One spring morning, 8-year-old Amy received a small box from her grandma. Inside was only a seed (种子). “Plant it ____1____, and you’ll understand its secret.” Grandma said with a smile.
Amy was very curious about what would happen to the seed. She thought planting it must be ____2____. She decided to plant it in the soil carefully at once. Every day she ____3____ it three times, singing to it like Grandma taught her. But after four days, only bare (光秃秃的) soil greeted her. She felt a little ____4____.
“Maybe something is wrong with the seed.” Amy complained to Mr. Green, her elderly neighbour. Mr. Green was good at growing plants. Hearing her ____5____, he said, “Nature works on its own clock. I have spent a long time growing these plants. And you have just spent several days on the seed. ____6____ you need to be patient.”
Amy didn’t believe ____7____ he said. She still watered the soil three times a day. She even used plant food which she bought from the shop. Another three days passed, the soil turned into a muddy mess (泥泞不堪). ____8____, a heavy rain poured down that weekend. Amy rushed out of the house and saw Mr. Green covering the soil with a piece of cloth.
“I’ve killed the seed, haven’t I?” she said unhappily, pointing at the flooded soil.
Mr. Green ____9____ the soil carefully and said, “You’ve paid too much attention. Be patient! Plants need ____10____ to grow.”
This time, Amy took his ____11____. She didn’t check the seed again and again any longer. She simply made sure that it got enough sunlight. Five days passed quietly. Then one morning, a green shoot (嫩芽) pushed through the soil.
Amy was too excited. She ran quickly to ____12____ Mr. Green about it. He said to her, “Let it grow! Still be patient!”
Through summer, Amy watched and waited ____13____ patience (耐心). The plant grew taller and taller day by day. Finally golden petals(花瓣) came out and ____14____ a bright sunflower. It turned its face to follow the sun.
When Grandma visited Amy in August, she smiled at the tall sunflower and said, “Aha, Amy! You’ve known the ____15____ at last.” Amy nodded her head.
No matter what we do, we need patience as well as love.