoneisrude.Youmay

think:Whatajerk!Butblurtingouthow

youfeelwillonlymakemattersworse.Dealingwithdifficult

peopleisapartofeverydaylife,and

先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐。——范仲淹

therearewaysyoucanstandupforyourselfwithoutstarting

anargument.Icallthese