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The Perfect Christmas Tree

In our house in Middle Cove, Newfoundland, the tradition was to find the perfect tree before Christmas Eve. And this year, my brother Gilbert and I were being trusted to do it entirely on our own. And we took the challenge very seriously. So, axe in Gilbert's hand, saw in mine, we set out for all the spots we imagined we might find a magnificent fir (冷杉树).

We were young, but we knew the rules. Trees could not be taken from personal land and not near any road.

We started out with the best of intentions. We were on Pine River Lane, and looking at the firs in the fields, but none of them looked quite good enough. It was getting dark but we still had no luck. On the way home, it was Gilbert who stopped, grabbed my arm and said, "I see it!"

"You see what?" I said.

"Right there, look. It's perfect."

And he was right. It was a young tree, two metres tall, standing alone. It was the classic Christmas tree. In all my years, I had never seen such a perfect one.

Perfect except for one small problem. The tree was pretty close to the road. Also, it was behind a fence, so the tree was in someone's yard. And not just any someone. It was in the yard of Timmy Green, my best friend.

        However, the chances of our finding another one like it were slim to none.

"You stand guard," Gilbert said. And with that, we were over the fence and on our bellies crawling toward the target. I lay in the snow and put the Greens' house under surveillance (监视). I was to whistle or cough if I saw anyone coming.

Within a few minutes, it fell.

"Grab the end," Gilbert said, and we lifted it over the fence. Now we were on the road.

注意：

1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

Suddenly Gilbert's eyes widened. "Our footprints!" he said.

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So it shocked me when I found Mr. Green in our house with my parents, drinking tea on Christmas Eve.

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1. 你印象最深刻的作品；

2. 邀请前往。

注意：

1. 写作词数应为80个左右；

2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Dear Sophia,

How have you been?

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Yours,

Li Hua

Chinese architect Liu Jiakun was awarded the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize on March 4. He became the second winner from China (receive) the highest honor in architecture. Based in Chengdu, Liu's career stretches across four (decade) and more than 30 projects, ranging small, beautifully designed museums and monuments to large commercial buildings and master plans for cities.

Liu's projects include local elements and rely on "low-tech" simplicity to achieve elegance. One of his best (know) projects was the "rebirth bricks" he created after the Wenchuan earthquake. To aid in rebuilding, Liu made bricks (use) local wheat fiber, cement (水泥) and rubble (瓦砾) from the collapsed buildings. More than just recycling, these bricks were a poetic symbol for the rebirth of the material the spiritual rebirth of the community at a time of great (sad).

Liu's design also focuses on ordinary people. This is reflected in his largest project, West Village, a five-story urban complex was completed in 2015 in Chengdu. The complex includes a soccer field, a market and pathways for cyclists and pedestrians. With grass growing through holes in the bricks, project celebrates "the vitality of ‘everydayness'," wrote a critic in 2017.

"The purpose of architecture is to create a beautiful, just and dignified (有尊严的) living environment. People's real lives, happiness and dignity are we work for," Liu told China Daily.

If you believe me, I'm actually very pretty. I have nice features, big eyes, and a good figure. But no one can notice my beauty4 my hair. Unlike everyone else's smooth5, mine is wild. It curls (卷曲) and cannot be6 back in a ponytail or tucked behind my ear. It's different-and they hate that.

I decided to try a(n)7 approach and pulled my hair back with a headband (束发带), aiming to be brave and make eye contact with everyone I8. Only four people looked at me, and just one held it for longer than a second. He looked at me for five full seconds. It may not seem long, but it felt like9, especially since everyone else looked away.

When I was by my locker, McKenna came up and10 my hair again. This time, I looked her in the eye. "Worry about your own hair and leave mine alone," I said11. She froze, and the kids with her quickly turned away. Maybe they couldn't12 my eyes because they feared I would understand them — their need to fit in, their13 of being different, and how being popular matters more than being14. By the way, McKenna, my hair is15 than yours.

Buy tickets in advance.

