学进去

A rich man loved his son very much. As he wanted his son to lead a happy life, he sent him to see a wise old man for his advice on happiness.

When the old man learnt about his purpose, he handed the boy an empty bowl and said, “Go to the river miles away and fill it with water. I will tell you about it if no water is spilt （洒） when you reach here.”

Although the boy was very surprised at this, he had no choice but to carry out this task.

The boy set off on foot for the river and some time later, he came back with a bowl of water. The old man asked him, “Did you notice the beautiful flowers along the road and the birds singing in the trees?” The boy could say nothing about them because he gave his full attention to the bowl in his hands.

       The old man smiled and said, “Bring me another bowl of water, but this time enjoy the flowers and the singing of birds as well.”
       When he returned, the boy was able to describe everything he had seen to the old man. But when he looked down at his bowl, he found sadly that most water was gone. He forgot all about his bowl while enjoying the beautiful things along the road.

“Well, young man,” the old man said, “Enjoy the beauty of the world, but never forget the water in your bowl. This is the secret of happiness.”

1．Did the young man come back with a bowl full of water the second time?
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2．What did the old man ask the young man to do after he learned about his purpose?
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3．According to the passage, what does “the water in your bowl” mean in real life?
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4．What is the secret of happiness in your mind? Why?
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