When I was young, at the age of seven, I admired those great heroes and supermen who seemed to deal with anything difficult and became famous and popular. I was sure to answer “to be a great woman” whenever I was asked about my dream.

One day in my teens, my father asked, “Do you understand what the word ‘great’ means? Do you know how great people become great?” I shouted, “A person should be talented enough and ready to be given good chances.”

Father thought for a moment and promised to teach me about being great. He asked me to bring two plants and then to plant one of them inside our house and the other outside the house. I didn’t know the reason but did as he said.

My father asked, “Which one of these two plants will be bigger and stronger?”

I replied without thinking twice, “Certainly the one inside the room. The plant outside the daily house is not safe at all, because no one will be always there to take care of it. It can be eaten by animals.” Father smiled and said, “I will give you the answer to your question at the right time.”

I left for further education and I almost forgot the experiment. I saw the safe and big tree in the house when I came back after several years. Father brought me to the other plant outside. I couldn’t believe my eyes when we went outside. I saw a strong tree that was much bigger than the plant inside.

Because it faced every season and many difficulties, but the one inside didn’t. So it didn’t become strong or big. That is the meaning of the word “great”.

Betty and Kitty are twins (双胞胎). They’re 12 years old. They look the same. But they have different hobbies. Betty likes collecting stamps. She has many beautiful stamps. They’re from different cities and countries. But Kitty likes growing flowers. The flowers are all very beautiful. Betty and Kitty both like reading books. Betty likes reading storybooks. But Kitty likes reading science books. On Sunday, they usually ride bikes to the park. They can play with their friends there. Sometimes their parents go there, too.

It’s Sunday afternoon. Grace is asking her friend Linda for some advice.

Grace: Oh, Linda. I was so sad last night. I had a really terrible talk with my sister.

Linda: Really? What’s wrong?

Grace: She said I’m not a responsible (有责任心的) mum. I never ask my daughter, Anne, to do any housework. I don’t check her homework, either. So she thinks Anne is going to grow up to be lazy and useless. What do you think?

Linda: I don’t know if she’ll be useless. But I think some housework can help a child learn how to become a better person.

Grace: I don’t think so. Kids go to school every day, and doing housework will be another kind of work for them.

Linda: Maybe Anne works hard as a student, but it’s also nice for her to know how to work hard in a garden, right? Maybe she will find fun in it.