If the concert is of music by a popular artist, there's a high chance that tickets may sell out before you can buy them if you don't get a head start.

Wear comfortable clothes.

You may have to stand the whole night and wait in long queues. Thus, it is vital that when you go to a concert, you dress comfortably. It is also essential to wear a pair of comfortable shoes.

Head to the venue early.

Waiting outside the venue for eight hours is not what you should do, but you should be reasonable and get to the venue ahead of time.. For example, you can find a good spot for yourself.

.

You'll want your phone fully charged for taking photos and videos, contacting any friends you'll be attending with, booking a ride home, and other necessary tasks on the day of the concert. There probably won't be any plugs at the venue..

A. Have your phone fully charged

B. So consider packing a power bank just in case

C. Remember to take your phone charger with you

D. Getting there early will have its own advantages

E. Attending a concert will be an exhausting experience

F. Because you book your ticket from a reliable company

G. Besides, tickets are likely to be cheaper during the pre-selling period.

The team believes the robot could serve as a training partner for professional players in the future, lowering the pressure of training with another human.

The robot is the brainchild of Georgia Tech's Matthew Gombolay, professor of robotics in the School of Interactive Computing. He wanted to develop a better training challenge than a ball feeder that stays in one place, one that would act like an always on-call partner or even team up with someone in doubles matches. The result is ESTHER, an adapted wheelchair tennis chair that can race to balls at ten metres per second and probably outplay a human

The robot was named in honor of the well-known wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer, who held the world No. 1 position in women's wheelchair tennis for almost 13 years straight.

The team placed a network of cameras around a tennis court and used computer vision algorithms (视觉算法) to help ESTHER recognise an incoming tennis ball. Using cameras from different positions, they could know where the ball is in the air and tell this information to ESTHER. The team reached a breakthrough when they successfully and continually programmed ESTHER to track the tennis ball coming toward it and to hit a return. ESTHER will now be developed to act as a highly-skilled tennis player.

Our bodies release cortisol when we encounter a challenge, whether psychological or physical, real or imagined. Things like coming across a bear on a hike, receiving an annoying work email or delivering a public speech are the typical cases. Cortisol aids in energy supply and metabolism (新陈代谢) controls. Its levels vary, peaking in the morning and reducing by night.

However, long-term stress can disturb this balance, leading to high cortisol levels. Potential disadvantages are weakened immune system and high blood sugar, as well as mental illnesses like depression. In extreme cases, too much cortisol productions may lead to Cushing's syndrome, characterized by serious physical changes and requiring medical treatment.

Identifying cortisol-related issues requires professional evaluation, as self-assessment or at-home testing may not provide accurate results due to cortisol'sdynamic nature. Experts suggest turning to healthcare professionals for a thorough check. While there's no one-size-fits-all solution for managing cortisol levels, research indicates that practices such as yoga, mindfulness, and moderate exercise can aid in regulating the body's stress response. These activities not only help in reducing stress but also in training the body to manage its stress response more effectively over time.

In conclusion, cortisol plays a key role in how our body handles stress and functions overall. However, saying that many health problems are just due to cortisol imbalances misses the complex interaction between hormones, stress and health. It's important to treat the health-related factors as a whole, with professional guidance and personalized stress management strategies.

So one admirably organized mom, Rachael Hallett, from Australia, has shared her simple but highly effective solution to having to prepare their lunchboxes. Her tip recommends mass cooking, just like you might do with dinners. "School lunches can get boring," she admits. "You can cook a lot and freeze many items in advance. Sandwiches, sausage rolls, wraps and so on. These all freeze well." But she points out that any fillings that are water-based, like cucumber or tomato, should be avoided in case the bread or wraps become wet.

And Rachel, who has two primary school age children, doesn't stop there with the preparation. She also makes the decisions easily over what to give her children daily by drawing up a list of different foods to put in the boxes. She prefers lunchboxes with different parts that won't leak and each section is used for various items such as fruit or snacks. The wise mom sometimes even sends her kids into school with a food thermos for warm lunches. "You can really send almost anything," she shared.

