He Wants Subjects, Verbs and Objects
Interview of Richard Anderson, chief executive of Delta Air Lines
Vocabulary
squelches
insight
trajectory
Rubik’s cube
intangibles
avocations
adaptability
proliferate
stoic
BlackBerrys
uncollegial
violation
uncollegial
daunting
Moleskine
Questions to ponder:
1. How did the interviewer select the title for this interview?
2. Summarize in three words, the essence of the first answers to the interviewer first three questions.
3. What are the “intangibles” Mr. Anderson is looking for when he interviews a potential vice president?
4. When he asks questions about family, what is he really looking for?
5. Ten years ago, this may not have been as important as it is today, what is it?
6. Explain “operational awareness” in your own words.
7. If you understand what’s right culturally, both in your company and globally, it is called ____________.
8. He gives 6 time management skills, list them and discuss the one most important to you.
9. Could you run a meeting using the 5 points he discusses? What are they?
10. What does he say about PowerPoint and how is his style different?
Moleskine (mol-a-skeen’-a) is a brand of notebook manufactured by Moleskine srl, an Italian company. Although the name implies otherwise, the notebook is not bound in moleskin, but in oilcloth-covered cardboard. Other distinct features include an elastic band to hold the notebook closed, a sewn spine that allows it to lie flat when opened, rounded corners, a ribbon bookmark and an expandable pocket inside the rear cover.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Great Interview with the CEO of Delta Airline
Here is a Great Interview with the CEO of Delta Airline explaining the importance of communication and working with people. Enjoy - Joe
CORNER OFFICE
He Wants Subjects, Verbs and Objects
This interview of Richard Anderson, chief executive of Delta Air Lines, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.
Q. What was the most important leadership lesson you learned?
A. I’ve learned to be patient and not lose my temper. And the reason that’s important is everything you do is an example, and people look at everything you do and take a signal from everything you do. And when you lose your temper, it really squelches debate and sends the wrong signal about how you want your organization to run. And it was a good lesson. It was a long time ago. And I had a C.E.O. who I was very close to, and he just took me aside and gave me a really short instruction about it. And it was a really important instruction.
We have a tendency in these jobs to push really, really hard and want to go really, really fast. Change can’t ever be fast enough. But you do have to be patient enough and make sure that you always remain calm.
Q. Are there other things that you’ve learned to do more of, or less?
A. You’ve got to be thankful to the people who get the work done, and you’ve got to be thankful to your customers. So, I find myself, more and more, writing hand-written notes to people. I must write a half a dozen a day.
Q. Looking back over your career, even to the early years, do you recall an insight that set you on a different trajectory?
A. Yes, and it was actually at my first job while I went to night law school at South Texas College of Law. And I had a good full-time job as the administrative assistant to the D.A. And what you understood was you really needed to be a problem-solver, not a problem-creator. You know, don’t bring a Rubik’s cube to the table, unless you have an idea on how you’re going to try to get an answer. And always try to be a leader that comes up with the creative answers to the hard problems.
Q. And what about advice on your career?
A. If you just focus on getting your job done and being a good colleague and a team player in an organization, and not focused about being overly ambitious and wanting pay raises and promotions and the like, and just doing your job and being a part of a team, the rest of it all takes care of itself.
Q. Did somebody give you that advice, or was that something that you came to understand yourself?
A. My mother and father died from cancer when I was 20, and so I was working full time, and I was pretty fortunate to be around a lot of good people that had that kind of culture and approach to things. It was just by osmosis that I came to those kinds of conclusions.
Q. Let’s talk about hiring. What are you looking for in job candidates?
A. Typically, when you’re hiring a vice president of a company, they already have the résumé and they already have the experience base. And so what you’re trying to find out about are the intangibles of leadership, communication style and the ability to, today, really adapt to change.
And there are a lot of ways to go at that. I like to ask people what they’ve read, what are the last three or four books they’ve read, and what did they enjoy about those. And to really understand them as individuals because, you know, the résumés you get are wonderful résumés. Wonderful education, great work history. So you have to probe a little bit deeper into the human intangibles, because we’ve all seen many instances where people had perfect résumés, but weren’t effective in an organization.
So it’s not just education and experience. It’s education, experience and the human factor. The situational awareness that a person has and their ability to fit into an organization and then be successful in the organization. It’s a whole series of intangibles that are almost gut instincts about people.
Q. What other questions do you ask?
A. You want to know about their family. Where they grew up. What their parents did. Where they went to high school. What their avocations were. How many kids they had in their family. You know, what their whole background and history is.
I learned that from a C.E.O. I worked for. The C.E.O. wouldn’t really spend that much time on the résumé, but spent most of the time wanting to know everything about the person’s life, family, what they liked, where they liked to go on vacation, what their kids were like. And it gave you a really good perspective about who they were as people.
You spend more of your waking time with your colleagues at the office than you do with your family and when you bring someone into that family — we have 50 senior leaders at our company and 70,000 employees — you need to make sure that they’re a fit to the culture. And that they’re going to be part of that group of people in a healthy functioning way.
Q. What are you listening for as somebody describes their family, where they’re from, etc.?
A. You’re looking for a really strong set of values. You’re looking for a really good work ethic. Really good communication skills. More and more, the ability to speak well and write is important. You know, writing is not something that is taught as strongly as it should be in the educational curriculum. So you’re looking for communication skills.
You’re looking for adaptability to change. You’re looking at, do you get along well with people? And are you the sort of person that can be a part of a team and motivate people? You know, do you have the emotional I.Q.?
It’s not just enough to be able to just do a nice PowerPoint presentation. You’ve got to have the ability to pick people. You’ve got to have the ability to communicate. When you find really capable people, it’s amazing how they proliferate capable people all through your organization. So that’s what you’re hunting for.
Q. And is there any change in the kind of qualities you’re looking for compared with 5, 10 years ago?
A. I think this communication point is getting more and more important. People really have to be able to handle the written and spoken word. And when I say written word, I don’t mean PowerPoints. I don’t think PowerPoints help people think as clearly as they should because you don’t have to put a complete thought in place. You can just put a phrase with a bullet in front of it. And it doesn’t have a subject, a verb and an object, so you aren’t expressing complete thoughts.
And a lot of what we do in communication, when you write e-mail, you need to express yourself very clearly so people understand whether we’re going to L.A. today or we’re going to Boston today.
The second thing is, I think you’ve got to have what our pilots call operational awareness. You’ve got to have your head up. You know, when you’re flying an airplane, you’ve got to have your head up and you’ve got to have situational awareness of everything that’s going on around you. There is so much going on in the world today, you’ve got to know what’s going on globally, what’s going on around you, particularly today with what’s going on in this economy.
And, third, you’ve got to have not just the business skills, you’ve got to have the emotional intelligence. It’s not just enough to be the best person operating an H.P. calculator. You have to have the emotional intelligence to understand what’s right culturally, both in your company and outside your company.
Q. Any good management or leadership books that you’ve read?
A. I think good history books are the best books on management. And particularly autobiographies and biographies. Right now, I’m reading “Theodore Rex.”
Q. What about time management?
A. Only touch paper once. No. 2, always have your homework done. No. 3, return your calls very promptly. No. 4, stick to your schedule. I keep my watch about 10 minutes ahead. It’s important to run on time, particularly at an airline. And use your time wisely. And then, once a month, take the rest of the calendar year, or the next six months and re-review how you are using your time and reprioritize what you’re doing.
Q. How do you run meetings?
A. One, get the materials out ahead of time and make sure they are succinct and to the point. Second, start the meeting on time. Third, I tend to be a stoic going into the meeting. I want the debate. I want to hear everybody’s perspective, so you want to try to ask more questions than make statements.
I don’t think it’s appropriate to use BlackBerrys in meetings. You might as well have the newspaper and open the newspaper up in the middle of the meeting. So let’s stay focused on what we’re doing. Let’s have a really good debate, but it can’t get uncollegial. If it gets uncollegial, we actually have a bell you can ring, in the conference room.
Q. Tell me more about this.
A. If you are in a really hard debate and somebody veers off the subject and goes after you in a way that isn’t fair, you get to ring the bell. It’s a violation of the rules of the road. So you ring the bell if something wasn’t a fair shot, and we all laugh.
Q. If you had to choose another profession, what would it be?
A. Probably a public defender. I enjoyed doing criminal trial work. Teach law school or go back into health care. You know, I spent three years at UnitedHealth Group, and the health care problems we face as a country are so daunting that it would be interesting, particularly given the focus on our government today, on trying to solve that set of problems.
Q. Are you a list keeper?
A. I use Moleskines. It’s just lists of things. Sometimes I’ll just sit down and write what I’m thinking about things, because I’m not a PowerPoint person. I’ll start at the upper left corner of the page and start writing, in complete thoughts, what I think. I have a long paper that I’m writing about our marketing strategy.
Q. What would you like to see business schools teach more?
A. When you’re managing as much change as corporations globally must deal with today, the ability to communicate and communicate effectively is so important that it ought to be a core capability in a business school curriculum. We measure, study, quantify, analyze every single piece of our business. Business schools in the United States have done a phenomenal job of creating that capability. But then you’ve got to be able to take all that data and information and transform it into change in the organization and improvement in the organization and the formulation of the business strategy.
You’ve got to execute, and that human factor part is important. I know it’s intangible and it’s not like finance where 2 plus 2 is 4. I don’t know whether it can be taught, but it can certainly be studied.
CORNER OFFICE
He Wants Subjects, Verbs and Objects
This interview of Richard Anderson, chief executive of Delta Air Lines, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.
Q. What was the most important leadership lesson you learned?
A. I’ve learned to be patient and not lose my temper. And the reason that’s important is everything you do is an example, and people look at everything you do and take a signal from everything you do. And when you lose your temper, it really squelches debate and sends the wrong signal about how you want your organization to run. And it was a good lesson. It was a long time ago. And I had a C.E.O. who I was very close to, and he just took me aside and gave me a really short instruction about it. And it was a really important instruction.
We have a tendency in these jobs to push really, really hard and want to go really, really fast. Change can’t ever be fast enough. But you do have to be patient enough and make sure that you always remain calm.
Q. Are there other things that you’ve learned to do more of, or less?
A. You’ve got to be thankful to the people who get the work done, and you’ve got to be thankful to your customers. So, I find myself, more and more, writing hand-written notes to people. I must write a half a dozen a day.
Q. Looking back over your career, even to the early years, do you recall an insight that set you on a different trajectory?
A. Yes, and it was actually at my first job while I went to night law school at South Texas College of Law. And I had a good full-time job as the administrative assistant to the D.A. And what you understood was you really needed to be a problem-solver, not a problem-creator. You know, don’t bring a Rubik’s cube to the table, unless you have an idea on how you’re going to try to get an answer. And always try to be a leader that comes up with the creative answers to the hard problems.
Q. And what about advice on your career?
A. If you just focus on getting your job done and being a good colleague and a team player in an organization, and not focused about being overly ambitious and wanting pay raises and promotions and the like, and just doing your job and being a part of a team, the rest of it all takes care of itself.
Q. Did somebody give you that advice, or was that something that you came to understand yourself?
A. My mother and father died from cancer when I was 20, and so I was working full time, and I was pretty fortunate to be around a lot of good people that had that kind of culture and approach to things. It was just by osmosis that I came to those kinds of conclusions.
Q. Let’s talk about hiring. What are you looking for in job candidates?
A. Typically, when you’re hiring a vice president of a company, they already have the résumé and they already have the experience base. And so what you’re trying to find out about are the intangibles of leadership, communication style and the ability to, today, really adapt to change.
And there are a lot of ways to go at that. I like to ask people what they’ve read, what are the last three or four books they’ve read, and what did they enjoy about those. And to really understand them as individuals because, you know, the résumés you get are wonderful résumés. Wonderful education, great work history. So you have to probe a little bit deeper into the human intangibles, because we’ve all seen many instances where people had perfect résumés, but weren’t effective in an organization.
So it’s not just education and experience. It’s education, experience and the human factor. The situational awareness that a person has and their ability to fit into an organization and then be successful in the organization. It’s a whole series of intangibles that are almost gut instincts about people.
Q. What other questions do you ask?
A. You want to know about their family. Where they grew up. What their parents did. Where they went to high school. What their avocations were. How many kids they had in their family. You know, what their whole background and history is.
I learned that from a C.E.O. I worked for. The C.E.O. wouldn’t really spend that much time on the résumé, but spent most of the time wanting to know everything about the person’s life, family, what they liked, where they liked to go on vacation, what their kids were like. And it gave you a really good perspective about who they were as people.
You spend more of your waking time with your colleagues at the office than you do with your family and when you bring someone into that family — we have 50 senior leaders at our company and 70,000 employees — you need to make sure that they’re a fit to the culture. And that they’re going to be part of that group of people in a healthy functioning way.
Q. What are you listening for as somebody describes their family, where they’re from, etc.?
A. You’re looking for a really strong set of values. You’re looking for a really good work ethic. Really good communication skills. More and more, the ability to speak well and write is important. You know, writing is not something that is taught as strongly as it should be in the educational curriculum. So you’re looking for communication skills.
You’re looking for adaptability to change. You’re looking at, do you get along well with people? And are you the sort of person that can be a part of a team and motivate people? You know, do you have the emotional I.Q.?
It’s not just enough to be able to just do a nice PowerPoint presentation. You’ve got to have the ability to pick people. You’ve got to have the ability to communicate. When you find really capable people, it’s amazing how they proliferate capable people all through your organization. So that’s what you’re hunting for.
Q. And is there any change in the kind of qualities you’re looking for compared with 5, 10 years ago?
A. I think this communication point is getting more and more important. People really have to be able to handle the written and spoken word. And when I say written word, I don’t mean PowerPoints. I don’t think PowerPoints help people think as clearly as they should because you don’t have to put a complete thought in place. You can just put a phrase with a bullet in front of it. And it doesn’t have a subject, a verb and an object, so you aren’t expressing complete thoughts.
And a lot of what we do in communication, when you write e-mail, you need to express yourself very clearly so people understand whether we’re going to L.A. today or we’re going to Boston today.
The second thing is, I think you’ve got to have what our pilots call operational awareness. You’ve got to have your head up. You know, when you’re flying an airplane, you’ve got to have your head up and you’ve got to have situational awareness of everything that’s going on around you. There is so much going on in the world today, you’ve got to know what’s going on globally, what’s going on around you, particularly today with what’s going on in this economy.
And, third, you’ve got to have not just the business skills, you’ve got to have the emotional intelligence. It’s not just enough to be the best person operating an H.P. calculator. You have to have the emotional intelligence to understand what’s right culturally, both in your company and outside your company.
Q. Any good management or leadership books that you’ve read?
A. I think good history books are the best books on management. And particularly autobiographies and biographies. Right now, I’m reading “Theodore Rex.”
Q. What about time management?
A. Only touch paper once. No. 2, always have your homework done. No. 3, return your calls very promptly. No. 4, stick to your schedule. I keep my watch about 10 minutes ahead. It’s important to run on time, particularly at an airline. And use your time wisely. And then, once a month, take the rest of the calendar year, or the next six months and re-review how you are using your time and reprioritize what you’re doing.
Q. How do you run meetings?
A. One, get the materials out ahead of time and make sure they are succinct and to the point. Second, start the meeting on time. Third, I tend to be a stoic going into the meeting. I want the debate. I want to hear everybody’s perspective, so you want to try to ask more questions than make statements.
I don’t think it’s appropriate to use BlackBerrys in meetings. You might as well have the newspaper and open the newspaper up in the middle of the meeting. So let’s stay focused on what we’re doing. Let’s have a really good debate, but it can’t get uncollegial. If it gets uncollegial, we actually have a bell you can ring, in the conference room.
Q. Tell me more about this.
A. If you are in a really hard debate and somebody veers off the subject and goes after you in a way that isn’t fair, you get to ring the bell. It’s a violation of the rules of the road. So you ring the bell if something wasn’t a fair shot, and we all laugh.
Q. If you had to choose another profession, what would it be?
A. Probably a public defender. I enjoyed doing criminal trial work. Teach law school or go back into health care. You know, I spent three years at UnitedHealth Group, and the health care problems we face as a country are so daunting that it would be interesting, particularly given the focus on our government today, on trying to solve that set of problems.
Q. Are you a list keeper?
A. I use Moleskines. It’s just lists of things. Sometimes I’ll just sit down and write what I’m thinking about things, because I’m not a PowerPoint person. I’ll start at the upper left corner of the page and start writing, in complete thoughts, what I think. I have a long paper that I’m writing about our marketing strategy.
Q. What would you like to see business schools teach more?
A. When you’re managing as much change as corporations globally must deal with today, the ability to communicate and communicate effectively is so important that it ought to be a core capability in a business school curriculum. We measure, study, quantify, analyze every single piece of our business. Business schools in the United States have done a phenomenal job of creating that capability. But then you’ve got to be able to take all that data and information and transform it into change in the organization and improvement in the organization and the formulation of the business strategy.
You’ve got to execute, and that human factor part is important. I know it’s intangible and it’s not like finance where 2 plus 2 is 4. I don’t know whether it can be taught, but it can certainly be studied.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Team Teaching of a Job Hunting Skill – Final Exam
Team Teaching of a Job Hunting Skill – Final Exam
You will be graded on the following:
1.Group involvement (each team member is to have and active part)
2.Class participation and involvement (involve everyone in active learning through activities and ease to understand instructions)
3.Preparation (No Reading of Presentation – May use PowerPoint and note cards)
4.Time (Keep within the assigned time – 20 to 30 minutes)
You will be graded on the following:
1.Group involvement (each team member is to have and active part)
2.Class participation and involvement (involve everyone in active learning through activities and ease to understand instructions)
3.Preparation (No Reading of Presentation – May use PowerPoint and note cards)
4.Time (Keep within the assigned time – 20 to 30 minutes)
Team Teaching of Idioms
Team Teaching of Idioms
You will be graded on the following:
1.Group involvement (each team member is to have and active part)
2.Class participation and involvement (involve everyone in active learning through activities with your instructions being easy to understand)
3.Teach at least one idiom per team member.
4.Preparation (No Reading of presentation – May use PowerPoint or note cards)
5.Time (Keep within the assigned time – 20 to 30 minutes)
You will be graded on the following:
1.Group involvement (each team member is to have and active part)
2.Class participation and involvement (involve everyone in active learning through activities with your instructions being easy to understand)
3.Teach at least one idiom per team member.
