浙江省杭州市十三中教育集团2021-2022学年九年级上学期...

When I was in the middle school, I hardly raised my hands to answer questions in class. And I found lots of my classmates were just like me. When the teacher asked a question, I always lowered my head because I was afraid that the teacher saw me.

One day, in a foreign language class, Mr. Black gave us a lesson. He wanted us to be active in class, so he asked us some questions, but no one answered. "At the beginning of the class, let me tell you a story." He said.

"When I came to the United States to study, the university often invited famous people to make speeches. Before the beginning of every speech, I found an interesting thing. The students around me always took a cardboard folded in half, wrote their names in bold(粗体) with the most eye-catching color, and then placed the cardboard on the seat. So when the speaker needed the answers from the students, he could see and call a listener's name directly."

"I couldn't understand that. My classmates told me the speakers were all top people who meant chances. When your answer was to their surprise, it meant they might give you more chances. In fact, I really saw a few students got great chances because of that."

After listening to the story, I understood that the chance will not find you itself. You must show yourself all the time so that you can find a chance and then catch it.

By the Youth

Many cultures have stories of talking trees that give advice as well as warnings to people. Alexander the Great and Marco Polo were said to have visited such a tree in India. New research has found something amazing: it seems that plants can communicate after all.

It has been known for some time that plants use chemicals(化学物质) to communicate with each other. This happens when a plant gets attacked by insects. The plant gives out chemicals from the leaves that are being eaten. This is like a warning, or a call for help. When another plant gets the chemicals, it starts to give out its own, different chemicals. Scientists hope to learn more about this plant warning system, so that we can use it to grow more crops.

More surprisingly, plants also use sound to communicate. People can't hear these sounds, but plants are making them. Some plants make noises with their roots. Some trees make clicking noises when there is not enough water.

Most surprisingly of all, plants have an amazing system of communication that can link nearly every plant in a forest. Scientists call this system the "wood wide web", which is linked underground by fungi(菌类). It links the roots of different plants to each other. It is in some ways similar to the Internet we use. Using the wood wide web, plants can share information and even food with each other. However, it may lead to bad effects. Plants may use it to steal food from each other, or spread chemicals to attack other plants.

Scientists are learning more every day about the secret ways in which plants talk to each other. Who knows? Maybe one day we will know enough about plant communication to be able to "talk" with them ourselves.

①Shyness can be an unhappy feeling. But the good news is that you're not alone. Scientists say that more than 40 percent of teenagers and adults consider themselves shy.

②What makes people shy? Scientists say such things as genes(基因), life experiences, and environment can influence whether a person is shy. For example, in some families, everybody seems to be shy.

③What might happen if you are shy? Well, being shy may cause you to avoid or miss opportunities you would enjoy.

④How do people overcome shyness? This is what Gilbert tells us. "When I started off trying to get over being shy, I decided to do little steps at a time, including practicing smiling and saying hi to people. And it worked for me." For most people, overcoming shyness takes time and practice. Here are some tips given by scientists.

⑤Think of what to talk about before you're in a social situation. For example, if you know your classmates are interested in an upcoming event, learn about it so you can join in the conversations.

⑥Let people know you're shy. Instead of letting people guess, tell them the truth. Explain that you're shy and feel nervous but enjoy talking to people.

⑦Make things easy for the other person. Remember, you're not the only shy person around. Doing what you think might help others feel good, for example, say hello or smile.

Most of us have made an exercise plan, but only a few can follow it. WebMD(an American website) has listed the following tips for making exercise a habit in your life.

Remember, there's no rule that says you have to go to a sports centre or buy equipment like swimming suits. Many types of activities, such as push-up(俯卧撑), can be done whenever it is rainy or snowy. Just choose the activities according to your preference.

Don't go home first. Few people are so motivated(有动力的) that they will go out again and exercise after they go home and change clothes.

Tiredness is not an excuse. While exercising, you breathe deeply and your body makes better use of the oxygen exchange. Then, you will feel energetic. So, don't let your tiredness stop you from exercising your body.

You'll feel greater when your clothes fit better, you can lift heavier things or take exercise longer. There's something good too, like getting a good night's sleep or thinking more clearly.

Not everyone can start out with 10,000 steps a day. Use a pedometer(an equipment that tells your how far your have walked), and find out your daily steps. And then, try your best to walk 300 extra steps each day. Finally, you can reach 10,000 or even more steps a day.

Jason was a pottery lover and he was very interested in his grandmother's studio. So Jason was1when his grandmother Jessica invited him into her pottery studio and told him she would teach him how to make pottery.2, Jessica did not give all her grandchildren such a(n)3. Jason looked forward to sinking his hand into some cold clay and placing his bowl in the heated kiln(窑)4 it was as hard as a stone.

"Be 5with that," Jessica said to Jason when one of the bowls was 6by him. The boy carefully put the bowl back on the shelf and stuck his 7inside his pockets. He was afraid to get started on the lesson as he thought maybe he wouldn't complete 8. And he didn't want to lose that chance by 9any of her finished pieces of pottery.

Five hours later, Jason was disappointed and tired. His black work that looked more like a rock than a bowl,10 on the first try. Then he made another try but it was 11any better. However, he had at least known how to make a smooth opening in the center of the clay.

Meanwhile, Jessica was keeping 12. She quickly made a wide, shallow bowl and then a deep, narrow bowl and put them on the worktable. Her practiced hands 13one then another bowl.

"I'll never get 14!" Jason said, watching her work.

Jessica looked at her grandson and said. "Don't worry. You'll get it." she encouraged him.

"The only way you won't improve is if you 15."

Have you ever heard of friendships among animals? At a zoo in France, unusual friendship developed between a cat and a bear.

No one (know) how the friendship first began. One day, some (worker) in the zoo noticed a black cat was in the bear's cage(笼子), and the two animals were playing together peacefully. They were surprised well the small cat seemed to get along with the large bear. The bear keeper allowed the cat to stay the bear. Later the pair and their unusual friendship became a hot topic at the zoo.

After several years, a new cage (build) for the bear. However, the cat was still in the same cage, so it walked around (angry) and cried to be with the bear. The bear keeper finally took pity on the cat and let it stay with the bear. The cat and the bear got (close) than before. They often sat together and shared meals in the sun.

Sometimes it may be natural for animals to have (they) own ideas about who would make a good friend. Humans usually expect animals to have relationships with others of the same kind, it may surprise them.

—Sure. That's /ˈɡʌvənmənt/.

1）词数80词左右；

2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Matt,