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a wide range of, chat with, from time to time, according to, in person, prepare oneself for, be interested in, get ahead, do one's best, be addicted to |
My name is Marty Fielding. I have a muscle disease which makes me unable (run) as quickly as others. (unfortunate), the doctors don't know how (make) me better, but I have learned (adapt) to my disability. In primary school some children would laugh when I got out of breath after (run) a short way. But at high school my life is much (easy) because my fellow students have accepted me. My ambition is (work) for a company that develops computer software when I grow up. I have a busy life and have no time (sit) around feeling sorry for myself. I have to work hard (live) a normal life but it has been worth it. I think everyone should not make fun of the disabled. Instead, people should give them encouragement (live) as rich a life as normal people do.
Have you ever run into a careless cell phone user on the street? Perhaps they were busy talking, texting or checking updates on WeChat without looking at what was going on around them. As the number of this new "species" of human has kept rising, they have been given a new name—phubbers (低头族).
Recently, a cartoon created by students from China Central Academy of Fine Arts put this group of people under the spotlight (聚光灯). In the short film, phubbers with various social identities bury themselves in their phones. A doctor plays with his cell phone while letting his patient die, a pretty woman takes selfie (自拍) in front of a car accident site, and a father loses his child without knowing about it while using his mobile phone. A chain of similar events eventually leads to the destruction of the world.
Although the ending sounds overstated, the damage phubbing can bring is real.
Your health is the first to bear the effect and result of it. "Constantly bending your head to check your cell phone could damage your neck，" Guangming Daily quoted doctors as saying. "The neck is like a rope that breaks after longterm stretching." Also, staring at cell phones for long periods of time will damage your eyesight gradually, according to the report.
But that's not all. Being a phubber could also damage your social skills and drive you away from your friends and family. At reunions with family or friends, many people tend to stare at their cell phones while others are chatting happily with each other, and this creates a strange atmosphere, Qilu Evening News reported.
It can also cost you your life. There have been lots of reports on phubbers who fell to their death, suffered accidents, and were robbed of their cell phones in broad daylight.
When high school student Katie Shipley was born with a serious brain disease, doctors said she wouldn't live to go to school.
Now, Katie is not only about to graduate from Southridge High School in Oregon, but she was also named the school's prom (高中生正式舞会) queen.
Knowing Katie's wishes for the school's prom queen, her friend Courtney Travis began reaching out to find her the prom king she needed to make her a queen. Courtney found Michael Parks, who also thought it was a great idea.
"I really got to know Shipley," said Michael. "When you take time to get to know other people, it really gives you a great chance to live for more than yourself."
Courtney took a picture of the couple together and put it on her Twitter, explaining their plans for the prom. "It became very popular in the school," she said.
Their efforts paid off, and Katie was very excited to be named the school's prom queen.
On the day of the prom, Katie wore a very beautiful dress. Her grandmother, Joan Fraley, who also went to the prom, said the night would stay with her always.
"I was standing there and the children were shouting her name," she said. "They called her the new prom queen—I started crying. I'm greatly thankful to the students of Southridge High School."
Katie repeated that feeling.
"I just want to say thank you to my friends for all they did for me. I love you all."
Todd Corsetti, principal (校长) of Southridge High School, said that seeing Katie as the prom queen and the energy and help of his students was one of his "proudest moments".
"I think teenagers have great hearts and are really looking to make the world a better place," said Todd. "As we finish our school year, it's a great legacy (遗产) to leave the other classes who come after them."
More students than ever before are taking a gap year (间隔年) before going to university. It used to be called the "year off" between school and university. The gapyear phenomenon originate (起源) with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.
This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS).
That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. "Students who take a wellplanned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible," he said.
But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship—young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. "New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to ￡15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods," he said.
After entering high school, you must wonder how to study well. Here are some good skills for you.
Go to class.
If you want to do well at school, going to class is the first step in studying well. If you miss classes, you will miss what the teacher thinks is important; as a result, you'll miss what is the most likely to end up on the test.
Take good notes.
Try not to write down everything. Write down unfamiliar terms. After class, review your notes as soon as possible. You can fill in details that you missed and review the material while it is still fresh in your mind.
If you are struggling in class, talk to your teacher. He or she may be able to give you more help or tutor you before or after class. Most teachers have little sympathy (同情) for students who just become worried about failing during the last few weeks of the grading period.
Take part in class discussions.
In order to learn more in class, it is helpful to take part in class discussions. Asking questions and having eye contact with your teachers and classmates can increase your participation and your focus during the class discussions. This helps you make your point clear in class.
Form study groups.
Make sure that everyone is familiar with the material because you do not want to spend time reteaching the material to people who do not understand it. Be careful! Sometimes group sessions can become chatting sessions.
A. If the material is difficult, you'd better read it before class.
B. Write down the main points.
C. Get students together who want to do well in class.
D. So if you want to study well, go to every class.
E. You should write down all the new terms.
F. Talk to your teacher if you need help.
G. Don't be late for your class.
Danger is not what we expect. But the (true) is that it often comes suddenly and unexpectedly. How can we get out of danger? There are many answers to this question. The key is we should face danger (brave).
What you must remember is that you must believe in (you). Just remember that it is you can defeat any danger. Tell yourself that you can turn into a superwoman or a superman when you are danger. This is why I am going to tell you the stories of Mrs. Weldon and Dr. Murray.
Mrs. Weldon reported that her baby was about (knock) down by a car when she was trying to save her baby. Mrs. Weldon (weigh) only forty kilograms. She looked as if she was a very weak lady often (dress) in skirts, but she said she pushed the car to save her baby. Dr. Murray, a zoologist, wrote that he, after some wolves ran, jumped nearly three meters high into the air to take hold of the (low) branch of a tree. Perhaps you are wondering if you can do such things as they did. You can also be lucky to escape (逃避) any injury!
