On August 26, 1999, New York City was struck by a terrible rainstorm. The rain caused the streets 1 and the subway system almost came to a stop. Unfortunately, this happened during the morning rush hour. Many people who were going to work were 2 to go home. Some battled to 3 a taxi or to get on a bus. Still others faced the 4 bravely, walking miles to get to work. I 5 to be one of people on the way to work that morning. I went from subway line to subway line only to find that most 6 had stopped. After making my way 7 crowds of people. I finally found a subway line that was 8 . Unfortunately, there were so many people waiting to 9 the subway that I could not even get down the stairs to the 10 . So I took the train going in the opposite direction, and then switched back to the downtown train. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the train 11 my stop. Then I had to walk several blocks in the increasingly heavy rain. When I got to my office, I was 12 through, exhausted and 13 . My co-workers and I spend most of the day drying off. When it was 5:00 pm, I was ready to go home. I was about to turn off my computer 14 I received an email from Garth, my Director: I would like to thank all of you who made the effort and 15 reported to work. It is always reassuring ( 令人欣慰 ), at times like these, when employees so clearly show their 16 to their jobs. Thank you. Garth’s email was short, but I learned more from that 17 message than I ever did from a textbook. The email taught me that a few words of 18 can make a big difference. The rainstorm and the traffic 19 had made me tired and upset. But Garth’s words immediately 20 me and put a smile back on my face.