question: When an NBA player is young he thinks he can win the championship by himself. It is only later when he has aged and been through many battles that he learns an important lesson: there is no "I " in "team".

There is no better example of the value of teamwork than the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were all superstars on three different teams. Yet, none of them had any titles to show for it. Then, last season, they decided to sacrifice money and individual statistics to play together. Garnett and Allen joined Pierce on the Celtics and changed the NBA in the process.

It started in simple ways. Garnett and Allen are two of the most intense athletes in the world. They treat every second of every practice like it is the NBA championship. If you want to play alongside them then you will have to do the same. So, the young guys on the Celtics started giving their full effort too.

Pierce had been the star of the Celtics for many years. He used to shoot the ball many times a game. But with the addition of Allen and Garnett he shot less and focused on defense. His selflessness showed the young players that doing what made the team better was the only thing that mattered.

When the Celtics were winning and the game was almost over, Garnett, Pierce and Allen would come out of the game. But they wouldn't just sit on the bench. Instead, they stood and cheered and screamed for their teammates. They wanted to support their friends and teammates.

Now, the guys who don't play know they can still affect the game by cheering so they scream and cheer when Garnett, Allen and Pierce are playing. The Celtics have developed a strong relationship. They are more than just teammates. They are brothers.

The result: the Boston Celtics won the championship and are considered the favorites to win the Eastern Conference championship again this year.

There is a saying that goes, "A successful team beats with one heart." If that is the case, the Celtics may have the biggest heart in the NBA.
1. What is the important thing to learn?
2. Which one?
3. Who doesn't know this?
4. how so?
5. Does he ever learn this lesson?
6. When?
7. Who are Paul, Ray, and Kevin?
8. Are they on the same team?
9. What did they do?
10. how did they do that?
11. Was Pierce soon to follow?
12. Why not?
13. Was he a bench player?
14. Did he get the ball as much when the others joined the team?
15. What did he do then?
****
answer: 1. A lesson
2. There is no "I " in "team".
3. A young NBA player
4. he thinks he can win the championship by himself
5. Yes
6. Later, when he has aged
7. NBA players.
8. Three different teams.
9. Sacrificed their records and money to play together.
10. Garnet and Allen left their teams to go to the Celtics.
11. No
12. He already played for the Celtics.
13. No, a star player.
14. No
15. Shot less and focused on defense.

question: The kid was going for a quick swim. He loved to get out and hop back into the water. When he was out of the pool he liked to dance and run around. Sometimes when he got out he would sit in the chair and get some sun. He liked to work on his skin color. Just like his mommy. He would take his toys and hop in the water with them. He liked to play football in the water the most. He was taller than the other kids his age, so he could play football and not worry about the bigger kids. He could jump into the deeper section of the pool as long as he got back to where he could touch before his mom worried too much. The pool was his favorite place in the world. The boy could imagine he was doing anything. All of his problems went away. It was a very nice place for him to get his energy out and make friends for when he wasn't at the pool. He loved making friends.
1. did the kid like to tan?
2. did he go for a long swim?
3. when he was out of the pool what would he do?
4. did his mom like to tan too?
5. where did he take his toys?
6. what was his favorite sport to play in the water?
7. did he have to worry about big kids?
8. why not?
9. what was his favorite place?
10. how many of his problems went away while swimming?
11. did he hate making friends?
****
answer: 1. yes
2. no
3. dance and run around
4. yes
5. in the water with them
6. football
7. no
8. He was taller
9. The pool
10. All of them
11. no

question: I often write about the bad state of television these days, but recently my mom told me about a story she saw on 60 Minutesthat was inspiring, educational, and entertaining for the whole family. I went to the show's website to see for myself. My mom was right. At a time when even Barbara Walters says she's really bored with celebrities interviews, this one will not disappoint.

It's the story of Derek Paravicini, a 30-year-old who was born three months early, physically disabled (he can't button his own shirt), blind, and severely autistic .

Yet, through total luck and coincidence, his family discovered that Derek had a remarkable musical talent when he was three.

Derek can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.

That's right. He only has to hear it once.

Even more unbelievable, his brain, like a computer, can keep many songs that he can immediately repeat when asked. But his talent isn't limited to just learning things by heart. Derek is a true musical genius and artist who plays beautifully in a wide range of styles and can make his own music.

With his talent, Derek has raised millions of dollars putting on charity concerts. He also donates his time to senior centers where he acts as a human jukebox machine, taking requests from senior citizens who haven't heard their favorite songs for decades.

As it turns out, Derek loves people and his extraordinary talent has been the key to unlocking his personality and social development.

If you want to inspire your family, pop some popcorn and sit everyone down to watch this excellent piece of journalism. If your kids are like mine, it will cause a great family discussion about the definition of "disability" and the extraordinary ability of the human brain and spirit. It may even give you the perfect answer the next time your child says he or she "can't" do something. Now that's priceless.

Who says there's nothing good on TV?
1. What is Derek's unique skill?
2. When did his parents discover this?
3. Does he have a typical brain?
4. What is different about him?
5. What are his disabilities?
6. What is his age?
7. Did the author uncover his story on Good Morning America?
8. How did his family discover his talent?
9. How many times does he need to listen to a song to memorize it?
10. Does Derek avoid all communication with people?
****
answer:
1. He can hear any musical composition one time and play it perfectly on the piano.
2. When he was three.
3. No.
4. His brain is like a computer.
5. He's blind.and severely autistic.
6. 30.
7. No.
8. Through total luck and coincidence.
9. Once.
10. No.