关于手机键盘字母的设计

关于手机键盘字母的设计 手机键盘中字母排列方式的设计 北京市八一中学 高二(1)班 杨子申 指导教师 邵文武 摘要: 在人们开始依赖于用手机短信交流信息的今天，用手机打字的速度，也越来越受到人们的关注，因此，一个适宜的手机键盘，也就变得越来越重要。通过研究 表 关于同志近三年现实表现材料材料类招标技术评分表图表与交易pdf视力表打印pdf用图表说话 pdf 明，我们可以通过改变字母之间的位置，来提高人们用手机打字的速度。 关键词:手机键盘、等待时间。 一、问题的提出 在科技水平高度发达的今天，手机已经成为当今人们必不可少的通讯工具之一。而对于手机的使用，人们已经不限于只是简简单单的通话，越来越多的人们，开始依赖于用手机短信聊天，手机短信也逐渐成为人们生活中必不可少的一部分。 既然当今的人们如此依赖于手机短信，那么用手机打字的速度，也越来越受到人们的关注，因此，一个适宜的手机键盘，也就变得越来越重要。 当今，纵观各式各样的手机，无论外形多么华丽，功能多么齐全，而键盘上的顺序基本都是一样的，没有什么太大的差异。现阶段手机键盘上的字母顺序大体是这样的;数字1键上没有任何字母(为了中文输入时方便确认，相当于电脑键盘上的Enter键)，数字2键上同时依次设有字母a、b、c，数字3键上设有字母d、e、f，以此类推，数字4、5、„„、9键上分别设有字母g、h、i，j、k、l，m、n、o，p、q、r、s，t、u、v，w、x、y、z。而只是这样单纯地按照字母的顺序来排列，势必会影响手机打字的速度，给人们的生活带来不便。 像上面所叙述的，既然现今的手机键盘存在着如此之多不尽人意的弊端，那么能否通过改变字母之间的放置的位置，来提高人们用手机打字的速度呢, 注: ? 在拼写单词时，由于相邻的两个字母处于手机键盘的同一个按键上，而在输入该两 字母之间，必须等待一定的时间。 二、建立数学模型 由于手机键盘相对于电脑键盘来说是很小的，空间极为有限。并且对于大多数人，在手机上打字时，也往往仅用一个或是两个大拇指。因此，在此我们暂且认为，手机上的各个按键，被手指所按击的难易程度相等。 对于中文的打字，不同的人可能习惯于不同的打字方式。有的人对拼音比较熟悉，他就可能比较喜欢选用拼音录入的方式;有的人比较擅长笔画顺序，它就可能选用笔顺的录入方式;另外的一些人还可能对拼音不太熟悉，写字时又经常习惯倒插笔，那么他就可能比较适合于笔画数的录入方式„„总之，对于不同的人群，在手机上录入汉字的方式，可能各不相同。因此，在这里我们针对的是英语的录入。 现在手机的小巧，虽然方便了人们的携带和保存，但这也必然会产生它的弊端——小巧袖珍的键盘，这直接导致了手机上按键数目的缺少。为解决字母输入的问题，人们只能将若干个字母排列在一个按键上。由于英语是一种用单个字母依次排列，组成单词，再将多个单词排列，从而组成句子的语言。因此对于英语的录入，我们只能依次输入每一个单词中的每 1 个字母。但是，多个字母排列在一个按键上，虽然聪明的前人想到了可以通过延迟和多次敲击同一个按键的录入方法，来解决手机按键紧张的问题，但这也一定程度上影响了手机打字的速度。 按照一般的手机，排列字母的按键一般只有2-9，共有八个数字键，而英文字母却共有26个(不区分大小写)，又26/8=3„„2，所以平均每个字母按键上有3个字母(包括有2个按键上有四个字母)。按照现在手机使用的习惯，在设计新键盘时，还保留现在手机键盘中各相应按键上字母的个数，按照3、3、3、3、3、4、3、4的顺序，依次排列。(即数字2、3、4、5、6、8六个上各排有3个字母，位于两下角的数字键7和9上，排有4个字母。) 所以，在设计新的手机键盘时，考虑到手机按键的紧张，尽可能的充分的利用上述八个按键。通过统计，并进行简单的计算(计算时数据量比较大时，采用电脑编程的辅助手段帮助完成)，尽量使等待时间达到最短，从而使使用者在对键盘的熟悉度相同的情况下，进一步提高打字的速度，这样就设计出适合英文打字的键盘。 注: ? 单次等待时间:在拼写单词时，由于相邻的两个字母在手机的同一个按键上，而在 输入该两字母时间，必须等待一定的时间。 ? 等待时间:在输入一段内容时，必须等待的时间总和。 三、具体设计过程 (1)选取英文材料，作为统计中的资料来源 通过多种途径，尽可能的从多方面，寻找涉及范围广的，与日常生活密切相关的英 文材料，从中筛选出了一些对话和文章(见附录)，作为统计中的资料来源; (2)整理资料，并初步统计 将(1)中所找到的资料做适当剪辑，并将之整理、汇总，初步统计每个英语字母 在其中出现的频数，并将统计好的数据，按26个字母按出现频数多少进行排序。 资料中单个字母出现频数表 字母 频数 字母 频数 字母 频数 字母 频数 字母 频数 e 4799 n 2411 m 988 p 572 j 72 t 3435 s 2274 w 980 b 525 x 50 o 3049 r 2026 y 938 k 372 q 44 a 2864 l 1669 c 826 v 368 z 16 i 2627 d 1569 g 809 h 2474 u 1132 f 785 注: ? 在上表中统计的数据虽均为出现频数，但由于此处的频率与频数成正比。所以，为 了叙述方便和表述明确，以下均使用频率这个概念。(为简化计算，使用频数的数值。) (3)等待时间最短的理想模型 由于手机键盘中八个按键上字母分别有3、3、3、3、3、4、3、4个，因此将英语 中全部的26个字母编为八组(除两组有四个字母数外，其余每组均有三个字母)。为 使等待时间最短，设计下列关于总等待时间y的函数。 将26个英语字母按上述要求任意编为八组，按照资料中统计的数据，将每组中(即 2 每个按键上)的任意两个字母进行排列，根据统计时的频率(此处为简化计算，使用频数的数值，下同)，计算出该组的组等待时间T。(T=组内任意两字母排列频率的总和×单次等待时间t)再将该分组中，每组的组等待时间T相加，便得到总等待时间y，即y= T+T+„„+T。 128 如:按照现在手机键盘的分组，总等待时间y的计算方法如下。先计算第一组(即数字键为2的字母组)的组等待时间T。将第一组中的三个字母a、b、c，按照任意1 顺序排列(ab、ba、ac、ca、bc、cb，共六组)，分别统计上述六种情况出现的频率，并将这六种情况出现的频率相加，再乘上单次等待时间t，便得到第一组的组等待时间T。按照上述方法，分别计算出其余七组的组等待时间T，T，„„，T。最后，1238将T，T，„„，T相加，便得到该分组时的总等待时间y。 128 计算出所有分组情况下的总等待时间y，比较各种分组中总等待时间y的大小，选出其中y最小时的分组。那么，该分组情况，即为资料中所表现出的，该形式手机键盘的，等待时间最短的分组，即为最佳分组。 注: ? 组等待时间:26个英语字母编为的八组中，每组组内的等待时间之和。 ? 总等待时间:26个英语字母编为的八组，总共的等待时间之和。 (4)理想模型的局限 经过简单的计算，不久便发现，要实现这个理想模型，存在着许多问题。 下面，我们对分组情况进行简单的统计。分组要求:将26个字母任意编为八组，每组分别有3、3、3、3、3、4、3、4个字母。这个要求看似很简单，可实际计算时，数字却十分惊人。 首先，我们先选择第一组的3个字母。因为一共有26个英语字母，从中不计顺序的选择3个，共有C(26，3)种可能性。再选择第二组的3个字母时，由于第一组已经选出了3个字母，从剩余的23个字母中，再不记顺序的选择3个，共有C(23，3)种可能性。同理，选出剩余四个含有3个字母的组，依次有C(20，3)，C(17，3)，C(14，3)，C(11，3)种可能性。根据乘法原理，上述六组共有C(26，3)×C(23，3)×C(20，3)×C(17，3)×C(14，3)×C(11，3)(记为n)种选法(考虑顺序)。又由于以上六组不分先后，所以，上述六组共有n/6～种选法。同理，剩余两组含有4个字母的组共有C(8，4)×C(4，4)/2～种选法。综上所述，按照分组要求， 16将26个字母任意编为八组，共有n/6～×C(8，4)×C(4，4)/2～=1.04214×10种选法。 由此可见，对于如此庞大的计算量，很难进行后续工作。 ? C(n，m)组合n个中取m个 (5)调整后的模型 通过上面的叙述，不难发现，在实际操作中，这种虽然可以使等待时间最短的理想模型，实在是难以实现。 因此，在实际操作时，采用以下的方法，对理想模型进行改善。 ?.统计上述资料中，单个字母出现频率，并进行排序，从中选出排在前八位的字母，把它们作为手机键盘八个按键中的首个字母。 3 E t o a I h n s ?.除去上述排在前八位的字母，剩余字母中，选出单个字母出现频率最高的字母(即在全部的26个字母中，单个字母出现频率排在第九位的字母)，让该字母依次与上述八个按键中的首个字母(即单个字母出现频率排在前八位的字母)相交。比较相交的结果，从中找出所有相交的数值最小的。然后，将该字母放于与之相交所得数值最小字母的按键上，并排列在按键中的首字母之后，作为此按键的第二个字母。 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 re 483 er 567 re|er 1050 rt 88 tr 66 rt|tr 154 ro 195 or 271 ro|or 466 ra 98 ar 237 ra|ar 335 ri 153 ir 104 ri|ir 257 rh 3 hr 24 rh|hr 27 rn 45 nr 1 rn|nr 46 rs 102 sr 0 rs|sr 102 e t o a i hr n s ?.再从剩余字母中，选出单个字母出现频率最高的字母，让该字母依次与上述剩余七个按键中的首个字母相交，从中找出相交的数值最小的，将该字母放于所交字母之后。并且在所有按键的第k个字母排列完之前，不在任何键上排列第(k+1)个字母。按照上述方法依次排列所有按键的第二个字母。 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 le 220 el 160 le|el 380 lt 21 tl 36 lt|tl 57 lo 110 ol 93 lo|ol 203 la 107 al 200 la|al 307 li 160 il 173 li|il 333 ln 0 nl 12 ln|nl 12 ls 36 sl 12 ls|sl 48 ey td oc aw iu hr nl sm ?.再从剩余字母中，选出单个字母出现频率最高的字母，让该字母依次与每一个按键上的每一个字母相交。分别统计该字母与每个按键上的字母相交之和，比较它们和的大小，从中选出所交和最小的，并将该字母放于该按键所有字母之后。同理，排列好每个按键上的三个字母。 4 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 ge 73 eg 37 ge|eg 110 gt 0 tg 0 gt|tg 0 go 81 og 17 go|og 98 ga 49 ag 57 ga|ag 106 gi 40 ig 84 gi|ig 124 gh 93 hg 0 gh|hg 93 gn 14 ng 300 gn|ng 314 gs 8 sg 1 gs|sg 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- gy 1 yg 0 gy|yg 1 gd 0 dg 4 gd|dg 4 gc 0 cg 0 gc|cg 0 gw 0 wg 0 gw|wg 0 gu 29 ug 40 gu|ug 69 gr 72 rg 11 gr|rg 83 gl 16 lg 1 gl|lg 17 gm 0 mg 0 gm|mg 0 字母组合 频率和 字母组合 频率和 频率总和 ge|eg 110 gy|yg 1 111 gt|tg 0 gd|dg 4 4 go|og 98 gc|cg 0 98 ga|ag 106 gw|wg 0 106 gi|ig 124 gu|ug 69 193 gh|hg 93 gr|rg 83 176 gn|ng 314 gl|lg 17 331 gs|sg 9 gm|mg 0 9 eyj tdg ocv awk iux hrp nlb smf ?.最后，将剩余的两个字母，按照此方法排列，再将上述键盘中的字母进行整理。这样，便设计出了新的手机键盘。 注: ? 规定两个字母“α”与“β”相交为:分别统计两字母组合“αβ”与“βα”，在材料中出现的频数，并将这两个频数相加的过程。 (5)手机键盘字母顺序的最终设计 根据以上步骤，运用调整后的模型，手机键盘中，字母排列顺序的最终设计如下。 5 1 2eyj 3hrp 4iux 5nlb 6ocv 7awkq 8tdg 9smfz * 0 # 四、补充说明 由于所使用的英语材料数量有限，并且材料所涉及到的范围不足以包罗万象，这必 然会导致整个的统计有一定的局限性。 在整个统计的过程中，由于自身的知识储备，再加上所使用工具的局限性，这就更 增加了设计过程中难度，难免有疏漏之处。 况且，以上的许多种讨论都是建立在理想化的基础上，而在实际生活中，很难实现 那些理论上的，所谓的理想情况，因而在这方面，新手机键盘的设计，也存在着许多不 足。 【参考文献】 附录中的英语资料均来自互联网。 6 附录:进行统计用的资料 所选英语材料 1. Good Luck～ fifty cents. 