4.Preparation (No Reading of presentation – May use PowerPoint or note cards)
5.Time (Keep within the assigned time – 20 to 30 minutes)
Monday, April 13, 2009
Idiom Presentation Assignments By Group #
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 1
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
2. A picture is worth a thousand words
3. Bet your bottom dollar
4. Butterflies in your stomach
5. Could eat a horse
6. Diamond in the rough
7. Early bird catches the worm
8. Feel like a million
9. Garbage in, garbage out
10. Healthy as a horse
11. Just for the heck of it
12. Kiss something goodbye
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 2
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. All your eggs in one basket
2. A fool and his money are soon parted
3. Beggars can't be choosers
4. Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
5. Calm before the storm
6. Dead wrong
7. Don't bite the hand that feeds
8. Every trick in the book
9. Fly by the seat of one's pants
10. Frog in my throat
11. Jungle out there
12. Know which side one's bread is buttered on
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 3
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A penny saved is a penny earned
2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
3. Can of worms
4. Clean bill of health
5. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched
6. Fair and square
7. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me
8. Give someone a piece of your mind
9. Hold your horses
10. If it ain't broke, don't fix it
11. Just for the record
12. Kick the bucket
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 4
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. Don't cry over spilt milk
2. Change horses in midstream
3. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
4. Blow your own horn
5. Face only a mother could love
6. Head over heels in love
7. Keep your head above water
8. Know which way the wind blows
9. It's your funeral
10. Just in the nick of time
11. Kill the goose that lays the golden egg
12. Give me a hand
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 5
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. Blow the whistle
2. Cat got your tongue?
3. A little bird told me
4. A day late and a dollar short
5. Clean as a whistle
6. Draw the line
7. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise
8. Egg on your face
9. Eyes are bigger than one's stomach
10. Fly off the handle
11. Go fly a kite
12. Jury's out
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 6
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. Food for thought
2. Between a rock and a hard place
3. Ducks in a row
4. Actions speak louder than words
5. Beating a dead horse
6. Call on the carpet
7. Dead to the world
8. Face the music
9. Fat chance!
10. Full of hot air
11. Hook, line, and sinker
12. Keep your nose clean
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 7
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A little learning is a dangerous thing
2. Bite off more than you can chew
3. All the tea in China
4. Change of heart
5. Do their dirty work
6. Every cloud has a silver lining
7. Good fences make good neighbors
8. Icing on the cake
9. Keep your options open
10. Kill two birds with one stone
11. Brownie points
12. Bite someone's head off
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 8
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A rolling stone gathers no moss
2. Behind someone's back
3. Call it a day
4. Class act
5. Draw the line
6. Eleventh hour
7. Go for broke
8. Green light
9. Head south
10. Just around the corner
11. Foot in mouth
12. Count sheep
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link
2. A picture is worth a thousand words
3. Bet your bottom dollar
4. Butterflies in your stomach
5. Could eat a horse
6. Diamond in the rough
7. Early bird catches the worm
8. Feel like a million
9. Garbage in, garbage out
10. Healthy as a horse
11. Just for the heck of it
12. Kiss something goodbye
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 2
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. All your eggs in one basket
2. A fool and his money are soon parted
3. Beggars can't be choosers
4. Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
5. Calm before the storm
6. Dead wrong
7. Don't bite the hand that feeds
8. Every trick in the book
9. Fly by the seat of one's pants
10. Frog in my throat
11. Jungle out there
12. Know which side one's bread is buttered on
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 3
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A penny saved is a penny earned
2. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
3. Can of worms
4. Clean bill of health
5. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched
6. Fair and square
7. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me
8. Give someone a piece of your mind
9. Hold your horses
10. If it ain't broke, don't fix it
11. Just for the record
12. Kick the bucket
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 4
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. Don't cry over spilt milk
2. Change horses in midstream
3. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
4. Blow your own horn
5. Face only a mother could love
6. Head over heels in love
7. Keep your head above water
8. Know which way the wind blows
9. It's your funeral
10. Just in the nick of time
11. Kill the goose that lays the golden egg
12. Give me a hand
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 5
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. Blow the whistle
2. Cat got your tongue?
3. A little bird told me
4. A day late and a dollar short
5. Clean as a whistle
6. Draw the line
7. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise
8. Egg on your face
9. Eyes are bigger than one's stomach
10. Fly off the handle
11. Go fly a kite
12. Jury's out
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 6
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. Food for thought
2. Between a rock and a hard place
3. Ducks in a row
4. Actions speak louder than words
5. Beating a dead horse
6. Call on the carpet
7. Dead to the world
8. Face the music
9. Fat chance!
10. Full of hot air
11. Hook, line, and sinker
12. Keep your nose clean
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 7
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A little learning is a dangerous thing
2. Bite off more than you can chew
3. All the tea in China
4. Change of heart
5. Do their dirty work
6. Every cloud has a silver lining
7. Good fences make good neighbors
8. Icing on the cake
9. Keep your options open
10. Kill two birds with one stone
11. Brownie points
12. Bite someone's head off
*********************************************************
Idiom Presentation Assignment – Group 8
Team Name:___________________ Class # ___________
1. A rolling stone gathers no moss
2. Behind someone's back
3. Call it a day
4. Class act
5. Draw the line
6. Eleventh hour
7. Go for broke
8. Green light
9. Head south
10. Just around the corner
11. Foot in mouth
12. Count sheep
Team Presentations For Week of Apr. 20 - 24
Team Presentations For Week of Apr. 20 - 24
Please review the following four questions/statements and prepare to discuss at least one with your team next week.
1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
2. It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books." Compare knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
4. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
Please review the following four questions/statements and prepare to discuss at least one with your team next week.
1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
2. It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books." Compare knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
4. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
S U C C E S S F U L I N T E R V I E W
S U C C E S S I N I N T E R V I E W I N G A N D N E T W O R K I N G
INTERVIEW
TECHNIQUES
K E Y T O A S U C C E S S F U L I N T E R V I E W
The key to a successful interview is adequate preparation. Most employers ask the same basic questions, so prepare answers before an interview. Below is a list of questions frequently asked by employers, with some ideas on how you might answer. Avoid memorizing answers, but become confident about what you will say so that you can leave a positive first impression. Find someone to coach you through the questions—a friend, someone at the employment resource center, or your ward or stake employment specialist.
C O M M O N Q U E S T I O N S A N D A N S W E R S
Tell me something about yourself.
Develop a brief summary (two minutes or less) that includes positive work and volunteer habits. Use your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement along with “Power Statements” to answer.
What are some of your strengths? or
Why should we hire you?
Know your strengths, and use your Power Statements to prove them. Tell how you can add value to the company and how you can help make or save money.
Why do you want to work for us? or
What do you know about our company?
Do research before the interview in order to give an appropriate answer. Discuss how your skills would fill the needs of that company. Use a Power Statement.
What are some of your weaknesses?
Explain how you have turned perceived weaknesses into strengths. For example: “Some people say that I am too nice. But I have found that by being nice I am able to serve 14 percent more customers per shift, and I have 40 percent fewer complaints than my average co-worker.”
What do you think of your present [or past] employer?
Never criticize your last company or boss. Always use positive terms. Try using a Power Statement for your previous employer.
What do you hope to be doing in five years?
Indicate how you hope to make a positive contribution to the employer’s company. For example: “I’d like to be working for you in a position of responsibility.” Use a Power Statement to describe how you plan to benefit the company.
What do you expect as a salary or compensation?
Avoid mentioning a specific salary. You may respond with:
• What do you normally pay someone with my experience?
• What does your budget allow for this type of position?
• I know that I have to make you more money than it costs you to employ me. Let me first explain how I can do that.
[Use a Power Statement.]
Or you can ask to not discuss money until you find that you and the employer are a good match. Suggest that if you both find that you want to work together, then you can agree on a salary arrangement later.
Do you have any questions for me?
Ask questions such as:
Where do you see this company in five years?
What have been your experiences with this company?
Why is this position open?
Do you have any concerns about my abilities to do this job?
Would you share them with me?
What is your time frame for making a decision?
B E H A V I O R A L Q U E S T I O N S
Employers often ask questions to see how you react or behave in certain situations. Try to understand why the employer might be asking the question. As you give your answer, provide specific examples that show the employer your thought process. The following is a list of typical behavioral questions and what an employer might be evaluating:
• Describe the most recent situation you faced under pressure. How did you react?
Evaluation: Does the candidate explode? Walk away?
Give up? React in a mature way?
• Describe your last major mistake. Why did it happen? What did you do about it?
Evaluation: Does the candidate understand the seriousness of the situation? Is the reason he or she gives for the mistake logical?
• Tell me about a time when your ideas were rejected by your boss. How did you work through the situation?
Evaluation: Does the candidate bow down to management? Does he or she go back and do homework for another try? Is he or she persistent when right?
INTERVIEW
TECHNIQUES
K E Y T O A S U C C E S S F U L I N T E R V I E W
The key to a successful interview is adequate preparation. Most employers ask the same basic questions, so prepare answers before an interview. Below is a list of questions frequently asked by employers, with some ideas on how you might answer. Avoid memorizing answers, but become confident about what you will say so that you can leave a positive first impression. Find someone to coach you through the questions—a friend, someone at the employment resource center, or your ward or stake employment specialist.
C O M M O N Q U E S T I O N S A N D A N S W E R S
Tell me something about yourself.
Develop a brief summary (two minutes or less) that includes positive work and volunteer habits. Use your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement along with “Power Statements” to answer.
What are some of your strengths? or
Why should we hire you?
Know your strengths, and use your Power Statements to prove them. Tell how you can add value to the company and how you can help make or save money.
Why do you want to work for us? or
What do you know about our company?
Do research before the interview in order to give an appropriate answer. Discuss how your skills would fill the needs of that company. Use a Power Statement.
What are some of your weaknesses?
Explain how you have turned perceived weaknesses into strengths. For example: “Some people say that I am too nice. But I have found that by being nice I am able to serve 14 percent more customers per shift, and I have 40 percent fewer complaints than my average co-worker.”
What do you think of your present [or past] employer?
Never criticize your last company or boss. Always use positive terms. Try using a Power Statement for your previous employer.
What do you hope to be doing in five years?
Indicate how you hope to make a positive contribution to the employer’s company. For example: “I’d like to be working for you in a position of responsibility.” Use a Power Statement to describe how you plan to benefit the company.
What do you expect as a salary or compensation?
Avoid mentioning a specific salary. You may respond with:
• What do you normally pay someone with my experience?
• What does your budget allow for this type of position?
• I know that I have to make you more money than it costs you to employ me. Let me first explain how I can do that.
[Use a Power Statement.]
Or you can ask to not discuss money until you find that you and the employer are a good match. Suggest that if you both find that you want to work together, then you can agree on a salary arrangement later.
Do you have any questions for me?
Ask questions such as:
Where do you see this company in five years?
What have been your experiences with this company?
Why is this position open?
Do you have any concerns about my abilities to do this job?
Would you share them with me?
What is your time frame for making a decision?
B E H A V I O R A L Q U E S T I O N S
Employers often ask questions to see how you react or behave in certain situations. Try to understand why the employer might be asking the question. As you give your answer, provide specific examples that show the employer your thought process. The following is a list of typical behavioral questions and what an employer might be evaluating:
• Describe the most recent situation you faced under pressure. How did you react?
Evaluation: Does the candidate explode? Walk away?
Give up? React in a mature way?
• Describe your last major mistake. Why did it happen? What did you do about it?
Evaluation: Does the candidate understand the seriousness of the situation? Is the reason he or she gives for the mistake logical?
• Tell me about a time when your ideas were rejected by your boss. How did you work through the situation?
Evaluation: Does the candidate bow down to management? Does he or she go back and do homework for another try? Is he or she persistent when right?
P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R S K I L L S
PRESENTING
YOUR SKILLS
I N T E R V I E W S, R É S U M É S, A N D O T H E R I N T E R A C T I O N S
P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R S K I L L S
When presenting your skills to others, use concise statements that briefly describe the value you can bring to the organization. Highlight a strength you have, and show how you have used that strength to achieve results. This kind of statement is referred to as a Power Statement.
Presenting facts about your skills and experience is not boasting; it allows others to understand how you can add value to their organization. Power Statements strengthen interviews, résumés, thank-you letters, and “Me in 30 Seconds” statements Power Statements include two elements, “power words” and achievements.
P O W E R W O R D S
When highlighting your strengths, use “power words”—positive words or short phrases that describe you, such as the following:
• Self-starter • Results-oriented
• Creative • Productive
• Motivated • Problem-solver
• Decisive • Teachable
• Resourceful • Responsible
• Persistent • Adaptable
• Organized
A C H I E V E M E N T S
When you describe an achievement, you may include:
• A challenge you faced.
• Actions you performed to overcome the challenge.
• The results of your actions.
Be sincere about your achievements, and do not explain every detail. Be very brief, but share enough so that the person you are talking to will be interested in hearing more. He or she will keep the conversation going by asking for more detail or calling you for an interview. Below are some examples of different types of achievements you could share:
Efficiency
• Implemented a new statistical tracking method that reduced the average error rate by 14 percent.
• Introduced the design of a new product line that became a best seller in the marketplace.
• Successfully kept all delinquent accounts under 5 percent each week.
Value
• Developed a new employee training program that increased employee retention by more than 80 percent.
• Facilitated the reorganization of the inventory- purchasing department. More than 90 percent of the employees identified the changes as improvements.
• Implemented product design changes that resulted in fewer rejects.
Magnitude
• Developed a training program that contributed to a 35-percent increase in customer participation.
• Implemented a marketing strategy that directly increased quarterly sales by 25 percent.
• Restructured the manufacturing department, increasing daily yield by 15 percent.
Cost and Revenue
• Designed a new product line that increased annual revenue by $250,000.
• Negotiated a contract that increased annual revenue by over $3 million.
• Reduced quarterly operating expenses by 35 percent.
• Facilitated the turnaround of a troubled organization from a negative $150,000 to a positive $1.5 million.
S A M P L E P O W E R S T A T E M E N T S
• I can achieve results. For example, I started a new tracking method that reduced the errors by 14 percent.
• I make good decisions. For example, I applied product- design changes that resulted in fewer rejects.
• I am creative. For example, I designed a new product line that increased revenue by $250,000.
• I have organization management skills. For example, I reorganized the company’s manufacturing department, increasing yield by 15 percent.
C R E A T E Y O U R O W N P O W E R S T A T E M E N T
Use the following formula to create a Power Statement:
I am [use a “power word” to describe a major strength]. For example, I [describe an achievement].
YOUR SKILLS
I N T E R V I E W S, R É S U M É S, A N D O T H E R I N T E R A C T I O N S
P R E S E N T I N G Y O U R S K I L L S
When presenting your skills to others, use concise statements that briefly describe the value you can bring to the organization. Highlight a strength you have, and show how you have used that strength to achieve results. This kind of statement is referred to as a Power Statement.
Presenting facts about your skills and experience is not boasting; it allows others to understand how you can add value to their organization. Power Statements strengthen interviews, résumés, thank-you letters, and “Me in 30 Seconds” statements Power Statements include two elements, “power words” and achievements.
P O W E R W O R D S
When highlighting your strengths, use “power words”—positive words or short phrases that describe you, such as the following:
• Self-starter • Results-oriented
• Creative • Productive
• Motivated • Problem-solver
• Decisive • Teachable
• Resourceful • Responsible
• Persistent • Adaptable
• Organized
A C H I E V E M E N T S
When you describe an achievement, you may include:
• A challenge you faced.
• Actions you performed to overcome the challenge.
• The results of your actions.
Be sincere about your achievements, and do not explain every detail. Be very brief, but share enough so that the person you are talking to will be interested in hearing more. He or she will keep the conversation going by asking for more detail or calling you for an interview. Below are some examples of different types of achievements you could share:
Efficiency
• Implemented a new statistical tracking method that reduced the average error rate by 14 percent.
• Introduced the design of a new product line that became a best seller in the marketplace.
• Successfully kept all delinquent accounts under 5 percent each week.
Value
• Developed a new employee training program that increased employee retention by more than 80 percent.
• Facilitated the reorganization of the inventory- purchasing department. More than 90 percent of the employees identified the changes as improvements.
• Implemented product design changes that resulted in fewer rejects.
Magnitude
• Developed a training program that contributed to a 35-percent increase in customer participation.
• Implemented a marketing strategy that directly increased quarterly sales by 25 percent.
• Restructured the manufacturing department, increasing daily yield by 15 percent.
Cost and Revenue
• Designed a new product line that increased annual revenue by $250,000.
• Negotiated a contract that increased annual revenue by over $3 million.
• Reduced quarterly operating expenses by 35 percent.
• Facilitated the turnaround of a troubled organization from a negative $150,000 to a positive $1.5 million.
S A M P L E P O W E R S T A T E M E N T S
• I can achieve results. For example, I started a new tracking method that reduced the errors by 14 percent.
• I make good decisions. For example, I applied product- design changes that resulted in fewer rejects.
• I am creative. For example, I designed a new product line that increased revenue by $250,000.
• I have organization management skills. For example, I reorganized the company’s manufacturing department, increasing yield by 15 percent.
C R E A T E Y O U R O W N P O W E R S T A T E M E N T
Use the following formula to create a Power Statement:
I am [use a “power word” to describe a major strength]. For example, I [describe an achievement].
N E T W O R K
T H E B E S T W A Y T O F I N D J O B L E A D S
W H Y N E T W O R K ?
A “network” consists of people you know and the people they know. When you talk to people you know about your job search, find out who they know who can also help you with your job search. This is “networking.” Networking is the most effective way to find a job; approximately 70 percent of all jobs are found this way. In addition, it allows you to find out about jobs that are never advertised—the “hidden job market,” which accounts for 80 percent of all available jobs. Networking can also help you identify or find financing for self-employment or educational pursuits. Through networking you develop the ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of people. This skill is fundamental not only to a successful job search but to your overall job success.
M E T H O D S
The word work is part of networking. It is not easy work because it challenges you to reach outside your comfort zone. Besides meeting in person, use other effective methods of communication, such as letters, notes, clippings, and other positive interactions. Any honest effort can yield positive results.
Who is Most Helpful in Building a Network?
Begin networking with the people you know—family, friends, neighbors, church groups, social groups, volunteer organizations—and build your network to include:
• People who know something about your chosen career.
• People who know others who have influence.
• People who know a lot of other people.
Remember that to achieve quicker, better results, you should:
• Contact at least 10 people or resources per day.
• Get 2 new referrals from each contact.
• Set up at least 2 face-to-face meetings or interviews each day.
G U I D E L I N E S
It takes practice to learn how to network well. The best way to learn is by role-playing in a small group or workshop. It may take a while to feel comfortable. Here are some guidelines that can help you:
• Before meeting with someone, determine what you want to find out or accomplish.
• Make a good first impression. Within 10 seconds we form a detailed and persistent impression of anyone we meet. Researchers conclude that the impression we make when speaking to others comes largely from these three categories: What impressions do you give when speaking to others about your job search?
