A lot of boys and girls in western countries are wearing the same kind of clothes, and many of them have long hair, so it is often difficult to tell whether they are boys or girls.

    One day an old man went for a walk in a park in Washington and when he was tired, he sat down on a chair by a swimming pool. A young person was standing on the other side of the pool.

    "Oh!" the old man said to the person sitting next to him. "Do you see the person with the loose clothes and long hair? Is it a boy or a girl?"

    "A girl," said his neighbor. "She is my daughter."

    "Oh!" the old man said quickly. "Please forgive me. I didn't know that you were her mother."

    "I'm not," said the person. "I'm her father."

    A poor boy lived in a small town.He sold goods from door to door to pay for school. One day, he only one cent left, and he was hungry. He decided that he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, when a young woman opened the door, the boy was shy, so he just asked for some water. The woman knew he was hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much should I pay for it?” “You won't pay for it. My mother has told me that it is good to help the people who are in trouble.” She replied. The boy said, “Then I thank you from my heart.” As the boy left that house, he felt stronger. He knew he had many things to do.

    Many years later, the young woman became ill. The local doctors couldn't save her. People had to send her to a big city.When the doctor knew who the woman was, he was excited and tried his best to save her life. He succeeded. The woman needed to pay for the medical bill. The doctor learned that she couldn't afford it. So he wrote something down on the medical bill. The woman read the bill, “You have paid it with a glass of milk.”

    An old man walked slowly into a restaurant with his cane(拐杖).His old jacket and shoes made him unusual that day.

    A young waitress named Mary watched him move towards a table by the window.She ran over to him,and said with smile,“Here,sir.Let me give you a hand."

    Without saying a word,he gave her a smile. She pulled the chair out from the table and helped him sit down. Then she put his cane against the table where he could reach ithimself. In a soft, clear voice he said,"Thank you." "You're welome, sir," she replied. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything, just wave(挥手) at me!"

    After he had finished a good meal,Mary brought him the change. She handed him his cane, and walked to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said,“Come back and see us, sir! ”The old man turned around and smiled.

    When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under the plate, she found a business card, a 100—dollar and a note.The note said.

    “Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness."

    In fact,the old man was the owner of the restaurant. That was the first time that she, or any of his waitresses, had seen him.

    Molly had a math exam that day. Math was her worst subject. Her friend Ted promised to help her prepare for the exam, but then he ignored(不理会) all her calls.

    When the exam began, Molly saw Ted holding his phone under the table. He was reading something on the phone! Molly was surprised. Was that how Ted always got good grades? She felt really angry. It wasn't fair! Then Molly put up her hand. Ted was looking at his phone and didn't hear Mr. Reed as he walked up to his table. Mr. Reed picked up Ted's exam paper and told him to go outside. Ted started crying as he went to the door. Molly felt really sorry.

    After school, Molly heard footsteps (脚步声)behind her when she was leaving school. It was Ted "Molly, wait!" he called. "I want to talk to you." Molly could see Ted's eyes were red." Listen! I'm really sorry I didn't answer your calls. My dad had heart trouble. He had an operation (手术) today. I was very worried, so I was reading messages from my mom to see how it was going. But Mr. Reed thought I was cheating. Luckily he believes me now. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Will you forgive(原谅)me?”

    Just as I came back home, I heard a sound coming from the bedroom upstairs-it was from my favourite violin.

    "Thief!"

    I rushed upstairs and saw a boy in dirty clothes pulling my violin down. At first sight, I found a new pair of shoes missing. It seemed he was surely a thief.

    However, when I saw his eyes full of fear, my anger disappeared. I smiled and asked," Are you Mr. Ram's student Rubens? I'm his butler (男管家). I've heard Mr. Ram say his student will come. It must be you."

    "Has my teacher gone out?" the boy said, "I think I'd better visit him again in a while."

    I nodded and asked him, "Do you like playing the violin?"

    "Yes, but I'm too poor to afford one." the boy replied.

    "Then, I'll give you this violin." The boy looked at me surprisingly, but he picked up the violin. While going out of the room, he suddenly saw a huge photo of me playing the violin at the Grand Theatre of Sydney on the wall. His face turned pale. He stood there for a moment and ran out. He must have understood what had happened because no master (主人) would put up the butler's photo on the wall of his living room.

    A few years later, at a music competition in Melbourne, I was invited to be the judge (评委). Finally, a violin player called Merritt won the first prize.

    After the prize-giving, Merritt ran to me holding a violin box, his face red, and asked," Mr. Brian, do you still know me? You gave me the violin, which I have treasured ever since! Today, I want to say sorry and give back this violin to you without regret…"

    He was just the "Mr. Ram's student"!

Archimedes and the golden crown

One day in ancient Greece, King Hiero asked a crown maker to make him a golden crown. At first, he was very 1 with it.

"It's a nice crown, isn't it?" he asked his men. Later, however, he began to doubt 2it was a real golden crown. "Is it made completely of gold?" he wondered. He sent it to Archimedes and asked him to find out the truth.

"This problem seems difficult to solve. What should I do?" thought Archimedes.

Archimedes was still thinking about this problem 3he filled his bath with water. When he got into the bath, some water ran over.  

"That's it!" shouted Archimedes. "I know 4 to solve the king's problem!"

Archimedes went straight to the palace to see the king. First, he 5the crown and asked the king for some gold of the same weight.

Next, he put two pots into two big bowls and filled 6pots with water. He put the gold into one pot, and some water ran into the bowl. Then he put the crown into 7pot. This time, even more water ran into the bowl.

"Look at this," said Archimedes to King Hiero. "A crown 8completely of gold displaces 9water than a crown made of gold and another metal. This crown displaced more water than gold of the same weight, so I'm certain that it is not 10made of gold. "

"The crown maker tricked me, didn't he? What a bad man he is!" shouted King Hiero. He then sent the crown maker to prison.