Introduction to Letters to Sam

Dear Reader，

Please allow me to tell you something before you read this book．When my （36）___，Sam，was born，my heart was filled with joy．I had been sitting in a wheelchair for 20years before then，and I have been （37）___ill many times．So I wondered if I would have the（38）___to tell Sam what I had（39）___．

For years I have been hosting a program on the （40）___and writing articles for a magazine．Being（41）___to move freely，I have learned to sit still and keep my heart （42）___，exchanging thoughts with thousands of listeners and （43）___．So when Sam was born，I （44）___to tell him about school and fridship，romance and work，love and everything else．That’s how I started to write these（45）___．I hope that Sam would （46）___them sooner or later．

However，that expectation （47）___when Sam showed signs of autism （自闭症） at the age of two．He had actually stopped talking before the discovery of the signs．He （48）___to communicate with others，even the family members．That was （49）___for me but didn’t stop me writing on．I realized that I had even （50）___now to tell him．I wanted him to （51）___what it means to be“different”from others，and learn how to fight against the misfortune he’ll （52）___as I myself，his grandfather，did．I just（53）___if I could write all that I wanted to say in the rest of my life．

Now，（54）___the book has been published，I have been given the chance．Every chapter in the book is a letter to Sam：some about my life，and all about what it means to be a（55）___．

Daniel Gottlieb

36．A．son B．nephew C．brother D．grandson

37．A．seriously B．mentally C．slightly D．quietly

38．A．ability B．time C．courage D．responsibility

39．A．written B．suffered C．observed D．lost

40．A．radio B．television C．stage D．bed

41．A．ready B．unable C．anxious D．eager

42．A．warm B．broken C．closed D．open