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There are thousands of coral reefs(珊瑚礁) in the world; Unfortunately, however, they are now in serious danger. More than one-third are in such bad shape that they could die within ten years. Here are the three main causes discovered. 

The first cause is pollution on land. The pollutants run with rainwater into rivers and streams, which carry the poisons into the ocean. So they will be easily infected(感染) with diseases. 

Higher ocean temperatures kill the important food source(来源) for the coral—the algae, the tiny greenish-gold water plants that live on coral. This process has happened more and more frequently in recent years.

The last factor contributing to the disappearance of coral reefs is people. People sometimes crash into reefs with their boats, breaking off large blocks of coral. Moreover, some people even break coral off to collect for souvenirs since it is so colorful and pretty. 

A. Global warming is another reason.

B. Many might not even last that long! 

C. Divers who walk on reefs can also do serious damage.

D. Reefs provide a home for 25% of the fish in the ocean.

E. Chemicals from the poisons kill reefs or make them weak.

F. Steps must be taken now to stop over-fishing and pollution of the oceans.

G. When the algae die, the coral loses its color and it also dies in the end.

The decline in moral standards—which has long concerned social analysts—has at last captured the attention of average Americans. And Jean Bethke Elshtain, for one, is glad.

The fact the ordinary citizens are now starting to think seriously about the nation's moral climate, says thisethics (伦理学) professor at the University of Chicago, is reason to hope that new ideas will come forward to improve it.

But the challenge is not to be underestimated. Materialism and individualism in American society are the biggest obstacles. "The thought that ‘I'm in it for me'has become deeply rooted in the national consciousness," Ms. Elshtain says.

Some of this can be attributed to the disintegration of traditional communities, in which neighbors looked out for one another, she says. With today's greater mobility and with so many couples working, those bonds have been weakened, replaced by a greater emphasis on self.

In a 1996 poll of Americans, loss of morality topped the list of the biggest problems facing the U.S. and Elshtain says the public is correct to sense that: Data show that Americans are struggling with problems unheard of in the 1950s, such as classroom violence and a high rate of births to unmarried mothers.

The desire for a higher moral standard is not alament (挽歌) for some nonexistent "golden age," Elshtain says, nor is it awishfullonging for a time that denied opportunities to women and minorities. Most people, in fact, favor the lessening of prejudice.

Moral decline will not be reversed until people find ways to counter the materialism in society, she says. "Slowly, you recognize that the things that matter are those that cant'be bought."

It was a cold night in Washington, D.C., and I was heading back to the hotel when a man approached me. He asked if I would give him some money so he could get something to eat. I'd read the signs: "Don't give money to beggars as most of them are swindlers." So I shook my head and kept walking. 

I wasn't prepared for a reply, but with no hesitation, he followed me and said, "I really am homeless and I really am hungry! You can come with me and watch me eat!" But I kept on walking. 

The incident kept bothering me for the rest of the week. I had money in my pocket and it wouldn't have killed me to hand over a dollar or two even if he hadn't been a real beggar. On a freezing cold night, no less, I assumed the worst of a fellow human being. 

Flying back to Anchorage, I couldn't help thinking of him. I tried to reason my failure to help by supposing government agencies, churches and charities were there to feed him. Besides, you're not supposed to give money to beggars. 

Somewhere over Seattle, I started to write my weekly garden column for The Anchorage Daily News. Out of the blue, I came up with an idea. Bean's Cafe, a local charity service kitchen, feeds hundreds of hungry local people every day. Why not try to get all my readers to plant one row of vegetables or flowers in their gardens for Bean's? Plant a row for Bean's. It's clean and simple. 

We didn't keep records back then, but the idea began to take off. Folks would fax me or call when they took something in. It's food for the spirit and comfort for my conscience. 

In April 1995, the Garden Writers Association of America(GWAA) held their annual meeting in Anchorage and after learning our program, Plant a Row for Bean'sbecame Plant a Row For The Hungry. The idea then was to have every member write or talk about planting a row for the hungry, which brought the program to national attention. 

As more and more people participated, new variations cropped up. Many companies gave free seeds to customers and displayed the logo for the program. Donations poured in. It was then that I could really stop feeling guilty. 

Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are over concerned with their own appearance and actions. Worrisome thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: what kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?

It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. A person's self concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a deep affect on all areas of their lives. Shy people ,have low self-esteem(自尊),are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior(自卑).They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise .A shy person may respond to praise with a statement like this one:" You're just saying that to make me feel good .I know it's not true." It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful. Can shyness be completely got rid of, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determination. It is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths, for example, not fair for them to label themselves inferior because they have to be realistic. Living on the impossible leads to absence of inferiority. Each one of us has his or her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.

