One thorn(刺) of experience is worth many times of warning.

    Ralph Wick was seven years old. In most things he was a fine boy, but he would cry from time to time. When he could not have what he wanted, he would 1for it. If he was told that it would hurt him, and he could not 2 it, he would also cry.

    One day, he went with his mother into the 3. The sun shone. The grass was cut. The flowers were starting to come out.

    Ralph thought he was, for once, a good boy. A 4 was on his face. He wished to do as he was told. Ralph helped his mother with the farm work and he was very happy.

    “Now you must be tired and 5,” said his mother. “Have a good rest here and eat some cookies. I will get a beautiful red rose for you.” So his mother brought the red flower to him. When he saw his mother still had a white rose in her hand, Ralph 6 it.

    “No, my dear.” said his mother. “See how many thorns it has. You must not touch it, or you would be sure to hurt your 7.” When Ralph found that he could not have the white rose, he began to cry, and 8 took it away. But he was soon very sorry. The thorns hurt his hand. It was so 9 that he could not use it for some time.

    Ralph would never 10 this. From then on, when he wanted what he should not have, his mother would point to his hand which had been hurt before. He at last learned to do as he was told.

    When you meet Esther Okade, she seems really like a 110-year-old child. She loves dressing up as Elsa from Frozen（《冰雪奇缘》）,2 Barbie toys and going to the park or shopping. But what makes the British youngster stand out is the3that she's also a university student.

    Esther, from Walsall, a town of the UK, is one of the country's4college student. The talented 10-year-old girl5the Open University in January this year and is already top of the class.

    It's so interesting. she says. It was super easy. My mom taught me6a nice way.

She adds, I want to finish the7in two years. I want to have my own bank by time I'm fifteen years old8I like numbers and I like people and banking is a great way to help people.

    And when people think her parents have9her into starting university early, Ester disagrees. Esther10wanted to start when she was seven. But her mom thought she was too young. After three years of11, mother Efe agreed to take the idea at last.

Esther's mother noticed her daughter's natural ability for12shortly after she began homeschooling her when Esther was only three.13, Esther's parents took her into a private school. But after a few short weeks, Esther cried out in tears and she said, I don't want to go back to that school. They14don't let me talk!

    In the UK, you do not have to start school until you are five. Education is not compulsory（义务的）until that age so I thought OK, and15will be doing little things at home until then.

    Maybe by the time she's five she will change her mind. said Esther's mother.

    Grandma Sally is eighty-six years old. She has no sons1daughters. Her husband died ten years ago. But she didn't move into a nursing home. She would like to 2herself every day.

    Every night she spends two hours3kids with math. All kids living on her street can get her help without payment(报酬). She was a famous math 4before she retired(退休) from a middle school.

    She gets up early in the morning, then does sports, goes shopping or helps cleaners5the street. And she does these happily.

    When the kids come for help, she is always6and tries her best. People asked her 7. She said," I love it. It makes me happy to help them. "

    She is always happy every day and always says hello to people around her8a smile.

    "I 9to love everything around me. So I'm happy to do something. I'm thankful for those kids who come to me for help. Each kid is my 10. I love each day to help them," she said.

A beautiful smile

    When I was thirteen years old, a girl gave me an important gift. It was a smile.

    It was the early autumn of my 1 year at a new school. It's also the first year of middle school. No one knew me. I was very 2, and afraid to make friends with anyone.

    Every time I heard the other students talking and laughing, I felt even more lonely. I could not talk to anyone about my problem, and I didn't want my parents to worry about me.

    One day, my classmates were 3 with their friends, but I sat in silence(沉默) and felt so down that everything didn't sound real. At that moment, a girl entered the classroom. I did not know who she was. She passed me and then turned back. She looked at me and, without a word, 4.

    Suddenly, I felt the 5 of something bright and friendly. It made me feel happy, lively and warm. It was like a hidden treasure(宝藏).

    That smile 6 my life. I started to talk with other students. Day by day, I learnt to trust people, and they included me in their circle of friends. The girl with the bright smile has become my best friends now, and we stick together like glue. I can talk to her about my study, feelings and hobbies, pretty much everything. I am so 7 that I met such a nice girl.

    One day, I asked her why she smiled at me that day. She said she could not remember!

    Now I believe that the world is like a 8. It is just what you think it is. If you think you are lonely, you might always be alone. But if you smile at it, it will always smile back!