• When meeting someone for the first time, be sure to introduce yourself. Use a “Me in 30 Seconds” statement
• Ask those you meet with about themselves, and then listen. Ask about their work, how they got into their field, what they like about it, what is challenging, and so on. Remember that they may be networking too. Share information you have that may
be useful to them.
• Briefly describe what you are seeking and how you are qualified. Use a “Power Statement”.
• When appropriate (usually at the end of your conversation), exchange business cards and the namesof other people you should contact.
• The entire dialogue—introduction, discussion of your background, and agreement for further contact—can take place in as little as 2 or 3 minutes. After 8 or 10 minutes, move on.
• Although the exchange should be brief, avoid the mistake of trying to “sell” yourself prematurely. Those who are most successful establish a rapport first. Don’t rush it.
• Keep all commitments. The key to networking is to follow up. If you say you will call someone, do it soon after your conversation.
• Keep in contact with people in your network. While great benefit comes from new contacts, the best networking contact is someone you interact with more than once.
• Always send a thank-you note.
W H Y N E T W O R K ?
A “network” consists of people you know and the people they know. When you talk to people you know about your job search, find out who they know who can also help you with your job search. This is “networking.” Networking is the most effective way to find a job; approximately 70 percent of all jobs are found this way. In addition, it allows you to find out about jobs that are never advertised—the “hidden job market,” which accounts for 80 percent of all available jobs. Networking can also help you identify or find financing for self-employment or educational pursuits. Through networking you develop the ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of people. This skill is fundamental not only to a successful job search but to your overall job success.
M E T H O D S
The word work is part of networking. It is not easy work because it challenges you to reach outside your comfort zone. Besides meeting in person, use other effective methods of communication, such as letters, notes, clippings, and other positive interactions. Any honest effort can yield positive results.
Who is Most Helpful in Building a Network?
Begin networking with the people you know—family, friends, neighbors, church groups, social groups, volunteer organizations—and build your network to include:
• People who know something about your chosen career.
• People who know others who have influence.
• People who know a lot of other people.
Remember that to achieve quicker, better results, you should:
• Contact at least 10 people or resources per day.
• Get 2 new referrals from each contact.
• Set up at least 2 face-to-face meetings or interviews each day.
G U I D E L I N E S
It takes practice to learn how to network well. The best way to learn is by role-playing in a small group or workshop. It may take a while to feel comfortable. Here are some guidelines that can help you:
• Before meeting with someone, determine what you want to find out or accomplish.
• Make a good first impression. Within 10 seconds we form a detailed and persistent impression of anyone we meet. Researchers conclude that the impression we make when speaking to others comes largely from these three categories: What impressions do you give when speaking to others about your job search?
• When meeting someone for the first time, be sure to introduce yourself. Use a “Me in 30 Seconds” statement
• Ask those you meet with about themselves, and then listen. Ask about their work, how they got into their field, what they like about it, what is challenging, and so on. Remember that they may be networking too. Share information you have that may
be useful to them.
• Briefly describe what you are seeking and how you are qualified. Use a “Power Statement”.
• When appropriate (usually at the end of your conversation), exchange business cards and the namesof other people you should contact.
• The entire dialogue—introduction, discussion of your background, and agreement for further contact—can take place in as little as 2 or 3 minutes. After 8 or 10 minutes, move on.
• Although the exchange should be brief, avoid the mistake of trying to “sell” yourself prematurely. Those who are most successful establish a rapport first. Don’t rush it.
• Keep all commitments. The key to networking is to follow up. If you say you will call someone, do it soon after your conversation.
• Keep in contact with people in your network. While great benefit comes from new contacts, the best networking contact is someone you interact with more than once.
• Always send a thank-you note.
RESUME
G E T T I N G N O T I C E D B Y P O T E N T I A L E M P L O Y E RS
WRITING A
RESUME OR CV
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Employers will probably spend less than 30 seconds looking at your résumé or curriculum vitae (CV). They will interview only the strongest candidates. Follow the recommendations below to make yourself stand out:
• Focus on the needs of the potential employer. An employer should think, “Wow, this person has exactly what I need.” If possible, tailor your résumé or CV to employers’ specific job openings. Use key words found in the job description or advertisement.
• Use an easy-to-read format. This makes it more likely that the employer will read it.
Master Accounting Group—Plain City, CA
A California-based accounting group and tax consultancy, serving small to medium-sized businesses and private, high net-worth individuals.
Managed nine individuals at Master Accounting Group. Responsible for the corporate finance, budgets, accounting, payroll, accrual, cash flow, and reporting systems for numerous client companies. Achieved the following for client companies:
• Negotiated $125,000 settlement with the IRS, saving thousands of dollars in tax penalties.
• Saved $375,000 for a fast-growing client by setting up proper budgeting, backlog management, and cash-flow and reporting systems.
• Improved cash flow by $486,000 by designing and implementing an inventory purchasing department using a material requirement planning (MRP) system.
• Advised on organizational issues to minimize federal and state tax liabilities and improve profit margins and overall sales growth.
Master Accounting Group—Plain City, CA
A California-based accounting group and tax consultancy, serving small to medium-sized businesses and private, high net-worth individuals.
Managed nine individuals at Master Accounting Group. Responsible for the corporate finance, budgets, accounting, payroll, accrual, cash flow, and reporting systems for numerous client companies. Achieved the following for client companies:
• Negotiated $125,000 settlement with the IRS, saving thousands of dollars in tax penalties.
• Saved $375,000 for a fast-growing client by setting up proper budgeting, backlog management, and cash-flow and reporting systems.
• Improved cash flow by $486,000 by designing and implementing an inventory purchasing department using a material requirement planning (MRP) system.
• Advised on organizational issues to minimize federal and state tax liabilities and improve profit margins and overall sales growth.
• Put your strongest selling points at the beginning of sections or sentences.
• Ask others to proofread your résumé or CV to eliminate errors or inconsistencies. Employers notice sloppy mistakes.
• Clearly indicate contact information.
• Focus on measurable accomplishments from your prior experience that are relevant to the employer. Be succinct, but include substance and depth. Do not share everything about yourself.
• Be bold and honest. Use Power Statements to highlight your skills and experience.
T Y P E S O F R É S U M É S A N D C V
Targeted
A targeted résumé or CV focuses on a particular objective within a specific industry or company. It highlights skills, qualifications, and experience matching a position’s requirements. This format is most effective when you know the specifics about the position or company.
Chronological
A chronological résumé or CV shows the progression of your career, from entry-level to senior-level jobs.
Hiring managers prefer employment information with the most recent job listed first. Many employers want to know details about where you have worked in the past, including dates. This format is most appropriate if:
• You have a solid career history within the same area with no major gaps.
• Each career change has brought you increased responsibilities.
• You have had high-profile job roles.
• Your recent jobs are the most important in your career history.
Functional (Skills)
A functional résumé or CV emphasizes your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications rather than when and where you used them. It focuses on the skills relevant to the current job search and groups them by function. This format is best for graduating students with little “real-world” experience, those who have been out of the workforce for long periods, and job seekers who are changing from one career or industry to another.
Combination
A combination résumé or CV combines the functional and chronological formats. It lists your achievements and skills and then your job history. A combination format is the best choice if:
• You have performed a diverse or unique range of job functions and you need to showcase your abilities.
• You have a definite career path.
• You have targeted a job that is related to your job history and experience.
You will want to use a different format if your work experience is limited, if you have several or unexplained employment gaps, or if you have changed jobs frequently.
Inventory
An inventory résumé or CV presents a general overview of your skills, achievements, and qualifications. If it states an objective or career path, it uses general terms (such as “a secretary working with a local company,” “a computer programmer,” or “a salesperson”), though it should still be consistent with your career goals.
This format is most effective if you:
• Plan to send your résumé or CV to various recruiters.
• Do not have a specific job objective.
• Need to submit your résumé or CV for many positions
in order to save time.
• Need to compose different résumés or CV that correspond to a different career objective. If you are interested in several careers, write several inventory résumés or CV, each for a particular career goal.
Note: Use caution when using the inventory format. This is not the most effective method, but may be appropriate for some. Consult with your ward or stake employment specialist or the employment resource center to determine if it is right for you.
WRITING A
RESUME OR CV
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N S
Employers will probably spend less than 30 seconds looking at your résumé or curriculum vitae (CV). They will interview only the strongest candidates. Follow the recommendations below to make yourself stand out:
• Focus on the needs of the potential employer. An employer should think, “Wow, this person has exactly what I need.” If possible, tailor your résumé or CV to employers’ specific job openings. Use key words found in the job description or advertisement.
• Use an easy-to-read format. This makes it more likely that the employer will read it.
Master Accounting Group—Plain City, CA
A California-based accounting group and tax consultancy, serving small to medium-sized businesses and private, high net-worth individuals.
Managed nine individuals at Master Accounting Group. Responsible for the corporate finance, budgets, accounting, payroll, accrual, cash flow, and reporting systems for numerous client companies. Achieved the following for client companies:
• Negotiated $125,000 settlement with the IRS, saving thousands of dollars in tax penalties.
• Saved $375,000 for a fast-growing client by setting up proper budgeting, backlog management, and cash-flow and reporting systems.
• Improved cash flow by $486,000 by designing and implementing an inventory purchasing department using a material requirement planning (MRP) system.
• Advised on organizational issues to minimize federal and state tax liabilities and improve profit margins and overall sales growth.
Master Accounting Group—Plain City, CA
A California-based accounting group and tax consultancy, serving small to medium-sized businesses and private, high net-worth individuals.
Managed nine individuals at Master Accounting Group. Responsible for the corporate finance, budgets, accounting, payroll, accrual, cash flow, and reporting systems for numerous client companies. Achieved the following for client companies:
• Negotiated $125,000 settlement with the IRS, saving thousands of dollars in tax penalties.
• Saved $375,000 for a fast-growing client by setting up proper budgeting, backlog management, and cash-flow and reporting systems.
• Improved cash flow by $486,000 by designing and implementing an inventory purchasing department using a material requirement planning (MRP) system.
• Advised on organizational issues to minimize federal and state tax liabilities and improve profit margins and overall sales growth.
• Put your strongest selling points at the beginning of sections or sentences.
• Ask others to proofread your résumé or CV to eliminate errors or inconsistencies. Employers notice sloppy mistakes.
• Clearly indicate contact information.
• Focus on measurable accomplishments from your prior experience that are relevant to the employer. Be succinct, but include substance and depth. Do not share everything about yourself.
• Be bold and honest. Use Power Statements to highlight your skills and experience.
T Y P E S O F R É S U M É S A N D C V
Targeted
A targeted résumé or CV focuses on a particular objective within a specific industry or company. It highlights skills, qualifications, and experience matching a position’s requirements. This format is most effective when you know the specifics about the position or company.
Chronological
A chronological résumé or CV shows the progression of your career, from entry-level to senior-level jobs.
Hiring managers prefer employment information with the most recent job listed first. Many employers want to know details about where you have worked in the past, including dates. This format is most appropriate if:
• You have a solid career history within the same area with no major gaps.
• Each career change has brought you increased responsibilities.
• You have had high-profile job roles.
• Your recent jobs are the most important in your career history.
Functional (Skills)
A functional résumé or CV emphasizes your accomplishments, skills, and qualifications rather than when and where you used them. It focuses on the skills relevant to the current job search and groups them by function. This format is best for graduating students with little “real-world” experience, those who have been out of the workforce for long periods, and job seekers who are changing from one career or industry to another.
Combination
A combination résumé or CV combines the functional and chronological formats. It lists your achievements and skills and then your job history. A combination format is the best choice if:
• You have performed a diverse or unique range of job functions and you need to showcase your abilities.
• You have a definite career path.
• You have targeted a job that is related to your job history and experience.
You will want to use a different format if your work experience is limited, if you have several or unexplained employment gaps, or if you have changed jobs frequently.
Inventory
An inventory résumé or CV presents a general overview of your skills, achievements, and qualifications. If it states an objective or career path, it uses general terms (such as “a secretary working with a local company,” “a computer programmer,” or “a salesperson”), though it should still be consistent with your career goals.
This format is most effective if you:
• Plan to send your résumé or CV to various recruiters.
• Do not have a specific job objective.
• Need to submit your résumé or CV for many positions
in order to save time.
• Need to compose different résumés or CV that correspond to a different career objective. If you are interested in several careers, write several inventory résumés or CV, each for a particular career goal.
Note: Use caution when using the inventory format. This is not the most effective method, but may be appropriate for some. Consult with your ward or stake employment specialist or the employment resource center to determine if it is right for you.
ME IN 30 SECONDS
ME IN 30 SECONDS
H O W T O S U C C E E D I N I N T E R V I E W S A N D N E T W O R K I N G
W H A T I S A “ M E I N 3 0 S E C O N D S ”
S T A T E M E N T ?
A “Me in 30 Seconds” statement is a simple way to present to someone else a balanced understanding of who you are. It piques the interest of a listener who invites you to “Tell me a little about yourself,” and it provides a brief and compelling answer to the question “Why should I hire you?”
W H A T S H O U L D I T I N C L U D E ?
When well crafted, your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement will include:
• A brief personal introduction that includes your career objective or the type of position you want.
• Three or four specific accomplishments that prove you meet or exceed the requirements for that position.
• A few character traits or adaptive skills that set you apart from typical applicants. When networking, finish your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement with probing questions that cannot be answered with a “yes” or “no” to start a conversation that may lead to referrals or job opportunities. For example:
WHO do you know who works in _______________?
WHAT businesses are in the area that _______________?
WHO do you know who knows a lot of people?
O T H E R P O I N T S T O C O N S I D E R
• Keep your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement brief. People generally listen effectively only 30 to 60 seconds, and they appreciate concise responses to questions. This indicates that you are clearly focused and waste no time getting to the point.
• Speak in the present tense to show that your skills are current and applicable in today’s market.
• Remember your audience. Adjust the level of detail and industry jargon you use according to the interest and experience of the person you are addressing.
• Avoid common claims such as: “I’m trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind,” and so on. Not only are these claims made by most job seekers, but without detailed examples, they don’t convey your value to a potential employer.
• Make your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement natural. It is a genuine form of communication that will help you organize everything you are into brief, coherent thoughts.
S A M P L E S T A T E M E N T S
Sample “Me in 30 Seconds” statements for networking:
“My name is Randy Patterson, and I’m currently looking for a job in youth services. I have 10 years of experience working with youth agencies. I have a bachelor’s degree in outdoor education. I raise money, train leaders, and organize units. I have raised over $100,000 each of the last six years. I consider myself a good public speaker, and I have a good sense of humor.
“Who do you know who works with youth?”
“My name is Lucas Martin, and I enjoy meeting new people and finding ways to help them have an uplifting experience. I have had a variety of customer service opportunities, through which I was able to have fewer returned products and increased repeat customers, when compared with co-workers. I am dedicated, outgoing, and a team player. Who could I speak with in your customer service department about your organization’s customer service needs?”
Sample “Me in 30 Seconds” statement for an interview:
“People find me to be an upbeat, self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills. For the past several years I have worked in lead qualification, telemarketing, and customer service in the technology industry. My experience includes successfully calling people in director-level positions of technology departments and developing viable leads. I have a track record of maintaining a consistent call and activity volume and consistently achieving the top 10 percent in sales, and I can do the same thing for your company.”
“I am a dedicated person with a family of four. I enjoy reading, and the knowledge and perspective that my reading gives me has strengthened my teaching skills and presentation abilities. I have been successful at raising a family, and I attribute this success to my ability to plan, schedule, and handle many different tasks at once. This flexibility will help me in the classroom, where there are many different personalities and learning styles.”
H O W T O S U C C E E D I N I N T E R V I E W S A N D N E T W O R K I N G
W H A T I S A “ M E I N 3 0 S E C O N D S ”
S T A T E M E N T ?
A “Me in 30 Seconds” statement is a simple way to present to someone else a balanced understanding of who you are. It piques the interest of a listener who invites you to “Tell me a little about yourself,” and it provides a brief and compelling answer to the question “Why should I hire you?”
W H A T S H O U L D I T I N C L U D E ?
When well crafted, your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement will include:
• A brief personal introduction that includes your career objective or the type of position you want.
• Three or four specific accomplishments that prove you meet or exceed the requirements for that position.
• A few character traits or adaptive skills that set you apart from typical applicants. When networking, finish your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement with probing questions that cannot be answered with a “yes” or “no” to start a conversation that may lead to referrals or job opportunities. For example:
WHO do you know who works in _______________?
WHAT businesses are in the area that _______________?
WHO do you know who knows a lot of people?
O T H E R P O I N T S T O C O N S I D E R
• Keep your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement brief. People generally listen effectively only 30 to 60 seconds, and they appreciate concise responses to questions. This indicates that you are clearly focused and waste no time getting to the point.
• Speak in the present tense to show that your skills are current and applicable in today’s market.
• Remember your audience. Adjust the level of detail and industry jargon you use according to the interest and experience of the person you are addressing.
• Avoid common claims such as: “I’m trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind,” and so on. Not only are these claims made by most job seekers, but without detailed examples, they don’t convey your value to a potential employer.
• Make your “Me in 30 Seconds” statement natural. It is a genuine form of communication that will help you organize everything you are into brief, coherent thoughts.
S A M P L E S T A T E M E N T S
Sample “Me in 30 Seconds” statements for networking:
“My name is Randy Patterson, and I’m currently looking for a job in youth services. I have 10 years of experience working with youth agencies. I have a bachelor’s degree in outdoor education. I raise money, train leaders, and organize units. I have raised over $100,000 each of the last six years. I consider myself a good public speaker, and I have a good sense of humor.
“Who do you know who works with youth?”
“My name is Lucas Martin, and I enjoy meeting new people and finding ways to help them have an uplifting experience. I have had a variety of customer service opportunities, through which I was able to have fewer returned products and increased repeat customers, when compared with co-workers. I am dedicated, outgoing, and a team player. Who could I speak with in your customer service department about your organization’s customer service needs?”
Sample “Me in 30 Seconds” statement for an interview:
“People find me to be an upbeat, self-motivated team player with excellent communication skills. For the past several years I have worked in lead qualification, telemarketing, and customer service in the technology industry. My experience includes successfully calling people in director-level positions of technology departments and developing viable leads. I have a track record of maintaining a consistent call and activity volume and consistently achieving the top 10 percent in sales, and I can do the same thing for your company.”
“I am a dedicated person with a family of four. I enjoy reading, and the knowledge and perspective that my reading gives me has strengthened my teaching skills and presentation abilities. I have been successful at raising a family, and I attribute this success to my ability to plan, schedule, and handle many different tasks at once. This flexibility will help me in the classroom, where there are many different personalities and learning styles.”
