A little boy with polio (小儿麻痹症) always thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world. He 1 played with his classmates; when asked to answer questions, he always 2 his head without a word.
One spring, the boy's father told his children to plant a sapling (幼树) each in the 3, adding, "Whose seedling 4 best, he or she will win a gift." The boy also wanted to get his father's gift, but seeing brothers and sisters carrying water to water the trees 5, anyhow, he hit upon an idea that the tree he planted would die soon. So only watering it once or twice, he never 6 it.
A few days later, he was 7 to find it grew some fresh leaves, and compared with other trees, his tree appeared greener and more vital. His father kept his 8, bought him his favorite gift and said, "From the tree you planted, you would become a(n) 9 botanist when you grow up."
Since then, the little boy gradually became 10. One night, he suddenly 11 what the biology teacher once said — plants generally grow at night. He came to the courtyard on tiptoe and found his father 12 under his tree with a ladle (长柄勺). Suddenly, he understood his father had been 13 watering his small tree! Tears ran down his face without 14.
Love is the best nourishment of life; even if it is just a ladle of clear water, it can make the tree of life 15.
