Tom worked hard in an office. But it seemed that there was little change in his life. He was unhappy and didn't want to improve himself any more. His father, Joe, knew this and decided to have a talk with 1 .
One day, Tom and his father went for a walk after dinner. 2 they were walking along a river, Tom said, “Dad, you always tell me to learn something new. To be3, I don't want to make any change.”
Joe looked in the river, saw a dead 4and pointed at it.
“Tom, what is that over there?”
“It's a dead fish.”
“What's the fish doing?”
“It's moving down with the running water.”
“But the fish is dead. 5 can it be moving?” asked Joe.
“It's moving as the river is moving.”
Joe turned to his son and said, “Life is 6 the river. It's always moving and always changing. Some people don't want to change, but their life is always changing whether they like it or not. A dead fish only moves along the river, while a living fish can control its journey. What's your choice if you want to live a 7 life?”
This made Tom 8 his aunt who had already stopped learning and developing. And she just stayed the way she used to be, living like a dead fish.
Guided by his 9 , Tom understood what he said. He didn't want to become a person like his aunt. So he made up his mind to 10 learning and developing himself.
A
B
National Smile Month is the largest and longest mouth health activity in the UK. Starting in 1977, it is celebrating its 42nd birthday from May 14 to June 14 this year.
The British are known for their bad teeth because they have too many sugary (甜的) foods and drinks. It seems that most of them don't often show their feeling. They neither smile nor cry. But this is NOT true. The British like to smile as much as anyone else. They just don't want to show their bad teeth.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day, cut down sugary foods and drinks, and visit the dentist often. With the three messages, the organizers (组织者) hope that a month of smiling will make people all around the UK realize the importance of good teeth and be confident enough to open their mouths to smile.
One interesting activity is for the British to enjoy the fun photos with short stories behind. Seeing the smiling faces and reading the interesting stories, everyone can't help smiling! You're welcome to send yours with big smiles online.
Smiling is not only good for you but also good for those around you, even if you do have a few bad teeth. This makes National Smile Month a great idea!
C
Dear Li Hua,
How's everything going? Congratulations on your graduation from junior high school!
I hope you have a great time during the holiday, but you have something important to think about —a plan for your personal growth. Here are some advice for you.
Firstly, study yourself. Understand what you like, what you value and what you want to be. In studying yourself, you check your strength (长处) and weakness. Find out what you need to prepare for your dream job.
Secondly, write down your plan. When writing, you can try using Mind Maps (思维导图). It is a good way to help you to think more clearly. And you may find a proper way to work your plan out.
Thirdly, go over your plan with your teachers, parents or friends. They may give you some advice. Think carefully about their advice and make some changes to your plan if necessary. And then you can go on with it.
Finally, ⑵ . For example, if you want to be an English teacher in the future, you should spend more time reading English books, learning more about English culture and practicing your listening and speaking from now on. You can make your dream come true only through hard work.
You may find it difficult to make the plan now. Don't worry. All you need is just a rough (粗略的) one. Once you enter the senior high school, you'll get a chance to make it better with help of development. So take your time and I believe you will grow into an excellent young man.
Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Fang
D
As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is the way the charity organization Heifer International (国际小母牛慈善组织) wants to end world hunger.
It began in the 1930s when an American farmer, Dan West, went to Spain to help people in need. He tried to feed the people with milk. But it seemed that there would never be enough milk. It made him think that what they needed was “not a cup, but a cow”.
Dan West returned to America. He worked together with some friends to find ways to end hunger. He believed giving animals and providing training would stop world hunger. With his help, Heifer International was set up.
On Heifer International's website, you will see a list of animals like cows, chickens, pigs and even fish and bees. You can offer help by buying some animals for one certain family. Those animals will have babies get better lives, they will pass on the act of kindness to others. More importantly, you are buying the resources (资源) for programs run by Heifer International to help more families.
The programs also help small-sized farms. As a rule, each farmer must give his animal's first female (雌性) baby to another in need. Heifer International also provides training on animals' health and feeding. And these farmers all agree to teach others what they have learned as another rule.
However, there is still a long way to go. The milk may run out. But if families have their own cows, they can get plenty of milk to feed themselves. The organization wants the farmers to go on working together, helping each other and learning from each other. Maybe hunger can really be stopped.
(①=Para. 1 ②=Para. 2 ③=Para. 3 ④=Para. 4 ⑤=Para. 5 ⑥=Para. 6)
A. I'm a doctor. B. Where are you now? C. This is Scott Smith. D. How will you come? E. What's happening? F. Stay with her and don't move her. G. How long will I have to wait? |
A: Hello! This is 911. Who is that speaking?
B: Help! Help! Please help me!
A: Yes, sir.
B: My wife is seriously ill. She's having a heart problem.
A: Now relax, sir.
B: I'm on Lincoln Highway, about 15 miles from Washington Tunnel.
A: OK. I'll send an ambulance (救护车) as soon as possible.
B:
A: For about ten minutes.
B: All right. What should I do while waiting?
A:
B: OK. Thank you and please hurry.
Reading is fun. When you read, would you like a paper book or an e-book(电子书)? Some people choose e-books, some love paper books, and others prefer reading both.
Li Ming, a university professor (教授), is busy doing some research. So he is often on business. When he is at the airport or on the train, he especially loves reading e-books. He also likes reading paper books in the library for the research work. Besides, he enjoys the smell of the paper books.
What's more, Li Ming would like to read with his family. There is a reading time from 8:00 to 9:00 each Friday evening at home. Everyone reads and shares what they learn from the books. One Friday evening, Grandma took out an old paper book and said to her grandson, “Li Lei, this is the first book your grandpa gave me. There is his name on the front page. Whenever I read it, I can get something new from his notes. And I can still remember the happy life we lived together.” Li Lei said, “But I enjoy reading e-books. E-books need no paper. Many forests will be saved.” Grandma advised, “Don't read for a long time, or your eyes will get sore.”
Different people have different ideas about e-books and paper books. No one knows whether e-books can replace (代替) paper books or not. Somehow, books are our friends. No matter which kind of books you choose to read, you can learn more about the world through them.
We all know that a good night's rest helps us stay healthy. After we sleep for 7 or 8 hours in bed and up next morning, our mind is better prepared to memorize and learn something.
But what about getting a rest during the middle of the day?
Scientists say, “Short periods of sleep, napping (小睡), may help learning and memory. Napping can help young children learn better. It can help older people remember longer.”
Take China as an example. Chinese people are used to napping after lunch.
Recently researchers made a survey among nearly 3,000 Chinese people over 65 years old. The researchers asked them they napped and for how long. They found that about 60 percent of them took a nap and they napped for 60 to 90 minutes. The research shows that napping for about an hour is the best.
However, these are the findings for those the age of 65. Doctors say that napping for about an hour may be too for young and healthy people. And they believe that half an hour is enough to young and healthy people from feeling tired. By doing so, will help them stay awake.
Doctors also say, “If you have trouble falling asleep at , take a daytime nap for less than 45 minutes and don't nap after 3 p.m. in the afternoon.