C O V E R L E T T E R S
G E T T I N G N O T I C E D B Y P O T E N T I A L E M P L O Y E R S
WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION
C O V E R L E T T E R S
A cover letter usually accompanies a résumé or curriculum vitae. It should be written to show how your skills and experience meet the specific requirements of a position. Be simple and direct in your cover letter; remember that most people spend less than 10–30 seconds reading a cover letter and résumé.
A cover letter typically consists of three short paragraphs. In the first paragraph, explain how you know of the company, state the job you are interested in, and describe how you fit with the company’s needs. In the second paragraph, list your strengths, accomplishments, skills, and goals, and explain how these will add value to the company. Use of your Power Statement will help you make your cover letter stronger and persuasive.
In the third paragraph, indicate that you will follow up by a specific date to answer questions. You may also indicate that you want to arrange for an interview.
As you write your cover letter, include the specific job title you are applying for, and use other key words that the employer will recognize as requirements for the job. When sending a résumé as an e-mail attachment, send the cover letter in the same attachment. For example, if you have a two-page résumé, send a three-page attachment, with the cover letter as the first page and the résumé as the second and third pages.
Joe Jobseeker
12334 N. East Dr.
Plain City, CA 90987
1-987-555-3210
Joe_jobseeker@e-mail.com
May 25, 2007
(4) Mr. John Doe, District Sales Manager
XYZ Corporation
1234 Main St.
Plain City, CA 90987
Dear Mr. Doe,
(3) For more than 12 years I have been in international sales, with the last 8 years in the
biotech industry. I have lived in four different countries and have worked with both
civilian and military establishments in developing sales. Your recent add in the Wall
Street Journal for a sales engineer indicates that your needs are well matched by my
qualifications:
(2) You Require
• 8–10 years sales and marketing experience
• Overseas selection and training
• Knowledge of selling U.S. products overseas
• Engineering degree
• Knowledge of foreign biotech industries
My Experience
• 12 years in international sales
• Hired, directed, and trained more than one hundred sales reps in four countries
• Generated $28 million in sales with excellent margins
• BS degree in chemical engineering
• Worked with numerous markets in various countries
I feel confident that my expertise would benefit an established, growing biotech company
such as yours. (1) I will call you early next week to answer any questions you may
have. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to discussing the benefits I could
bring to your company.
Sincerely,
Joe Jobseeker
(1) Always promise to follow up, thank the reader for his or her time and consideration, and sign the letter.
(2) Use the specific job title; show how you meet the job requirements. The cover letter should not, however, be a summary of your résumé.
(3) The introduction should be strong and straightforward. Minimize the use of “I,” especially at the beginning of a sentence.
(4) Customize each letter with accurate company, job, and specific contact information.
E M P L O Y M E N T A P P L I C A T I O N S
Employers use applications to judge you. Applications also provide an opportunity to sell your qualifications. The following suggestions will help you make a positive first impression.
Following Directions
Read the entire application before you begin. Pay close attention to what is asked and how you should respond. Observe instructions such as “Do not write below this line” and “Office use only.”
Positive Visual Impact
Print neatly, and use correct spelling and grammar. Use black ink, and respond to all questions. Don’t leave any spaces blank or questions unanswered. Write “NA” (not applicable) if an item doesn’t apply to you. Avoid negative information if possible. Look for ways to show you’re the right person for the job.
Content
When the application asks what position you are seeking, use the specific job title used in the advertisement (not “Any” or “Open”). If you are interested in more than one job, fill out more than one application. Include education, employment history, clear and concise descriptions of previous job duties, a list of significant skills, and reference information. However, don’t volunteer more information than the employer requires. Try to use positive statements about why you left a job. If possible, avoid terms like “Fired,” “Quit,” “Illness,” or “Personal Reasons.” Such terms may screen you out of the job.
Honesty
Your application will become a permanent part of your record when hired. False information can be a basis for dismissal.
Salary Requirements
Use “Open” or “Negotiable” in response to salary questions.
References
When asked to provide references, choose people who can talk specifically about your qualifications. Ask them for permission to use them as references, and give them suggestions of things they might say about you. Work and professional references usually carry more weight than academic or personal references.
T H A N K - Y O U L E T T E R S
A good follow-up letter, such as a thank-you letter, is one of the most important tools in job searching and networking. Send a thank-you letter within three days of your conversation or interview. In the letter, thank the person for taking time to meet with you, and reemphasize your interest. Refer to things you discussed in your conversation or interview that were most appealing to you. Thank the person again for his or her time and consideration. Offer to provide further information as needed, and offer to meet again.
WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION
C O V E R L E T T E R S
A cover letter usually accompanies a résumé or curriculum vitae. It should be written to show how your skills and experience meet the specific requirements of a position. Be simple and direct in your cover letter; remember that most people spend less than 10–30 seconds reading a cover letter and résumé.
A cover letter typically consists of three short paragraphs. In the first paragraph, explain how you know of the company, state the job you are interested in, and describe how you fit with the company’s needs. In the second paragraph, list your strengths, accomplishments, skills, and goals, and explain how these will add value to the company. Use of your Power Statement will help you make your cover letter stronger and persuasive.
In the third paragraph, indicate that you will follow up by a specific date to answer questions. You may also indicate that you want to arrange for an interview.
As you write your cover letter, include the specific job title you are applying for, and use other key words that the employer will recognize as requirements for the job. When sending a résumé as an e-mail attachment, send the cover letter in the same attachment. For example, if you have a two-page résumé, send a three-page attachment, with the cover letter as the first page and the résumé as the second and third pages.
Joe Jobseeker
12334 N. East Dr.
Plain City, CA 90987
1-987-555-3210
Joe_jobseeker@e-mail.com
May 25, 2007
(4) Mr. John Doe, District Sales Manager
XYZ Corporation
1234 Main St.
Plain City, CA 90987
Dear Mr. Doe,
(3) For more than 12 years I have been in international sales, with the last 8 years in the
biotech industry. I have lived in four different countries and have worked with both
civilian and military establishments in developing sales. Your recent add in the Wall
Street Journal for a sales engineer indicates that your needs are well matched by my
qualifications:
(2) You Require
• 8–10 years sales and marketing experience
• Overseas selection and training
• Knowledge of selling U.S. products overseas
• Engineering degree
• Knowledge of foreign biotech industries
My Experience
• 12 years in international sales
• Hired, directed, and trained more than one hundred sales reps in four countries
• Generated $28 million in sales with excellent margins
• BS degree in chemical engineering
• Worked with numerous markets in various countries
I feel confident that my expertise would benefit an established, growing biotech company
such as yours. (1) I will call you early next week to answer any questions you may
have. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to discussing the benefits I could
bring to your company.
Sincerely,
Joe Jobseeker
(1) Always promise to follow up, thank the reader for his or her time and consideration, and sign the letter.
(2) Use the specific job title; show how you meet the job requirements. The cover letter should not, however, be a summary of your résumé.
(3) The introduction should be strong and straightforward. Minimize the use of “I,” especially at the beginning of a sentence.
(4) Customize each letter with accurate company, job, and specific contact information.
E M P L O Y M E N T A P P L I C A T I O N S
Employers use applications to judge you. Applications also provide an opportunity to sell your qualifications. The following suggestions will help you make a positive first impression.
Following Directions
Read the entire application before you begin. Pay close attention to what is asked and how you should respond. Observe instructions such as “Do not write below this line” and “Office use only.”
Positive Visual Impact
Print neatly, and use correct spelling and grammar. Use black ink, and respond to all questions. Don’t leave any spaces blank or questions unanswered. Write “NA” (not applicable) if an item doesn’t apply to you. Avoid negative information if possible. Look for ways to show you’re the right person for the job.
Content
When the application asks what position you are seeking, use the specific job title used in the advertisement (not “Any” or “Open”). If you are interested in more than one job, fill out more than one application. Include education, employment history, clear and concise descriptions of previous job duties, a list of significant skills, and reference information. However, don’t volunteer more information than the employer requires. Try to use positive statements about why you left a job. If possible, avoid terms like “Fired,” “Quit,” “Illness,” or “Personal Reasons.” Such terms may screen you out of the job.
Honesty
Your application will become a permanent part of your record when hired. False information can be a basis for dismissal.
Salary Requirements
Use “Open” or “Negotiable” in response to salary questions.
References
When asked to provide references, choose people who can talk specifically about your qualifications. Ask them for permission to use them as references, and give them suggestions of things they might say about you. Work and professional references usually carry more weight than academic or personal references.
T H A N K - Y O U L E T T E R S
A good follow-up letter, such as a thank-you letter, is one of the most important tools in job searching and networking. Send a thank-you letter within three days of your conversation or interview. In the letter, thank the person for taking time to meet with you, and reemphasize your interest. Refer to things you discussed in your conversation or interview that were most appealing to you. Thank the person again for his or her time and consideration. Offer to provide further information as needed, and offer to meet again.
T H E B E S T W A Y T O F I N D A J O B
T H E B E S T W A Y T O F I N D A J O B
JOB SEARCH
PLANNING
H O W P E O P L E F I N D J O B S
People spend the least amount of time during their job search contacting companies directly or talking to people about their job search, and they spend most of their time looking at ads in papers and online.
However, people find jobs from four major sources:
• Word-of-mouth referrals
• Direct contact with companies
• Advertisements and Internet listings
• Employment agencies and recruiters
Of these four major sources, most people find jobs through word-of-mouth referrals and by contacting companies directly. However, all of these sources produce results.
35% Word of mouth
30% Contacting companies
14% Ads and Internet
11% Agencies and recruiters
10% Other*
*Includes referrals from schools, unions, trade journals, and civil services (government) tests
Successful job seekers spend some time using each source, and they spend the most time using the sources that produce the most success.
W E E K L Y J O B S E A R C H M O D E L
To achieve job-searching results as quickly as possible, you should:
• Contact at least 10 people or resources per day, 5 days per week.
• Get 2 new referrals from each contact.
• Set up at least 2 face-to-face meetings or interviews each day.
The following model, based on the goal of contacting 50 people or resources per week, will help you optimize your job search. After contacting companies and employers, be sure to follow up within a few days to maintain momentum.
Word-of-Mouth Referrals
Make at least 18 networking contacts per week.
Contacting Companies Directly
Make at least 15 contacts with companies per week.
Advertisements and Internet Listings
Limit your use of this source to 7 leads per week.
Employment Agencies and Recruiters
Limit your use of this source to 5 leads per week.
Additional Contacts
Make 5 more contacts during the week using any of the 4 main sources or through schools, unions, trade
journals, or government services.
E V A L U A T E Y O U R J O B S E A R C H
Record your daily activities, and compare your job search to the suggested model. Over time, you will see how well your search is progressing and how long the search might take. Evaluate your experiences with a job coach to determine what works well and what you might do to improve.
R E M E M B E R
Employers suggest you also include the following in your job search:
• Maintain a neat appearance, including good hygiene. Body piercings and shorts can give employers a negative impression.
• Be complete, honest, and accurate on applications and résumés or curricula vitae.
• Exhibit a good attitude (be polite and eager, maintain good eye contact, smile, and so on).
• Prepare for meetings by researching companies, practicing interviewing, and bringing your personal information.
Finding a new job is a full-time job. Plan to work at it with the same discipline you would if you were working full-time. For example, keep regular working hours. It is important that family members and others support your efforts. Help them understand that if you work half-time on your job search, you will be unemployed twice as long.
Your job search is expensive. Just to make the math easy, assume you will be making $50,000 yearly at your next job. Since most people work 50 weeks per year, your job search is costing you approximately $1,000 per week, so try to make it as quick and efficient as possible.
JOB SEARCH
PLANNING
H O W P E O P L E F I N D J O B S
People spend the least amount of time during their job search contacting companies directly or talking to people about their job search, and they spend most of their time looking at ads in papers and online.
However, people find jobs from four major sources:
• Word-of-mouth referrals
• Direct contact with companies
• Advertisements and Internet listings
• Employment agencies and recruiters
Of these four major sources, most people find jobs through word-of-mouth referrals and by contacting companies directly. However, all of these sources produce results.
35% Word of mouth
30% Contacting companies
14% Ads and Internet
11% Agencies and recruiters
10% Other*
*Includes referrals from schools, unions, trade journals, and civil services (government) tests
Successful job seekers spend some time using each source, and they spend the most time using the sources that produce the most success.
W E E K L Y J O B S E A R C H M O D E L
To achieve job-searching results as quickly as possible, you should:
• Contact at least 10 people or resources per day, 5 days per week.
• Get 2 new referrals from each contact.
• Set up at least 2 face-to-face meetings or interviews each day.
The following model, based on the goal of contacting 50 people or resources per week, will help you optimize your job search. After contacting companies and employers, be sure to follow up within a few days to maintain momentum.
Word-of-Mouth Referrals
Make at least 18 networking contacts per week.
Contacting Companies Directly
Make at least 15 contacts with companies per week.
Advertisements and Internet Listings
Limit your use of this source to 7 leads per week.
Employment Agencies and Recruiters
Limit your use of this source to 5 leads per week.
Additional Contacts
Make 5 more contacts during the week using any of the 4 main sources or through schools, unions, trade
journals, or government services.
E V A L U A T E Y O U R J O B S E A R C H
Record your daily activities, and compare your job search to the suggested model. Over time, you will see how well your search is progressing and how long the search might take. Evaluate your experiences with a job coach to determine what works well and what you might do to improve.
R E M E M B E R
Employers suggest you also include the following in your job search:
• Maintain a neat appearance, including good hygiene. Body piercings and shorts can give employers a negative impression.
• Be complete, honest, and accurate on applications and résumés or curricula vitae.
• Exhibit a good attitude (be polite and eager, maintain good eye contact, smile, and so on).
• Prepare for meetings by researching companies, practicing interviewing, and bringing your personal information.
Finding a new job is a full-time job. Plan to work at it with the same discipline you would if you were working full-time. For example, keep regular working hours. It is important that family members and others support your efforts. Help them understand that if you work half-time on your job search, you will be unemployed twice as long.
