Discussion questions:
1 Do you think that your parents are the mostimportant people in your life? Why or why not?
2 What is the ideal relationship between parents andtheir children in your view?
3 In Chinese culture, parents believe that they raisechildren so that their children will look after them when they are old. Do youaccept this view?
4 Do you agree that parents are often willing tosacrifice a lot for their children? Discuss and explain your position withexamples.
To understand your parents’ love you mustraise children yourself.
— Chinese proverb
Interpretation:
When you havechildren of your own and know how much you love them, you’ll be able tounderstand how much your parents have loved you. The original saying in Chineseis “养儿方知父母恩”.
As long as you have the blessing of yourparents, it does not matter even if you live in the mountains.
— Greekproverb
Interpretation:
Parents’ love andgood wishes for you are the most important things in your life. As long as youhave their love and good wishes, you are a “rich” person already even if youhave to live alone in an isolated place.
Mark Twain
My mother had a great deal of trouble withme, but I think she enjoyed it.
— Mark Twain
Interpretation:
My mother had ahard time trying to bring me up as I gave her a lot of trouble when I was achild, but she was happy to go through all the trouble of raising me.
Retell what you see in the videos.
| Word bank piggy bank （儿童用的）猪形储钱罐 plastic n.塑料，塑胶 typewriter n. 打字机 cashier n. a person in charge of money and payments in a bank, hotel, shop, etc.（旅馆、商店等的）柜台收帐员；（银行掌管现金运用的）财务经理 sales tax n. 营业税 cash register 现金出纳机，现金进出记录机 exclaim vi. fml speak or say loudly and suddenly, because of surprise or other strong feeling 〖正式〗（由于惊讶或其他强烈情感而）惊叫，呼喊；大声说 lap n. the front part of a seated person between the waist and the knees （人坐着时）腰以下到膝为止的大腿部位 |
Answersfor reference:
The girl felt sad (1) when her sisters came because shehad forgotten that it was hermother’s birthday (2). She did not want her mother (3) to know that, so she quickly tookone dollar—the only money she had—from her piggy bank. She was sure that withthis one dollar she could buy her mother a present that would show her mother how much she loved her (4),but when she went into a shop she found that one dollar wouldn’t buy(5) as much as she thought it would. She finally chose a plastic heart that wasninety-nine (6)cents. When she went to the cashier to make the payment, she was told that itcost more than a dollar because of the sales tax. She was so disappointed and hadto put the heart back(7). Then the cashier put some of her own pennies into the cash register (8) and gaveher the heart in a bag. When the girl’s mother saw the present, she exclaimed,“What a beautiful present!It’s just what I need. (9)” and she then put the little girlon her lap(10) and told her that she lovedthe heart and the girl.
▇ Script:
The Birthday Heart
One day I was helping my mom preparing a picnicwhen my sisters arrived. They said, “Happy birthday, Mom!” and gave her somepresents.
Iwas sad. I had forgotten it was my mother’s birthday, but I didn’t want her toknow that I had not remembered her birthday. I had one dollar in my piggy bank.With that I was sure that I could get a present that would show my mother howmuch I loved her.
Iwent to the store. When I looked around, I suddenly realized that my dollarwouldn’t buy as much as I had thought it would. Then I saw a heart made ofplastic. It contained typewriter correction paper. I knew that it would show mymother how much I loved her. It was ninety-nine cents.
Itook the heart to the cashier and gave her my dollar. She said that I didn’thave enough money because with tax the heart cost more than a dollar.
Ididn’t understand sales tax. All I understood was that I couldn’t give theheart to my mom. I went to put the heart back and the cashier asked me if itwas my mom’s birthday. I nodded. Then she said that she could help me. She putsome of her own pennies in the cash register with my dollar and gave me theheart in a bag.
When my mother opened the bag and pulled out the heart, she exclaimed“What a beautiful present!” “It’s just what I need.” She put me on her lap andtold me that she loved the heart and she loved me.
Idon’t remember many of the gifts that I have given my mother, but I will alwaysremember the heart that I gave her on that birthday.