For many people today, reading is no longer relaxation. To keep up their work they must read letters, reports, trade publications, interoffice communications, not to mention newspapers and magazines; a never-ending flood of words. In getting a job advancing, the ability to read and comprehend 1 can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet the unfortunate fact is that most of us are 2 readers. Most of us develop poor reading habits at an early age, and never 3 them. The main shortage lies in the actual stuff of language itself – words. Taken individually, words have little4 until they are combined together into phrases, sentences and paragraphs. Unfortunately, 5 , the untrained reader does not read groups of words. He read one word at a time with difficulty, often regressing to 6 words or passages. Regression, namely, the tendency to look back over what you have just read, is a common 7 habit in reading. Another bad habit which 8 the speed of reading is vocalization –sounding each word either 9 or mentally as one reads.

To overcome these bad habits, some reading clinics use a device called an accelerator, which moves a bar (or curtain) down the page at a predetermined speed. The bar is set a slightly 10 rate than the reader finds comfortable, in order to "11 " him. The accelerator forces the reader to read fast, making word-by-word reading, regression and sub-vocalization, practically 12 . At first comprehension is 13 speed. But when you learn to read ideas and concepts, you will not only read faster, but your comprehension will improve. Many people have found their reading skill 14 improved after some training. Take Charles Au, a business manager, for instance, his reading rate was a reasonably good 172 words a minute before the training, now it is an excellent 1,378 words a minute. He is delighted that now he can go through a lot more reading material in a(n)15 period of time.

Hamlet is the most of William Shakespeare's plays. While you read this article, somewhere there is an actor on a stage pouring out his heart to the audience. 

The character of Hamlet has a personal, painful quality that still draws readers and playgoers today as it did 400 years ago. The problems he faces, such as what is and how he should respond to events, are ones we all face in our lives.

Hamlet is the young prince of Denmark. At the beginning, he is sad about his dead father. Everyone else around him is the marriage of his mother Gertrude to her brother-in-law Claudius, the new king. Hamlet thinks that the short time between the death of his father and the marriage of his mother and uncle is .

Hamlet is told that a spirit has been walking around Elsinore castle. He meets it and it says that his father was killed, and by his brother Claudius— it was "murder most horrid (可怕的)"! Now, the ghost instructs him, it is his to avenge (报仇) .

Hamlet is in a terrible position. He does not know whether the ghost is who he says he is, or a being sent by the devil (魔鬼). Matters are because Claudius is suspicious of his nephew. There is a cat-and-mouse game played between the king and Hamlet.

Hamlet has a play performed for the king which stages the way the ghost told him of his father's murder. Claudius reacts with horror, proving to hamlet that he is . But Hamlet misses the opportunity to take his revenge.

He tells Gertrude he hates her to Claudius. During their meeting he kills Polonius, who is the father of his love, Ophelia. Then, Lacerates comes back to the court. He's heard that his father, Polonius, has been killed, so he wants to kill Hamlet.

Cunning (奸诈的) Claudius attempts to play Lacerates and Hamlet against each other, and in the final scene it all goes horribly wrong.

One speech in the play begins "to be or not to be": it is about how Hamlet can't decide whether to get out of his bad situation by killing himself. Hamlet is a thinking man. One who thinks too much in the world where others, like Claudius, show no .

The illegal ivory trade (象牙贸易) has been a major problem in Africa for decades. Poachers (偷猎者) and hunters have killed hundreds of thousands of elephants to obtain this precious material. Now the areas in which they do it are taking action. The International Union for Conservation (保护) of Nature (IUCN）announced on Dec 3 that key states  poaching takes place have made a promise to stop the ivory trade and protect Africa's elephants.

Recently, top officials and experts from 30 states met to discuss how to protect Africa elephants. The conference, (organize) by the IUCN and the government of Botswana, was held in Gaborone, Botswana's capital city.

In 1980s, as many as 1 million elephants across Africa were killed for ivory. The ivory (use) to make jewelry and other items. This continued until 1989, the convention (大会) on International Trade in Species voted to ban all trade in ivory. Then, elephants'population slowly began to increase.

According to the IUCN, 2011 saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal ivory trading in at least 16 years. Around 25,000 elephants were killed in Africa that year. "With an estimated 22,000 elephants illegally (kill) in 2012, we continue to face a critical situation," said John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary- General.

At the meeting, key Africa states where elephants make home agreed to develop a "zero-tolerance approach" to poaching. The deal calls for tough sentences for poachers and hunters, and increased cooperation between states where poaching and hunting is a big problem. All participants at the conference agreed to sign the deal. With these states (come) together, there may be hope for elephants.