69. What month is it? 2. All the best～ 36. May I help you? 70. It's 3. Have a good trip! 37. Yes, I want to buy a shirt. January/Feburary/March/Apri4. Wish you a success 38. What color/size/style do l/May/June/July/August/Sept you want? ember 5. Have a good day! 6. I hope to see you soon. 39. A /October/November/December. 7. Congratulations! blue/red/green/yellow/white71. When were you born? 8. Happy birthday! /black one. 72. I was born in 40. It's wonderful. I like it 1949/nineteen forty-nine. 9. I wish you the best of health! very much. VII. Entertaining Guests 41. All right. I'll take it. 73. Hello! How are you doing? 10. Long live our friendship! II. Asking for and offering 42. Where can I pay? 74. Hello! Welcome to our unit help 43. You can pay at the cashier (home)! Sit down, please. 11. Could you help me? over there. 75. Would you like a cigarette? 12. Would you please do me a 44. Can I use my credit card? 76. No. Thanks. favor? 45. Sure. Go ahead. 77. Would you like to drink 13. Would you please give me 46. Here's your something, coffee, tea o2r a hand? change/receipt. cola? 14. What can I do for you? 47. Thanks for your good 78. Tea is fine with me. Thank service. you. 15. Can(May)I help you? 16. Let me help you. 48. Do come again, please. 79. Help yourself to some 17. It's very kind of you! 49. Thank you. You're welcome. fruits. III. Asking the Way V. Restaurant English 80. Give /Pass me a cup of 18. Excuse me, can you tell me 50. May I have a look at the tea/a glass of water, please! the way to the station? menu/wine list? 81. Cheers! 19. Straight on. 51. What's the specialty of 82. To our friendship! 20. Go down this street. Then this restaurant? 83. Thanks a lot. turn left. 52. Are you ready to order? VIII. Other Expressions 53. I'd like something spicy. 84. What's the weather like 21. Turn right at the second crossing. 54. What do you recommend? today? 22. I'm sorry. I have no idea 55. The steak sounds good to 85. It's fine today. where it is. me. 86. Lovely day, isn't it? 23. Thank you all the same. 56. I'm full. I can't eat any 87. Autumn is the best season 24. Is it far from here? more. here. 57. Bill, please. 88. Where are you from? 25. Yes. You'd better take a bus. 58. Keep the change. 89. I'm from Hong Kong. 26. It's about 1 kilometer VI. Time, Days and Months 90. Are you American? from here. 59. What time is it? 91. No, I'm Chinese. 60. It's 6?00 o'clock. IX. Saying Goodbye 27. Excuse me, does the Bus No. 4 stop at the China Trade 61. Excuse me, could you tell 92. When are you off? Center? me the time? 93. I'm flying back on Sunday. 28. How long is the ride? 62. It's half past ten. 94. Goodbye then and all the 29. It will take about 63. Excuse me, have you got very best! 20/twenty minutes. the time, please? 95. Please say hello to your 30. Thank you very much. It's 64. It's a quarter to nine. family. a pleasure. 65. What day is it today? 96. I hope you'll come back to IV. Shopping 66. It's China again! 31. Can I help you? Sunday/Monday/Tuesday/Wedne97. I'll do that. 32. Yes, I'd like to buy a book. sday/Thursday/Friday/Saturd98. See you again in the near 33. Ok. Here you are. ay. future. 34. How much is it? 67. What's the date today? 99. Take care. 35. It is seventeen yuan and 68. Today is Aug. 2nd. 100. Goodbye! (See you～) 1. I see( 3. Let go! 5. My god!! 2. I quit! 4. Me too( 6. No way! 7 7. Come on( 66. Here you are( 125. Don't count on me( 8. Hold on( 67. Noone knows . 126. Don't fall for it! 9. I agree。 68. Take it easy( 127. Don't let me down( 10. Not bad( 69. What a pity! 128. Easy come easy go( 11. Not yet( 70. Any thing else? 129. I beg your pardon( 12. See you( 71. To be careful! 130. I beg your pardon? 13. Shut up! 72. Do me a favor? 131. I'll be back soon( 14. So long( 73. Help yourself( 132. I'll check it out( 15. Why not? 74. I'm on a diet( 133. It’s a long story( 16. Allow me( 75. Keep in Touch( 134. It’s Sunday today( 17. Be quiet! 76. Time is money( 135. Just wait and see! 18. Cheer up! 77. Who's calling? 136. Make up your mind( 19. Good job! 78. You did right( 137. That's all I need( 20. Have fun! 79. You set me up! 138. The view is great( 21. How much? 80. Can I help you? 139. The wall has ears( 22. I'm full( 81. Enjoy yourself! 140. There comes a bus( 23. I'm home( 82. Excuse me，Sir( 141. What day is today? 24. I'm lost( 83. Give me a hand! 142. What do you think? 25. My treat( 84. How's it going? 143. Who told you that? 26. So do I( 85. I have no idea( 144. Who's kicking off? 27. This way。 86. I just made it! 145. Yes，I suppose So( 28. After you( 87. I'll see to it 146. You can't miss it 29. Bless you! 88. I'm in a hurry! 147. Any messages for me? 30. Follow me( 89. It's her field( 148. Don't be so modest( 31. Forget it! 90. It's up to you( 149. Don't give me that! 32. Good luck! 91. Just wonderful! 150. He is a smart boy( 33. I decline! 92. What about you? 151. He is just a child( 34. I promise( 93. You owe meone( 152. I can't follow you( 35. Of course! 94. You're welcome( 153. I felt sort of ill. 36. Slow down! 95. Any day will do( 154. I have a good idea! 37. Take care! 96. Are you kidding? 155. It is growing cool( 38. They hurt( 97. Congratulations! 156. It seems all right( 39. Try again( 98. T can't help it. 157. It's going too far( 40. Watch out! 99. I don't mean it. 158. May I use your pen? 41. What's up? 100. I'll fix you Up( 159. She had a bad cold( 42. Be careful! 101. It sounds great!( 160. That's a good idea( 43. Bottoms up! 102. It's a fine day。 161. The answer is zero( 44. Don't move! 103. So far，So good( 162. What does she like? 45. Guess what? 104. What time is it? 163. As soon as possible! 46. I doubt it 105. You can make it! 164. He can hardly speak( 47. I think so( 106. Control yourself! 165. He always talks big( 48. I'm single( 107. He came by train( 166. He won an election( 49. Keep it up! 108. He is ill in bed( 167. I am a football fan( 50. Let me see( 109. He lacks courage( 168. Ifonly I could fly( 51. Never mind( 110. How's everything? 