Several weeks ago, our headmaster, Mr. Brown, told us that our school had a chance to take part in Smart Aleck—a wonderful game show. My best friend Nancy and I both1 it. Nancy has a good imagination and I know a lot of history, so we thought we'd be good 2 for the team.
A few days later, Mr. Brown held a meeting with everyone who was 3 the show. He told us that Smart Aleck used a five-member team and three more people would be needed as backup(替补). Mr. Brown said we would have a(n) 4 among all the students at the meeting and the top 5 students would become the team and the backup. Everybody agreed that this was a 6 way to decide.
Yesterday, all of the 7 got together. Mr. Brown acted as the host. After a couple of hours, all the positions on the team were set 8 one. Nancy and I tied(打成平手) for that last position. We had to hold a one-on-one competition. The winner would be on the team and the loser would be the 9.
Midway through our two-person competition, I was starting to perform better than Nancy. Then I saw the look on Nancy's face. I waited for a second and knew 10 I had to do. I wanted to be on Smart Aleck, 11 Nancy wanted it even more. So, starting with my next question, I held back and let Nancy 12, just by a little bit. When she realized she would be on the show, she felt sorry for my not being on the team. 13, as a backup, I would still be able to see the show up close.
Was I 14 by not trying as hard as I could? I don't think so. No one noticed, and Nancy and I didn't say it. It wouldn't influence the team because Nancy would be a very good competitor on the real show. I think making my best friend happy was the 15 thing to do.
Tired of traditional celebrations? Have a look at the four special days.
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| Earth Day "Earth Day" is on April 22nd. Many people all over the world try to do something green on this day. In Italy, people don't use plastic bags. In Canada, people ride bicycles and don't use their cars. In the USA, people dress up like plants and animals and dance in Times Square, New York. | |||
| Car Free Day "Car Free Day" is on September 22nd. It encourages drivers to give up their cars for a day to protect the environment. People get together in the streets to remind the world that we don't need to use cars so much. In Brussels, the public transportation is free on that day. | |||
| | Buy Nothing Day "Buy Nothing Day" is usually on the fourth Friday in November. On this day, many people don't buy anything. "Buy nothing" means "make no rubbish". When you make less rubbish, you can make a cleaner earth. | |||
| | Meatout Day "Meatout Day" is on March 20th. Many people around the world don't eat any meat for one day. They think diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emission(排放) and other emissions and other environmental problems. Also, join this day, you'll get healthier. |
My First Marathon (马拉松)
A month before my first marathon, one of my knees was hurt and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I decided to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class, the teacher asked us to run laps and then hit a ball. I didn't do either well. He later told me that I was "not athletic(运动的)".
The idea that I was "not athletic" stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a fight against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the fight against my own body and mind.
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating (流汗) all over, but ready to face the challenge.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces became undone. So I stopped to tie them again. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: "GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!"
By mile 17, I became out of breath and my knee hurt badly. Though feeling very painful, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was quite hungry and thirsty!
As I drew closer to mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my cost on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in the first place had.
Decide to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(标签), I can now call myself a "marathon winner".
a. My wife cheered for me.
b. I hurt my knee and stopped training.
c. I stopped to tie my shoe laces.
d. I went on running though my knee hurt badly.
According to a University of Michigan study, kids spent two fewer hours each week on outdoor activities in the early 2000s than kids did in the early 1980s. Indoor activities without moving are more popular. Most people in the study spend most of their free time watching TV (85%) or playing computer games(81%). "This causes over-weight, greater stress and more physical and emotional(情绪的) illnesses," says Richard Louv, a nature writer.
In fact, outdoor activities such as taking a friend along, kicking around a ball and taking photos can help. It is important for kids to play outside.
Firstly, outdoor activities open up your senses. You will feel better after spending time outside. "Surfing, camping and fishing help bring all of your senses to life," says Betsy Keller, a professor at Ithaca College in New York. "Smell, sight ... they're all active when you're outside." With your senses get stronger, you'll feel free and more creative.
Playing outside helps your body. When playing outside, you can be on hills, beaches or lakes instead of a flat floor. Different areas offer special fun and challenge your strength and balance(平衡). It also helps keep your body's clock on track so that you sleep better at night and feel less sleepy during the day.
Outdoor play also makes your mind relax. Too much time indoors, such as watching TV or activities in non-green areas, may make it hard for kids to focus their attention and easy to feel stressed out. But staying in the nature helps them concentrate(全神贯注) and lowers their stress levels.
