What could a poem writer and a movie director share? More than you think! Langston Hughes began writing poems in high school and soon became one of America's greatest writers. Most of his writing is about his experiences as an African American. He wrote poems about people who worked hard through life but still found things to be happy about. He wrote plays and books about justice(正义) for all people, and he wrote kids' books, too. The Sweet and Sour Animal Book is a book of his animal poems. Pictures and photos were used in the book.  "Hold fast to dreams”is a line in a famous Hughes poem. That's exactly what he did throughout his life.

 When Steven Spielberg was in middle school, he wanted to make a film. He had an idea for a movie, but no money. He started a tree-planting business and made his film with the money he earned. Spielberg never stopped making films, even after many film schools refused him. Today he is one of the most popular and important filmmakers in the world. His movies are about people who are adventurous(爱冒险的), brave, kind. His characters often fight for what is good. Some of his films are about his Jewish background, such as Schindler's List. Spielberg once said, “I don't dream that much at night because I dream for a living.”In different ways, both Hughes and Spielberg have encouraged people of all ages to reach for their dreams.

    A man once visited a temple that was still being built. He saw a sculptor making a sculpture(雕塑).As he watched the man work on the sculpture, he noticed that there was a similar sculpture lying nearby.

    He felt very strange and asked the sculptor, "Why are you making two same sculptures? Do you need two to put in different places?"

    "No, "the man said without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one became damaged before I could finish it, so I'm making a new one."

    The visitor picked up the damaged sculpture and examined it. But he couldn't find anything wrong with it.

    "Where is the damage?" he asked.

    "There is a scratch(擦痕)on the sculpture's nose." the sculptor said while continuing his work.

    The man then asked, "Where are you going to place the sculpture?"

    The sculptor replied that it would be placed on a 20﹣foot﹣high platform(平台)."If the sculpture is up that high, who is going to notice that there is a scratch on the nose?" the man asked.

    The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the man and said, "I will know it".

    The sculptor chose to stick to a high standard of excellence in his work. Even if other people didn't notice it, it mattered to him that his work should be of the best quality. This is an attitude we should all work hard to keep.

    Old John goes to see a doctor. The doctor looks over (检查) him carefully and says, "Medicine can't help you. You must have a good rest. Go to a quiet place for a month. Go to bed early, drink some milk, walk a lot and smoke one cigar (抽一支雪茄烟) a day."

    "Thank you very much," says Old John," I can do everything you say."

    Four weeks later, Old John comes to the doctor again. "Well," says the doctor. "I am glad to see you. You look much younger."

    "Oh, doctor," says Old John, "I feel quite well now. I have a good rest. I go to bed early. I drink a lot of milk and walk a lot. Your advice (建议) helps me. But you ask me to smoke one cigar a day, and it nearly kills me at first. It is no joke (笑话) to smoke at my age. "

The doctor checked Lily's leg. Lily tried not to cry because her leg hurt a lot. The doctor asked, "How did you get hurt?" Lily replied, "I jumped {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a tree." Holding up the X-ray, the doctor said, "Yes, it's {#blank#}2{#/blank#} （break）."

Two hours later, Lily left the hospital with {#blank#}3{#/blank#} walking stick. Her leg was bandaged. In the car, she asked her mom what she should do. She didn't know {#blank#}4{#/blank#} to tell Mrs. Smith, her dance teacher. The spring dance performance was only two {#blank#}5{#/blank#} （week）away, but Lily's bandage would stay on for at least six weeks! Lily thought Mrs. Smith would be mad at her. 

 {#blank#}6{#/blank#} , Mrs. Smith wasn't angry. She said, "We'll figure something out". Lily felt silly going on stage with her walking stick. "I look {#blank#}7{#/blank#} （fool）," she said, "I can't dance with this. "

Mrs. Smith asked, "Have you ever heard of the saying ‘The show must go on'?" Together, they {#blank#}8{#/blank#} （plan）the performance, thinking of ways for Lily to move to the music. On the night of the performance, Mrs. Smith almost had to push Lily onto the stage. Lily's bandage looked big and was difficult {#blank#}9{#/blank#} （move）, but she danced. In the end, the audience applauded（鼓掌） {#blank#}10{#/blank#} （warm）. Someone threw a bouquet of roses at Lily's feet! The show went on successfully! 

I'm Li Hua. Great changes have happened to me in the past three years.

On the first day of school, Socrates told his students, "Today, we'll only learn one thing, that is to stretch(伸展)your 1 , then try to swing them backward." He showed them and as a 2 , all the students laughed. "Sir, is it necessary to learn this?"one of the students laughed.

"Of course," Socrates replied 3 . "You think this is a simple thing, but it is very difficult." Hearing this, the students 4 even harder.

Without being a bit 5 , Socrates said, "In this class, I'll teach you how to learn this action well. Then after the class, from today on, you will do it 100 times a 6 ."

Ten days later, Socrates asked, "Who still 7 to swinging his arms?" About 80% of the students raised their hands. Twenty days later, Socrates asked, "Who still insists(坚持)on swinging his arms?" About 50% of the students 8 their hands. Three months later, Socrates asked, "Who still insists on that 9 action of swinging?" This time, only one student raised his 10 . He was Plato.

Perseverance(坚持不懈)is the simplest yet the most difficult thing in the world, because everyone can do it but not everyone will do it. Only the one who can stick the simple thing out may make it.