Small moments sometimes last a very long time. And a few words—though they mean 21 at the time to the people who say them—can have great power. I recently heard a story from Malcolm Dalkoff, who has been a professional 22 for the last twenty-four years, mostly in advertising. As a boy, Dalkoff was terribly shy and 23 . He had few friends and no self-confidence. Then one day, his high-school English teacher, Ruth Brauch, asked the class to write their own chapter that would 24 the last chapter of the novel since they had been reading To Kill a Mockingbird. Dalkoff wrote his chapter and turned it in. Today he cannot recall anything special about the chapter he wrote, or what 25 Mrs. Brauch gave him. 26 , what he does remember is the four words in the paper: “This is good writing.” Four words. They 27 his life. “Until I read those words, I had no idea of who I was or what I was or what I was going to be,” he said, “After reading her 28 ,I went home and wrote a short story, 29 I had always dreamed of doing but never believed I could do.” Over the rest of that year in school, he wrote many short stories and always brought them to Mrs. Brauch for instruction. “She was 30 , helping and honest. She was just what I needed,” Dalkoff said. 21 A. much B. little C. well D. ill 22 A .report B. designer C. writer D. teacher 23 A .weak B. independent C. troublesome D. helpless 24 A. follow B. change C. connect D. explain 25 A .help B. encouragement C. grade D. words 26 A. Therefore B. However C. Meanwhile D. Besides 27 A .improved B. developed C. changed D. enriched 28 A. chapter B. novel C. note D .explanation 29 A. everything B. something C. nothing D. anything 30 A. encouraging B. careful C. strict D. effective