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The old bookstore on Maple Street had been Mr. Hale's life work. For forty years, he'd stacked its shelves with weathered novels, dog-eared poetry collections, and rare first editions, each with a story he could recite by heart. But last month, the bank had sent a notice — rising rents and falling sales meant the store would close by the end of the week.

Lila, a regular since she was a kid, couldn't bear the thought. She'd grown up here, hiding in the back corner with a book while her mom worked next door. Now a college student home for summer, she'd started a "Save the Bookstore" campaign: a petition, a GoFundMe page, even hand-painted signs taped to lampposts. But donations trickled in, and the petition barely had a hundred signatures.

"This isn't just a store," Lila said to Mr. Hale one afternoon, gesturing to the creaky wooden floors and the smell of old paper. He smiled sadly, polishing a leather-bound Dickens. "It's where Mrs. Carter met her late husband — they bonded over a shared love for Hemingway. Where Tommy, the shy kid from down the street, found the courage to join the debate team after reading To Kill a Mockingbird."

Lila's throat tightened. She knew those stories too. She'd left her own mark here: a faded drawing of a cat tucked inside The Secret Garden, a note scrawled in the margin of Pride and Prejudice ("Mr. Darcy is overrated!") when she was twelve.

On the penultimate day, Lila arrived to find Mr. Hale packing boxes. "I'm sorry, kiddo," he said, his voice rough. "We tried." She noticed a dusty box labeled "Memorabilia" in the corner — newspaper clippings from the store' s opening, a photo of Mr. Hale as a young man, and a stack of handwritten letters.

Curious, she pulled one out. It was dated 1998, from a girl named Clara: "Your store kept me going when my dad left. I'll never forget the day you let me take Anne of Green Gables home even though I couldn't pay — said ‘stories should be free to heal.'" Lila froze. Clara was her mom's name.

Before she could ask, the bell above the door jingled. A woman in a business suit stepped in, scanning the shelves. "I'm from the real estate company," she said, holding out a clipboard. "We need the keys by Friday."

Mr. Hale's shoulders slumped. Lila grabbed the letter, her heart racing. "Wait — this store matters. To all of us." The woman raised an eyebrow. "Prove it."

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1: Lila sprinted out the door, the letter clutched in her hand.

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Paragraph 2: By sunset, the bookstore's front lawn was crowded.

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（1）阐释项目核心；

（2）介绍项目活动；

（3）强调参与价值。

注意：

1.写作词数应为80左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Dear students,

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Yours,

Li Hua

A traditional Chinese cultural exhibition at the City Art Gallery is showcasing works inspired by Chinese shadow puppetry (皮影戏) , has a history of over 2,000 years in China.

Chinese shadow puppetry is one of most ancient forms of storytelling through visual art. The vivid images of characters and the stories they tell reflect the wisdom and values of Chinese folk culture, according to Lin Hua, the curator (馆长) of the exhibition.

"The exhibition combines shadow puppetry culture, modern technology and contemporary art," says Lin. "We hope (show) the charm of this traditional art in a new way, and start conversations with modern art forms like installation art, multimedia art and pop art."

"In a shadow puppetry performance, each movement of the puppets is carefully designed. The performers use their skills to guide the puppets, leading the audience into a world (fill) with myths and legends," explains Chen Lei, a shadow puppetry performer participating in the exhibition.

"The performers' emotions (convey) through the puppets' actions, and their understanding of the stories is presented to the audience," she adds. "A skilled performer always (try) to make the performance touching, not just by the skills, also by the deep connection with the story."

Lin says that the unique shapes of the shadow puppets, the beauty in the (careful) arranged storylines, and the cultural meanings behind each character inspired artists to create paintings, sculptures, digital artworks for the exhibition. These works aim to let more people appreciate the charm of Chinese shadow puppetry in the context of modern art, (bridge) the gap between tradition and modernity.

We sorted items into three piles: keep, donate, and3. The "sell" pile included a vintage clock, a hand-knitted blanket, and an old camera. I took photos of these items and posted them online, hoping to4 them to people who'd appreciate them.

Days passed, and responses poured in. A woman messaged about the clock, asking for more5 — its age, condition, and whether it still worked. Another caller wanted to know if the blanket could be6 as a gift. As our moving day7, I felt a mix of sadness and relief.

Then came a8 that touched my heart: "I lost my grandma's clock last year. Your clock reminds me of her. Can I have it?" I agreed immediately. When she came to pick it up, her eyes9 up as she held the clock. "Thank you," she whispered, "this means so much."

10 by this experience, I started giving away more items for free. An elderly man took the old camera, sharing how he'd loved photography in his youth. Each exchange brought a sense of11 — these things weren't just objects; they were pieces of someone's past, now part of a new story.

Now, in our new apartment, the space feels12 but meaningful. I take13 in knowing that somewhere, the clock is keeping time for a new family, the blanket is warming someone's lap, and the camera is capturing new memories.

The process of letting go taught me that14 isn't about losing the past, but about15 it forward — allowing stories to continue in new hands.

In a world that often glorifies constant change and novelty, the value of routine is frequently overlooked. Yet, a well-crafted daily routine can be a powerful tool for personal growth, productivity, and well-being. It provides a framework within which we can thrive, helping us to balance work, rest, and self-care.

A morning routine, for instance, sets the tone for the day. Whether it's a few minutes of meditation, a brisk walk, or a nutritious breakfast, these small actions can have a profound impact on our mindset and energy levels. By starting the day with intention, we are better equipped to handle the challenges that come our way.

