Have you ever been sad because you failed in something? If so, please remember, for often, achieving what you expect is not the most important thing. Here is a story to tell you why.

    One day a little boy decided to dig a hole behind his house after watching a science program. As he was working, a couple of boys stopped by to watch. “What are you doing?” asked one of the visitors. “I want to dig a deep hole all the way through the earth!” the boy answered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling him that it was impossible to do it. Then they left.

    The little boy kept on digging and digging. Suddenly, a few small colorful stones caught his eyes. He collected them and put them into a glass jar (罐) patiently. Humming (哼唱) a song, he went on digging. The jar was full soon. Then he talked to himself calmly and proudly, “Maybe I can't finish digging all the way through the earth, but look at what I have found in the process (过程) of digging!”

    The boy's goal (目标) was too difficult, but it did cause him to go on, in other words, to cause us to keep working!

    Not every goal will be achieved. Not every job will end up with a success. Not every dream will come true. But when you can't achieve your goal, maybe you can say, “Yes, but look what I've found along the way! There are so many wonderful things that have come into my life because I tried to do something!” It is in the digging that life is lived. It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really has a meaning.

    Norman Bethune was a famous Canadian doctor. In 1938, he came to China. Here is a story about him in China. It was October 20, 1939. Dr Bethune was busy working in a hospital. A man came and told Dr Bethune that he needed a lot of doctors. Immediately, Dr Bethune started out with some doctors. Dr Bethune took the wounded(受伤的) men into a small place and began to work. He went on working all the night. He had no time to think about taking a rest. The next day, a young man ran in and said to the doctors, "A few hundred enemy soldiers (敌兵）are coming." But Dr Bethune still went on with his work. Twenty minutes later, when Bethune was working on the leg of the last soldier, the guns (枪）sounded closer. Again the young man rushed in and told Dr Bethune not to work anymore. Dr Bethune, you must go now !" he cried. "Please go, Dr Bethune," said the wounded soldier himself. "Never mind, my boy. It won't take long," said Dr Bethune. "If I spend a few more minutes on it now, I. can save your leg. But if I don't, you'll lose it." The guns sounded even closer now, but Dr Bethune worked on. After he finished his work, he and other doctors left. As Bethune and the other doctors were climbing the hills, they could see the enemies going into the village.

    Li Ming is staying with the Wang's family for the weekend. Today it is warm and fine. The family are having dinner in the garden. They often have dinner in the garden on a warm and fine spring day. Now Mr. and Mrs. Wang are sitting at the table with Li Ming under a tree.

    "It's great to have dinner out here on such a lovely day," Mrs. Wang says. "What's the weather like in your hometown, Li Ming?" Mr. Wang asks. "It's not very warm in spring. But I like the spring there best." "Help yourself to some cakes, Li Ming,"Mrs. Wang says. "Thanks," says Li Ming. "The cakes are very nice. I enjoy the dinner very much."

    There is an elephant and a monkey. They're friends. But one day they want to know who is stronger （更强壮）. One of them says, "Who can get apples from the tree across the river, who is stronger."The monkey says, "I can't swim." The elephant says, "I can swim. Please sit on my back."Thus they go across the river. The apple tree is very high. The elephant can't reach the apples on the tree. The monkey climbs（爬）up the tree and gets many apples. Now they know they should help each other.

    There are some skills for students to listen to the teachers in class, which means you're going to have to practice them. Just as you would have to practice basketball to be a better player, you also have to practice listening. How to listen in school? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    One of the things you'll need to do is to make sure that your mind doesn't wander(漫游). It's easy to start thinking about other things, especially when you are not interested in the subject. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

   Next, listen for the main ideas. If you want to catch every little piece of information, you'll feel tired and bored. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Not only does this show respect to the teacher, it also helps prevent your mind from wandering. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Or it could just be someone talking to their neighbors who shouldn't be, it can even be some birds outside the classroom window, or a group of kids who are talking loudly as they pass the door to your room.

    Finally, you need to take notes because you will not remember everything the teacher said. You'll have to take down the notes so that you can study it after class. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Listening isn't always easy, but if you follow these simple steps, you'll be much more successful in your classes.