Despite the popularity of dieting and exercising, more people are bigger than they used to be.

The US is the  (overweight) country in the world. But  many people's surprise, China ranks second, with 46 million obese (肥胖的) adults and 300 million overweight.

So why are so many Chinese getting overweight?

According to The Wall Street Journal, China's weight has grown with its economy. With incomes growing, families afford to eat a lot more food —especially fatty foods like meat. From 1980 to 2013, the average Chinese's meat consumption (increase) from 12.7kg to 60kg per year.

Unhealthy lifestyles also contribute to China's obesity problems. Many Chinese families are eating more deep-fried and junk food while exercising little.

It is also likely  the family planning policy has created a land of little emperors,  are spoiled by their parents and not asked to do any labor at home, commented The Wall Street Journal.

The trend could lead to big problems, as obesity can have severe health consequences. According to the World Health Organization, around 2,8 million adults die each year obesity-related diseases such as diabetes(糖尿病), heart diseases and cancer.

 (encourage) exercise among Chinese, the government is working to increase the nation'public sporting areas to 1.5 square meters per capita by 2015, Xinhua reported. It is also considering adding PE to the national college entrance examination.

The frightening day of our diving test was here. Our parents thought we were lucky to have an Olympic-size swimming pool at the school. My mom stressed that the swimming pool was one of the best in our city. But I didn't feel happy about it at all. Instead, I felt afraid of the swimming pool. It was mainly because I was terribly shy.

I was so shy that I always sat at the back of the room in class so I'd not be called upon to read. As for the present physical education class each Monday morning, I would work my way to the back of the line forming at the diving board so I would not have to practise the dives.

Now, it was another Monday morning — the morning of our diving test. My blood ran cold when the teacher Ms. Robbins announced that we would be graded for our final on the most difficult dive— the jackknife. And she added, "This diving test is important. The one who fails has to spare time in the following Monday mornings to practise diving in this swimming pool and attend this test again."

My body kept shaking with fear as the line to the scary diving board shortened. As I watched, each student seemed to perform the challenging dive effortlessly. And shortly I would have to attempt something that I had never even practised before.

Then I remembered someone telling me that when you picture yourself doing a skill over and over, it's just as effective as physically practicing that skill. So I watched carefully as each classmate jumped at the end of the board once, added a jump for height, folded their body in half to reach for their toes, and finally straightened out like an arrow for going into the water. After carefully watching for a while, I was actually in a state of surprise, because all of a sudden I realized that it was possible for me to perform these four steps of diving.

Eventually all classmates except me finished jumping. The teacher announced that it was my turn.

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:

With my heart beating wildly, I walked down the diving board towards its end.

Paragraph 2:

Knowing I failed, I climbed out of the pool, embarrassed.

注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

Benefits of Exercising Regularly

A 50-minute drive northwest of downtown, Beijing, a village pops up. It(house) a shadow puppetry troupe (皮影戏剧团) and Beijing Long zaitian Shadow Puppet Theater.

Shadow puppetry is seenthe prequel (先行篇) to film and animation in China. Besides performances(create) by light and shadow, performers must master a(vary) skill set as the plays combine painting, carving, opera and literature. But due to low revenue and a small market, young people are unwilling (learn) shadow puppetry.

, this particular troupe stands out from the crowd. Average performer age is only 25. Moreover, of the 300 performershas trained over the years, many are under 1.4 m in(high). In 2021, the team created Winter Olympics-themed shadow pupets. The troupe also staged different plays(introduce) ice and snow sports through fairy tales.

"(fortunate), we have these people. They have been devoted to the inheritance of shadow puppetry for over a decade,"said Wang Xi, inheritor of Beijing Western School Shadow Puppetry.

In all one's lifetime it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with. But it is 1 oneself that one has the least understanding of. When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your 2 . When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself is to gain a correct view of oneself and be a realist-aware of both one's 3 and weaknesses. You may 4 hopefully to the future but be sure not to 5 too much, for ideals can never be fully realized. You may be 6 to meet challenges but it should be clear to you 7 to direct your efforts. That's to say, so long as you have a perfect 8 of yourself, there won't be difficulties you can't overcome.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself needs self-appreciation. Whether you think you are a towering tree or a blade of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature that has its own reason of 9 . If you earnestly admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation, which will give you confidence. 10 you gain full confidence in yourself, you'll be enabled to fight and overcome any difficulty.

