I often read of incidents of misunderstanding or conflict. I’m left
. Why do these people create mistrust and problems, especially with those from other ?
I was growing up in Kuala Lumpur in the early 1960s, children from different races and regions played and studied in harmony. At that time my family lived a stone’s from Ismail’s. And no one was bothered that Ismail was a Malay Muslim and I was an Indian Hindu—we just
our differences. Perhaps, our elders had not filled our heads with unnecessary advice, well or otherwise.
We were nine when we became friends. During the school holidays, we’d
the countryside on our bicycles, hoping to the unexpected. At times Ismail would accompany my family as we made a rare shopping trip to town. We would be glad of his .
When I was twelve, my family moved to Johor. Ismail’s family later returned to their village, and I touch with him.
One spring afternoon in 1983, I stopped a taxi in Kuala Lumpur. I
my destination. The driver acknowledged my but did not move off. Instead, he looked at me. “Raddar?” he said, using my childhood nickname(绰号). I was astonished at being so addressed
(称呼). Unexpectedly! It was Ismail! Even after two we still recognized each other. Grasping his shoulder, I felt a true affection, something to describe.
If we can allow our children to be without prejudice, they’ll build friendships with people, regardless of race or religion, who will be their side through thick and thin. On such friendships are societies built and we can truly be, as William Shakespeare one wrote, “we happy few, we band of brothers”.
A.interesting B.pleased C.puzzled D.excited
A.parties B.cities C.villages D.races
A.why B.which C.how D.when
A.together B.around C.alone D.apart
A.drop B.throw C.move D.roll
A.refused B.made C.sought D.accepted
A.paid B.meant C.preserved D.treated
A.explore B.search C.discover D.desert
A.get through B.deal with C.come across D.take away
A.arrival B.choice C.effort D.company
A.lost B.gained C.developed D.missed
A.stated B.ordered C.decided D.chose
A.attempts B.instructions C.opinions D.arrangements
A.anxiously B.carelessly C.disappointedly D.fixedly
A.familiarly B.strangely C.fully D.coldly
A.departures B.months C.years D.decades
A.possible B.funny C.hard D.clear
A.them B.themselves C.us D.ourselves
A.from B.by C.with D.against
A.still B.otherwise C.then D.instead