Of course, a routine doesn't mean rigidity. It should be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected events and personal growth. For example, if you find that a particular activity in your routine is no longer serving you, don't be afraid to adjust it. The key is to have a core set of practices that anchor you and provide a sense of stability.

A consistent sleep routine is another crucial aspect. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps to regulate our body's internal clock, leading to better sleep quality and overall health. It also allows us to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

In the end, a routine is not about restricting freedom but about creating a foundation for a fulfilling life. By embracing the power of routine, we can unlock our potential and live with greater purpose and joy.

A. It gives us a sense of control and predictability in an otherwise chaotic world.

B. A good night's sleep is essential for cognitive function and emotional well-being.

C. It can include activities that nourish our minds, bodies, and souls.

D. Many successful people attribute their achievements to their well-structured daily routines.

E. It should evolve as we grow and change, reflecting our current needs and priorities.

F. Establishing a regular exercise routine can also have numerous benefits for both physical and mental health.

G. It's about finding rhythm in the repetition and using it as a springboard for growth.

Now, a groundbreaking study published in Environmental Science Advances offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against these elusive pollutants. Researchers from a multinational team discovered that a specific combination of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a natural clay-based filter could potentially reduce nanoplastics in drinking water by a significant margin. In controlled laboratory tests, exposing water contaminated with nanoplastics to UV light for 15 minutes, followed by filtration through a montmorillonite clay filter, resulted in the removal of at least 75 percent of certain nanoplastics.

Crucially, the effectiveness of this method hinged on multiple factors. The pH level of the water played a vital role — alkaline conditions enhanced the binding of nanoplastics to the clay particles, while acidic environments weakened it. Additionally, the study was limited in scope: it focused only on three prevalent types of nanoplastics — polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate — and did not account for the complex chemical interactions with other contaminants commonly found in real-world water sources, such as heavy metals and pesticides.

Still, the findings underscore the urgency of addressing the nanoplastic crisis — a problem that's growing more complex by the day. Earlier this year, independent studies revealed that nanoplastic concentrations in bottled water brands, previously thought to be a safer alternative, were up to 500 times higher than initial estimates. This suggests that even seemingly pristine water sources are not immune to nanoplastic contamination.

Scientists remain uncertain about the full extent of nanoplastic toxicity, but early research points to alarming possibilities. These particles, due to their small size, can penetrate cell membranes, potentially disrupting cellular functions and triggering inflammatory responses. The new study's authors emphasize that while their method shows promise, it's just one piece of the puzzle. "The way we demonstrated the interaction between UV, clay, and nanoplastics provides a foundation," says Dr. Elena Vazquez, an environmental chemist at the lead institution of the study. "But we need to scale up these solutions and integrate them into existing water treatment infrastructures to truly make a difference."

Urban planners Lila Chen and Ryan Moore are deeply troubled by such issues. In their newly released book Green Living: Reclaim Our Cities' Natural Spaces, they call for a fundamental rethinking of urban design and the role greenery should play in our daily lives.

The landscape of urban living began to shift decades ago. Vast areas of natural vegetation were cleared to make room for sprawling concrete structures and commercial centers, forcing residents to seek nature in distant suburbs. Some grassroots groups fought back. Most notably, a community organizer from Seattle, who relocated to the city in the early 2000s, launched a movement to save a local wetlands area from being converted into a shopping mall. Expressing her outrage at the planned destruction, Emily Clark appealed to the city council to "Preserve Seattle as a city where nature and urban life coexist harmoniously, not just a place of concrete and commerce." Similar initiatives took place in other major cities across the country in the 2010s.

Although these initiatives gained public attention, the harsh reality is that the majority of modern cities remain overwhelmingly dominated by urban development at the expense of green spaces. The coverage of natural areas in cities has been shrinking steadily. In California, for instance, the ratio of urban green spaces to total city area has dropped to a record low, even as the state promotes environmental protection campaigns.

We invest substantial resources in building urban infrastructure that prioritizes speed and efficiency, yet we neglect to consider the true value of green spaces. Do we fully comprehend the social and psychological costs when citizens lack easy access to natural environments for mental rejuvenation? The authors of Green Living are spot-on: it's high time we re-evaluate the urban landscapes right outside our homes.

But the situation was quite different with their first assignment, which centered on the question: "Why is literature important?"

Most of the essays were barely a page long, and scarcely any had a sentence that could serve as a strong thesis statement. I was taken aback. Then it dawned on me that the problem lay in the question itself. They could have written volumes about the allure of social media, but literature, in its pure form, just didn't seem significant to them. This had to change.

As a new semester began, I asked everyone to craft a reflective essay on a literary work that had touched their soul. This time, they found the task far more engaging. For the subsequent two tasks, a drama-analysis project was followed by a poetry-creation workshop. I only stipulated that each piece should convey a deep-seated emotion. The outcomes were astounding. The students delved into a wide range of literary works and produced essays and poems, each 8 to 15 pages long, with insights that broadened my perspective and stirred my emotions.

I entered the class believing that literature is important as a mirror of humanity. However, my students demonstrated something even more profound. When the final bell rang in June, I walked away with a year's worth of memories filled with the realization of literature's most profound significance — the ability to awaken dormant feelings, to transport us to unseen worlds, and to reveal the shared threads of our human experiences.