While I was waiting outside my wife's office building for her to get out of work.I saw a bum (流浪乞丐) coming my way.
"I h
ope he won't ask me for any money, " I thought.
He came and sat in front of the bus stop.After a few minutes he spoke."That's a very pretty car, " he
said.He was in rags, but he had an air of dignity (尊嚴) about him.
I gave him a smile and continued cleaning my car.
He sat there quietly as I worked.The expected asking for money never came.As the silence between
us widened, it seemed that a voice inside me said, "Ask him if he needs any help."
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but meaningful words that I shall never forget.We often look for wisdom
in great men and women, and we expect it from those of higher learning and achievements.I expected
nothing but an outstretched (伸出的) dirty hand from him, but he said three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.
I_
was_
feeling_
high, successful_
and_
important_
above_
a_
bum_
in_
the_
street, until those three words
hit me like a shot.
Don't we all?
I needed help.Maybe not for a bus fare or for a place to sleep, but I needed help.I reached in my
wallet and gave him not only enough for a bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the
day.Those three little words still ring true.No matter how much you have, you need help, too.No matter
how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to
sleep, you can give help.
Maybe God looked down, called an angel, dressed him like a bum, and then said, "Go to that man
cleaning the car.That man needs help."
Don't we all?
1. The writer was near the bus stop________.
A. to meet the bum
B. to wait for his wife
C. to wait for a bus
D. to clean his car
2. At the sight of the bum, the writer________.
A. asked him if he needed any help
B. hoped to give the bum some money
C. wished the bum not to ask him for money
D. pretended to be cleaning his car
3. The underlined part in the passage means "____
____".
A. I thought I'm better in any way than the bum
B. I felt the bum is as good in some ways as I am
C. I felt I liked the bum very much
D. I thought I should respect the bum
4. What does the story mainly tell us?
A. Those who are poor are in greater need of help.
B. Anybody should give help to others.
C. Poor as a man may be, he has dignity.
D. Whatever we are, we need help.
