An old man has four sons.They often quarrel with （争吵） each other about 1 things.The old man is always 2 them how easy life will be if they work together，but they never 3 him.One day he decides to 4 them what he really means （意思）.
He 5 all the sons together and puts a bundle （捆） of pencils on the 6 in front of them.
"Can you break them？" he asks the youngest son.The boy tries his best to 7 these pencils with his hands. 8 he can't even bend （使……弯曲） them.The father asks each son to try to break the pencils，but none of 9 can make it.
Then the old man takes one 10 on the table and gives it to his second son. "Now have a 11 ，" he says.The boy breaks the pencil 12 .
"Do you know 13 I mean？" asks the father. "If all of you 14 together，no one can defeat （战胜） you.But if you always quarrel with 15 and do your own things，you will be defeated when you meet a stronger man or difficulties.That's called "United we stand；divided we fall （合则存，分则败）".
