An old farmer lived with his grandson. Each morning, the grandfather got up early and ______ his book.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book like you, ______ I can’t understand it, and I forget it easily. What’s the ______ of reading it?”

The grandfather said, “Take this coal (煤) basket down to the ______ and bring me back a basket (篮子) of water.”

The boy did as his grandfather ______ , but all the water ran ______ he got home. The grandfather laughed. “You’ll have to move faster next time.”

This time the boy ______ faster, but again the basket was empty (空的). He told his grandfather that it was ______ to carry water in a basket. He wanted to use a bottle instead (代替) , but the old man said, “I just want a basket of water. You’re not ______ hard enough.”

The boy wanted to show his grandfather that the water would surely run. He again put the ______ into the river and ran hard. But there wasn’t ______ in it again. He said ______ , “Look, Grandpa, it’s useless (无用的) !”

“Watch the basket,” said the grandfather.

For the first time the boy ______ the basket was different. It had changed (改变) from a dirty old coal basket into a clean one, inside and out.

“Boy, maybe you ______ understand or remember everything when you read the book, but when you read it, you will be ______ , inside and out. That’s what you got from it.”