169. I'll be right there( 52. No problem! 111. I have no choice( 170. I'll see you at six( 53. That's all! 112. I like ice-cream( 171. IS it true or false? 54. Time is up( 113. I love this game( 172. Just read it for me( 55. What's new? 114. I'll try my best( 173. Knowledge is power( 56. Count me on 115. I'm On your side( 174. Move out of my way! 57. Don't worry( 116. Long time no see! 175. Time is running out( 58. Feel better? 117. No pain，no gain( 176. We are good friends( 59. I love you! 118. Well，it depends 177. What's your trouble? 60. I'm his fan。 119. We're all for it( 178. You did fairly well! 61. Is it yours? 120. What a good deal! 179. Clothes make the man( 62. That's neat( 121. What should I do? 180. Did you miss the bus? 63. Are you sure? 122. You asked for it! 181. Don't lose your head。 64. Do l have to 123. You have my word( 182. He can't take a joke( 65. He is my age( 124. Believe it or not! 183. He owes my uncle $100( 8 184. How are things going? 190. My mouth is watering( 196. You need to workout( 185. How are you recently? 191. Speak louder，please( 197. Your hand feels cold( 186. I know all about it( 192. This boy has no job( 198. Don't be so childish. 187. It really takes time( 193. This house is my own( 199. Don't trust to chance! 188. It's against the law( 194. What happened to you? 189. Love me，love my dog( 195. You are just in time. 1. Hello Friend! Hey, man, good to see you. What's goes on here? Good to see you too, I think. What are you doing talking to my girl friend? Good afternoon, sir. Uh-oh, here comes my boy friend, he's insanely At ease. jealous. Good evening, how are you? Out, rat! Hello, Randy. Is he going to be taken care of? Hey, you break it up! Sure thing, boss. All in a day's work. How! A fight! Hi, Joe! Ouch! That hurts. Hello, Tom, what's happening? Billy, get off the doggie's tail. Morning, Alice. Paint the porch, fool, or else. Bye! Have a good day. Cut it out, my name is Fred, not Fool! Bye! Love makes the world go round. Good morning, dear. 5. I'm so mad at... (2) 2. This Happy Feeling (1) Here, have some coffee on me. Internet is number one! I'll have some on you all right. We finally made it. Our leader is more devious than your leader. Well done! Bond, you've done it! B.S. our leader invented the word? Yay, a hole in one! The pen is mightier than the sword. Oh well, better luck next time. Cad! Cur! Beast! Steady wins the race. Omph! Chase the nice bone, doggie. Ahh! Tell me, is it a boy? Gee, don't be mad, dear, red looks good on Come on, honey. you. He swept her off her feet. Look what you did, squirt! Beautiful! Cool it man，I'm sorry. Hey, guy, we're rich. Auck, don't hit me! I'm an innocent bystander. 3. This Happy Feeling (2) Snort! I didn't do anything wrong! Out! What skill! What luck! What fun! I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean it. You sucker! Fool, you added this bill up wrong! You want me to shut him up, guy? So I made a mistake, big deal! Best wishes to you both. Hurray! 6. I'm So Sad... (1) I always get my man. How did you do it? Broke again. Congratulation! That was my last one, too. Bottoms up! Sigh. He doesn't even know I'm alive. We did it. The only feasting I do these days is in my Thanks guys, you won the games for us. dream. I owe it all to you. I lost two teeth, my contract, and the game. Good work. Sob, I lost. Envy. He tricked me. I hate him. It's your fault. Johnny doesn't like me. No, man. You're the one who blew it. I blew it. I'm all washed up. 4. I'm So Mad at... (1) Joe was really a rat. 9 Shh! He'll hear you. His eyes will pop out in astonishment. Frightened to death. Shook up. 7. I'm So Sad... (2) I've lost my nerve. She is scared to death. Good-bye, cruel world. How awful. I wish you wouldn't go this way. He is shocked. Sigh, I'm so hungry. Can I have a bite? She will be amazed when she wakes up for No! Yum, gorge, glut. dinner. I'll drown my sorrows. OPPS! Sob! I didn't mean to kill it. I'm sorry He is surprised. birdie. She cried with shock. Ooo! I can't look. She was so stunned, that she couldn't speak. Goodness, I do hope this isn't a loud gun. The crowd gasped with astonishment. I hate noise. He surprised them, so they gave up quietly. Will it hurt? They jumped at the unexpected noise. I'll rip him apart with my hands. She screamed in astonishment. He was so startled that he yelled. 8. A Shy Little Kitten (1) He turned white with amazement. Got all in a panic. The little boy grew red at the sight of the cute girl. She is afraid he'll think her a pig. 11. I Think... (1) Don't be shy, dear. I'm ashamed. I couldn't tell you my love. She looks like my type. They feel uneasy. He seems to be the most muscular guy. Behave yourself, or I'll shot. I believe I'm the strongest. The audience laughs. I know I'll win. He is embarrassed because he made a mistake. Let's see who's right. She blushes for him. I have confidence in myself. You should see my wife in a bikini... She's I suppose he's coming to us. a knockout. I've always respected him. I never expected him to be so great. 9. A Shy Little Kitten (2) I must be the first. I may be the first. She lost her dignity. She is supposed to be one of the best She is timid and completely at a loss what singers. to do. I wonder if it's a real diamond. Yak, yak, yak. I think this is a fake diamond. I told you, my mom could beat your pop. Ahh, shucks! 12. I Think... (2) He is pinned down by the demonstrators. She felt awkward. I bet he's the best. He will be too afraid to do anything. No everybody puts the highest values on him. Nice guy! I think his fish is a little bigger than Bully! mine. Have a little wine, punk. Maybe mine is the bigger. The drunk humiliates the gentleman. It is clear that fish is bigger than others He is teasing a friend. and wins the championship. He feels awkward. It's going to crash! Why? She likes you a lot. I don't know, sir, but I guess the computer I could die. made some mistake. Losing her eyelash cause her to blush for This is your last chance. I believe you can shame. make it. I'm sure I'll be President. 