But even Rachel has days when she just doesn't have the time or energy to make a meal for her little ones and says on these occasions school dinners are definitely a suitable alternative. "Plan some money for a lunch order on your hardest weekdays. Usually school dinners aren't too expensive and they taste good," she says.

Rachel is a co-founder of the hugely popular Facebook group Moms Who, which has over a million members. Lots of other members of the group thanked Rachel for sharing her tips which they intended to put to use in their routines.

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park on New Zealand's South Island was built in 1952 and is part of the larger TeWahipounamu wilderness, a UNESCO World Heritage Area. Covering 12 million hectares, Fiordland National Park is home to green rain forests, crystal clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Even on the frequent rainy days, the scenery is spectacular, with entire valley walls turning into thundering waterfalls. Highlight is the amazing Milford Sound with Mitre Peak, rising 1,692 meters above sea level and one of the most photographed peaks in the country.

Yosemite National Park

First protected in 1864 and one of the first parks in the National Park Service, California's Yosemite is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park's central feature is Yosemite Valley, which is surrounded by hills, trees and spectacular waterfalls. But the park is so much more than just a great valley with waterfalls: within Yosemite's vast wilderness area, you find deep valleys, grand grassland and more than 800 miles of spectacular hikes.

Serengeti National Park

Tanzania's oldest and most popular National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is called a 7^th worldwide wonder. The Serengeti is famous for its annual GREAT Migration, a 1,200-mile odyssey of 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras, all of them chasing the rains in a race for life.

Namib-Naukluft National Park

One of the most thinly populated countries in the world, and it is a top destination for those who enjoy natural scenery and wildlife viewing. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest game park to Africa, including part of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft mountain range.

It was June, the last day of school. My class of first-graders was feverishly anticipating their summer vacation. To add a joyful flavor, I had some balloons brought in, but for me, this holiday was bittersweet. I'd just moved to this city and couldn't afford to fly back to accompany Dad. He was desperately missing me, for it was his first summer without me.

When switching off the light on my way out, I noticed the balloons near the window. Unsure what to do with them, I grabbed the thirteen strings and stuffed them into the backseat of my car. Their rainbow of colors lifted my spirits and gratefully, I didn't feel so alone.

As the city was still foreign to me, I decided to go for a drive and soon found myself winding down a stretch of road where the trees overhead covered each other. The branches reminded me of two friends stretching out to greet each other. Before long, a retirement home appeared. It was a place with a feeling of forgottenness and I spotted a man sitting alone in the shade outside.

I felt a sudden urge to pull in. But the balloons in my backseat blocked my view-then I knew what to do with them. Opening the door and grabbing one of the strings, I waved to the man, and he smiled. His name was Daniel and he was about Dad's age. When I handed him the balloon, he grinned (咧嘴笑)，"Thanks. It gives a little color to my life." While tying it to his chair, he looked happier than when I arrived. So I smiled, "You're welcome, Daniel. Perhaps I'll see you again sometime."

Unexpectedly, he replied, "Perhaps, but probably not. Visitors are always welcome, but rarely come." His words forced me to slide over an old chair next to his. Then we began chatting about our lives and his voice always reminded me of Dad. I'd thought it would be boring talking with a stranger. But it wasn't; it was enlightening — I had been feeling lonely, and so had Daniel, and so had the residents in the retirement home.

注意：

(1)续写词数应为150个左右：(2)请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Then I remembered the other twelve balloons in the backseat.

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Over the next six months, I visited Daniel often.

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1.节目设想；2.设计理由；3.征求意见。

注意：

(1)写作数成80左右；(2)请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Dear Tom,

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Yours,

Li Hua

Blind boxes have taken the world by storm, catching the imaginations of collectors and new buyers alike. These mystery boxes, containing (hide) items revealed only after purchase, offer a mix of surprise and exclusivity (独家性). From toys to high-end collectibles, blind box trend attracts anyone seeking excitement or wanting to add something unique to their collection.

