Black or white

張玲

When I was in elementary school， I got into a major discussion with a boy in my class. I have forgotten what the discussion was about， but I have never forgotten the lesson I learned that day.

I was sure that “I” was right and “he” was wrong and he was just as certain that “I” was wrong and “he” was right. The teacher decided to teach us a very important lesson.

She brought us up to the front of the class and placed him on one side of her desk and me on the other. In the middle of her desk was a large， round object. I could clearly see that it was black. She asked the boy what color the object was. “White，” he answered.

I couldnt believe he said the object was white， when it was clearly black！ Another discussion started between my classmate and me， this time about the color of the object.

The teacher told me to go to stand where the boy was standing and told him to come to stand where I had been. We changed places， and now she asked me what the color of the object was. I had to answer， “White.”

It was an object with two differently colored sides， and from his viewpoint it was white. Only from my side it was black.

Sometimes we need to look at the problem from the other persons view in order to truly understand his/her perspective （觀點）.

閱讀選擇

1. The author still remembers the discussion because .

A. she was in elementary school

B. she didnt like the boy in her class

C. she learned a lesson that day

2. What did the teacher do to solve the matter？

A. She told the author not to discuss it.

B. She thought of a very clever way.

C. She told the boy not to discuss it.

3. What lesson did the author learn？

A. The object was one with two differently colored sides.

B. The other persons view is always right.

C. Its important to look at the problem from the other persons view.