To get a thorough understanding of oneself also requires doing oneself a favor when it's needed. In time of anger, do yourself a favor by giving an outlet to it in a quiet place so that you won't be hurt by its flames; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by 11 it with your friends so as to change a gloomy mood into a cheerful one; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep or taking some stimulant. Show yourself loving concern about your health and daily life. 12 you know perfectly well when and how to do yourself a favor, you won't be confident and ready enough to 13 the attack of illness. As you are aware, what a person physically has is but a human body that's vulnerable when 14 to the elements. So if you fall ill, it's up to you to take a good care of yourself.

In a word, to get a thorough understanding of oneself is to get a full 15 of one's life. Then one will find one's life full of color and flavor.

We often try to save money for a variety of different reasons. It might be to save up for a new computer or put money aside into a rainy-day fund., but a recent study showed that over half of all 22~29-year-olds living in the UK have no savings at all. Did they max out on too many things, or are there other factors? And how can we become better savers?

First, put a stop to those impulse buys., even if it is on sale or looks like a bargain. Impulse buys are done in the heat of the moment and without thought for what it's costing you. Encouraging yourself to question your purchase before you buy allows you to process what you are doing.

. Withdraw cash before you go to a restaurant or shopping and set a fixed budget you must stick to. Also, any change that comes from your transactions when you're using cash can be put in jar and deposited into your account.

Finally, be disciplined.. It's about sticking to it, too. You shouldn't be dipping into your savings every time you feel like it. Setting up a standing order from your current account into your savings the moment you receive your salary will ensure you keep up the habit..

Just as the old saying goes: "A penny saved is a penny earned." These are some of the actions we can take to help us all become better savers.

A. Learning how to save is important

B. Ask about discounts and pay in cash

C. It's not just about creating that budget

D. Sometimes, saving money can be difficult

E. Another way is to use cash rather than card

F. Ask yourself if you really need to buy something

G. Successful savers stick to their plans and watch the money pile up

The impact of the man-made climate crisis on Antarctica is scientifically undeniable: stable ice shelves are retreating, air temperature increased by 3 degrees Celsius. krill(磷虾)numbers are declining, melting ice is contributing to sea level rise, and polar bears and seals are getting displaced. "Antarctic biodiversity could decline substantially by the end of the century if we continue with business as usual." Jasmine Rachael Lee, lead author of the University of Queensland study says.

Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study finds population declines are likely for 65% of the continent's plants and wildlife by the year 2100. The most vulnerable(脆弱的)species is the Emperor penguins. In October 2022, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Emperor penguins as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act(ESA), as experts predict the flightless seabird will see a 26% to 47% dip in its population by 2050. "This listing reflects the growing extinction crisis and highlights the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before population declines become irreversible(不可逆转)." said Service Director Martha Williams at the time.

Aside from Emperor penguins, other Antarctic specialists, like the Adélie penguin and dry soil nematodes, were also highly vulnerable. We urgently need a combination of global and local conservation action to best conserve Antarctic species. Global action and global voices to help relieve climate change—because the biggest threat to Antarctica is coming from outside of it. And then we need local actions to help protect biodiversity against local threats and give them the best chance of adapting to climate changes. This will help to save our iconic(代表性的)species like the Emperor penguins and all of Antarctica's unique and highly adapted inhabitants. It will also help humankind, as we rely heavily on the priceless services the Antarctic provides in regulating our climate and capturing sea level in its ice sheets.

Have you ever seen a car without a driver? It sounds crazy, but these computer-driven driverless cars will soon be filling roads near you. Tech companies around the world have been designing and testing driverless vehicles and the technology is available already.

So, how do they work? The cars are covered in sensors that can detect other cars and obstacles on the road. Sensors on the wheels also help when parking. Road signs are read by cameras, and satellite navigation systems are used. Finally, a central computer system takes in all the information and processes this to work out when to accelerate, brake and steer. All you have to do is type in the destination.

Sounds like your idea of heaven? Sitting back, looking out of the windows and even watching a film while "driving" will all be possible with this new technology. In addition, computers are generally more efficient drivers than humans, meaning emissions can be reduced. They also drive more safely than people—they don't get distracted by music or friends, they obey the speed limit and they have quicker reaction times in case of an emergency.

However, there are still many drawbacks of driverless cars. Computers will have difficulties making ethical (道德上的) decisions. If a child ran out into the road, would the computer choose to hit the child or turn aside sharply and potentially hurt the car's passengers instead? Moreover, I personally find driving fun. I'd miss never being behind the wheel myself. There would also be legal questions. Should children or drunk people, be allowed in a driverless car by themselves? Or would there need to be a responsible adult with a driving licence in the car at all times?

Although being driven around by a machine would perhaps mean that no one needs a driving license, many people would be put out of a job by the popularization of driverless cars. Bus, taxi and train drivers would be made unwanted.

