This book is an invitation to share the experiences of
people (31) like you, learn a new language or come to
live in a culture different from the (32) they grew up in.
We hope (33) the experience of reading the stories in this
book will be a pleasure for you. Reading literature in a
language (34) is not your native one is more likely to be a
pleasant experience if you first read the text through without stopping
(35) understand the meaning of every word. Words only have
meaning (36) they are used with (37)
words. Most of the words in these stories are used in context which makes
their meanings (38) clear as they need to be for the stories
to make (39) . So don’t let an unfamiliar word stop
you the first time you (40) it; read on. There will be time
later to pay attention to the word. (41) you stop when you see it
the first time, you may lose interest in the story. Reading
these stories is rather (42) taking an automobile trip. Once
you’ re on a trip, you watch (43) signs that tell you that
you’ re going (44) the right direction. (45)
if you stop too many times to ask for directions on the trip, you
aren’t likely to go very far. (46) , you put your trust in
the road signs and continue. Then you (47) enjoy the sights
you see or the feeling and ideas that occur to you at the time. (48)
, you think back over your trip, tell other people about
(49) you noticed, discover what others may (50)
observed, and find out about things you wondered about. If you really like
the trip, you may decide to take it again.