The cheerful smiles and legendary strength of the Sherpas (夏尔巴人）have been an essential part of Mount Everest climbing expeditions (探险) from the very beginning. Indeed, very few significant successes have been achieved without them.
When Western mountaineers first set their sights on the world's highest peak, they found in the Sherpas a people ideally suited to the hardship of high-altitude climbing, unfailingly positive, stout at altitude, and seemingly resistant to cold.
Sherpas did not venture into the high peaks until European mountaineers began arriving to climb in the world's greatest mountain range. Mount Everest, known as Chomolungma or "Goddess Mother of the Land" to the Sherpas was long considered as a living place of the gods where humans were not allowed to go. Although Everest now sees many a human footprint, the Sherpas still regard the mountain as a holy place.
Sherpas were first employed as porters, tasked with carrying large amounts of equipment to supply the military-style expeditions of the day. The early climbers were amazed at the strength of these people, from the fittest of mature men to the young and elderly. In addition to their heavy loads, some of the women even carried along their babies. The whole troop of Sherpas slept outside, using only rocks for shelter, as temperatures dropped well below freezing.
Stronger Sherpas soon graduated from porter status and began to undertake challenging climbing. Those who distinguished themselves were awarded the Tiger Medal, and many desired this honor and the higher pay rate it afforded. Despite the potential dangers, the Sherpa people remained enthusiastic about taking part in Everest expeditions, which even then were becoming an important source of income for a poor mountain folk.
I must have always known reading was very important because the first memories I have as a child deal with books. There was not one night that I don't remember mom reading me a storybook by my bedside. I was extremely inspired by the elegant way the words sounded.
I always wanted to know what my mom was reading. Hearing mom say, "I can't believe what's printed in the newspaper this morning," made me want to grab it out of her hands and read it myself. I wanted to be like my mom and know all of the things she knew. So I carried around a book, and each night, just to be like her, I would pretend to be reading.
This is how everyone learned to read. We would start off with sentences, then paragraphs, and then stories. It seemed an unending journey, but even as a six-year-old girl I realized that knowing how to read could open many doors. When mom said," The C-A-N-D-Y is hidden on the top shelf," I knew where the candy was. My progress in reading raised my curiosity, and I wanted to know everything. I often found myself telling my mom to drive more slowly, so that I could read all of the road signs we passed.
Most of my reading through primary, middle and high school was factual reading. I read for knowledge, and to make A's on my tests. Occasionally, I would read a novel that was assigned, but I didn't enjoy this type of reading. I liked facts, things that are concrete. I thought anything abstract left too much room for argument.
Yet, now that I'm growing and the world I once knew as being so simple is becoming more complex, I find myself needing a way to escape. By opening a novel, I can leave behind my burdens and enter into a wonderful and mysterious world where I am now a new character. In these worlds I can become anyone. I don't have to write down what happened or what technique the author was using when he or she wrote this. I just read to relax.
We're taught to read because it's necessary for much of human understanding. Reading is a vital part of my life. Reading satisfies my desire to keep learning. And I've found that the possibilities that lie within books are limitless.
Downey's mother spent one year studying abroad through an international exchange program with a French school. She often talked about how exciting and interesting the experience was. So, even before finishing high school, Downey had decided to follow suit one day.
Downey began studying architecture at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 2004. Near the end of her second year, she started to feel unhappy with her school and decided it was time to study abroad.
U. S. colleges and universities commonly have joint programs with foreign schools that permit student exchanges. These programs usually last half a school year or sometimes a whole school year. The classes students take abroad usually give them credits toward their degree. In a fouryear degree program, the third year is the most common time for American college students to study abroad. Many students think they need a change before what is usually their final and most difficult year of study.
Downey said her school did not want her to go at first. The architecture program at Lehigh was very intense, and her professors were worried she might miss learning important material. However, she was eventually able to get special permission to study internationally for a whole year. During the fall term in 2006, she attended a Danish international school in Copenhagen, Denmark, explaining she did so because Danish architects are well known for their housing design.
Young adult as she was, she had to deal with travel documents and many other issues (问题) on her own. Overcoming the language barrier is the biggest challenge of studying abroad. However, she had a lot of emotional (情感的) and financial support from her family. She learned life lessons and made friendships and memories that have lasted to this day. She said, “The more you're out of your comfort zone, the more rewarding the experience is in the end.”
Many healthcare workers know that washing hands is important to prevent the spread of infectious disease. During a study conducted by Nicas and Best at Berkley University, they counted the number of times people touched their face with their hands. Whether we are aware of our actions or not, most of us can agree that we touch our face with our hands frequently enough.