Besides, spending time outdoors brings you closer to the environment. Hearing the leaves crackle underfoot, breathing in fresh air, walking through the woods in search of cool birds remind you of the beauty of the nature. You needn't go to the countryside. ▲ . It can be your own backyard or that block of trees at the end of the street.
So the next time you sit down to spend time with a TV, consider treating yourself to a little outdoor play instead.
Their cheerful song brightens a winter's day. But robins(知更鸟) are in danger of killing themselves by singing too much. They are singing all night—as well as during the day, British-based researchers say.
David Dominoni, of Glasgow University, said that light from street lights, takeaway signs and homes is influencing the birds' biological(生物的) clocks, making them keep awake when they should be asleep.
Dr. Dominoni put cameras inside the birds' house to record sleeping patterns. He found that being short of sleep could put the birds' health at risk. His study shows that when robins are exposed to(暴露于) light at night in the lab, they become active at the wrong time of day. And the more birds are exposed to light, the more active they are at night.
He said, "A couple of studies showed robins are singing more songs at night. And during the day, they are still singing. And singing takes energy."
And it is not just robins that are being kept awake by man-made light. Some blackbirds and seagulls are also being more nocturnal. Dr. Dominion said, "In Glasgow where I live, seabirds are a serious problem. People often come to me saying, 'You are the bird expert. Can you help us kill these seabirds?'. During the breeding(繁殖) season, between April and June, they are very active at night and very noisy and people can't sleep."
Although Dr. Dominoni has only studied light pollution, other researches show that robins living in noisy cities have started to sing at night to make themselves heard over loud noise.
However, some birds grow actively in noisy environments. A study from California Polytechnic University found more hummingbirds in areas with heavy industry. It is thought that the number of them increases because their natural enemies fly to quieter areas.
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they, manage, through, neither, nine |
Nobody surprised with mobile payment? China is by far the most successful country on mobile payment. It is (广泛地) used in Chinese people's daily life. But for foreigners who don't know this method, it may (似乎) strange.
At least, this was the true case for Lim, Manpower Minister of Singapore. He (访问) China in 2017. When he was waiting in line to buy chestnuts at a street store in Shanghai, he saw other (顾客) show their phones and take the chestnuts (没有) giving any cash. Soon, he realized that they were using WeChat Pay. It was his first experience with mobile payment. He was really surprised. After he came back, Lim pointed out that Singapore falls (在后面) in mobile payment.
And while mobile payment is now a (正常的) part of life in China, it's also becoming popular in other nations. They really (欣赏) this paying method. It was reported that mobile payments in the United States rose by 29 % in 2016. And they were (几乎) fifty times more than those last year. This may be mainly because western mobile payment services require stores to buy expensive tools.
However, there's no (疑惑，疑问) that mobile payment will become more and more popular all over the world.
A few days ago, I ran into a man as he passed by. I said sorry to man and he said "Excuse me", too. We were both very polite. We didn't go on our way we said goodbye.
Later as I was cooking the meal in the kitchen, my daughter Betty walked up to me. When I turned around, I almost knocked her down. "Get out of the way!" I shouted (angry). She ran away, crying. That night, while I (lie) in bed, my husband said to me, "You were so rude to Betty. Go and look around on the kitchen floor. The flowers (buy) by Betty for you."
While meeting with (stranger), I was polite to them; but with my kids, I was always not patient. I began to feel sorry.
So I went to Betty's room. She was ready (sleep). "My dear," I said, "Are these flowers you picked for me?" She smiled, "Yes, I knew you'd like them." I said, "I am so sorry." And she whispered(悄声说)," Mom, that's okay. I still love you anyway." I kissed (she) and said, "I love you too and I do love the flowers."
That day, Betty gave me a lesson on how to get along each other in the family. I spent much time on work before and didn't realize how important family life was. I decided to do (good) than before.
The Zika virus(塞卡病毒) is mainly spread by mosquito bites. About 1 in 5 infected people will become ill. That means if 500 people get the virus, about people will probably get sick. The symptoms include , rash, joint pain and red eyes. It will last for several days, up to days. Once you have the illness, there is no treatment or vaccine. But thankfully the illness is not very serious and it won't cause much . The best and simplest to slow the spread of the virus is to wear long shirts or and avoid from being bitten by mosquitoes.
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