Your job search is expensive. Just to make the math easy, assume you will be making $50,000 yearly at your next job. Since most people work 50 weeks per year, your job search is costing you approximately $1,000 per week, so try to make it as quick and efficient as possible.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Last Leaf in Chinese
I obviously want you to read "The Last Leaf" in English, however it is a difficult read and I thought it would be helpful to you to also have it in Chinese. So here it is for you to compare the English with as you read if you have questions. I hope you enjoy it. Joe
(The Last Leaf in Chinese)
最后一片叶子(欧亨利） 在华盛顿广场西边的一个小区里，街道横七竖八地伸展开去，又分裂成一小条一小条的“胡同”。这些“胡同”希奇古怪地拐着弯子，一条街有时自己本身就交叉了不止一次。有一回一个画家发现这条街有一种优越性：要是有个收账的跑到这个街上，来催要颜料、纸张和画布的钱，他就会突然发现自己两手空空，原路返回，一文钱的帐也没有要到！ 所以，不久之后不少画家就摸索到这个古色古香的老格林尼治村来，寻求朝北的窗户、十八世纪的尖顶山墙、荷兰式的阁楼，以及低廉的房租。然后，他们又从第六街买来一些锡蜡酒杯和一两只火锅，这里便成了“艺术区”。 苏和琼西的画室设在一所又宽又矮的三层楼砖房的顶楼上。“琼西”是琼娜的爱称。她俩一个来自缅因州，一个是加利福尼亚州人。她们是在第八街的“台尔蒙尼歌之家”吃份饭时碰到的，她们发现彼此对艺术、生菜色拉和时装的爱好非常一致，便合租了那间画室。 那是五月里的事。到了十一月，一个冷酷的、肉眼看不见的、医生们叫做“肺炎”的不速之客，在艺术区里悄悄地游荡，用他冷冰的手指这里碰一下，那里碰一下。在广场东头，这个老家伙明目张胆地踏着大步，一下子就击倒几十个受害者，可是在迷宫一样、狭窄而铺满青苔的“胡同”里，他的步伐就慢了下来。 肺炎不是一个你们心中行侠仗义的老年绅士一个身子单薄、被加利福尼亚州的西风刮得没有血色的弱女子，本来不应该是这个有着红拳头的、呼吸急促的破坏者打击的对象。然而，琼西却遭到了打击。她躺在一张油漆过的铁床上，一动也不动，凝望着小小的荷兰式玻璃窗外对面砖房的空墙。 一天早晨，那个忙碌的医生扬了扬他那毛茸茸的灰白色眉毛，把苏叫到外边的走廊上。 “我看她的病只有十分之一的恢复希望。”他一面把体温表里的水银柱甩下去一面说，“这一分希望就是她想要活下去的念头。有些人好像不愿意活下去，喜欢照顾殡仪馆的生意，简直让整个医药界都无能为力。你的朋友断定自己是不会痊愈的了，她是不是有什么心事呢？” “她------她希望有一天能够去画那不勒斯的海湾。”苏说。 “画画？------真是瞎扯！她脑子里有没有什么值得她想了又想的事------比如说，一个男人？” “男人？”苏像吹口琴似的扯着嗓子说，“男人难道值得------不，医生，没有这样的事。” “哦，那么就是她病得太衰弱了，”医生说，“我一定尽我的努力用科学所能达到的全部力量来治疗她。可要是我的病人开始算计会有多少马车送她出丧，我就得把治疗的效果减轻百分之五十。只要你想法让她对冬季大衣袖子的时新式样感到兴趣而提出一两个问题，那我可以向你保证把医好她的机会从十分之一提高到五分之一。” 医生走后，苏走进工作室里，把一条日本餐巾哭成一团湿。后来她手里拿着画板，装作精神抖擞的样子走进琼西的屋子，嘴里吹着爵士音乐调子。 琼西躺着，脸朝着窗口，被子底下的身体纹丝不动。苏以为她睡着了，赶忙停止吹口哨。 她架好画板，开始给杂志里的故事画一张钢笔插图。年轻的画家为了铺平通向艺术的道路，不得不给杂志里的故事画插图，而这些故事又是年轻的作家为了铺平通向文学的道路而不得不写的。 苏正在给故事主人公，一个爱达荷州牧人的身上，画上一条马匹展览会穿的时髦马裤和一片单眼镜时，忽然听到一个重复了几次的低微的声音。她快步走到床边。 琼西的眼睛睁得很大。她望着窗外，数着倒过来数。 “十二，”她数道，歇了一会儿说，“十一，”然后是“十”和“九”；接着几乎同时数着“八”和“七”。 苏关切地看了看窗外。那儿有什么可数的呢？只见一个空荡阴暗的院子，二十英尺以外还有一所砖房的室墙。一棵老极了的长青藤，枯萎的根纠结在一块，枝干攀在砖墙的半腰上。秋天的寒风把藤上的叶子差不多全都吹掉了。只有几乎光秃的枝条还缠附在剥落的砖块上。 “什么呀，亲爱的？”苏问道。 “六，”琼西几乎用耳语低声说道，“它们现在越落越快了，三天前还有差不多一百片。我数得头都疼了。但是现在好数了。又掉了一片。只剩下五片了。” “五片什么呀，亲爱的？告诉你的苏娣吧。” “叶子。长青藤上的。等到最后一片叶子掉下来，我也就该去了。这件事我三天前就知道了。难道医生没有告诉你？” “哼，我从来没听过这种傻话，”苏十分不以为然地说，“那些破长青藤叶子和你的病好不好有什么关系？你以前不是很喜欢这棵树吗？你这个淘气的孩子，不要说傻话了。瞧，医生今天早晨还告诉我，说你迅速痊愈的机会是------让我一字不改地照他的话说吧------他说有九成把握。噢，那简直和我们在纽约坐电车或者走过一座新楼房的把握一样大。喝点汤吧，让苏娣去画的画，好把它卖给编辑先生，换了钱来给她的病孩子买点红葡萄酒，再给她自己买点猪排解解馋。” “你不用买酒了，”琼西的眼睛直盯着窗外说道，“又落了一片。不，我不想喝汤。只剩下四片了。我想在天黑以前等着看那最后一片叶子掉下去。然后我也要去了。” “琼西，亲爱的，”苏俯着身子对她说，“你答应我闭上眼睛，不要瞧窗外，等我画完，行吗？明天我非得交出这些插图。我需要光线，否则我就拉下窗帘了。” “你不能到那间屋子里去画吗？”琼西冷冷地问道。 “我愿意待在你跟前，”苏说，“再说，我也不想让你光看着那些讨厌的长青藤叶子。” “你一画完就叫我，”琼西说着，便闭上了眼睛。她脸色苍白，一动不动地躺在床上，就像是座横倒在地上的雕像。“因为我想着那最后一片叶子掉下来，我等得不耐烦了，也想得不耐烦了。我想摆脱一切，飘下去，飘下去，像一片可怜的疲倦的叶子那样。” “你睡一会儿吧，”苏说道，“我得下楼把贝尔门叫上来，给我当那个隐居的老矿工的模特。我一会儿就回来的。不要动，等我回来。” 老贝尔门是住在她们这座楼房底层的一个画家，他年过六十，有一把像米开朗琪罗的摩西雕像那样的大胡子，这胡子长在一个像半人半兽的森林之神的头颅上，又虬曲地飘拂在小鬼似的身躯上。贝尔门是个失败的画家，他操了四十年的画笔，还远没有摸着艺术女神的衣裙。他老是说就要画他的那幅杰作了，可是直到现在他还没有动笔。几年来，他除了偶尔画点商业广告之类的玩意儿以外，什么也没有画过。他给艺术区里穷得顾不起职业模特儿的年轻画家们当模特儿，挣一点钱。他喝酒毫无节制，还时常提起他要画的那幅杰作。除此之外，他是一个火气十足的小老头儿，十分瞧不起别人的温情，却认为自己是专门保护楼上画室里那两个年轻女画家的一只看家狗。 苏在楼下他那间光线暗淡的画室里找到了嘴里酒气扑鼻的贝尔门。一幅空白的画布绷在一个画架上，摆在屋角里，等待那幅杰作已经二十五年了，可是连一根线条还没等着。苏把琼西的胡思乱想告诉了他，还说她害怕琼西自个儿瘦小柔弱得像一片叶子一样，对这个时间的留念越来越微弱，恐怕真会离世飘走了。 老贝尔门两只发红的眼睛显然在迎风流泪，他十分轻蔑地嗤笑这种痴呆的胡思乱想。 “什么，”他喊道，“世界上真会有人蠢到因为那些该死的长青藤叶子落掉就想死？我从来没有听说过这种事。不，我才不给你那隐居的矿工糊涂虫当模特儿呢。你干嘛让她胡思乱想？唉，可怜的琼西小姐。” “她病得很厉害很虚弱，”苏说，“发高烧发得她神经昏乱，满脑子都是古怪想法。好吧，贝尔门先生，你不愿意给我当模特儿，就拉倒，我看你是个讨厌的老------老教唆鬼。” “你简直太婆婆妈妈了！”贝尔门喊道，“谁说我不愿意当模特儿？走，我和你一块去。我不是讲了半天愿意给你当模特吗？老天爷，琼西小姐这么好的姑娘真不应该躺在这种地方生病。总有一天我要画一幅杰作，我们就可以搬出去了。一定的！” 他们上楼以后，琼西正睡着觉。苏把窗帘挂下，一直遮住窗台，做手势叫贝尔门到隔壁屋子里去。他们在那里提心吊胆地瞅着窗外那棵长青藤。后来他们默默无言，彼此对望了一会儿，寒冷的雨夹着雪花不停地下着。贝尔门穿着他的旧的蓝衬衣，坐在一把翻过来充当岩石的铁壶上，扮作隐居的矿工。 第二天早晨，苏只睡了一个小时的觉，醒来了，她看见琼西无神的眼睛睁得大大的注视着拉下的绿窗帘。 “把窗帘拉起来，我要看看。”她低声地命令道。 苏疲倦地照办了。 然而，看呀！经过了漫长一夜的风吹雨打，在砖墙上还挂着一片藤叶。它是长青藤上最后的一片叶子。靠近茎部仍然是深绿色，可是锯齿形的叶子边缘已经枯萎发黄，它傲然挂在一根离地二十多英尺的藤枝上。 “这是最后一片叶子。”琼西说道，“我以为它昨晚一定会落掉的。我听见风声的，今天它一定会落掉，我也会死的。” “哎呀，哎呀，”苏把疲倦的脸庞挨近枕头边上对她说，“你不肯为自己着想，也得为我想想啊。我可怎么办呢？” 可是琼西不回答。当一个灵魂正在准备走上那神秘的、遥远的死亡之途时，她是世界上最寂寞的人了。那些把她和友谊及大地联系起来的关系逐渐消失以后，她那个狂想越来越强烈了。 白天总算过去了，甚至在暮色中她们还能看见那片孤零零的藤叶仍紧紧地依附在靠墙的枝上。后来，夜的到来带来了呼啸的北风，雨点不停地拍打着窗子，雨水从低垂的荷兰式屋檐上流泻下来。 天刚刚蒙蒙亮，琼西就毫不留情地吩咐拉起窗帘来。 那片藤叶仍然在那里。 琼西躺着对它看了许久，然后她招呼正在煤气炉上给她煮鸡汤的苏。 “我是一个坏女孩子，苏娣，”琼西说，“天意让那片最后的藤叶留在那里，证明我是多么坏。想死是有罪过的。你现在就给我拿点鸡汤来，再拿点掺葡萄酒的牛奶来，再------不，先给我一面小镜子，再把枕头垫垫高，我要坐起来看你做饭。” 过了一个钟头，她说道： “苏娣，我希望有一天能去画那不勒斯的海湾。” 下午医生来了，他走的时候，苏找了个借口跑到走廊上。 “有五成希望，”医生一面说，一面把苏细瘦的颤抖的手握在自己的手里，“好好护理，你会成功的。现在我得去看楼下另一个病人。他的名字叫贝尔门------听说也是个画家，也是肺炎。他年纪太大，身体又弱，病势很重。他是治不好的了；今天要把他送到医院里，让他更舒服一点。” 第二天，医生对苏说：“她已经脱离危险，你成功了。现在只剩下营养和护理了。” 下午，苏跑到琼西的床前，琼西正躺着，安详地编织着一条毫无用处的深蓝色毛线披肩。苏用一只胳膊连枕头带人一把抱住了她。 “我有件事要告诉你，小家伙，”她说，“贝尔门先生今天在医院里患肺炎去世了。他只病了两天。头一天早晨，门房发现他在楼下自己那间房里痛得动弹不了。他的鞋子和衣服全都湿透了，冰凉冰凉的。他们搞不清楚在那个凄风苦雨的夜晚，他究竟到哪儿去了。后来他们发现了一盏没有熄灭的灯笼，一把挪动过地方的梯子，几支扔得满地的画笔，还有一块调色板，上面涂抹着绿色和黄色的颜料，还有------亲爱的，瞧瞧窗子外面，瞧瞧墙上你最后一片藤叶。难道你没有想过，为什么风刮得那么厉害，它却从来不摇一摇，动一动呢？唉，亲爱的，这片叶子才是贝尔门的杰作------就是最后一片叶子掉下来的晚上，他把它画在那里的。”
(The Last Leaf in Chinese)
最后一片叶子(欧亨利） 在华盛顿广场西边的一个小区里，街道横七竖八地伸展开去，又分裂成一小条一小条的“胡同”。这些“胡同”希奇古怪地拐着弯子，一条街有时自己本身就交叉了不止一次。有一回一个画家发现这条街有一种优越性：要是有个收账的跑到这个街上，来催要颜料、纸张和画布的钱，他就会突然发现自己两手空空，原路返回，一文钱的帐也没有要到！ 所以，不久之后不少画家就摸索到这个古色古香的老格林尼治村来，寻求朝北的窗户、十八世纪的尖顶山墙、荷兰式的阁楼，以及低廉的房租。然后，他们又从第六街买来一些锡蜡酒杯和一两只火锅，这里便成了“艺术区”。 苏和琼西的画室设在一所又宽又矮的三层楼砖房的顶楼上。“琼西”是琼娜的爱称。她俩一个来自缅因州，一个是加利福尼亚州人。她们是在第八街的“台尔蒙尼歌之家”吃份饭时碰到的，她们发现彼此对艺术、生菜色拉和时装的爱好非常一致，便合租了那间画室。 那是五月里的事。到了十一月，一个冷酷的、肉眼看不见的、医生们叫做“肺炎”的不速之客，在艺术区里悄悄地游荡，用他冷冰的手指这里碰一下，那里碰一下。在广场东头，这个老家伙明目张胆地踏着大步，一下子就击倒几十个受害者，可是在迷宫一样、狭窄而铺满青苔的“胡同”里，他的步伐就慢了下来。 肺炎不是一个你们心中行侠仗义的老年绅士一个身子单薄、被加利福尼亚州的西风刮得没有血色的弱女子，本来不应该是这个有着红拳头的、呼吸急促的破坏者打击的对象。然而，琼西却遭到了打击。她躺在一张油漆过的铁床上，一动也不动，凝望着小小的荷兰式玻璃窗外对面砖房的空墙。 一天早晨，那个忙碌的医生扬了扬他那毛茸茸的灰白色眉毛，把苏叫到外边的走廊上。 “我看她的病只有十分之一的恢复希望。”他一面把体温表里的水银柱甩下去一面说，“这一分希望就是她想要活下去的念头。有些人好像不愿意活下去，喜欢照顾殡仪馆的生意，简直让整个医药界都无能为力。你的朋友断定自己是不会痊愈的了，她是不是有什么心事呢？” “她------她希望有一天能够去画那不勒斯的海湾。”苏说。 “画画？------真是瞎扯！她脑子里有没有什么值得她想了又想的事------比如说，一个男人？” “男人？”苏像吹口琴似的扯着嗓子说，“男人难道值得------不，医生，没有这样的事。” “哦，那么就是她病得太衰弱了，”医生说，“我一定尽我的努力用科学所能达到的全部力量来治疗她。可要是我的病人开始算计会有多少马车送她出丧，我就得把治疗的效果减轻百分之五十。只要你想法让她对冬季大衣袖子的时新式样感到兴趣而提出一两个问题，那我可以向你保证把医好她的机会从十分之一提高到五分之一。” 医生走后，苏走进工作室里，把一条日本餐巾哭成一团湿。后来她手里拿着画板，装作精神抖擞的样子走进琼西的屋子，嘴里吹着爵士音乐调子。 琼西躺着，脸朝着窗口，被子底下的身体纹丝不动。苏以为她睡着了，赶忙停止吹口哨。 她架好画板，开始给杂志里的故事画一张钢笔插图。年轻的画家为了铺平通向艺术的道路，不得不给杂志里的故事画插图，而这些故事又是年轻的作家为了铺平通向文学的道路而不得不写的。 苏正在给故事主人公，一个爱达荷州牧人的身上，画上一条马匹展览会穿的时髦马裤和一片单眼镜时，忽然听到一个重复了几次的低微的声音。她快步走到床边。 琼西的眼睛睁得很大。她望着窗外，数着倒过来数。 “十二，”她数道，歇了一会儿说，“十一，”然后是“十”和“九”；接着几乎同时数着“八”和“七”。 苏关切地看了看窗外。那儿有什么可数的呢？只见一个空荡阴暗的院子，二十英尺以外还有一所砖房的室墙。一棵老极了的长青藤，枯萎的根纠结在一块，枝干攀在砖墙的半腰上。秋天的寒风把藤上的叶子差不多全都吹掉了。只有几乎光秃的枝条还缠附在剥落的砖块上。 “什么呀，亲爱的？”苏问道。 “六，”琼西几乎用耳语低声说道，“它们现在越落越快了，三天前还有差不多一百片。我数得头都疼了。但是现在好数了。又掉了一片。只剩下五片了。” “五片什么呀，亲爱的？告诉你的苏娣吧。” “叶子。长青藤上的。等到最后一片叶子掉下来，我也就该去了。这件事我三天前就知道了。难道医生没有告诉你？” “哼，我从来没听过这种傻话，”苏十分不以为然地说，“那些破长青藤叶子和你的病好不好有什么关系？你以前不是很喜欢这棵树吗？你这个淘气的孩子，不要说傻话了。瞧，医生今天早晨还告诉我，说你迅速痊愈的机会是------让我一字不改地照他的话说吧------他说有九成把握。噢，那简直和我们在纽约坐电车或者走过一座新楼房的把握一样大。喝点汤吧，让苏娣去画的画，好把它卖给编辑先生，换了钱来给她的病孩子买点红葡萄酒，再给她自己买点猪排解解馋。” “你不用买酒了，”琼西的眼睛直盯着窗外说道，“又落了一片。不，我不想喝汤。只剩下四片了。我想在天黑以前等着看那最后一片叶子掉下去。然后我也要去了。” “琼西，亲爱的，”苏俯着身子对她说，“你答应我闭上眼睛，不要瞧窗外，等我画完，行吗？明天我非得交出这些插图。我需要光线，否则我就拉下窗帘了。” “你不能到那间屋子里去画吗？”琼西冷冷地问道。 “我愿意待在你跟前，”苏说，“再说，我也不想让你光看着那些讨厌的长青藤叶子。” “你一画完就叫我，”琼西说着，便闭上了眼睛。她脸色苍白，一动不动地躺在床上，就像是座横倒在地上的雕像。“因为我想着那最后一片叶子掉下来，我等得不耐烦了，也想得不耐烦了。我想摆脱一切，飘下去，飘下去，像一片可怜的疲倦的叶子那样。” “你睡一会儿吧，”苏说道，“我得下楼把贝尔门叫上来，给我当那个隐居的老矿工的模特。我一会儿就回来的。不要动，等我回来。” 老贝尔门是住在她们这座楼房底层的一个画家，他年过六十，有一把像米开朗琪罗的摩西雕像那样的大胡子，这胡子长在一个像半人半兽的森林之神的头颅上，又虬曲地飘拂在小鬼似的身躯上。贝尔门是个失败的画家，他操了四十年的画笔，还远没有摸着艺术女神的衣裙。他老是说就要画他的那幅杰作了，可是直到现在他还没有动笔。几年来，他除了偶尔画点商业广告之类的玩意儿以外，什么也没有画过。他给艺术区里穷得顾不起职业模特儿的年轻画家们当模特儿，挣一点钱。他喝酒毫无节制，还时常提起他要画的那幅杰作。除此之外，他是一个火气十足的小老头儿，十分瞧不起别人的温情，却认为自己是专门保护楼上画室里那两个年轻女画家的一只看家狗。 苏在楼下他那间光线暗淡的画室里找到了嘴里酒气扑鼻的贝尔门。一幅空白的画布绷在一个画架上，摆在屋角里，等待那幅杰作已经二十五年了，可是连一根线条还没等着。苏把琼西的胡思乱想告诉了他，还说她害怕琼西自个儿瘦小柔弱得像一片叶子一样，对这个时间的留念越来越微弱，恐怕真会离世飘走了。 老贝尔门两只发红的眼睛显然在迎风流泪，他十分轻蔑地嗤笑这种痴呆的胡思乱想。 “什么，”他喊道，“世界上真会有人蠢到因为那些该死的长青藤叶子落掉就想死？我从来没有听说过这种事。不，我才不给你那隐居的矿工糊涂虫当模特儿呢。你干嘛让她胡思乱想？唉，可怜的琼西小姐。” “她病得很厉害很虚弱，”苏说，“发高烧发得她神经昏乱，满脑子都是古怪想法。好吧，贝尔门先生，你不愿意给我当模特儿，就拉倒，我看你是个讨厌的老------老教唆鬼。” “你简直太婆婆妈妈了！”贝尔门喊道，“谁说我不愿意当模特儿？走，我和你一块去。我不是讲了半天愿意给你当模特吗？老天爷，琼西小姐这么好的姑娘真不应该躺在这种地方生病。总有一天我要画一幅杰作，我们就可以搬出去了。一定的！” 他们上楼以后，琼西正睡着觉。苏把窗帘挂下，一直遮住窗台，做手势叫贝尔门到隔壁屋子里去。他们在那里提心吊胆地瞅着窗外那棵长青藤。后来他们默默无言，彼此对望了一会儿，寒冷的雨夹着雪花不停地下着。贝尔门穿着他的旧的蓝衬衣，坐在一把翻过来充当岩石的铁壶上，扮作隐居的矿工。 第二天早晨，苏只睡了一个小时的觉，醒来了，她看见琼西无神的眼睛睁得大大的注视着拉下的绿窗帘。 “把窗帘拉起来，我要看看。”她低声地命令道。 苏疲倦地照办了。 然而，看呀！经过了漫长一夜的风吹雨打，在砖墙上还挂着一片藤叶。它是长青藤上最后的一片叶子。靠近茎部仍然是深绿色，可是锯齿形的叶子边缘已经枯萎发黄，它傲然挂在一根离地二十多英尺的藤枝上。 “这是最后一片叶子。”琼西说道，“我以为它昨晚一定会落掉的。我听见风声的，今天它一定会落掉，我也会死的。” “哎呀，哎呀，”苏把疲倦的脸庞挨近枕头边上对她说，“你不肯为自己着想，也得为我想想啊。我可怎么办呢？” 可是琼西不回答。当一个灵魂正在准备走上那神秘的、遥远的死亡之途时，她是世界上最寂寞的人了。那些把她和友谊及大地联系起来的关系逐渐消失以后，她那个狂想越来越强烈了。 白天总算过去了，甚至在暮色中她们还能看见那片孤零零的藤叶仍紧紧地依附在靠墙的枝上。后来，夜的到来带来了呼啸的北风，雨点不停地拍打着窗子，雨水从低垂的荷兰式屋檐上流泻下来。 天刚刚蒙蒙亮，琼西就毫不留情地吩咐拉起窗帘来。 那片藤叶仍然在那里。 琼西躺着对它看了许久，然后她招呼正在煤气炉上给她煮鸡汤的苏。 “我是一个坏女孩子，苏娣，”琼西说，“天意让那片最后的藤叶留在那里，证明我是多么坏。想死是有罪过的。你现在就给我拿点鸡汤来，再拿点掺葡萄酒的牛奶来，再------不，先给我一面小镜子，再把枕头垫垫高，我要坐起来看你做饭。” 过了一个钟头，她说道： “苏娣，我希望有一天能去画那不勒斯的海湾。” 下午医生来了，他走的时候，苏找了个借口跑到走廊上。 “有五成希望，”医生一面说，一面把苏细瘦的颤抖的手握在自己的手里，“好好护理，你会成功的。现在我得去看楼下另一个病人。他的名字叫贝尔门------听说也是个画家，也是肺炎。他年纪太大，身体又弱，病势很重。他是治不好的了；今天要把他送到医院里，让他更舒服一点。” 第二天，医生对苏说：“她已经脱离危险，你成功了。现在只剩下营养和护理了。” 下午，苏跑到琼西的床前，琼西正躺着，安详地编织着一条毫无用处的深蓝色毛线披肩。苏用一只胳膊连枕头带人一把抱住了她。 “我有件事要告诉你，小家伙，”她说，“贝尔门先生今天在医院里患肺炎去世了。他只病了两天。头一天早晨，门房发现他在楼下自己那间房里痛得动弹不了。他的鞋子和衣服全都湿透了，冰凉冰凉的。他们搞不清楚在那个凄风苦雨的夜晚，他究竟到哪儿去了。后来他们发现了一盏没有熄灭的灯笼，一把挪动过地方的梯子，几支扔得满地的画笔，还有一块调色板，上面涂抹着绿色和黄色的颜料，还有------亲爱的，瞧瞧窗子外面，瞧瞧墙上你最后一片藤叶。难道你没有想过，为什么风刮得那么厉害，它却从来不摇一摇，动一动呢？唉，亲爱的，这片叶子才是贝尔门的杰作------就是最后一片叶子掉下来的晚上，他把它画在那里的。”
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Last Leaf
The Last Leaf
By – O. Henry
In a little district west of Washington Square the streets have runcrazy and broken themselves into small strips called "places." These"places" make strange angles and curves. One street crosses itselfa time or two. An artist once discovered a valuable possibility inthis street. Suppose a collector with a bill for paints, paper andcanvas should, in traversing this route, suddenly meet himselfcoming back, without a cent having been paid on account!So, to quaint old Greenwich Village the art people soon cameprowling, hunting for north windows and eighteenth-century gablesand Dutch attics and low rents. Then they imported some pewter mugsand a chafing dish or two from Sixth avenue, and became a "colony."At the top of a squatty, three-story brick Sue and Johnsy had theirstudio. "Johnsy" was familiar for Joanna. One was from Maine; theother from California. They had met at the _table d'hote_ of anEighth street "Delmonico's," and found their tastes in art, chicorysalad and bishop sleeves so congenial that the joint studioresulted.That was in May. In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom thedoctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the colony, touching onehere and there with his icy fingers. Over on the east side thisravager strode boldly, smiting his victims by scores, but his feettrod slowly through the maze of the narrow and moss-grown "places."Mr. Pneumonia was not what you would call a chivalric old gentleman.A mite of a little woman with blood thinned by California zephyrswas hardly fair game for the red-fisted, short-breathed old duffer.But Johnsy he smote; and she lay, scarcely moving, on her paintediron bedstead, looking through the small Dutch window-panes at theblank side of the next brick house.One morning the busy doctor invited Sue into the hallway with ashaggy, gray eyebrow."She has one chance in--let us say, ten," he said, as he shook downthe mercury in his clinical thermometer. "And that chance is for herto want to live. This way people have of lining-up on the side ofthe undertaker makes the entire pharmacopeia look silly. Your littlelady has made up her mind that she's not going to get well. Has sheanything on her mind?""She--she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples some day," said Sue."Paint?--bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking abouttwice--a man, for instance?""A man?" said Sue, with a jew's-harp twang in her voice. "Is a manworth--but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind.""Well, it is the weakness, then," said the doctor. "I will do allthat science, so far as it may filter through my efforts, canaccomplish. But whenever my patient begins to count the carriagesin her funeral procession I subtract 50 per cent. from the curativepower of medicines. If you will get her to ask one question aboutthe new winter styles in cloak sleeves I will promise you aone-in-five chance for her, instead of one in ten."After the doctor had gone Sue went into the workroom and cried aJapanese napkin to a pulp. Then she swaggered into Johnsy's roomwith her drawing board, whistling ragtime.Johnsy lay, scarcely making a ripple under the bedclothes, with herface toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she wasasleep.She arranged her board and began a pen-and-ink drawing to illustratea magazine story. Young artists must pave their way to Art bydrawing pictures for magazine stories that young authors write topave their way to Literature.As Sue was sketching a pair of elegant horseshow riding trousers anda monocle on the figure of the hero, an Idaho cowboy, she heard alow sound, several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside.Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window andcounting--counting backward."Twelve," she said, and a little later "eleven;" and then "ten," and"nine;" and then "eight" and "seven," almost together.Sue looked solicitously out the window. What was there to count?There was only a bare, dreary yard to be seen, and the blank side ofthe brick house twenty feet away. An old, old ivy vine, gnarled anddecayed at the roots, climbed half way up the brick wall. The coldbreath of autumn had stricken its leaves from the vine until itsskeleton branches clung, almost bare, to the crumbling bricks."What is it, dear?" asked Sue."Six," said Johnsy, in almost a whisper. "They're falling fasternow. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It made my headache to count them. But now it's easy. There goes another one. Thereare only five left now.""Five what, dear. Tell your Sudie.""Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls I must go, too.I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?""Oh, I never heard of such nonsense," complained Sue, withmagnificent scorn. "What have old ivy leaves to do with your gettingwell? And you used to love that vine so, you naughty girl. Don't bea goosey. Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances forgetting well real soon were--let's see exactly what he said--he saidthe chances were ten to one! Why, that's almost as good a chance aswe have in New York when we ride on the street cars or walk past anew building. Try to take some broth now, and let Sudie go back toher drawing, so she can sell the editor man with it, and buy portwine for her sick child, and pork chops for her greedy self.""You needn't get any more wine," said Johnsy, keeping her eyes fixedout the window. "There goes another. No, I don't want any broth.That leaves just four. I want to see the last one fall before itgets dark. Then I'll go, too.""Johnsy, dear," said Sue, bending over her, "will you promise me tokeep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until I am doneworking? I must hand those drawings in by to-morrow. I need thelight, or I would draw the shade down.""Couldn't you draw in the other room?" asked Johnsy, coldly."I'd rather be here by you," said Sue. "Besides I don't want you tokeep looking at those silly ivy leaves.""Tell me as soon as you have finished," said Johnsy, closing hereyes, and lying white and still as a fallen statue, "because Iwant to see the last one fall. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired ofthinking. I went to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailingdown, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves.""Try to sleep," said Sue. "I must call Behrman up to be my model forthe old hermit miner. I'll not be gone a minute. Don't try to move'till I come back."Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor beneaththem. He was past sixty and had a Michael Angelo's Moses beardcurling down from the head of a satyr along the body of an imp.Behrman was a failure in art. Forty years he had wielded the brushwithout getting near enough to touch the hem of his Mistress's robe.He had been always about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yetbegun it. For several years he had painted nothing except now andthen a daub in the line of commerce or advertising. He earned alittle by serving as a model to those young artists in the colonywho could not pay the price of a professional. He drank gin toexcess, and still talked of his coming masterpiece. For the rest hewas a fierce little old man, who scoffed terribly at softness inany one, and who regarded himself as especial mastiff-in-waiting toprotect the two young artists in the studio above.Sue found Behrman smelling strongly of juniper berries in his dimlylighted den below. In one corner was a blank canvas on an easel thathad been waiting there for twenty-five years to receive the firstline of the masterpiece. She told him of Johnsy's fancy, and how shefeared she would, indeed, light and fragile as a leaf herself, floataway when her slight hold upon the world grew weaker.Old Behrman, with his red eyes, plainly streaming, shouted hiscontempt and derision for such idiotic imaginings."Vass!" he cried. "Is dere people in de world mit der foolishnessto die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf notheard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your foolhermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in derprain of her? Ach, dot poor lettle Miss Johnsy.""She is very ill and weak," said Sue, "and the fever has left hermind morbid and full of strange fancies. Very well, Mr. Behrman, ifyou do not care to pose for me, you needn't. But I think you are ahorrid old--old flibbertigibbet.""You are just like a woman!" yelled Behrman. "Who said I will notbose? Go on. I come mit you. For half an hour I haf peen trying tosay dot I am ready to bose. Gott! dis is not any blace in whichone so goot as Miss Yohnsy shall lie sick. Some day I vill baint amasterpiece, and ve shall all go away. Gott! yes."Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shadedown to the window-sill, and motioned Behrman into the other room.In there they peered out the window fearfully at the ivy vine.Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking. Apersistent, cold rain was falling, mingled with snow. Behrman, inhis old blue shirt, took his seat as the hermit-miner on an upturnedkettle for a rock.When Sue awoke from an hour's sleep the next morning she foundJohnsy with dull, wide-open eyes staring at the drawn green shade."Pull it up; I want to see," she ordered, in a whisper.Wearily Sue obeyed.But, lo! after the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that hadendured through the livelong night, there yet stood out against thebrick wall one ivy leaf. It was the last on the vine. Still darkgreen near its stem, but with its serrated edges tinted with theyellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from a branch sometwenty feet above the ground."It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fallduring the night. I heard the wind. It will fall to-day, and I shalldie at the same time.""Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down to the pillow,"think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What would I do?"But Johnsy did not answer. The lonesomest thing in all the world isa soul when it is making ready to go on its mysterious, far journey.The fancy seemed to possess her more strongly as one by one the tiesthat bound her to friendship and to earth were loosed.The day wore away, and even through the twilight they could see thelone ivy leaf clinging to its stem against the wall. And then, withthe coming of the night the north wind was again loosed, while therain still beat against the windows and pattered down from the lowDutch eaves.When it was light enough Johnsy, the merciless, commanded that theshade be raised.The ivy leaf was still there.Johnsy lay for a long time looking at it. And then she called toSue, who was stirring her chicken broth over the gas stove."I've been a bad girl, Sudie," said Johnsy. "Something has made thatlast leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was. It is a sin towant to die. You may bring me a little broth now, and some milk witha little port in it, and--no; bring me a hand-mirror first, and thenpack some pillows about me, and I will sit up and watch you cook."An hour later she said."Sudie, some day I hope to paint the Bay of Naples."The doctor came in the afternoon, and Sue had an excuse to go intothe hallway as he left."Even chances," said the doctor, taking Sue's thin, shaking hand inhis. "With good nursing you'll win. And now I must see another caseI have downstairs. Behrman, his name is--some kind of an artist, Ibelieve. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man, and the attack isacute. There is no hope for him; but he goes to the hospital to-dayto be made more comfortable."The next day the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You'vewon. Nutrition and care now--that's all."And that afternoon Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, contentedlyknitting a very blue and very useless woolen shoulder scarf, and putone arm around her, pillows and all."I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said. "Mr. Behrmandied of pneumonia to-day in the hospital. He was ill only two days.The janitor found him on the morning of the first day in his roomdownstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were wetthrough and icy cold. They couldn't imagine where he had beenon such a dreadful night. And then they found a lantern, stilllighted, and a ladder that had been dragged from its place, and somescattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colors mixedon it, and--look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on thewall. Didn't you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when thewind blew? Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece--he painted itthere the night that the last leaf fell."
Here is a web site that has many short stories from O. Henry that can be down loaded for free: http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/o_henry/200/
By – O. Henry
In a little district west of Washington Square the streets have runcrazy and broken themselves into small strips called "places." These"places" make strange angles and curves. One street crosses itselfa time or two. An artist once discovered a valuable possibility inthis street. Suppose a collector with a bill for paints, paper andcanvas should, in traversing this route, suddenly meet himselfcoming back, without a cent having been paid on account!So, to quaint old Greenwich Village the art people soon cameprowling, hunting for north windows and eighteenth-century gablesand Dutch attics and low rents. Then they imported some pewter mugsand a chafing dish or two from Sixth avenue, and became a "colony."At the top of a squatty, three-story brick Sue and Johnsy had theirstudio. "Johnsy" was familiar for Joanna. One was from Maine; theother from California. They had met at the _table d'hote_ of anEighth street "Delmonico's," and found their tastes in art, chicorysalad and bishop sleeves so congenial that the joint studioresulted.That was in May. In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom thedoctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the colony, touching onehere and there with his icy fingers. Over on the east side thisravager strode boldly, smiting his victims by scores, but his feettrod slowly through the maze of the narrow and moss-grown "places."Mr. Pneumonia was not what you would call a chivalric old gentleman.A mite of a little woman with blood thinned by California zephyrswas hardly fair game for the red-fisted, short-breathed old duffer.But Johnsy he smote; and she lay, scarcely moving, on her paintediron bedstead, looking through the small Dutch window-panes at theblank side of the next brick house.One morning the busy doctor invited Sue into the hallway with ashaggy, gray eyebrow."She has one chance in--let us say, ten," he said, as he shook downthe mercury in his clinical thermometer. "And that chance is for herto want to live. This way people have of lining-up on the side ofthe undertaker makes the entire pharmacopeia look silly. Your littlelady has made up her mind that she's not going to get well. Has sheanything on her mind?""She--she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples some day," said Sue."Paint?--bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking abouttwice--a man, for instance?""A man?" said Sue, with a jew's-harp twang in her voice. "Is a manworth--but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind.""Well, it is the weakness, then," said the doctor. "I will do allthat science, so far as it may filter through my efforts, canaccomplish. But whenever my patient begins to count the carriagesin her funeral procession I subtract 50 per cent. from the curativepower of medicines. If you will get her to ask one question aboutthe new winter styles in cloak sleeves I will promise you aone-in-five chance for her, instead of one in ten."After the doctor had gone Sue went into the workroom and cried aJapanese napkin to a pulp. Then she swaggered into Johnsy's roomwith her drawing board, whistling ragtime.Johnsy lay, scarcely making a ripple under the bedclothes, with herface toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she wasasleep.She arranged her board and began a pen-and-ink drawing to illustratea magazine story. Young artists must pave their way to Art bydrawing pictures for magazine stories that young authors write topave their way to Literature.As Sue was sketching a pair of elegant horseshow riding trousers anda monocle on the figure of the hero, an Idaho cowboy, she heard alow sound, several times repeated. She went quickly to the bedside.Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window andcounting--counting backward."Twelve," she said, and a little later "eleven;" and then "ten," and"nine;" and then "eight" and "seven," almost together.Sue looked solicitously out the window. What was there to count?There was only a bare, dreary yard to be seen, and the blank side ofthe brick house twenty feet away. An old, old ivy vine, gnarled anddecayed at the roots, climbed half way up the brick wall. The coldbreath of autumn had stricken its leaves from the vine until itsskeleton branches clung, almost bare, to the crumbling bricks."What is it, dear?" asked Sue."Six," said Johnsy, in almost a whisper. "They're falling fasternow. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. It made my headache to count them. But now it's easy. There goes another one. Thereare only five left now.""Five what, dear. Tell your Sudie.""Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls I must go, too.I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?""Oh, I never heard of such nonsense," complained Sue, withmagnificent scorn. "What have old ivy leaves to do with your gettingwell? And you used to love that vine so, you naughty girl. Don't bea goosey. Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances forgetting well real soon were--let's see exactly what he said--he saidthe chances were ten to one! Why, that's almost as good a chance aswe have in New York when we ride on the street cars or walk past anew building. Try to take some broth now, and let Sudie go back toher drawing, so she can sell the editor man with it, and buy portwine for her sick child, and pork chops for her greedy self.""You needn't get any more wine," said Johnsy, keeping her eyes fixedout the window. "There goes another. No, I don't want any broth.That leaves just four. I want to see the last one fall before itgets dark. Then I'll go, too.""Johnsy, dear," said Sue, bending over her, "will you promise me tokeep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until I am doneworking? I must hand those drawings in by to-morrow. I need thelight, or I would draw the shade down.""Couldn't you draw in the other room?" asked Johnsy, coldly."I'd rather be here by you," said Sue. "Besides I don't want you tokeep looking at those silly ivy leaves.""Tell me as soon as you have finished," said Johnsy, closing hereyes, and lying white and still as a fallen statue, "because Iwant to see the last one fall. I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired ofthinking. I went to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailingdown, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves.""Try to sleep," said Sue. "I must call Behrman up to be my model forthe old hermit miner. I'll not be gone a minute. Don't try to move'till I come back."Old Behrman was a painter who lived on the ground floor beneaththem. He was past sixty and had a Michael Angelo's Moses beardcurling down from the head of a satyr along the body of an imp.Behrman was a failure in art. Forty years he had wielded the brushwithout getting near enough to touch the hem of his Mistress's robe.He had been always about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yetbegun it. For several years he had painted nothing except now andthen a daub in the line of commerce or advertising. He earned alittle by serving as a model to those young artists in the colonywho could not pay the price of a professional. He drank gin toexcess, and still talked of his coming masterpiece. For the rest hewas a fierce little old man, who scoffed terribly at softness inany one, and who regarded himself as especial mastiff-in-waiting toprotect the two young artists in the studio above.Sue found Behrman smelling strongly of juniper berries in his dimlylighted den below. In one corner was a blank canvas on an easel thathad been waiting there for twenty-five years to receive the firstline of the masterpiece. She told him of Johnsy's fancy, and how shefeared she would, indeed, light and fragile as a leaf herself, floataway when her slight hold upon the world grew weaker.Old Behrman, with his red eyes, plainly streaming, shouted hiscontempt and derision for such idiotic imaginings."Vass!" he cried. "Is dere people in de world mit der foolishnessto die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf notheard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your foolhermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in derprain of her? Ach, dot poor lettle Miss Johnsy.""She is very ill and weak," said Sue, "and the fever has left hermind morbid and full of strange fancies. Very well, Mr. Behrman, ifyou do not care to pose for me, you needn't. But I think you are ahorrid old--old flibbertigibbet.""You are just like a woman!" yelled Behrman. "Who said I will notbose? Go on. I come mit you. For half an hour I haf peen trying tosay dot I am ready to bose. Gott! dis is not any blace in whichone so goot as Miss Yohnsy shall lie sick. Some day I vill baint amasterpiece, and ve shall all go away. Gott! yes."Johnsy was sleeping when they went upstairs. Sue pulled the shadedown to the window-sill, and motioned Behrman into the other room.In there they peered out the window fearfully at the ivy vine.Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking. Apersistent, cold rain was falling, mingled with snow. Behrman, inhis old blue shirt, took his seat as the hermit-miner on an upturnedkettle for a rock.When Sue awoke from an hour's sleep the next morning she foundJohnsy with dull, wide-open eyes staring at the drawn green shade."Pull it up; I want to see," she ordered, in a whisper.Wearily Sue obeyed.But, lo! after the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that hadendured through the livelong night, there yet stood out against thebrick wall one ivy leaf. It was the last on the vine. Still darkgreen near its stem, but with its serrated edges tinted with theyellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from a branch sometwenty feet above the ground."It is the last one," said Johnsy. "I thought it would surely fallduring the night. I heard the wind. It will fall to-day, and I shalldie at the same time.""Dear, dear!" said Sue, leaning her worn face down to the pillow,"think of me, if you won't think of yourself. What would I do?"But Johnsy did not answer. The lonesomest thing in all the world isa soul when it is making ready to go on its mysterious, far journey.The fancy seemed to possess her more strongly as one by one the tiesthat bound her to friendship and to earth were loosed.The day wore away, and even through the twilight they could see thelone ivy leaf clinging to its stem against the wall. And then, withthe coming of the night the north wind was again loosed, while therain still beat against the windows and pattered down from the lowDutch eaves.When it was light enough Johnsy, the merciless, commanded that theshade be raised.The ivy leaf was still there.Johnsy lay for a long time looking at it. And then she called toSue, who was stirring her chicken broth over the gas stove."I've been a bad girl, Sudie," said Johnsy. "Something has made thatlast leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was. It is a sin towant to die. You may bring me a little broth now, and some milk witha little port in it, and--no; bring me a hand-mirror first, and thenpack some pillows about me, and I will sit up and watch you cook."An hour later she said."Sudie, some day I hope to paint the Bay of Naples."The doctor came in the afternoon, and Sue had an excuse to go intothe hallway as he left."Even chances," said the doctor, taking Sue's thin, shaking hand inhis. "With good nursing you'll win. And now I must see another caseI have downstairs. Behrman, his name is--some kind of an artist, Ibelieve. Pneumonia, too. He is an old, weak man, and the attack isacute. There is no hope for him; but he goes to the hospital to-dayto be made more comfortable."The next day the doctor said to Sue: "She's out of danger. You'vewon. Nutrition and care now--that's all."And that afternoon Sue came to the bed where Johnsy lay, contentedlyknitting a very blue and very useless woolen shoulder scarf, and putone arm around her, pillows and all."I have something to tell you, white mouse," she said. "Mr. Behrmandied of pneumonia to-day in the hospital. He was ill only two days.The janitor found him on the morning of the first day in his roomdownstairs helpless with pain. His shoes and clothing were wetthrough and icy cold. They couldn't imagine where he had beenon such a dreadful night. And then they found a lantern, stilllighted, and a ladder that had been dragged from its place, and somescattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colors mixedon it, and--look out the window, dear, at the last ivy leaf on thewall. Didn't you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when thewind blew? Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece--he painted itthere the night that the last leaf fell."