10.How Terrible! I doubt he'll win the election. I think he's no good. Oh, on! A ghost! I'm willing to bet he'll lose. My goodness! A snake! I think that's the guy-he's a killer. 10 Must be. changed mind I'm afraid the pollution will kill us all. perish the thought I've realized that we should stop the pollution. Learning is better than house and land. 13. I Guess... 16. May I Ask You... ? I'm afraid the crash was because of your fault. Could I speak to you, please? I guess you're right. It seems I'll be Aren't you dressed too formally? grounded. She feels pity for him. I hope I'll get a big pay raise. What happened, guy? I suppose it might be gold. Do you like football? No, it can't be gold. Sure. Are you a pro-golfer? I imagine it was part of a dinosaur. Didn't you order this? This will be the biggest fish ever. Could you carry my doggie for me? Guess! I hope you'll like it. What can I do? What can it be? Why are you yelling? I expected No.2 to win. I wonder why they're angry. 14. I Agree... 17. Is That... ? Women have the same rights as you! Will she like it? No! Women should stay at home. I wonder what he's doing. Dear, you'll be home right after work, Tell me where I can post them. won't you? The mailbox is over there. I'll try, but I may have to work late. I think he's still in bed. So, you see... What is he doing today? I may be wrong, but your theory is all wrong, They imagine, what he is doing. professor. What will the weather be like tomorrow? Please sign. Is the plane leaving? No, I don't want to. What is your girlfriend's name? Gentlemen! Can't you agree on anything? Can I take my vacation, sir? I would like to see my mother in Miami. 15. I Plan... Jenny, does she really live here? Could you give me some comments? I thought he could design the most Don't you think she's cute? beautiful department store, but... I guess so, honey. The designer is working hard on a new How do other racers feel? project. Who's the second? The concert will be held September 14 at You saw that movie, didn't you? Was it 10 a.m. interesting? After Flagstaff, we'll go to San Diego. Yes, but I don't want go downtown. To plan a vacation trip. Will our baby be a boy? The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at How much will the hospital bill be? Saturn next year. Didn't I tell you he's same size to me? Our plan is the best and the safest, you Wasn't he a little bigger than you? see. How was it, sir? Why don't you change your route? The dinner was superb. Who cooked it? The U.S. will take one route, the Japan take other. To plan a mountain climbing expedition. 18. Could You... ? Now, let's find some new girls. He is planning his future already. Would you please put it on top? You use the front door and I'll hit the back. We demand better pay. OK. Your plans are always successful. OK， Please be reasonable. The gangsters are planning a robbery. Dad, do you mind if we use this room? If his plan works, he'll earn 100 million Will you marry me? in 10 years. Would you take them to my room? 11 Officer, give me a break. I've got four kids at home and no wife. Would you meet me 3:30? 19. Do It, Now. I can't help it, sir. You've got no ID card, boy! But I'll pay. Why not? You're way behind schedule. Get out of the car! You're drunk. Sorry, sir. But it's our graduation day. Fly me to Cuba. I hijack the plane. Give me the rocket and boat, and I'll give you a sucker. Don't trust him, he's lying. Son! Don't make suck a noise when you eat. Hi, thief! Would you stop that music for me? Who is it? Come down. Who cares! I don't care what you say. 20. Oh, No, No... (1) Oh, no! Not today, please! No, Jack. You must go on. Hello! I'm from ABC Insurance. May I speak to you? Nobody's at home. No. Can't you see that rocket is almost falling down. Make love not war! No, No. You can't do it like that. You must go to the moon. It's your duty. We won't go to war. Stop it, Apollo! I don't like working on Sunday. This is our play road. We don't like them to pass through here. 12 1 If I am an Olympic Volunteer I’m a middle school student. I can use English to communicate with foreign guests and foreign players. I will tell them China’s history and culture. For example: The Great Wall. I will also tell them China’s some scientific achievements. For example: Chinese train progress history. I can help Chinese players clean the house. Let them live in the clean house. I can also help them pick the balls, bring them towels , and clean clothes„„ In all, I will try my best to help them. 2 I am a volunteer The Olympic Games will be opened up just after a month in 2008. Toady is the volunteer recruited day. I got up earlier than before, after breakfast, walked to the Olympic Village full of enthusiasm. The Olympic Village is very hilarious. All of the people are participating in the volunteer selected test. The test form mainly carries on interview which is different from my school’s five teachers made a term in which one person asks the question and other four people recorded something on the paper. Because I have made enough preparation therefore the questions of teacher have not baffled me at all. From expression of teacher, I could guest that my answers were satisfied by them. No surprising, I passed the test. I will be a volunteer honorable. I was so excited that could not sleep that evening. The Olympic Games opening ceremony scene that I had seen before flashed in my head continually, imaging the scene which I was a volunteer in 