Richard: Dad, I need a pair of new shoes for an important basketball game. My old ones look kind of funny.

Father: Funny! We just bought those last spring. There’s a lot of life left in them.

Richard: But look at this ad with Yao Ming. He says these shoes give him extra spring.

Father: Yao Ming is so tall that he doesn’t need extra spring. Anyway, he makes money than I do. And they probably give him millions of dollars to wear those shoes.

Richard: But if you bought me the shoes, I’d wear them for nothing. And I’d have that extra spring.

Father: Do you think Yao Ming reached the top just because of the shoes he wears? Or was it something else?

Richard: You mean like hard work, dedication, that sort of thing?

Father: Exactly. Just focus on your studies and forget the shoes.

1. shoes 2. look kind of funny 3. there is still a lot of life left 4. ad

5. give him extra spring 6.as much money 7. need extra spring 8. millions of dollars 9.wearing the shoes 10. wear 11. for nothing 12. reach the top

13. because of 14. something lese 15. hard work and dedication

16. focus/concentrate on his studies 17. forget