The appeal lies in the excitement of not knowing is inside, combined with the desire to complete a set or find rare items. This concept of discovery keeps collectors (come) back for more and has helped transform the blind box industry into a multibillion-dollar market.

For those new the blind box world, starting a collection can be a rewarding experience. Begin by selecting a brand or theme that matches your interests. Many collectors recommend focusing on a specific series, which makes the collection more personal helps prevent unnecessary purchases. Engaging with the community can also enhance your collecting journey. There are countless social media groups where collectors share tips and discuss new (release). Connecting with other collectors (allow) you to trade the same items, find rare pieces, and share in the excitement of each new (add) to your collection.

Whether you're an experienced collector or a newcomer, the world of blind boxes offers (end) possibilities, turning every unboxing into an adventure.

The restaurant has always been the5 of our lives. At fourteen, I started being a vegetarian (素食者), but Mom still found things to6 me and taught me to be creative with vegetables and tofu. When I started high school thirty pounds heavier than everyone in my class, Mom and I designed a7 menu for La Salle Rouge, and Mom let me8 tasty, low-calorie desserts, which became popular later. I9 early on that this was the work I want to do.

It hardly seems10 that I have to walk away from all of that just to do maths, but Mom says it's smarter to have a backup11, and she's made me apply to colleges and check out business majors12 I want to do anything else with my life. But I already know what I'm going to do when I graduate.

First, I'll buy myself a set of knives, which is a must for the best chefs. The second thing is to get13 -— people would know my name and try my14. Now, all I have to do is finish homework and get back into the15.

Recently, my 13-year-old daughter asked me to buy her a $28 phone case. Her old one wasn't broken or worn out; she was just bored of it. However, saying "no" in moments like this isn't easy. The request felt small, but I knew there was a bigger lesson to teach. It's about teaching our children to think critically about their spending. At the same time, we don't want to come across as overly strict or dismissive of their feelings.

In this case, I realized my daughter's request wasn't just about the phone case; it was about her desire for something new, trendy, and exciting. After all, to a 13-year-old, a new phone case might feel like a big deal, a way to express themselves or fit in with their friends. So how do we find the middle ground?

Instead of shutting down the conversation, I used it as an opportunity to talk about wants and needs. I explained that we must prioritize what's essential over impulse (冲动) purchases. I also acknowledged her feelings. "I get it," I told her. Sometimes we just want something new because it feels exciting. This softened the conversation and made her more willing to listen. Instead of a flat-out "no", I suggested a compromise (妥协). I offered her three options: earn it, wait it out or explore alternatives.

It was about guiding my daughter toward better decision-making without damaging our relationship.
 

A. But I didn't stop there.

B. For me, it was a firm no.

C. That conversation wasn't just about a phone case.

D. I promoted the habit of saving for things she wanted.

E. It felt important to her, even if it seemed unnecessary to me.

F. This balancing act can be tricky, especially when parenting teens.

G. Sometimes, the most valuable lessons aren't about the money at all.

Most of us are aware that cows release methane, but wetlands are also a major source of the gas. Wetlands host a community of microbes (微生物), including Archaea, which generate methane as a byproduct when they consume and digest components of organic matter. These microbes grow in oxygen-free environments like wet soils, which typically occur in the wetlands' deeper levels. However, researchers have been surprised to find that quite a lot of methane comes from the oxygen-rich peat (泥炭) and soil near the surface.

To explore this phenomenon, Zhang and her team analyzed peat samples collected from a wetland in the Northeast U.S. One set of samples received oxygen treatment followed by incubation (培养) under oxygen-free conditions. The other samples remained in an oxygen-free environment for the entire study period. Contrary to expectations, the oxygen-treated peats produced a higher amount of methane than the peats maintained under continuously oxygen-free conditions.

To find out why, the researchers analyzed all the microbes found in the peat samples. They found that oxygen stimulated some microbes to break down harmful chemicals, which would otherwise threaten the entire microbial community, including methane-producing Archaea.The result is the creation of far more methane than expected.