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. I hold the red green a tour-guide flag walking along the Wangfujing Avenue, the French football team member were walking behind me. Look, Qi Danei, my favorite football star. Qi Danei kicked a football into the sky, the ball turned into the moon and hang in the sky, I was so excited and l shouted loudly. “Walk up!” It is my mother’s sound. I opened my eyes. Oh, I just had a dream. What a nice dream! The Games of the 29th Olympic in 2008 are awarded to the city of Beijing."With the motto "New Beijing, Great Olympics", Beijing promises to host a "Green Olympics", a "Hi-tech Olympics" and the "People's Olympics". Chinese people always appreciate the purposes and principles of Olympic ideal, support the efforts of Olympic Games to promote world peace. The Chinese Government and people are doing our the utmost/best to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and shooting at the pageant with advocating Olympic ideal, sparkpluging world peace and enhancing the relationships among the world. Olympic spirit are gonna spread again in orient cultural ancient China. The government and people of China have always admired the purposes and principles of the Olympic spirit and supported the efforts made by the Olympics in promoting world peace. The Chinese government and people are doing our utmost in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It is our hope to make it a grand gathering that will carry forward the Olympic spirit, promote world peace and enhance the friendship among people of the world, so that the Olympic spirit will flourish 13 once again, this time in China, an oriental country with an ancient civilization. I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges. But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. 14 We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream." I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."? This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle 15 together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day. And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, From every mountainside, let freedom ring! And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last! Youth Youth is not a time of life; it's a state of mind; it's not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it's a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it's the freshness of the deep springs of life. Youth means a tempera-mental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for the adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than of 20.Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear ,self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spring back to dust. Whether 60 or 16 ,there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what's next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my 16 heart, there is a wireless station: so long as it receives message of beauty ,hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young. When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cyniciam and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20,but as long as your aerials are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80. The Six Swans Once upon a time, a certain King was hunting in a great forest, and he chased a wild beast so eagerly that none of his attendants could follow him. When evening drew near he stopped and looked around him, and then he saw that he had lost his way. He sought a way out, but could find none. Then he perceived an aged woman with a head which nodded perpetually, who came towards him, but she was a witch. "Good woman," said he to her, "Can you not show me the way through the forest?" "Oh, yes, Lord King," she answered, "that I certainly can, but on one condition, and if you do not fulfil that, you will never get out of the forest, and will die of hunger in it." "What kind of condition is it?" asked the King. "I have a daughter," said the old woman, "who is as beautiful as any one in the world, and well deserves to be your consort, and if you will make her your Queen, I will show you the way out of the forest." In the anguish of his heart the King consented, and the old woman led him to her little hut, where her daughter was sitting by the fire. She received the King as if she had been expecting him, and he saw that she was very beautiful, but still she did not please him, and he could not look at her without secret horror. After he had taken the maiden up on his horse, the old woman showed him the way, and the King reached his royal palace again, where the wedding was celebrated. The King had already been married once, and had by his first wife, seven children, six boys and a girl, whom he loved better than anything else in the world. As he now feared that the step-mother might not treat them well, and even do them some injury, he took them to a lonely castle which stood in the midst of a forest. It lay so concealed, and the way was so difficult to find that he himself would not have found it, if a wise woman had not given him a ball of yarn with wonderful properties. When he threw it down before him, it unrolled itself and showed him his path. The King, however, went so frequently away to his dear children that the Queen observed his absence; she was curious and wanted to know what he did when he was quite alone in the forest. She gave a great deal of money to his servants, and they betrayed the secret to her, and told her likewise of the ball which alone could point out the way. And now she knew no rest until she had learnt where the King kept the ball of yarn, and then she made little shirts of white silk, and as she had learnt the art of witchcraft from her mother, she sewed a charm inside them. And once when the King had ridden forth to