相关试卷

Neither rain nor snow nor the darkness of night can separate Tennessee postal carrier (邮递员) Mailman Mike from his 4-and-a-half-year-old friend Carter Lawson — or keep them from their appointed rounds.

For the past nine months, the two have 1 up every day in the preschooler's Knoxville neighborhood for a few minutes of 2 mails together and chatting with fellow residents. Lawson wants to be a 3 when he grows up, and in an inspiring story, his mom said how the old mailman, Mike Crenshaw, has been a 4 to her son. "Anyone could just be like ‘Go away, kid, ' but Mike has 5 gone out of his way to talk with Carter, " said Cassie Lawson of the United States Postal Service carrier. "It's been really cute." Little Carter even got his own outfit (全套服装) to 6 Mike's. "I just couldn't believe he got a full mailman's costume, " the boy's mother said 7 .

"Every letter carrier has stops he looks forward to and this is the one I look forward to every day, " said Mike. "He's the ending 8 of my day, and the 9 part of my day, not just because it's the end, but because he's such a 10 little guy."

The man and the little boy's 11 isn't a surprise to Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Kids 12 mailmen because "letter carriers are a friendly part of the neighborhood who bring something to their 13 every day and they open their doors for letter carriers so they are also someone they come to recognize and

14 , " Rolando said. "It's the same for the elderly, but in addition, letter carriers may be the only person they 15 with all day, with no one to talk to usually."

Helping others is an important part of life. . If you want to help others more but aren't sure where to start, here are some tips that may help you.

.

The easiest way to know how you can help others is simply to ask them. Talk to a family member or friend, ask them what they most need help with, and offer your services. Then, follow through and try your best to do what they've asked of you. Remember actions always speak louder than words!

Be proactive (积极主动的).

Look for opportunities to help and lend a hand without being asked. . For example, you can call your elderly grandpa to check in, bring your friend dinner while they're sick or just hold the elevator door for a neighbor. Don't wait for someone to ask for help — train yourself to think about all the different ways you can help people. Focus on being as friendly as possible, and you'll get the hang of it!

Be a nonjudgmental (无偏见的) listener.

Sometimes, listening is more helpful and healing than practical assistance. Not everybody is looking for hands-on help or a solution to their problems. . When someone is telling you about a hardship they're going through, listen actively and focus on understanding them rather than fixing their problems.

Send a thoughtful note.

. Take time to send your loved ones notes or handwritten cards. When people feel isolated or cut off from their friends, even a small gesture can help them feel more connected and make their day brighter.

A. Ask people how you can help them

B. Think about what people may want

C. It gives you a sense of purpose and happiness 

D. In fact, there are many small things you can do

E. Instead, sometimes they just need a supportive listener 

F. It's better to listen to them and give reasonable advice

G. You can help just by letting people know that you care

It has long been known that plants communicate when they are stressed. You need only observe a houseplant to realize that a plant wilts (枯萎) when it needs water. Some plants may also emit a terrible taste to prevent some insects from hurting them.

Now, a new study that was conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University, shows that not only do plants express themselves in the above ways when stressed, they also make sounds, like talking.

According to the researchers, plants make sounds at frequencies (频率) between 40 to 80 KHZ — out of the range of human ears — but within the range of some animals. "Bats make sounds in these ranges all the time, and mice, dogs and cats can partially hear within it, " Dr. Lilach Hadany, a Professor at Tel Aviv University, and one of the authors of the study said.

One of the primary breakthroughs (突破) of Hadany's study is that the researchers have managed to understand and classify the sounds that plants make for the first time. Plants that are not stressed make about one noise per hour, but plants that are stressed or injured make many hundreds of sounds per hour. And each of these sounds seemed to be specific to the type of stress the plant was under.

This type of information could be important for agriculture. Knowing what sounds their plants are making could help farmers determine whether their crops are in danger of drought or disease and allow them to make the necessary changes to help their plants. 

Amazingly enough, the researchers are not actually sure how the plants make sounds. But anyway, the discovery is still a game-changer for plant science, and potentially for the future of agriculture. One day soon your plants may be able to tell you if they are hungry, thirsty, or just feeling lonely. 

