There is an old story about a group of frogs that went jumping through the forest one day when two of them suddenly fell into a deep 36 . All of the other frogs gathered around to look 37 at their two fallen friends. They all began to 38 shake their heads. “It‘s too deep!” shouted one frog. Another shouted that there was no 39 they would ever be able to get out 40 .
The two fallen frogs began to continuously jump as they 41 to get out, but the frogs that were 42 kept shouting louder at them that they might stop 43 they were just 44 their time. One of the two frogs finally gave up, 45 their advice and died.
The other frog just kept on jumping harder than ever 46 all the loud shouts of disapproval from the frogs around the top of the hole. They kept shouting at him to 47 jumping and save himself from all the 48 and suffering as he jumped and fell back down to the bottom 49 .
Finally, to the 50 of all the other frogs, he jumped right out of the deep hole. The other frogs asked him, “Why did you keep jumping 51 we yelled and shouted at you to stop?” The frog explained to them he was 52 at that time and that he had thought they were cheering for him and yelling words of 53 to him the entire time!
A little encouragement can go a long way. We don’t often think about the 54 that our words have upon others. Our words do have the power to hurt or to 55 .
36. A. hole B. river C. well D. valley
37. A. up B. down C. over D. around
38. A. violently B. gently C. sadly D. doubtfully
39. A. wonder B. doubt C. Problem D. way
40. A. alone B. alive C. aware D. awake
41. A. attempted B. chose C. preferred D. failed
42. A. helping B. jumping C. watching D. cheering
43. A. if B. because C. though D. until
44. A. saving B. spending C. using D. wasting
45. A. ignored B. offered C. followed D. rejected
46. A. in spite of B. as a result of C. in terms of D. instead of
47. A. give off B. give away C. give out D. give up
48. A. stress B. pain C. panic D. trouble
49. A. here and there B. now and then C. over and over D. arm in arm
50. A. delight B. disappointment C. embarrassment D. surprise
51. A. even though B. now that C. as though D. in case
52. A. blind B. deaf C. cold D. fever
53. A. warning B. trust C. wisdom D. encouragement
54. A. pressure B. magic C. effect D. force
55. A. help B. protect C. prevent D. create