Here is a web site that has many short stories from O. Henry that can be down loaded for free: http://www.literaturecollection.com/a/o_henry/200/
Night at the Museum Plot
Night at the Museum Plot (Short Version)
Larry Daley is a divorced father who is unable to keep a stable job, the bulk of them being failed business ventures. He is desperate to win the support of his son Nick whom he fears is beginning to look up to his more successful future stepfather, Don , a bond trader on Wall Street. Larry therefore applies for a job at the American Museum of Natural History, where he is assigned as a night guard.
The three elder (soon to be retired) night guards, Cecil, Gus, and Reginald , give him a quick tour, advise him to leave some of the lights on, and warn him not to let anything "in . . . or out", which Larry meets with humorous skepticism. They also leave some odd instructions for him.
Once night comes, Larry discovers that the museum exhibits come to life. Larry barely manages to survive through the night. First, he discovers a Tyrannosaurus rex drinking from a water fountain; Larry distracts it by throwing a bone it has ripped from its own skeleton. Then, despite a narrow escape in the wildlife exhibits, Larry manages to lock up the lions. Finally, he double-checks his belt, only to discover that a capuchin monkey named Dexter has in fact stolen his keys. When Dexter destroys the old guards' instruction manual, Larry is forced into humiliating himself.
Eventually Larry is rescued from an odd feud between miniatures, pitting a Wild West buckaroo named Jedediah against a Roman General named Octavius, by a wax model of Theodore Roosevelt ,who later explains that ever since an Egyptian artifact — the Tablet of Akmenrah — was brought to the museum in 1952, everything comes to life each night. However, if the exhibits are outside of the museum by sunrise, they literally turn to dust. Roosevelt proceeds to help Larry by restoring order, but insists that it will be the last time he shall ever do so.
While initially unnerved, Larry decides to remain as a guard. On Cecil's advice, Larry begins to study the history of the events and people in the exhibits to prepare himself better for their animation. He meets Rebecca Hutman who is writing a dissertation on the life and times of Sacagawea, and learns much of the history of the various exhibits from her.
The next night, Larry uses what he has learned to better control the exhibits, but this, his second attempt, fails when one of the four Neanderthals sets fire to his compatriots' display, which Larry is forced to extinguish using a nearby fire extinguisher, while the Neanderthal escapes out a window, only to be transformed into dust when the sun rises. Larry barely manages to keep his job after the Museum's director, Dr. McPhee, discovers the mess. Larry tries to tell Rebecca about what happens every night, even offering to let her meet Sacagawea to help with her dissertation, but Rebecca does not believe him.
Two nights later, Larry brings Nick to the Museum, but fails to impress him when nothing comes to life. Just as Larry convinces Nick to wait for the promised event, they find Cecil, Gus, and Reginald stealing the Tablet of Akmenrah. Cecil then reveals the truth to Larry: that like the museum exhibits, the guards receive vital emanation from the Tablet. Now accustomed to this vigor, they are unwilling to forsake it and accordingly intend to steal the Tablet, along with various other Museum artifacts to fund their retirement, and thus frame Larry for the theft. Nick, after prompting from Larry, reactivates the Tablet's power and brings the exhibits to life once more. Cecil then grabs the Tablet back and locks Nick and Larry in the Egyptian room.
Larry calls for Theodore Roosevelt for help, but Roosevelt insists that Larry solve this problem on his own. The only thing left for Larry to do is release the mummy of Pharaoh Akmenrah himself, the owner of the tablet. Surprisingly Akmenrah speaks English; when asked to explain this, the Pharaoh informs Nick and Larry that he had spent many years as an exhibit in the Egyptology Department at Cambridge University. After Larry introduces himself and Nick, Akmenrah then asks them to bestow his Tablet upon him, so he can "claim his kingdom". Larry informs Ahkmenrah that the Tablet has been stolen, convincing the Pharaoh to free them. The three new friends then set out to reclaim the Tablet.
Larry discovers that the other exhibits are fighting with each other; having attracted their attention with the intervention of an animated Moa, he rallies them around the common cause of saving their own ability to be animated and thus acquires their help in retrieving the Tablet. Though the exhibits manage to capture Gus and Reginald without difficulty, Cecil escapes with the Tablet by stagecoach, whereupon Larry, Nick, Akmenrah, Jed, Octavius, and Attila the Hun pursue him through Central Park, eventually capturing him thanks to Larry's quick thinking of halting the horses with a secret word, "Dakota."
Because the exhibits who have come outside may be destroyed by sunrise, Larry gives the Tablet to Akmenrah, who immediately uses its power to return all the exhibits to the museum. Rebecca, in a taxicab, sees the exhibits crossing the road in front of her and realizes that Larry was telling the truth. Entering the museum, she is introduced by Larry to Sacagawea.
The next day, Dr. McPhee fires Larry despite his effort to clean up the museum; but when the reports issued by the news media begin increasing the Museum's popularity, he readmits Larry. Some time later, Larry appears in Nick's classroom during Career Day. Later that night, Larry returns with Nick and all the exhibits celebrate. Cecil, Gus, and Reginald eventually become janitors at the Museum; a stereotypical punishment in comedy films for defeated antagonists (and still allows them to be around the energies of the tablet).
Taken from Wikipedia
Larry Daley is a divorced father who is unable to keep a stable job, the bulk of them being failed business ventures. He is desperate to win the support of his son Nick whom he fears is beginning to look up to his more successful future stepfather, Don , a bond trader on Wall Street. Larry therefore applies for a job at the American Museum of Natural History, where he is assigned as a night guard.
The three elder (soon to be retired) night guards, Cecil, Gus, and Reginald , give him a quick tour, advise him to leave some of the lights on, and warn him not to let anything "in . . . or out", which Larry meets with humorous skepticism. They also leave some odd instructions for him.
Once night comes, Larry discovers that the museum exhibits come to life. Larry barely manages to survive through the night. First, he discovers a Tyrannosaurus rex drinking from a water fountain; Larry distracts it by throwing a bone it has ripped from its own skeleton. Then, despite a narrow escape in the wildlife exhibits, Larry manages to lock up the lions. Finally, he double-checks his belt, only to discover that a capuchin monkey named Dexter has in fact stolen his keys. When Dexter destroys the old guards' instruction manual, Larry is forced into humiliating himself.
Eventually Larry is rescued from an odd feud between miniatures, pitting a Wild West buckaroo named Jedediah against a Roman General named Octavius, by a wax model of Theodore Roosevelt ,who later explains that ever since an Egyptian artifact — the Tablet of Akmenrah — was brought to the museum in 1952, everything comes to life each night. However, if the exhibits are outside of the museum by sunrise, they literally turn to dust. Roosevelt proceeds to help Larry by restoring order, but insists that it will be the last time he shall ever do so.
While initially unnerved, Larry decides to remain as a guard. On Cecil's advice, Larry begins to study the history of the events and people in the exhibits to prepare himself better for their animation. He meets Rebecca Hutman who is writing a dissertation on the life and times of Sacagawea, and learns much of the history of the various exhibits from her.
The next night, Larry uses what he has learned to better control the exhibits, but this, his second attempt, fails when one of the four Neanderthals sets fire to his compatriots' display, which Larry is forced to extinguish using a nearby fire extinguisher, while the Neanderthal escapes out a window, only to be transformed into dust when the sun rises. Larry barely manages to keep his job after the Museum's director, Dr. McPhee, discovers the mess. Larry tries to tell Rebecca about what happens every night, even offering to let her meet Sacagawea to help with her dissertation, but Rebecca does not believe him.
Two nights later, Larry brings Nick to the Museum, but fails to impress him when nothing comes to life. Just as Larry convinces Nick to wait for the promised event, they find Cecil, Gus, and Reginald stealing the Tablet of Akmenrah. Cecil then reveals the truth to Larry: that like the museum exhibits, the guards receive vital emanation from the Tablet. Now accustomed to this vigor, they are unwilling to forsake it and accordingly intend to steal the Tablet, along with various other Museum artifacts to fund their retirement, and thus frame Larry for the theft. Nick, after prompting from Larry, reactivates the Tablet's power and brings the exhibits to life once more. Cecil then grabs the Tablet back and locks Nick and Larry in the Egyptian room.
Larry calls for Theodore Roosevelt for help, but Roosevelt insists that Larry solve this problem on his own. The only thing left for Larry to do is release the mummy of Pharaoh Akmenrah himself, the owner of the tablet. Surprisingly Akmenrah speaks English; when asked to explain this, the Pharaoh informs Nick and Larry that he had spent many years as an exhibit in the Egyptology Department at Cambridge University. After Larry introduces himself and Nick, Akmenrah then asks them to bestow his Tablet upon him, so he can "claim his kingdom". Larry informs Ahkmenrah that the Tablet has been stolen, convincing the Pharaoh to free them. The three new friends then set out to reclaim the Tablet.
Larry discovers that the other exhibits are fighting with each other; having attracted their attention with the intervention of an animated Moa, he rallies them around the common cause of saving their own ability to be animated and thus acquires their help in retrieving the Tablet. Though the exhibits manage to capture Gus and Reginald without difficulty, Cecil escapes with the Tablet by stagecoach, whereupon Larry, Nick, Akmenrah, Jed, Octavius, and Attila the Hun pursue him through Central Park, eventually capturing him thanks to Larry's quick thinking of halting the horses with a secret word, "Dakota."
Because the exhibits who have come outside may be destroyed by sunrise, Larry gives the Tablet to Akmenrah, who immediately uses its power to return all the exhibits to the museum. Rebecca, in a taxicab, sees the exhibits crossing the road in front of her and realizes that Larry was telling the truth. Entering the museum, she is introduced by Larry to Sacagawea.
The next day, Dr. McPhee fires Larry despite his effort to clean up the museum; but when the reports issued by the news media begin increasing the Museum's popularity, he readmits Larry. Some time later, Larry appears in Nick's classroom during Career Day. Later that night, Larry returns with Nick and all the exhibits celebrate. Cecil, Gus, and Reginald eventually become janitors at the Museum; a stereotypical punishment in comedy films for defeated antagonists (and still allows them to be around the energies of the tablet).
Taken from Wikipedia
The 1,000 Most Commonly Used Words in English
The 1,000 Most Commonly Used Words in English
These most commonly used words are ranked by frequency.
The first 25 make up about one-third of all printed material in English.
The first 100 make up about one-half of all written material, and the first 300 make up about sixty-five percent of all written material in English.
