Mr. and Mrs. Green were very worried about their son, Daniel. He was born normal (正常) in every other way,1 seemed to be dumb (哑的). Mr. and Mrs. Green tried everything to get him to 2, but with no success.

    When Daniel was six years old, the best doctors in the town examined (检查) him3, but could find nothing wrong. And he seemed to be smart. It was just that he 4 spoke.

    “There might be something wrong with his 5, and he doesn't know he's able to speak,” one doctor said.

    “But he can read and write,” said Mr. Green, “We've written him notes, telling him to speak some day.”

    “It's certainly very 6,” another doctor said. “Perhaps he will be able to speak some day.”

    7passed. Daniel went to university. But he didn't speak a single word.

    Then one day Daniel was having a meal with his parents. Without any warning, he looked up from his 8 and said, “Pass me the salt, please.”

    Mr and Mrs Green were excited. “You spoke! You spoke!” they cried. “Why have you 9 so long to speak?”

    “I didn't have anything to say,” he said. “Until now everything was10. But you forgot to put salt in these potatoes.”