It was already half past seven and I was running late again for the dinner appointment with my wife, Eleanor. We had 1to meet at the restaurant at seven o'clock. I felt a little uneasy, but to my 2，I had a good excuse：A business meeting had 3and I'd wasted no time getting to the dinner.
When I arrived at the 4，1 apologized and told Eleanor I didn't mean to be late. She screamed, "You never mean to." Well, I 5tell she was angry. "I'm sorry but it was not 6," I said. Then I told her about the business meeting. 7, my explanation seemed to make things worse, which started to drive 8mad as well.
Several weeks later, when I 9the situation to my friend Ken Hardy, he smiled, "You 10a classic mistake. You're stuck 11your own way of thinking. You didn't 12to be late. But that's not the point. What is 13in your communication is how your lateness affected Eleanor." He pointed out that I focused on the intention 14Eleanor focused on the result. Thus, 15of us felt misunderstood and crazy.
Thinking more about Ken's words, I 16recognized the root cause of such disagreement. It's the result of the action that really 17.I should have started the conversation by expressing 18my actions affected Eleanor and 19the discussions about my intention for later, much later and even never.
Later on, after talking to Eleanor and really 20her experience of the results of my lateness, I've managed to be on time a lot more frequently.
1.A. started B. agreed C. continued D. managed
2.A. relief B. surprise C. regret D. sorrow
3.A. broken out B. closed down C. faded away D. run over
4.A. house B. room C. restaurant D. supermarket
5.A. could B. must C.will D. might
6.A. movable B. comfortable C. acceptable D. avoidable
7.A. However B. Therefore C. Moreover D. Otherwise
8.A. her B. him C. me D. them
9.A. spread B. wrote C. translated D. described
10.A. knew B. made C. found D. took
11.A. in B. beyond C. for D. against
12.A. need B. prove C. pretend D. intend
13.A. funny B. important C. possible D. simple
14.A. while B. after C. until D. unless
15.A. all B. none C. both D. neither
16.A. usually B. merely C. hardly D. gradually
17.A. inspires B. matters C. improves D. challenges
18.A. how B. why C. when D. what
19.A. compared B. reported C. finished D. saved
20.A. showing B. satisfying C. understanding D. destroying