Once there was a famine (饥荒) in the town. A rich and kind baker(面包师) sent some bread to twenty of the poorest children. He said to them, "In this basket there is some bread for you. Each of you can have one loaf(一条面包) every day until the hard days end.

    The impatient children couldn't wait to gather around the basket. They shouted and fought for the bread because each wished to have the largest loaf. At last they went away without even thanking the good gentleman. But Shirley, a poorly-dressed little girl, did not join them. Instead, she remained standing modestly in the distance. When the other children had left, she took the smallest left in the basket, kissed the gentleman's hand and went home.

    The next day the children were as rude as before. Poor shy Shirley still took the smallest loaf. When she got home, her mother cut the bread open. Many new shining pieces of silver fell out of it. Her mother was very surprised and said, "Take the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must have got into the loaf by accident. Be quick, Shirley! Be quick!"

    But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother's message, he said, "No, no, my child. It was no mistake. I put silver pieces into the smallest loaf to reward you because you are a kind and honest girl. Go home and the money is yours now."

    Long ago in Germany, there was a little boy named George Frederick Handel and he loved music very much. He wanted to learn how to play the piano. But his father wanted him to become a lawyer (律师) and would not let him take music lessons.

    There was a little and old piano up in the attic (阁楼). At night, when everybody was asleep, the little boy climbed up the stairs and played softly.

    When he was about 7, he went to visit a rich duke (公爵) with his father. There was a wonderful organ (风琴) in his house.

    Little Handel walked up to the organ and began to play. His little hands moved over the keys and the sweetest music came out.

    When he finished, he saw his father and the duke looking at him. The duke asked him where he had learned to play, and the boy ________.

    Then the duke persuaded (说服) Handel's father to let him study music. A few years later, young Handel became a famous composer.

    Dale is seven. He can go to school. On the first day, his teacher teaches him three words "I, you, he". The teacher says, "I am your teacher. You are my student. He is your classmate, "After class, Dale goes home. His mother asks him, "What does your teacher teach you today?" Dale says, "Listen, mom, I am your teacher. You are my student." He points at(指着) his father and says, "He is your classmate." His mother says, "No, dear. You are not right." Then she says, "I am your mother. You are my son. He is your father. "The next day, Dale's teacher asks Dale to make sentences. Dale stands up and says, "I am your mother. You are my son. He is your father." All the students in Dale's class laugh.