A great elm tree was planted in the first half of the 20th century on a farm in Michigan, US. The family that owned the farm kept a bull chained to it. The bull walked around the 1pulling a heavy iron chain, which made a wound in the tree about a meter off the ground.
The wound became deeper and deeper over the years, 2it didn't kill the tree. After some years, the family sold the farm and took their 3with them. They cut the chain, leaving most of 4 hanging down from the tree. Then one year later, disease struck Michigan. It left a path of death across large areas. Lots of the elms leading to the farm were dead. Everyone thought that the old elm tree would be the 5.The farm's new owners considered pulling the chain out and chopping the tree up into firewood before it 6.
But they simply couldn't bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had become a family friend, so they decided to let the 7 make the decision. 8, the tree didn't die year after year. It became stronger. 9 could understand it. Tree experts from Michigan State
University came out to study.10 it was the only elm still standing in the whole area. After 11 the wound left by the iron chain, the experts decided that it was actually the chain that 12 the elm's life. They reasoned that the tree must have taken so much iron from the chain that it became 13 to fight the elm disease, it's said that what doesn't kill you will make you 14. It serves as a reminder that even with wounds, we can still have 15. Our wounds can give us the resources we need to survive. They can truly make us strong.
Instructions for Microwave Oven
This is the latest Panasonic M1-235C microwave oven. Please follow the instructions below:
Warnings
Before use, the user must check whether the utensil* is suitable for microwave oven; Be sure not to use the utensil which is not suitable for microwave oven, so as to avoid fire and keep the microwave oven from damage.
The microwave oven can't be started without food in it. Empty running is harmful to the microwave oven, and may give rise to danger.
When the food is heated or cooked with the plastic package, please keep the package not fully closed so as to avoid explosion*.
The microwave oven can't be used to heat shelly fresh eggs or already-boiled eggs, because there may be an explosion when they are being heated or even after heated by the microwave oven.
Recipes
Heat the food
Put the food in the utensil, choose the time and switch to the Heating Mode, and then press the "Start" key. Suggested time: hamburgers or sandwiches for 1 minute; meat for 2 minutes.
Steamed fish
Put the fish in a plate, and cover the plate with preservative film* for microwave oven. Don't forget to leave a few small holes on the film. Then choose the High Heat for 5 minutes.
Roasted chicken wings
Pickle the chicken wings with the flavor you like for half an hour. Then switch to the Barbecue Mode, and cook for the first 3 minutes, then turn the chicken wings over and cook for another 3 minutes.
My parents have always said that they never felt comfortable traveling by train when they were my age. It's always a mystery to me when they talk about the crowded and noisy train compartments*, wheels clicking on the rails, and the boring and tiring journeys.
However, train travel is quite a different experience today, especially after high--speed rail was widely put into service in China. Nothing can match train journeys for the comfort and speed. Few things could be more impressive than China's high--speed rail system, especially the speed at which it developed—and is still developing. Such speed is known as "China speed".
China speed means a lot to the country. The past 30 years have witnessed China's rapid development in various areas, like the economy and technology. We've seen dozens of tall buildings appear almost overnight, with roads and highways connecting every comer. And mobile payments and online shopping are playing increasingly important roles in everyone's life. China speed has changed our country and impressed the world. But as we enjoy the benefits of China speed, the problems it brings us can't be ignored, such as the air pollution or traffic problems. As a high price is being paid, maybe we should think about what China speed will bring us in the next 30 years. We need to know that our future depends on the choices we make today, so it is our duty to give China speed a new definition. If you pay close attention to the word "speed", you might notice that each letter stands for something interesting: Society, Progress, Economy, Environment and Development. Our society's progress depends largely on the balance among our economy, the environment, and the development of our future. That is what we need to keep in mind as China continues to speed ahead.
Thanks to software like Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana, it's easier than ever to do something on our phone or computer. All we have to do is "talk", and our favorite song starts playing a few seconds later. But in the neat" future, asking our phone to play a song by using our voice will seem as old--fashioned. That's because US tech company Microsoft recently applied for a patent* for a "brain control interface"(BCI): meaning that soon, we may be able to control our phone and computer with our thoughts.
BCI technology works by changing brain signals into computer commands. This technology isn't brand new, however. Last year, for example, it was reported that scientists were able to help a disabled man from the US, 53-year-old Bill Kochevar, to move again. To do this, Kochevar was fitted with BCI technology, as well as equipment to make his muscles move. After a few weeks of getting used to it, Kochevar was able to use his thoughts to "tell" the BCI to move his muscles, meaning he was able to feed himself for the first time in years.