hunt, she took the little shirts and went into the forest, and the ball showed her the way. The children, who saw from a distance that some one was approaching, thought that their dear father was coming to them, and full of joy, ran to meet him. Then she threw one of the little shirts over each of them, and no sooner had the shirts touched their bodies than they were changed into swans, and flew away over the forest. The Queen went home quite delighted, and thought she had got rid of her step-children, but the girl had not run out with her brothers, and the Queen knew nothing about her. Next day the King went to visit his children, but he found no one but the little girl. "Where are thy brothers?' asked the King. "Alas, dear father," she answered, "they have gone away and left me alone!" and she told him that she had seen from her little window how her brothers had flown away over the forest in the shape of swans, and she showed him the feathers, which they had let fall in the courtyard, and which she had picked up. The King mourned, but he did not think that the Queen had done this wicked deed, and as he feared that the girl would also be stolen away from him, he wanted to take her away with him. But she was afraid of her step-mother, and entreated the King to let her stay just this one night more in the forest castle. The poor girl thought, "I can no longer stay here. I will go and seek my brothers." And when night came, she ran away, and went straight into the forest. She walked the whole night long, and next day also without stopping, until she could go no farther for weariness. Then she saw a forest-hut, and went into it, and found a room with six little beds, but she did not venture to get into one of them, but crept under one, and lay down on the hard ground, intending to pass the night there. Just before sunset, however, she heard a rustling, and saw six swans come flying in at the window. They alighted on the ground and blew at each other, and blew all the feathers off, and their swan's 17 skins stripped off like a shirt. Then the maiden looked at them and recognized her brothers, was glad and crept forth from beneath the bed. The brothers were not less delighted to see their little sister, but their joy was of short duration. "Here canst thou not abide," they said to her. "This is a shelter for robbers, if they come home and find thee, they will kill thee." "But can you not protect me?" asked the little sister. "No," they replied, "only for one quarter of an hour each evening can we lay aside our swan's skins and have during that time our human form; after that, we are once more turned into swans." The little sister wept and said, "Can you not be set free?" "Alas, no," they answered, "the conditions are too hard! For six years thou mayst neither speak nor laugh, and in that time thou must sew together six little shirts of starwort for us. And if one single word falls from thy lips, all thy work will be lost." And when the brothers had said this, the quarter of an hour was over, and they flew out of the window again as swans. The maiden, however, firmly resolved to deliver her brothers, even if it should cost her her life. She left the hut, went into the midst of the forest, seated herself on a tree, and there passed the night. Next morning she went out and gathered starwort and began to sew. She could not speak to any one, and she had no inclination to laugh; she sat there and looked at nothing but her work. When she had already spent a long time there it came to pass that the King of the country was hunting in the forest, and his huntsmen came to the tree on which the maiden was sitting. They called to her and said, "Who art thou?" But she made no answer. "Come down to us," said they. "We will not do thee any harm." She only shook her head. As they pressed her further with questions she threw her golden necklace down to them, and thought to content them thus. They, however, did not cease, and then she threw her girdle down to them, and as this also was to no purpose, her garters, and by degrees everything that she had on that she could do without until she had nothing left but her shift. The huntsmen, however, did not let themselves be turned aside by that, but climbed the tree and fetched the maiden down and led her before the King. The King asked, "Who art thou? What art thou doing on the tree?" But she did not answer. He put the question in every language that he knew, but she remained as mute as a fish. As she was so beautiful, the King's heart was touched, and he was smitten with a great love for her. He put his mantle on her, took her before him on his horse, and carried her to his castle. Then he caused her to be dressed in rich garments, and she shone in her beauty like bright daylight, but no word could be drawn from her. He placed her by his side at table, and her modest bearing and courtesy pleased him so much that he said, "She is the one whom I wish to marry, and no other woman in the world." And after some days he united himself to her. The King, however, had a wicked mother who was dissatisfied with this marriage and spoke ill of the young Queen. "Who knows," said she, "from whence the creature who can't speak, comes? She is not worthy of a king!" After a year had passed, when the Queen brought her first child into the world, the old woman took it away from her, and smeared her mouth with blood as she slept. Then she went to the King and accused the Queen of being a man-eater. The King would not believe it, and would not suffer any one to do her any injury. She, however, sat continually sewing at the shirts, and cared for nothing else. The next time, when she again bore a beautiful boy, the false step-mother used the same treachery, but the King could not bring himself to give credit to her words. He