1. the 21. at 41. there 61. some 81. my
2. of 22. be 42. use 62. her 82. than
3. and 23. this 43. an 63. would 83. first
4. a 24. have 44. each 64. make 84. water
5. to 25. from 45. which 65. like 85. been
6. in 26. or 46. she 66. him 86. been
7. is 27. one 47. do 67. into 87. who
8. you 28. had 48. how 68. time 88. oil
9. that 29. by 49. Their 69. has 89. its
10. it 30. word 50. if 70. look 90. now
11. he 31. but 51. will 71. two 91. find
12. was 32. not 52. up 72. more 92. long
13. for 33. what 53. other 73. write 93. down
14. on 34. all 54. about 74. go 94. day
15. are 35. were 55. out 75. see 95. did
16. as 36. we 56. many 76. number 96. get
17. with 37. when 57. then 77. no 97. come
18. his 38. your 58. them 78. way 98. made
19. they 39. can 59. these 79. could 99. may
20. I 40. said 60. so 80. people 100. part
101. over 121. name 141. boy 161. such 181. change
102. new 122. good 142. follow 162. because 182. off
103. sound 123. sentence 143. came 163. turn 183. play
104. take 124. man 144. want 164. here 184. spell
105. only 125. think 145. show 165. why 185. air
106. little 126. say 146. also 166. ask 186. away
107. work 127. great 147. around 167. went 187. animal
108. know 128. where 148. form 168. men 188. house
109. place 129. help 149. three 169. read 189. point
110. year 130. through 150. small 170. need 190. page
111. live 131. much 151. set 171. land 191. letter
112. me 132. before 152. put 172. different 192. mother
113. back 133. line 153. end 173. home 193. answer
114. give 134. right 154. does 174. us 194. found
115. most 135. too 155. another 175. move 195. study
116. very 136. mean 156. well 176. try 196. still
117. after 137. old 157. large 177. kind 197. learn
118. thing 138. any 158. must 178. hand 198. should
119. our 138. same 159. big 179. picture 199. America
120. just 140. tell 160. even 180. again 200. world
201. high 221. light 241. life 261. sea 281. watch
202. every 222. thought 242. always 262. Began 282. far
203. near 223. head 243. those 263. grow 283. Indian
204. add 224. under 244. both 264. took 284. really
205. food 225. story 245. paper 265. river 285. almost
206. between 226. saw 246. together 266. four 286. let
207. own 227. left 247. got 267. carry 287. above
208. below 228. don’t 248. group 268. state 288. girl
209. country 229. few 249. often 269. once 289. sometimes
210. plant 230. while 250. run 270. book 290. mountain
211. last 231. along 251. important 271. hear 291. cut
212. school 232. might 252. until 272. stop 292. young
213. father 233. close 253. children 273. without 293. talk
214. keep 234. something 254. side 274. second 294. soon
215. tree 235. seem 255. feet 275. later 295. list
216. never 236. next 256. car 276. miss 296. song
217. start 237. hard 257. mile 277. idea 297. being
218. city 238. open 258. night 278. enough 298. leave
219. earth 239. example 259. walk 279. eat 299. family
220. eye 240. begin 260. white 280. face 300. it’s
301. Body 321. usually 341. hours 361. five 381. cold
302. Music 322. didn’t 342. black 362. step 382. cried
303. color 323. friends 343. products 363. morning 383. plan
304. stand 324. easy 344. happened 364. passed 384. notice
305. sun 325. heard 345. whole 365. vowel 385. south
306. questions 326. order 346. measure 366. true 386. sing
307. fish 327. red 347. remember 367. hundred 387. war
308. area 328. door 348. early 368. against 388. ground
309. mark 329. sure 349. waves 369. pattern 389. fall
310. dog 330. become 350. reached 370. numeral 390. king
311. horse 331. top 351. listen 371. table 391. town
312. birds 332. ship 352. wind 372. north 392. I’ll
313. problem 333. across 353. rock 373. slowly 393. unit
314. complete 334. today 354. space 374. money 394. figure
315. room 335. during 355. covered 375. map 395. certain
316. knew 336. short 356. fast 376. farm 396. field
317. since 337. better 357. several 377. pulled 397. travel
318. ever 338. best 358. hold 378. draw 398. wood
319. piece 339. however 359. himself 379. voice 399. fire
320. told 340. low 360. toward 380. Seen 400. upon
401. done 421. front 441. stay 461. warm 481. object
402. English 422. feel 442. green 462. common 482. am
403. road 423. fact 443. known 463. bring 483. rule
404. halt 424. inches 444. island 464. explain 484. among
405. ten 425. street 445. week 465. dry 485. noun
406. fly 426. decided 446. less 466. though 486. power
407. gave 427. contain 447. machine 467. language 487. cannot
408. box 428. course 448. base 468. shape 488. able
409. finally 429. surface 449. ago 469. deep 489. six
410. wait 430. produce 450. stood 470. thousands 490. size
411. correct 431. building 451. plane 471. yes 491. dark
412. oh 432. ocean 452. system 472. clear 492. ball
413. quickly 433. class 453. behind 473. equation 493. material
414. person 434. note 454. ran 474. yet 494. special
415. became 435. nothing 455. round 475. Government 495. heavy
416. shown 436. rest 456. boat 476. filled 496. fine
417. minutes 437. carefully 457. game 477. heat 497. pair
418. strong 438. scientists 458. force 478. full 498. circle
419. verb 439. inside 459. brought 479. hot 499. include
420. stars 440. wheels 460. understand 480. check 500. built
501. can’t 521. region 541. window 561. arms 581. west
502. matter 522. return 542. difference 562. brother 582. lay
503. square 523. believe 543. distance 563. race 583. weather
504. syllables 524. dance 544. heart 564. resent 584. root
505. perhaps 525. members 545. sit 565. beautiful 585. instruments
506. bill 526. picked 546. sum 566. store 586. meet
507. felt 527. simple 547. summer 567. job 587. third
508. suddenly 528. cells 548. wall 568. edge 588. months
509. test 529. paint 549. forest 569. past 589. paragraph
510. direction 530. mind 550. probably 570. sign 590. raised
511. center 531. love 551. legs 571. record 591. represent
512. farmers 532. cause 552. sat 572. finished 592. soft
513. ready 533. rain 553. main 573. discovered 593. whether
514. anything 534. exercise 554. winter 574. wild 594. clothes
515. divided 535. eggs 555. wide 575. happy 595. flowers
516. general 536. train 556. written 576. beside 596. shall
517. energy 537. blue 557. length 577. gone 597. teacher
518. subject 538. wish 558. reason 578. sky 598. held
519. Europe 539. drop 559. kept 579. glass 599. describe
520. moon 540. developed 560. interest 580. million 600. drive
601. cross 621. buy 641. temperature 661. possible 681. fraction
602. speak 622. century 642. bright 662. gold 682. Africa
603. appear 623. outside 643. lead 663. milk 683. killed
604. metal 624. everything 644. everyone 664. quiet 684. melody
605. son 625. tall 645. method 665. natural 685. bottom
606. either 626. already 646. section 666. lot 686. trip
607. ice 627. instead 647. lake 667. stone 687. hole
608. sleep 628. phrase 648. consonant 668. act 688. poor
609. village 629. soil 649. within 669. build 689. let’s
610. factors 630. bed 650. dictionary 670. middle 690. fight
611. sleep 631. copy 651. hair 671. speed 691. surprise
612. result 632. free 652. age 672. count 692. French
613. jumped 633. hope 653. amount 673. cat 693. died
614. snow 634. spring 654. scale 674. someone 694. beat
615. ride 635. case 655. pounds 675. sail 695. exactly
616. care 636. laughed 656. although 676. rolled 696. remain
617. floor 637. nation 657. per 677. bear 697. dress
618. hill 638. quite 658. broken 678. wonder 698. iron
619. pushed 639. type 659. smiled 679. smiled 699. couldn’t
620. baby 640. themselves 660. tiny 680. angle 700. fingers
701. row 721. grew 741. east 761. suppose 781. direct
702. least 722. skin 742. pay 762. woman 782. ring
703. catch 723. valley 743. signal 763. coast 783. serve
704. climbed 724. cents 744. touch 764. bank 784. child
705. wrote 725. key 745. information 765. period 785. desert
706. shouted 726. presidents 746. express 766. wire 786. increase
707. continued 727. brown 747. mouth 767. choose 787. history
708. itself 728. trouble 748. yard 768. clean 788. cost
709. else 729. cool 749. equal 769. visit 789. maybe
710. plains 730. cloud 750. decimal 770. bit 790. business
711. gas 731. lost 751. yourself 771. whose 791. separate
712. England 732. sent 752. control 772. received 792. break
713. burning 733. symbols 753. practice 773. garden 793. uncle
714. design 734. wear 754. report 774. please 794. hunting
715. joined 735. bad 755. straight 775. strange 795. flow
716. foot 736. save 756. rise 776. caught 796. lady
717. law 737. experiment 757. statement 777. fell 797. students
718. ears 738. engine 758. stick 778. team 798. human
719. grass 739. alone 759. party 779. God 799. art
720. you’re 740. drawing 760. seeds 780. captain 800. feeling
801. supply 821. fit 841. sense 861. position 881. meat
802. corner 822. addition 842. string 862. entered 882. lifted
803. electric 823. belong 843. blow 863. fruit 883. process
804. insects 824. safe 844. famous 864. tied 884. army
805. crops 825. soldiers 845. value 865. rich 885. hat
806. tone 826. guess 846. wings 866. dollars 886. property
807. hit 827. silent 847. movement 867. send 887. particular
808. sand 828. trade 848. pole 868. sight 888. swim
809. doctor 829. rather 849. exciting 869. chief 889. terms
810. provide 830. compare 850. branches 870. Japanese 890. current
811. thus 831. crowd 851. thick 871. stream 891. park
812. won’t 832. poem 852. blood 872. plants 892. sell
813. cook 833. enjoy 853. lie 873. rhythm 893. shoulder
814. bones 834. elements 854. spot 874. eight 894. industry
815. tail 835. indicate 855. bell 875. science 895. wash
816. board 836. except 856. fun 876. major 896. block
817. modern 837. expect 857. loud 877. observe 897. spread
818. compound 838. flat 858. consider 878. tube 898. cattle
819. mine 839. seven 859. suggested 879. necessary 899. wife
820. wasn’t 840. interest 860. thin 880. weight 900. sharp
901. company 921. France 941. shoes 961. workers 981. rope
902. radio 922. repeated 942. actually 962. Washington 982. Cotton
903. we’ll 923. column 943. nose 963. Greek 983. apple
904. action 924. western 944. afraid 964. women 984. details
905. capital 925. church 945. dead 965. brought 985. entire
906. factories 926. sister 946. sugar 966. led 986. corn
907. settled 927. oxygen 947. adjective 967. march 987. substances
908. yellow 928. plural 948. fig 968. Northern 988. smell
909. isn’t 929. various 949. office 969. create 989. tools
910. Southern 930. agreed 950. huge 970. British 990. conditions
911. truck 931. opposite 951. gun 971. difficult 991. cows
912. train 932. wrong 952. similar 972. match 992. track
913. printed 933. chart 953. death 973. win 993. arrived
914. wouldn’t 934. prepared 954. score 974. doesn’t 994. located
915. ahead 935. pretty 955. forward 975. steel 995. sir
916. chance 936. solution 956. stretched 976. total 996. seat
917. born 937. fresh 957. experience 977. deal 997. division
918. level 938. shop 958. rose 978. determine 998. effect
919. triangle 939. suffix 959. allow 979. evening 999. underline
920. molecules 940. especially 960. fear 980. nor 1000. View
Taken from: The Reading Teachers Book of Lists, Third Edition;
by Edward Bernard Fry, Ph.D, Jacqueline E. Kress, Ed.D & Dona lee Fountoukidis, Ed.D.
These most commonly used words are ranked by frequency.
The first 25 make up about one-third of all printed material in English.
The first 100 make up about one-half of all written material, and the first 300 make up about sixty-five percent of all written material in English.
1. the 21. at 41. there 61. some 81. my
2. of 22. be 42. use 62. her 82. than
3. and 23. this 43. an 63. would 83. first
4. a 24. have 44. each 64. make 84. water
5. to 25. from 45. which 65. like 85. been
6. in 26. or 46. she 66. him 86. been
7. is 27. one 47. do 67. into 87. who
8. you 28. had 48. how 68. time 88. oil
9. that 29. by 49. Their 69. has 89. its
10. it 30. word 50. if 70. look 90. now
11. he 31. but 51. will 71. two 91. find
12. was 32. not 52. up 72. more 92. long
13. for 33. what 53. other 73. write 93. down
14. on 34. all 54. about 74. go 94. day
15. are 35. were 55. out 75. see 95. did
16. as 36. we 56. many 76. number 96. get
17. with 37. when 57. then 77. no 97. come
18. his 38. your 58. them 78. way 98. made
19. they 39. can 59. these 79. could 99. may
20. I 40. said 60. so 80. people 100. part
101. over 121. name 141. boy 161. such 181. change
102. new 122. good 142. follow 162. because 182. off
103. sound 123. sentence 143. came 163. turn 183. play
104. take 124. man 144. want 164. here 184. spell
105. only 125. think 145. show 165. why 185. air
106. little 126. say 146. also 166. ask 186. away
107. work 127. great 147. around 167. went 187. animal
108. know 128. where 148. form 168. men 188. house
109. place 129. help 149. three 169. read 189. point
110. year 130. through 150. small 170. need 190. page
111. live 131. much 151. set 171. land 191. letter
112. me 132. before 152. put 172. different 192. mother
113. back 133. line 153. end 173. home 193. answer
114. give 134. right 154. does 174. us 194. found
115. most 135. too 155. another 175. move 195. study
116. very 136. mean 156. well 176. try 196. still
117. after 137. old 157. large 177. kind 197. learn
118. thing 138. any 158. must 178. hand 198. should
119. our 138. same 159. big 179. picture 199. America
120. just 140. tell 160. even 180. again 200. world
201. high 221. light 241. life 261. sea 281. watch
202. every 222. thought 242. always 262. Began 282. far
203. near 223. head 243. those 263. grow 283. Indian
204. add 224. under 244. both 264. took 284. really
205. food 225. story 245. paper 265. river 285. almost
206. between 226. saw 246. together 266. four 286. let
207. own 227. left 247. got 267. carry 287. above
208. below 228. don’t 248. group 268. state 288. girl
209. country 229. few 249. often 269. once 289. sometimes
210. plant 230. while 250. run 270. book 290. mountain
211. last 231. along 251. important 271. hear 291. cut
212. school 232. might 252. until 272. stop 292. young
213. father 233. close 253. children 273. without 293. talk
214. keep 234. something 254. side 274. second 294. soon
215. tree 235. seem 255. feet 275. later 295. list
216. never 236. next 256. car 276. miss 296. song
217. start 237. hard 257. mile 277. idea 297. being
218. city 238. open 258. night 278. enough 298. leave
219. earth 239. example 259. walk 279. eat 299. family
220. eye 240. begin 260. white 280. face 300. it’s
301. Body 321. usually 341. hours 361. five 381. cold
302. Music 322. didn’t 342. black 362. step 382. cried
303. color 323. friends 343. products 363. morning 383. plan
304. stand 324. easy 344. happened 364. passed 384. notice
305. sun 325. heard 345. whole 365. vowel 385. south
306. questions 326. order 346. measure 366. true 386. sing
307. fish 327. red 347. remember 367. hundred 387. war
308. area 328. door 348. early 368. against 388. ground
309. mark 329. sure 349. waves 369. pattern 389. fall
310. dog 330. become 350. reached 370. numeral 390. king
311. horse 331. top 351. listen 371. table 391. town
312. birds 332. ship 352. wind 372. north 392. I’ll
313. problem 333. across 353. rock 373. slowly 393. unit
314. complete 334. today 354. space 374. money 394. figure
315. room 335. during 355. covered 375. map 395. certain
316. knew 336. short 356. fast 376. farm 396. field
317. since 337. better 357. several 377. pulled 397. travel
318. ever 338. best 358. hold 378. draw 398. wood
319. piece 339. however 359. himself 379. voice 399. fire
320. told 340. low 360. toward 380. Seen 400. upon
401. done 421. front 441. stay 461. warm 481. object
402. English 422. feel 442. green 462. common 482. am
403. road 423. fact 443. known 463. bring 483. rule
404. halt 424. inches 444. island 464. explain 484. among
405. ten 425. street 445. week 465. dry 485. noun
406. fly 426. decided 446. less 466. though 486. power
407. gave 427. contain 447. machine 467. language 487. cannot
408. box 428. course 448. base 468. shape 488. able
409. finally 429. surface 449. ago 469. deep 489. six
410. wait 430. produce 450. stood 470. thousands 490. size
411. correct 431. building 451. plane 471. yes 491. dark
412. oh 432. ocean 452. system 472. clear 492. ball
413. quickly 433. class 453. behind 473. equation 493. material
414. person 434. note 454. ran 474. yet 494. special
415. became 435. nothing 455. round 475. Government 495. heavy
416. shown 436. rest 456. boat 476. filled 496. fine
417. minutes 437. carefully 457. game 477. heat 497. pair
418. strong 438. scientists 458. force 478. full 498. circle
419. verb 439. inside 459. brought 479. hot 499. include
420. stars 440. wheels 460. understand 480. check 500. built
501. can’t 521. region 541. window 561. arms 581. west
502. matter 522. return 542. difference 562. brother 582. lay
503. square 523. believe 543. distance 563. race 583. weather
504. syllables 524. dance 544. heart 564. resent 584. root
505. perhaps 525. members 545. sit 565. beautiful 585. instruments
506. bill 526. picked 546. sum 566. store 586. meet
507. felt 527. simple 547. summer 567. job 587. third
508. suddenly 528. cells 548. wall 568. edge 588. months
509. test 529. paint 549. forest 569. past 589. paragraph
510. direction 530. mind 550. probably 570. sign 590. raised
511. center 531. love 551. legs 571. record 591. represent
512. farmers 532. cause 552. sat 572. finished 592. soft
513. ready 533. rain 553. main 573. discovered 593. whether
514. anything 534. exercise 554. winter 574. wild 594. clothes
515. divided 535. eggs 555. wide 575. happy 595. flowers
516. general 536. train 556. written 576. beside 596. shall
517. energy 537. blue 557. length 577. gone 597. teacher
518. subject 538. wish 558. reason 578. sky 598. held
519. Europe 539. drop 559. kept 579. glass 599. describe
520. moon 540. developed 560. interest 580. million 600. drive
601. cross 621. buy 641. temperature 661. possible 681. fraction
602. speak 622. century 642. bright 662. gold 682. Africa
603. appear 623. outside 643. lead 663. milk 683. killed
604. metal 624. everything 644. everyone 664. quiet 684. melody
605. son 625. tall 645. method 665. natural 685. bottom
606. either 626. already 646. section 666. lot 686. trip
607. ice 627. instead 647. lake 667. stone 687. hole
608. sleep 628. phrase 648. consonant 668. act 688. poor
609. village 629. soil 649. within 669. build 689. let’s
610. factors 630. bed 650. dictionary 670. middle 690. fight
611. sleep 631. copy 651. hair 671. speed 691. surprise
612. result 632. free 652. age 672. count 692. French
613. jumped 633. hope 653. amount 673. cat 693. died
614. snow 634. spring 654. scale 674. someone 694. beat
615. ride 635. case 655. pounds 675. sail 695. exactly
616. care 636. laughed 656. although 676. rolled 696. remain
617. floor 637. nation 657. per 677. bear 697. dress
618. hill 638. quite 658. broken 678. wonder 698. iron
619. pushed 639. type 659. smiled 679. smiled 699. couldn’t
620. baby 640. themselves 660. tiny 680. angle 700. fingers
701. row 721. grew 741. east 761. suppose 781. direct
702. least 722. skin 742. pay 762. woman 782. ring
703. catch 723. valley 743. signal 763. coast 783. serve
704. climbed 724. cents 744. touch 764. bank 784. child
705. wrote 725. key 745. information 765. period 785. desert
706. shouted 726. presidents 746. express 766. wire 786. increase
707. continued 727. brown 747. mouth 767. choose 787. history
708. itself 728. trouble 748. yard 768. clean 788. cost
709. else 729. cool 749. equal 769. visit 789. maybe
710. plains 730. cloud 750. decimal 770. bit 790. business
711. gas 731. lost 751. yourself 771. whose 791. separate
712. England 732. sent 752. control 772. received 792. break
713. burning 733. symbols 753. practice 773. garden 793. uncle
714. design 734. wear 754. report 774. please 794. hunting
715. joined 735. bad 755. straight 775. strange 795. flow
716. foot 736. save 756. rise 776. caught 796. lady
717. law 737. experiment 757. statement 777. fell 797. students
718. ears 738. engine 758. stick 778. team 798. human
719. grass 739. alone 759. party 779. God 799. art
720. you’re 740. drawing 760. seeds 780. captain 800. feeling
801. supply 821. fit 841. sense 861. position 881. meat
802. corner 822. addition 842. string 862. entered 882. lifted
803. electric 823. belong 843. blow 863. fruit 883. process
804. insects 824. safe 844. famous 864. tied 884. army
805. crops 825. soldiers 845. value 865. rich 885. hat
806. tone 826. guess 846. wings 866. dollars 886. property
807. hit 827. silent 847. movement 867. send 887. particular
808. sand 828. trade 848. pole 868. sight 888. swim
809. doctor 829. rather 849. exciting 869. chief 889. terms
810. provide 830. compare 850. branches 870. Japanese 890. current
811. thus 831. crowd 851. thick 871. stream 891. park
812. won’t 832. poem 852. blood 872. plants 892. sell
813. cook 833. enjoy 853. lie 873. rhythm 893. shoulder
814. bones 834. elements 854. spot 874. eight 894. industry
815. tail 835. indicate 855. bell 875. science 895. wash
816. board 836. except 856. fun 876. major 896. block
817. modern 837. expect 857. loud 877. observe 897. spread
818. compound 838. flat 858. consider 878. tube 898. cattle
819. mine 839. seven 859. suggested 879. necessary 899. wife
820. wasn’t 840. interest 860. thin 880. weight 900. sharp
901. company 921. France 941. shoes 961. workers 981. rope
902. radio 922. repeated 942. actually 962. Washington 982. Cotton
903. we’ll 923. column 943. nose 963. Greek 983. apple
904. action 924. western 944. afraid 964. women 984. details
905. capital 925. church 945. dead 965. brought 985. entire
906. factories 926. sister 946. sugar 966. led 986. corn
907. settled 927. oxygen 947. adjective 967. march 987. substances
908. yellow 928. plural 948. fig 968. Northern 988. smell
909. isn’t 929. various 949. office 969. create 989. tools
910. Southern 930. agreed 950. huge 970. British 990. conditions
911. truck 931. opposite 951. gun 971. difficult 991. cows
912. train 932. wrong 952. similar 972. match 992. track
913. printed 933. chart 953. death 973. win 993. arrived
914. wouldn’t 934. prepared 954. score 974. doesn’t 994. located
915. ahead 935. pretty 955. forward 975. steel 995. sir
916. chance 936. solution 956. stretched 976. total 996. seat
917. born 937. fresh 957. experience 977. deal 997. division
918. level 938. shop 958. rose 978. determine 998. effect
919. triangle 939. suffix 959. allow 979. evening 999. underline
920. molecules 940. especially 960. fear 980. nor 1000. View
Taken from: The Reading Teachers Book of Lists, Third Edition;
by Edward Bernard Fry, Ph.D, Jacqueline E. Kress, Ed.D & Dona lee Fountoukidis, Ed.D.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)