Apart from helping disabled people, it's hoped that BCI technology will improve the daily lives of other people too. US social networking platform Facebook announced last year that it was working off BCI technology to help people type by using their brain. By 2020, the company hopes to have created a system that will allow people to type up to 100 words per minute just by thinking about them.
However, many people are worried that technology that tan read our thoughts will create privacy problems, especially if social media companies are included. But Facebook researcher Regina Dugan said at a meeting last year that the company has no interest in reading people's private thoughts. "That might be more than any of us care to "know. And it's not something any of us should have a right to know," she said.
I recently gave up driving. I passed my test last year, but I stopped voluntarily when I turned 90, I thought that it was finally the right time. Needless to say, my family was relieved--they didn't have to have "that talk" with me. My doctor was relieved too. Compared to a serious illness, taking away a senior driving license is one of the hardest things to do. Since my wife passed away years ago, I made this decision alone, although I'm sure my wife would have supported me. I knew I couldn't move as well as I used to, and my eyesight was getting worse. It hurt to turn my head when backing up the car, and, after long shopping trips, I was always tired.
As I handed over the keys of the car to my son, I thought of all the cars my wife and I had owned over the years. A car is freedom, independence, and an extension of your personality. Without one, you feel like less of a person.
I have a son who lives close by and we shop together at least once a week. My neighbors also offer me rides, but the idea of being dependent on other people after a lifetime of independent is hard to get used to.
I have learned to adapt and change. With my own car, I could go anywhere at a moment's notice. But now, my life is different and I must plan ahead for everything. No more going out for mill or bread or last minute afternoon drives. However, I found a solution to some of those problems. Last month, I decided to buy a nice new four-wheel electric motorbike. At the top speed of 12km/h, it takes 20 minutes to get from my house to the store. But now, my ride is free from traffic and noise, with trees and greenery replacing cars and street signs.
Giving up driving is hard, and some of us never accept the loss. For me, however, it was just the end result of a long and lucky life. Life in the slow lane turned out to be so much fun-and so much cheaper.
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high win coach by cheer |
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welcome including remain low business |
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comer spare fail touch happy |
My teachers thought I was the worst student. I always in the test. When I was going to give up my studying, a new teacher, Miss White came to our school. She was young and helpful. One day, we had a picnic on a farm. I was silent in a. Miss White came up to me and talked to me . Her smile swept away my unhappiness. I by her words. I began to study hard. She often helped me with my study in her time. In the end, I went to a good college. She made me to see that I can be successful in life.
It was Mother's Day. In the morning, Jane phoned her mother to wish her a good day, and her mother told her about the beautiful lilacs in the (花园).
Later that day, when Jane's husband knew about the lilacs, he said, "I know where we can find other beautiful lilacs, get the children and come on." Soon they went driving down the country roads which are so (特别的). There on a small hill, they saw a lot of beautiful (紫色的) lilacs, Jane ran quickly to pick the flowers, a few here and a few there. She enjoyed (她自己). On their way home, there was a smile on her face. When they were driving past an Old People's Home, Jane saw an old woman (坐) in a chair. She had no children with her and seemed(孤独的). Jane stopped the car and walked to the old woman, put the flowers in her hand~. And finally, she smiled at her. The flowers(抓住) in her hand, which made her the happiest in the world. When Jane (返回) to her car, her children asked her, "who is that old woman? Why did you give the flowers to her?" Jane told her children she didn't know the old woman. However, it was Mother's Day, and she had no children. Just (想象) how much those flowers meant to her. It was one of (有价值的) experience for her, and Jane set a good example for her children.
A man tried to catch monkeys to sell them to zoos. The monkeys were very clever and every kind of trick that he set wasn't successful.
A young boy watched the man's (努力) and then took a pot with a small neck. He placed some corn around the pot and put much corn in it. He then tied the pot to a tree and he told the man, "We will (很可能) have a monkey in a few hours."
Soon, many monkeys were happy (发现) the corn and the pot. One put his hand into the pot easily and got (大量；充足) of corn, but he couldn't take out his hand with corns out of the small opening of the pet. The monkey got (生气) and began to cry. Some of the other monkeys tried very hard, but before they (做成) to pull the pot off his hand, the boy and the man heard the noise. As the boy came near to the monkeys with a bag, the monkeys a[l ran away (除了) the one with its hand in the pot. The boy put the monkey and the pot into the bag. The man was (惊讶的) and asked the boy the (秘密) of his monkey trick. "Why was it so easy for the monkey to get his hand in but so difficult to get it out?"
“The monkey could get his hand back out if he let go of the corn in the pot, but he just didn't want to let go. So he (惩罚) because of that," the boy laughed and said.
