People often said Thomas Edison was the greatest genius(天才) of his age. There are only a few men in all of history, who have changed the lives of other men as much as the inventor of the first useful electric light. But Edison could never be pleased only because someone said he was a genius. “There is no such a thing as genius,” Edison said. He thought what people called genius was mostly hard work.

     But Edison was a thinker as well as a worker. From his earliest days as a child he wondered about the secrets of nature. He tried to understand them, and then he tried to learn what he could usefully do with them.

     Edison enjoyed thinking. He knew that most people would do almost anything instead of the difficult work of thinking, especially if they do not think very often. But he knew, too, that thinking could give men enjoyment and pleasure.

     Edison could not understand why anyone could not be interested in life. As he loved to think, he also loved to work. On the day he became 75 years old, someone asked him what idea he had about life. “Work,” he answered, “Discovering the secrets of nature and using them to make men happier.” He said he had enough inventions in his mind to give him another 100 years of work.

C

    Rajib Roy comes from a poor family in India. He likes playing football, and he dreams of being a football star one day.

    “I often use the money for food to buy football shoes and clothes. I often feel hungry and it is a little difficult, but I don't care,” he said.

    Now he has a chance to train（训练）with Manchester United (曼联) in England. This makes him come closer(接近的) to his dream. With 11 other talented young players from India, Rajib is going to have a 15-day training.

    Rajib wants to be a great football player. So he can help his younger brother learn in a better school. This is also one of his dreams.

    Old George buys a pair of black gloves for just $7. They are soft and warm. George takes good care of his gloves, so they look new. But George loses his gloves on New Year's Day.

    In winter, he must need a pair of gloves. He is upset(心烦的)that when people find things on the road, they don't return them.

    After the holiday, poor George decides to buy another pair. Before buying it, he goes into Value Mart again to see if his gloves have been returned to the Lost and Found Office.

    "What colour are they?" the woman in the office asks again.

    "Black, "he gives the same answer. She looks into her drawer and takes out(拿出)a pair of men's gloves, "Are they yours?"

    "Yes! They are mine!" George says, with great joy in his eyes.

    An old man went to live with his son, his daughter-in-law, and a four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled(颤抖)，his eyesight was very poor, and he couldn't walk steadily(平稳地).The family ate together nightly at the dinner table.  But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Rice often dropped on the floor.

    The son and the daughter-in-law became angry with the old man，so they put a small table in the corner. There，the grandfather ate alone, while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the table. Since the grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was put in a wooden bowl.

    The four-year-old son watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with a piece of wood on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" The boy answered, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old son smiled and went back to work. The words struck the parents so that they were in silence. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the man took his father's hand and gently led him back to the family table.