Zhang's work suggests that oxygen variability is an important control on wetland methane production. Her team is also exploring further how oxygen variability for different lengths of time, and how different soil chemistries influence microbial methane production.

In the study, researchers looked at all cereals purchased by 77,000 U.S. households over a nine-year period, between 2008 and 2017. They also looked at Nielsen ratings data, which closely monitored all the ads that people in a household saw-both children and adults. What they found was a strong relationship between how much advertising was targeted to kids and how much sugary cereal that households with children bought. By contrast, there was no link to increased purchases when ads targeted adults. And these extensive data also showed that behaviors that were learned in childhood could track into adulthood, which could lead to poor health outcomes over a lifetime.

The study is the first to directly compare the influence of food advertising exposure by children with that of adults. The findings offer novel evidence of how food marketing turns children into the "ultimate weapon" in influencing family spending because they consistently ask their parents to purchase a concept known as "pester power".

The food industry launched the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, a voluntary effort to police itself. The 21 participating food companies made a commitment to cut back on marketing unhealthy foods to children under 12 — later revised to under 13. A new study conducted in 2024 showed that children's exposure to cereal ads on TV programming aimed at kids has dropped dramatically.

But Lindsey Smith Taillie, a food policy researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says these voluntary efforts aren't making a difference. Advertisements, like kids' eyeballs, are moving online, making it even harder to know what marketing children are being exposed to, Taillie notes.

This was meant to be a healing exercise, one championed by the Finnish biologist Adela Pajunen. Finns, she'd told me, sometimes share their worries aloud to trees or birds. On shore, I spotted a short black alder tree and began to tell the tree my troubles. The leaves rustled (沙沙作响) in response, a sign I interpreted as sympathy.

I had come to Finland to see whether I could bring happiness back to America with me. Finland has topped the World Happiness Report for the past eight years, largely due to free education and universal health care. And the Finns also find happiness in more attainable ways, such as their close relationship with nature and visiting the sauna (桑拿) daily. These activities contain similar goals: Stay present and seek a minimalist lifestyle that relies on the earth.

I followed their lifestyle — visiting the sauna and taking a relaxing forest walk, and happiness came in waves over the next few days. I was optimistic that I could recreate the happiest moments of this trip back home in New York. How hard could it be, really?

As it turned out, happiness was a luxury in America, though I tried hard to live exactly like the Finns. Then one afternoon, I had a breakthrough as I rushed through Central Park and noticed a crowd of people staring at the ground. A cardinal! I stopped to admire the bird's feather before it flew away. This was a win for staying present. I'd been so stuck trying to find the time and money for happiness that I'd missed the point: Quiet the mind, and find pleasure in small acts and observations — like a cardinal taking flight, or talking to trees — right then and there.

As I left the park, I carried out a small but comforting ritual (仪式) I'd developed. I thanked the trees for listening.

The Advisor offers on-demand comments to students practicing public speaking from anywhere.This flexibility benefits instructors, who can be as hands-on or hands-off during practice. While students can operate autonomously with the tool, instructors can also choose to keep track of students' progress.

Criteria

Using machine learning models, the Pops Advisor analyzes the following criteria:

Feedback

The presenter receives feedback on the above four categories. And this feedback is given in the following formats:

• Recommendations

To provide presenters with valuable feedback for the next practice, recommendations focus on specific aspects needing improvement. For instance, the recommendation can be "Your message is clear, but be sure you are grabbing your audience's attention in your introduction to ensure they are listening."

• Speech Metrics (指标)

Useful speech metrics serve as quantitative descriptors on several aspects of the presentation including number of words, total presentation time, speaking rate and vocal fillers percentage.

Pops Advisor can be used in any classroom setting where students are presenting, particularly in the Basic Public Speaking Course. When you are considering what can be achieved by your students toward skill development in a single school semester, Advisor increases the overall development.