Imagine that you are able to record a full day of your actions. Better yet, reflect on what you did when you woke up yesterday morning. Let me give you an idea of my previous morning. I was woken by the alarm clock at 6 am. Then I checked my phone for messages, turned on the TV for morning news, started making my coffee and finally hit the shower. It wasn't even 5 minutes from the time I awoke and I already touched 5 different objects. The points of this is to be aware that even in our homes we are exposed to germs in places we don't realize.
Luckily, the human body has amazing defense against harmful germs. Our white blood cells are like soldiers coming to the rescue. Unfortunately, there are a lot of areas on our face that do not have the protection of skin such as the eyes and mouth. There's a reason to every wise proverb and our parents annoying us to wash our hands before dinner is not for nothing,
If you have children, it is even more important to set the example because children are known to learn from adults. Let's start a good habit of washing hands. As for your friends, don't be shy about checking to make sure their hands are clean. Asking someone if they have washed their hands is caring. Checking to see if someone has washed their hands will benefit not only that person but you and your family.
A. Our skin is the first line of defense.
B. Several minutes later, I turned off the alarm clock.
C. It is easy for us to admit that we wash our hands regularly.
D. They are more self-aware that hand washing should be practiced as needed.
E. Most importantly, it is our duty to set the right example for friends and family.
F. They found that the subjects touched their face 15.7 times per hour on average.
G. Do the rest of your family members, especially children, wash their hands regularly?
The Fitting-in of Suzy Khan
The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her. She was really small for her age of 12. The boy in my class often1about her and laughed their heads off. She would open a book, pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page.
All I knew was that she was an orphan (孤儿) from Africa. She had just been adopted by a family in town who2that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with American kids. I looked down at this3girl and promised myself that somehow I would help her.
But how could I help her4in with us? There had to be a5.
One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had6her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a(n)7copy.
I was surprised and thought that she could do something in the coming8show. So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had9. "Wow, it's wonderful," said Miss Parker, who then showed us a poster she had painted10the talent show. "I need more of these, but I just don't have enough11. Could you help me, Suzy?"
On the day of the talent show, Suzy's12were everywhere —- all over the hall and all over the school, each one different.
"And finally," said Mr Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, "we have a (n)13award. I'm sure you've all noticed the wonderful posters." Everyone nodded. "One of our own students14them."
I could hear everyone whispering. "Who in our school could draw15well?"
Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, "16this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a17 ,t oo. Our mystery(神秘) artist is our new student —- Suzy Khan!"
Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artist's set. "Thank you," she cried.
I18, at that time when I was looking at her excited face, she'd probably never19anything in her whole life.
Everyone started to20their hands. Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile and the applause was deafening. I knew then Suzy was going to be all right.
The Palace Museum, long (associate) with images of century-old buildings and relics, is now taking a (surprise) step into fashion: not high-end fashion, but the everyday kind. On Dec 9, the online store of the Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Store released a new product – a lipstick collection in six colors, attracted millions of page views a day. "I find myself browsing this online store twice a day and I definite）have a good time doing so, as it's quite relaxing." a college girl said.
The colors showcase classic Chinese beauty: Lang Yao glaze red, Bean paste red, Tourmaline purple, Rose-purple, Mermaid pink and Maple red. They (draw)from items in different shades of red worn by emperors' concubines (妾) during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The (inspire) for the lipstick packaging comes from the patterns of traditional Chinese porcelains and embroideries. It features red-crowned cranes, lingzhi mushrooms and butterflies, all (do) in an elegant style, reported People's Daily.
"Richtraditional Chinese cultural meanings, these lipsticks have attracted much attention ever since they hit store (shelf)." a WeChat user surnamed Liu told Global Times. “I think the lipsticks have a high collection value as well.”
1）写信目的；
2）推荐理由
注意：
1）词数 80 左右；
2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
I was responding to a call from a small brick flat (用砖做的公寓) in a quiet part of town. I assumed I was being sent to pick up some partygoers, or someone who had just had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at some factory for the industrial part of town.
When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under such circumstances, many drivers just honk (按喇叭) once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many weak people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation.
Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.
This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause，the door opened. A small woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase.
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no equipment on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab，then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm, and we walked slowly toward the cab.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2）应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4）续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1：
Having given me an address, a hospice (救济院), she asked," Could you drive through downtown?" (穿过市区)……
Paragraph 2：
We drove in silence to the address he had given me, and it. .……
