Dear World:

    My son starts school today. It's going to be strange and new to him for a while. And I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

    You see, up to now, he's been king of the house. He's been boss of the backyard. I have always been around to repair his wounds, and to ease his feelings.

    But now things are going to be different.

    This morning, he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start on his great adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow.

    So, World, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him but gently, if you can. Teach him the wonders of books. Give him quiet time to ponder(思考) the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on the green hill. Teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone else tells him they are wrong. Teach him to sell his physical strength and brains to the person who offers the most money, but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a criminal gang (团伙) ...and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right. Teach him gently, World, but don't coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

A Mother

____

材料一1840年至1901年短短的几十年，中国屡遭西方列强的欺凌，被迫签订了一系列丧权辱国的不平等条约，使中国逐步沦为了半殖民地半封建社会，清政府成为了帝国主义统治中国的工具。

材料二自强的中国人进行了近代化探索，走过了自强、变法、革命等历程．．．．．．道路艰难曲折。