Most musicians agree that the best violins were first made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any other violin. They even sound better than the violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the Italian violins. But they aren't the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones.

    Some people think it is the age of the violins. But not all the old violins sound wonderful. Only the old violins from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the correct answer.

    Other people think the secret to those violins is wood. The wood must be from certain kinds of trees. But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin.  Musicians sometimes think that it is the secret of the Italians. Possibly they understood more than us about how to cut the wood.

    Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists can make new ones which are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish (清漆). Varnish is what covers the wood of the violin. It makes the wood look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. But no one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish.

    Grandfather always tells Jane stories before she goes to bed at night. Soon, her love for reading grows. She starts borrowing books from the school library.

One day, Grandfather told Jane, "Here, my dear, your birthday is coming. This is a very special book and I want you to have it as your birthday present. I am sure that you will enjoy reading it."

    Jane was excited to get the book. She put down all the other books she had and started reading it day and night. The more she read the book, the more she liked it.

    Soon, she finished the book. She thought it was a great book so she asked Grandfather who the writer was.

    "I wrote the book, my dear," Grandfather said with a smile.

    "This is really a great present!" Jane thought. "I will take good care of it and show it to Baby John when he grows up."

    I love movies. Among all of them, I prefer movies that I can get inspiration (激励) from. The Pursuit of Happiness is such a movie. This movie is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a salesman who managed to build a future for himself and his five-year-old son Christopher. Chris Gardner was having a hard life in San Francisco in 1981. His wife hated to have a poor life so she left home. Gardner and his son were abandoned by her.

    While trying to sell his products, Gardner met Jay Thistle, a successful stockbroker (股票经纪人). His new relationship with Jay helped him earn an internship (实习) in a stock company. Without any pay, Gardner was not able to afford the apartment. He and his son had to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked door of a bathroom in the subway station.

    Gardner never let other people in the company know about his bad condition He arrived at the office early and stayed late each day. As an intelligent man, Gardner developed a number of ways to make his work faster and better. And he finally got the job because of his excellent performance.

    With confidence and the love and trust of his son, Chris Gardner got back on his feet and opened, his own company. He reached his American dream at last. And his story has encouraged me to realize my dream.