said, "She is too pious and good to do anything of that kind; if she were not dumb, and could defend herself, her innocence would come to light." But when the old woman stole away the newly-born child for the third time, and accused the Queen, who did not utter one word of defence, the King could do no otherwise than deliver her over to justice, and she was sentenced to suffer death by fire. When the day came for the sentence to be executed, it was the last day of the six years during which she was not to speak or laugh, and she had delivered her dear brothers from the power of the enchantment. The six shirts were ready, only the left sleeve of the sixth was wanting. When, therefore, she was led to the stake, she laid the shirts on her arm, and when she stood on high and the fire was just going to be lighted, she looked around and six swans came flying through the air towards her. Then she saw that her deliverance was near, and her heart leapt with joy. The swans swept towards her and sank down so that she could throw the shirts over them, and as they were touched by them, their swan's skins fell off, and her brothers stood in their own bodily form before her, and were vigorous and handsome. The youngest only lacked his left arm, and had in the place of it a swan's wing on his shoulder. They embraced and kissed each other, and the Queen went to the King, who was greatly moved, and she began to speak and said, "Dearest husband, now I may speak and declare to thee that I am innocent, and falsely accused." And she told him of the treachery of the old woman who had taken away her three children and hidden them. Then to the great joy of the King they were brought thither, and as a punishment, the wicked step-mother 18 was bound to the stake, and burnt to ashes. But the King and the Queen with their six brothers lived many years in happiness and peace. The Devil and his Grandmother There was a great war, and the King had many soldiers, but gave them small pay, so small that they could not live upon it, so three of them agreed among themselves to desert. One of them said to the others, "If we are caught we shall be hanged on the gallows; how shall we manage it?" Another said, "Look at that great cornfield, if we were to hide ourselves there, no one could find us; the troops are not allowed to enter it, and to-morrow they are to march away." They crept into the corn, only the troops did not march away, but remained lying all round about it. They stayed in the corn for two days and two nights, and were so hungry that they all but died, but if they had come out, their death would have been certain. Then said they, "What is the use of our deserting if we have to perish miserably here?" But now a fiery dragon came flying through the air, and it came down to them, and asked why they had concealed themselves there? They answered, "We are three soldiers who have deserted because the pay was so bad, and now we shall have to die of hunger if we stay here, or to dangle on the gallows if we go out." "If you will serve me for seven years," said the dragon, "I will convey you through the army so that no one shall seize you." "We have no choice and are compelled to accept," they replied. Then the dragon caught hold of them with his claws, and carried them away through the air over the army, and put them down again on the earth far from it; but the dragon was no other than the Devil. He gave them a small whip and said, "Whip with it and crack it, and then as much gold will spring up round about as you can wish for; then you can live like great lords, keep horses, and drive your carriages, but when the seven years have come to an end, you are my property." Then he put before them a book which they were all three forced to sign. "I will, however, then set you a riddle," said he, "and if you can guess that, you shall be free, and released from my power." Then the dragon flew away from them, and they went away with their whip, had gold in plenty, ordered themselves rich apparel, and travelled about the world. Wherever they were they lived in pleasure and magnificence, rode on horseback, drove in carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wicked. The time slipped quickly away, and when the seven years were coming to an end, two of them were terribly anxious and alarmed; but the third took the affair easily, and said, "Brothers, fear nothing, my head is sharp enough, I shall guess the riddle." They went out into the open country and sat down, and the two pulled sorrowful faces. Then an aged woman came up to them who inquired why they were so sad? "Alas!" said they, "how can that concern you? After all, you cannot help us." "Who knows?" said she. "confide your trouble to me." So they told her that they had been the Devil's servants for nearly seven years, and that he had provided them with gold as plentifully as if it had been blackberries, but that they had sold themselves to him, and were forfeited to him, if at the end of the seven years they could not guess a riddle." The old woman said, "If you are to be saved, one of you must go into the forest, there he will come to a fallen rock which looks like a little house, he must enter that, and then he will obtain help." The two melancholy ones thought to themselves, "That will still not save us," and stayed where they were, but the third, the merry one, got up and walked on in the forest until he found the rock-house. In the little house, however, a very aged woman was sitting, who was the Devil's grandmother, and asked the soldier where he came from, and what he wanted there? He told her everything that had happened, and as he pleased her well, she had pity on him, and said she would help him. She lifted up a great stone which lay above a cellar, and said, "Conceal thyself there, thou canst hear