I'm not convinced I'd want a driverless car, but it's only a matter of time before they'll become more affordable and commonplace on our roads.

When I was 13, I climbed my first mountain--a fairly gentle 3,900-foot peak. I was overweight at the time and out of breath when I reached the summit. But I loved challenging myself. Soon I'd climbed nearly 100 peaks. My parents were happy I'd finally found a hobby.

I often go climbing with my friend Mel Olsen. She and I drove to tackle 11, 240-foot Mount Hood. It's safer to start winter climbs at night when there's less risk of the sun melting the snowpack. That day, we started at 3 a. m. At around9 a. m., we reached an ice step. It was about three or four feet tall and sloped al a 75-degree angle. 1 volunteered to go first. I placed my left foot on the ice step.

I gained a sense of the ice when 1 stuck my ax and crampons (鞋底钉) into it, and it felt good. Confident I was safe, I put my full weight on it. Suddenly, I heard a crack, and as the snowpack became thinner, a whole piece of ice broke off the step, right under my foot.

In an instant, I fell backward, bouncing off the rock face and rolling down the mountain as if I were a character in a video game. I remember thinking, This is it. You're done. I stuck out my arms and legs, grabbing at anything. That stopped my rolling down the mountain, but I was still sliding, After 2 few seconds, I came to a stop on a shallow slope.

I asked myself: Where are you? Mount Hood. What's the date? December 30. Good. My brain was functioning. Then I checked my body to see where I was hurt. For the most part, I was fine, except that I was suffering from a sharp pain in my left leg. Later I'd learn that I'd broken my femur (大腿骨) and that the bone was slicing into my skin and muscle.

At the bottom of Mount Hood, I was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a hospital. The doctors told me it would be a year before I could climb again, but I was back on the trails within six months.

STEM Summer Programs for High School Students

STEM is a term that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here is a list of some of the best STEM summer camps for high school students.

Future Matters Program

It is an eight-week paid summer research experience for high school students. This is a hands-on program for worldwide students interested in going after a career in medical research. Students will attend seminars led by faculty and participate in discussions with peers.

Simons Summer Research

It is a seven-week program located at Stony Brook University. Students will have the opportunity to participate in special workshops, tours and events. They will conclude the program by producing a written research abstract and research poster.

Research Science Institute

It is the first cost-free program of its kind. During this seven-week program, students will dive deeper into the world of science and engineering by experiencing the entire research cycle. In this program, students attend classes conducted by famous professors and prepare oral presentations to present their research.

Program in Math for Young Scientists

This program is a six-week intensive mathematics program designed for students across the globe. Unlike common programs, it offers a great deal of independence for students to choose their own schedules and decide what they want to study. Besides learning, there is also "mandatory (强制)fun time" built into the weekly schedule so that students are able to have non-math related activities.

Everybody pushed him away. With a big black birthmark on his face, Thomas never had any friends. He was lonely, as if the world could never see the light. He used to love acting dramas in front of his mother, but now, he thinks he does not have the right to do so with such appearance. 

This terrible life has begun since Thomas went to school. However, everything changed since that evening. 

Thomas was sitting on the chair, staring out of the window while trying to forget the names that his classmates had called him earlier at school. The tree outside was surrounded by dried, lifeless leaves, with branches lowering themselves to the ground. It was so quiet that only the sound of the wind blowing the leaves away could be heard. A knock on the door broke the silence. "Thomas, here's a letter for you,"Mom said while pushing the door open. Just as Thomas reached out for the letter, Mom immediately pulled it away and said:"Let me read it for you. "

Dear Thomas,

How are you? I'm your aunt. I know that you feel sad because of your birthmark, but you cannot change that. Therefore, instead of feeling bad for your appearance,you should stand up for yourself. Go do astonishing things that would change everybody's thoughts about you. Prove yourself. I believe in you. 

Regards,

Aunt Janice

Thomas felt a wave of warmness in his heart. That night, he carried a smile on his face to his dreams. After that day, Thomas received more letters from relatives, encouraging him to be brave to do what he wants. Mom would read out every single letter, each time with a lovely expression. Thomas realized that there were so many people caring and loving him. He heard a voice telling him that he should prove himself to the world. 

With the encouragement his family had given him, Thomas joined the drama class in his school and had the chance to perform drama in his school. Unexpectedly, the whole school cheered for him and praised his acting skills. The teachers later signed him up to represent the school for an acting competition. Despite of his appearance, he got the first prize. His confidence grew. 

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。

After all the things Thomas had gone through, he still received letters from relatives. 

One day, Thomas went home from school with a tired body. 

注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear David,

Yours,

Li Hua