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression — this was the theme of this year's International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC), held in London from May 11 to 12. Thirty-three young speakers aged 16 to 20 from around the world gathered at The English Speaking Union to tell their stories, including Wu Dongxu, 19, a student from China. To him, the event wasn't just about giving a speech on first impressions. It also made a strong impression on him.

"Rather than a competition, the experience was more like an inspiring research trip to me, a trip that allowed me to see firsthand the differences and similarities between Chinese and foreign cultures, " said Wu.

Apart from the obvious differences in food, transportation and climate, what impressed Wu most was the different styles of Chinese and foreign public speaking.

Although still a teen, Wu is no stranger to the public speaking podium (讲台). He has participated in many speaking competitions since 2017. But on the stage of the IPSC, speakers had no podium to stand behind. They just had to face the audience.

"This was the first time that I gave a speech without a podium, which made me realize how important eye contact and body language are, " said Wu. "It also gave me more freedom to convey more information with my body language instead of just with words."

Another difference that caught Wu's attention was the evaluation criteria (评价标准). According to him, in every speaking competition he had participated in in China, things like pronunciation, fluency and quality of language are always important. But to his surprise, in the IPSC accents and grammatical mistakes are not considered in the evaluation process. It is the story itself that matters most.

"Audiences are eager to hear powerful stories, no matter where they are from. That's because the emotions expressed in them are shared by all human beings although there are the cultural differences." said Wu. "Diversity, respect, tolerance and understanding — these are what the IPSC really wants to stress and spread."

Whenever I think of Ms. Anita Moore, I always smile and feel fortunate to have her as my teacher. All of her students knew she loved being a teacher. Her classroom was always a safe place where we were encouraged to share, think, and express ourselves.  

One of the memories that always stuck with me was a reading class when Ms. Moore read a story aloud and started to cry. The main character in the story reminded her of her grandmother. She paused to share about her relationship with her grandmother and made the connection as to how that relationship helped understand the story.

Ms. Moore tried her best to make a connection with each student in her classroom. She knew what we liked and used that information to bring our interests into the classroom. That is one of the reasons why Ms. Moore will always be my favorite teacher. She brought various types of books to our classroom and allowed us to take them home. It was she that helped my love for reading grow.

Ms. Moore also went beyond classroom instruction. She decided that our school should have a choir and that all of her students should audition (试演). Without her, I would never have taken part in this type of after-school activity. Once it was time for the annual 5th grade weekend camping trip, my parents refused to let me attend. Ms. Moore came to my home to persuade (说服) them. Although I was still not allowed to go, it was amazing to me that a teacher would visit my home to help me be part of a school tradition with my classmates.

Ms. Moore was a wonderful example of a caring teacher. From her, I've learned to make connections with students and look for ways to help them learn and feel successful.

Family vacations can supply lifelong memories, so it's important to travel to the perfect place. Here are four popular destinations (目的地) in the US that will satisfy your family.

Orlando

Orlando hosts a handful of theme parks that are sure to excite youths, including Universal Orlando Resort, where you'll find The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Discovery Cove, a resort (旅游胜地) where you can swim with dolphins around the park's coral reef.

Anaheim-Disneyland

Home to Disneyland Resort since 1955, Anaheim, California, has enough magical attractions to keep families entertained. After catching up with Mickey and friends, visit Anaheim's Adventure City amusement park. And if you're in town during baseball season, you can catch a game at Angel Stadium. Note that Disneyland is busy year-round, but if you visit on a weekday, you'll likely encounter fewer people.

Wisconsin Dells

Known as "The Water Park Capital of the World, " Wisconsin Dells makes for a great family vacation spot with plenty of things to do. Take your pick of splash-filled venues from Noah's Ark Waterpark to Kalahari Resorts. When you need a break on dry land, head to a magic show at Rick Wilcox Magic Theater or admire animals like giraffes and tigers at Timbavati Wildlife Park. Because of this destination's popularity, you'd better avoid the weekends.

Grand Canyon National Park

With so much to see and do here, there's no chance anyone in your family will be bored in this park. Enjoy one of the park's many light hikes, admire the view from the Grand Canyon Skywalk, raft the Colorado River or go for a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway. The Grand Canyon is pretty budget-friendly considering its low ticket prices, but know that nearby hotels book up quickly in summer.