everything that is said here; only sit still, and do not stir. When the dragon comes, I will question him about the riddle, he tells everything to me, so listen carefully to his answer." At twelve o'clock at night, the dragon came flying thither, and asked for his dinner. The grandmother laid the table, and served up food and drink, so that he was pleased, and they ate and drank together. In the course of conversation, she asked him what kind of a day he had had, and how many souls he had got? "Nothing went very well to-day," he answered, "but I have laid hold of three soldiers, I have them safe." "Indeed! three soldiers, that's something like, but they may escape you yet." The Devil said mockingly, "They are mine! I will set them a riddle, which they will never in this world be able to guess!" "What riddle is that?" she inquired. "I will tell you. In the great North Sea lies a dead dog-fish, that shall be your roast meat, and the rib of a whale shall be your silver spoon, and a hollow old horse's hoof shall be your wine-glass." When the Devil had gone to bed, the old grandmother raised up the stone, and let out the soldier. "Hast thou paid particular attention to everything?" "Yes," said he, "I know enough, and will contrive to save myself." Then he had to go back another way, through the window, secretly and with all speed to his companions. He told them how the Devil had been overreached by the old grandmother, and how he had learned the answer to the riddle from 19 him. Then they were all joyous, and of good cheer, and took the whip and whipped so much gold for themselves that it ran all over the ground. When the seven years had fully gone by, the Devil came with the book, showed the signatures, and said, "I will take you with me to hell. There you shall have a meal! If you can guess what kind of roast meat you will have to eat, you shall be free and released from your bargain, and may keep the whip as well." Then the first soldier began and said, "In the great North Sea lies a dead dog-fish, that no doubt is the roast meat." The Devil was angry, and began to mutter, "Hm! hm! hm!" And asked the second, "But what will your spoon be?" "The rib of a whale, that is to be our silver spoon." The Devil made a wry face, again growled, "Hm! hm! hm!" and said to the third, "And do you also know what your wine-glass is to be?" "An old horse's hoof is to be our wineglass." Then the Devil flew away with a loud cry, and had no more power over them, but the three kept the whip, whipped as much money for themselves with it as they wanted, and lived happily to their end. Mirror, Mirror---What do I See? Mirror, Mirror---What do I See? A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror. Mirrors have a very particular function. They reflect the image in front of them. Just as a physical mirror serves as the vehicle to reflection, so do all of the people in our lives. When we see something beautiful such as a flower garden, that garden serves as a reflection. In order to see the beauty in front of us, we must be able to see the beauty inside of ourselves. When we love someone, it’s a reflection of loving ourselves. When we love someone, it’s a reflection of loving ourselves. We have often heard things like “I love how I am when I’m with that person.” That simply translates into “I’m able to love me when I love that other person.” Oftentimes, when we meet someone new, we feel as though we “click”. Sometimes it’s as if we’ve known each other for a long time. That feeling can come from sharing similarities. Just as the “mirror” or other person can be a positive reflection, it is more likely that we’ll notice it when it has a negative connotation. For example, it’s easy to remember times when we have met someone we’re not particularly crazy about. We may have some criticism in our mind about the person. This is especially true when we get to know someone with whom we would rather spend less time. Frequently, when we dislike qualities in other people, ironically, it’s usually the mirror that’s speaking to us. I began questioning myself further each time I encountered someone that I didn’t particularly like. Each time, I asked myself, “What is it about that person that I don’t like?” and then “Is there something similar in me?” in every instance, I could see a piece of that quality in me, and sometimes I had to really get very introspective. So what did that mean? It means that just as I can get annoyed or disturbed when I notice that aspect in someone else, I better reexamine my qualities and consider making some changes. Even if I’m not willing to make a drastic change, at least I consider how I might modify some of the things that I’m doing. At times we meet someone new and feel distant, disconnected, or disgusted. Although we don’t want to believe it, and it’s not easy or desirable to look further, it can be a great learning lesson to figure out what part of the person is being reflected in you. It’s simply just another way to create more self-awareness. The road to success It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of a business education. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom. It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself. Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is “aim high.” I would not give a fig for the young man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, “My 20 place is at the top.” Be king in your dreams. And here is the prime condition of success, the great secret: concentrate your energy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or the other, here, there, and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is all wrong. I tell you “put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket.” It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. 21