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　　Do you believe that some numbers are lucky or unlucky? If you answer “yes” 　　1　　 this question, you are certainly not 　　2　　．For example, many people in certain countries believe that 　　3　　 13 is especially bad．They believe 13 people should 　　4　　 sit at a table together, and that 　　5　　 things will happen 　　6　　 Friday the 13th．Some buildings do not even designate a 13th floor．On the other hand,7 is often considered a 　　7　　 number．　　8　　 everyone goes along with this belief in the power of numbers．Some people think that lucky 　　9　　 unlucky numbers are only superstitions(迷信)that should not 　　10　　 seriously．　　11　　, others think that numbers 　　12　　 have the power to affect people’s 　　13　　．

　　In ancient times, it was quite common to believe in the magical power of numbers．It 　　14　　 that some numbers could clue(暗示)someone in to the 　　15　　 or show the 　　16　　 side of a person’s personality(个性)．Numerology(命理学),he “art” of 　　17　　 the power in numbers, was often practised in Jewish tradition(传统)and among Greek mathematicians(数学家)．Today, many of those 　　18　　 still practise numerology use the Hebrew calendric system(希伯来历法)which gives each 　　19　　 of the alphabet(字母表)　　20　　 of the numbers 1 through 8．

　　Chuck was one of my students in my high school English class．He was a writer of great 　　1　　．So, when he was accepted into the journalism program at the University of Missouri, I wasn't 　　2　　．

　　During his first year at college, Chuck stopped by the school a few times to keep me informed of his 　　3　　．We recalled(回忆)that we had worked together several years before to 　　4　　 money for 23 sick Cambodian babies who were being cared for by a nurse friend of mine in Thailand, a place far away yet close to our 　　5　　．Chuck raised several thousand dollars．It was an activity that 　　6　　 our formal relationship into a friendship．

　　In his second year at college, it was discovered that Chuck had lung cancer and had only a short while to 　　7　　．I went to see him one day．Seeing me, he was filled with 　　8　　 and we talked and laughed for most of the afternoon．

　　About six weeks later, Chuck died．It was a great 　　9　　 for everyone, especially for his family．Chuck was 　　10　　 and full of promise．More importantly, he was a good person, a just person．

　　When I went to his 　　11　　, his father told me that several weeks before, Chuck had asked him to 　　12　　 his possessions with him so that he might select a few things to be buried in the coffin(棺木)with him．Chuck 　　13　　 six items, including an essay he had written．

　　He told me that Chuck liked the 　　14　　 I had written to him at the bottom of the last page．In that little note, I affirmed his talent as a 　　15　　．

　　I was grateful for the 　　16　　 gift Chuck gave me that day．His taking my note with him offered me a great opportunity to 　　17　　 students' lives．I felt a sense of purpose that was greater than ever．Whenever I 　　18　　 my purpose, I think of Chuck, and I am reminded of it once again：　　19　　 have the power to affect hearts and 　　20　　 for a long time．