Oh, Brother!

A few months ago, my mom got remarried, making Drew my stepbrother. She hoped we'd get along. But he was like a headache I couldn't get rid of. Mom thought inviting Kendall, my best friend, for a sleepover would take my mind off Drew. So far, that wasn't working.

Later in my room, Kendall and I were doing our nails when Drew came in, with a bowl of popcorn in his hands. "Does anyone want popcorn?" asked Drew.

"Mom doesn't like food in here, and you got into my room without asking!" I said angrily. "Time to leave, Drew." I pointed to the door.

I decided an ice cream would cool me down. In the kitchen, Kendall and I had hardly started eating when I heard Drew hurrying down the stairs. "Hey, who wants to have a pillow fight?" he asked.

"I do!" cried Kendall, sticking her ice cream in the freezer. She and Drew ran upstairs, leaving me alone with my bad attitude.

I wasn't about to follow them like a puppy. There was something I had to do. I took the cream and slipped into Drew's room. I found his slippers, and stuck the cream inside them. Satisfied, I grabbed a pillow, ready to fight him.

I ran into my room and hit Drew with the pillow. He countered with a blow to my legs. Kendall threw her pillow into his side. Before long, we were all laughing. I lifted my pillow over my head to give Drew a final blow. But I missed. It crashed into the popcorn bowl left on the dresser. The corns rained everywhere just as mom walked into the room. "Stop! You kids are being too wild." she cried. "And, Sarah, you know I don't like food in here."

注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为120左右；2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。

Paragraph 1

I froze, not knowing what to say. 

Paragraph 2

I cornered Drew to tell me why he took the fall (承担责任). 

注意：1. 词数80左右；2. 题目已为你写好。

Person of the Year

Around 160 experts attended the International Forum on Cave Temple Conservation in Chongqing  August 19 to 21 to explore opportunities for cooperation and methods to protect rock carvings in cave temples around the world.

The carvings run the risk of damage over time as a result of weathering and climate change. Li Qun, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration,  (say) in the opening ceremony that Chinese cave temples displayed remarkable characteristics in terms of their subject matter, and artistic style, which reflected the  (peace) nature of Chinese civilization.

The Chongqing forum was held to improve the preservation of cave temples and uncover their value and historical significance, (contribute) to the preservation of humanity's intellectual achievements.

Experts agreed  (promote) the protection of cave temples in light of global climate change, develop new materials, build early warning systems, and create a global database of historical images,  they hope would help future generations appreciate their beauty.

"Water and wind are the primary factors causing damage to the cave temples and stone carvings (global)," said an expert, adding that climate change had led to the increasing uncertainty (cause) by natural threats. He called for in-depth (study) on core factors such as water-related damage and the geological environment. Moreover, efforts should be directed toward strengthening archaeological investigations exploring the values of these sites, as well as managing tourism.

One January evening in 2008, Rachel Lapierre bought a $4 lottery (彩票) ticket at the grocery store. The 46-year-old mother of four was wearing herself thin as a full-time 1  and part-time volunteer aid worker. After an exhausting day, she needed something to 2  her spirits.

For years, Lapierre longed to be able to 3 her nursing job and focus on the volunteer work she found most 4 . She promised that if she ever won the lottery, that's what she would do.

5 , the next day, the lottery office informed her that she had won a sum of $675,

000. Staying 6  to her word, Lapierre devoted her life to her passion project, Le Book Humanitaire, which has since become a non-profit 7 .

Le Book, as Lapierre, now 62, affectionately calls it, 8  as a simple list of good deeds she wrote down in a notebook to 9  what she had done to help others. To her, the deeds were just small acts of 10  that anyone else might have done. But word 

started 11 , her phone began ringing and a Facebook page she created for the project became an effective way to deal with 12  from those in need and those who wanted to help.

Le Book Humanitaire now has a team of 80 volunteers, 13  local emergency support, medical outreach and food delivery to seniors. 

"When you do a good deed, it has a butterfly effect, " says Lapierre."One good deed

can 14 ten people. So if we all do a good deed? That can 15 the world."