been delayed by a few hours so it felt good to be so close to take-off. I had my iPod in place and a new book to read. Then, over the loudspeaker came the pilot’s voice: “The ground crew has found a metal instrument in one tire. W e regret that we must cancel this flight.”
The passengers’ reactions that announcement led to were interesting. One man close to me began to argue with a flight attendant. A couple in another row complained loudly. A businessman in a black suit actually kicked the seat in front of him. Yet some passengers responded differently. An elderly gentleman smiled as he helped others take their bags down from the overhead compartments. A teenager, rathe r than trying to rush off the plane like most of the other passengers, stopped to help a woman with a disability. The lady sitting next to me laughed and said: “Hey, it’s not the end of the world,” before she made a call to her kids and shared her adventure with them, the wisest among us who has a remarkable ability to maintain grounded(稳定的) when times get tough.
No life is perfect; mine certainly isn’t. We all must face challenges, both large and small. You and I have the power to choose to rise above the external circumstances(外部环境). We always have the choice to be strong and kind when things fall apart.
That’s grace under pressure. My seatmate was right —things could have been so much worse. Anyway, I am safe. I have my health. I have two wonderful children. I have work I love and so much to be grateful for. Sure I now have to wait a few hours to catch the next flight home.
1. What caused the passengers’ different reactions?
A. The loudspeaker.
B. The delay of the flight.
C. The ground crew’s fault.
D. The pilot’s announcement.
2. Who turned his anger on the seat?
A. A teenager helping the disabled.
B. An old man taking bags down.
C. A man in a black suit.
D. A man close to the author.
3. What did the woman sitting next to the author do?
A. She assisted a disabled woman.
B. She made a phone call to her family.
C. She helped others carry their luggage.
D. She told moving stories to her children.
4. What can we learn from the story?
A. Our life is full of ups and downs.
B. It is natural to be scared under pressure.