“I don't have anything，”

　　he said. “We're

　　so poor.”

　　We're only “poor” because

　　we refuse to buy him the cellphone he wants.

　　At work the next day, one of my students handed me a Christmas gift－a box of chocolates. The woman had been out of work for months!

　　“Thank you,

　　Joanna，”

　　I said.

　　I hadn't expected a gift － I work at an adult education center, where we deal with people every day who struggle economically. The economic downturn is not new to those who are laid off, without work, and need an education to get ahead or for a sense of pride. When I was hired, my boss told me she tried to keep snacks around the center, because

　　“You will hear growling bellies here.

　　They give their food to the children

　　before they themselves eat.”

　　And yet these people, so grateful for a second chance of getting an education, unable to sometimes even afford the gas

　　money to come in,

　　manage to do something for us nearly every week.

　　Some bring in food;

　　others do chores around the center. They give what they are able to give.

　　When I brought the candies home to share with my family, I told them just how precious each chocolate was if you thought of how much the unemployed woman's family makes a year. Perhaps the way I could help my son understand best was for me to do first.

【2017届高考英语一轮复习同步训练：3-4《Astronomy the science of the stars》】相关文章：

★ 2014年牛津译林版高中英语总复习（第1轮）同步练习 M4《Unit 2　Sports events》

★ 2017届江苏省淮安市新马中学高考牛津译林版英语一轮复习活动单：模块6 Unit 2《What is happiness to you》

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：选修6 unit3《A healthy life》

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(十)必修2Unit 5《Music》

★ 【人教版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导考点针对练：必修2 unit2《The Olympic Games》

★ 湖南省岳阳市2014高考英语一轮单项选择训练题（10）及答案

★ 【优化方案】2017届高考英语二轮复习全国卷Ⅱ规范练：2（含解析）

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二十二)必修5Unit 2《The United Kingdom》

★ 2017届高考英语（江苏专用）二轮复习高考单词5大记忆法课件：4.联想记忆法

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(十三)必修3Unit 3《The Million Pound Bank Note》