My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would guess at what I thought was the correct answer.

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, “My ears, Mommy.”

She said, “No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had thought about the correct answer. So this time I told her, “Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes.”

She looked at me and told me, “You are learning first, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind.”

Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was crying. Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?”

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She said, “This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived your life.” I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, “My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder.”

I asked, “Is it because it holds up your head?”

She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.”

From then on, I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic(有同情心的) to the pain of others.

小题1:When did the writer understand her mother’s question?

小题2:Why did the girl’s mom ask her that question?

小题3:Is talking about that question a game between the girl and her mother?

小题4:Did the writer’s mother cry when her grandpa died?

小题5:What is the most important body part?