Once there was a poor lady who lived on a hill near the seashore. Her husband died. She had no children and lived a lonely life. She was so poor that she had to work hard.

But one night when she sat at the table, the lady said to herself, “I wish I could be useful to the world. Why can’t I do good to someone else besides myself?” At last, she ①________ an idea.

She decided that she would keep a lighted lamp at the window for the sailors every night. She found that ships sometimes hit the rocks in the sea, since there was no lighthouse to warn them of the danger at night. Maybe her lamp would warn them when their ships came near the rocks on the coast.

The lady felt glad when the thought came into her mind. She found that, if she worked an hour longer each night, she could make enough money ②________ the oil for the lamp. So she worked late and got enough money for the oil and then she placed the lamp at the window each night. In this way she saved many lives.

She did this for five years without any reward, or the hope of reward. However, good deeds are often found out. The sailors whose lives had been saved began to send gifts to her from far away countries. They sent her tea from China, cloth from India, silk from France and grapes from Spain. But the poor lady did not need these gifts to make her happy. She gave many of them to the poor and the sick.

She was happy with the thought that she was doing something good. So, as long as she lived, she would light her lamp each night and place it at the window.

Lots of people start each year with New Year’s resolutions. A resolution is a promise to help you live a better life. You plan to do something good or to stop doing something bad in the coming year. Here are some children’s New Year’s resolutions.

My name is Tony. I’m going to improve my Chinese and get better grades. How am I going to do that? I promise to work harder than before.

I’m Jenny. I have many different kinds of hobbies, like singing, dancing and swimming. This year, I’m going to take up a new hobby—taking photos. I will learn it from my uncle. He takes photos for some magazines and he is very good at it.

I’m Rose. I hope to be healthier. I usually watch TV a lot at night and only sleep seven hours a day. I will listen to my body and sleep more. Also, I decide to run for half an hour every morning. I know the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It seems to make sense (有道理), so I’m going to eat some fresh fruit too every day.

It’s OK for you to have a big or small resolution. What’s important is that you should take it seriously and try to keep it. Don’t let it work only for a few weeks or months.

Li Hua’s sixteenth birthday is next Sunday, but she’s not happy. Her father is in Beijing. He’s very busy and cannot come back to Dalian.

Now, Li Hua is in her room with An Ran, her cousin. Li Hua says, “I don’t think I’m important to my father. Next Sunday is my birthday. But he cannot come back…”

The telephone rings and Li Hua goes to answer it. It’s from her father. “Li Hua, can you come to the airport (机场) at 4:00 p. m. next Sunday afternoon? I can be there for only an hour. I have something for you.”

“Yes, Daddy! Yes!” says Li Hua.

After Li Hua puts down the telephone, her cousin says, Well, I think your father does love you. What about you? Do you love him?

“Yes,” says Li Hua.

“Well, do you know it’s Father’s Day today?” An Ran says.

“What? I’m so sorry,” says Li Hua.