William Shakespeare was a famous English writer. He mostly wrote plays and special poems. Those poems are1 sonnets(十四行诗), and they have a special pattern. Also, they aren't easy to2 .
That didn't stop scientists, though. One team just trained a computer to write poems3 Shakespeare's. They entered(输入)4 3,000 sonnets into their machine. Those5 the 154 sonnets that Shakespeare created. After that, they used a special6 . It gave the computer the rules for writing a sonnet and made sure the computer7 them.
Using AI(人工智能), the computer is able to write sonnets. They are so8 that common people can't tell whether a person or a machine wrote them. That doesn't9 they are perfect, though.
The computer follows the rules of sonnet writing closely, 10 it makes mistakes in word use or grammar. Those mistakes made the poetry experts11 that the sonnets were written by a machine. The experts also12 that the computer's work had no feeling.
The experts'13 didn't really hurt the scientists. Instead, they work harder to14 their bright machine "student". Their AI "student" is sure to keep on15 . It might even be more famous than Shakespeare one day.
My friend Michelle is blind, but you'd never know it. She makes such good use of her other senses, including her "sixth sense", that she rarely gives the impression that she's1anything. Michelle looks after her children pretty much like the rest of us 2 that she doesn't add too much pressure on them. She knows when to clean the house, and she moves around 3 fast that the strangers often don't realize she's blind.
I realized this the first time after my six-year-old daughter, Kayla, went to play there. When Kayla came home, she was very 4 about her day. She told me they had baked cookies, played games and did art projects. But she was especially excited about 5 finger-painting project.
"Mom, guess what？"said Kayla, all smiles. "I learned how to 6 colors today! For example, blue and red make purple, and yellow and blue make green! And Michelle worked with us. "To my great 7, my child had learned about color from a blind friend! Then Kayla continued, "Michelle told me my 8 showed joy, pride and a sense of success. She really 9 what I was doing!" Kayla said she had never known how interesting the finger- paints are 10 Michelle showed her how to paint without looking at her paper.
I realized Kayla didn't know that Michelle was blind. It had just never 11 in conversation. When I told my daughter that Michelle was blind, she was quiet for a moment. At first, she didn't believe me. "But Mommy, Michelle knew exactly 12 was in my picture!" Kayla insisted. And I knew my child was 13 because Michelle had listened to Kayla describe her art work. Michelle had also heard Kayla's 14 in her work excitedly.
We were silent for a minute. Then Kayla said slowly, "You know, Mommy, Michelle really did 'see' my picture. She just used my15."
“Mom! I found one! I found a rock!”
I heard those1 again and again last summer as I sat by the window, which faces a park in the small town where I live.
The Kindness Rocks Project, which was2 a few years ago by a mom in Massachusetts, has3around the world. Kids, families, and people of all ages are taking part in painting rocks,4rocks, and finding painted rocks all over the place. Some post5 of the rocks on social media(媒体), and others6 move the rocks for someone else to find. Some take the7 home and then replace them with new ones that they8 and hid.
Nine-year-old twins Harry and Hannah DeVrieze have9 hundreds of rocks with their parents. Most evenings, the family and their small dog walk around with a wagon (小推车) full of rocks that they hide as they10.
“It's a fun family11,” Hannah says.
“We will do it in the winter too,” Hannah says.
Ben Burinsky, age nine, and his brother, Luke, age seven, were12 relatives when they found their first painted rock in a park. They were so13 that they went home and painted their own rocks, then hid them for others to find.
“My boys loved finding the rock in the park, especially since it was a superhero,” their mother, Judy Burinsky, says. “I love how something so14 can bring a smile to my children's faces.15, they learn the value of giving back to others.”
"Mom, I don't have anybody to play with. I really need a pet!" "Jamie, we've been through this1! Our apartment is too small. "Jamie's mother 2 up some socks from the floor and looked up at 3 son." And what have you got in that paper 4?" "Oh! Nothing." Jamie ran out of the house and down the street.
The abandoned (废弃的) buildings there were his playground. The buildings were near the 5. Sometimes water flooded in. Once he'd found a fish there, but it was 6. He'd never found7alive--until he found Sharon.
"Sharon, I'm here!" Jamie called. He held up the paper bag. "I brought a8, too. I'm going to light it, so I can 9 you better." Jamie 10the candle. The creature moved into the light. It was about Jamie size. Its head and body were covered 11 dark green scales (鳞片). Jamie took hold of the creature's finlike (鳍状的) arm. A thick green slime (粘液) covered his hand. "I'm trying to get Mom to let me bring you home." Jamie watched the creature's face. The creature didn't answer. It just looked at Jamie. Its mouth opened and something white shone. "I hope you're12, anyway, I brought you a chicken sandwich." The creature looked down at the sandwich, but it made 13 move to eat it. "I wish I could stay, 14 I have to go. I'll come back tomorrow after school." Jamie turned to go. The creature watched him. When Jamie had disappeared up the stairs, the creature15 its mouth. A human bone, clean of all flesh (肉), dropped to the floor. The creature moved back into its corner.
Jack hurt his leg seriously while playing ball games. Then he must1 in bed for some time. One evening before New Year's Day, the Brown family heard a knock on the door. Mrs. Brown opened the door and saw a big yellow Jack-o-lantern! On the top of it was a 2 to Jack.
Dear Jack,
Have a good time3 New Year's Day! From a friend
After Mrs. Brown gave the Jack-o-lantern to Jack, Jack was lost in thought. Mr. Brown asked Jack 4 or not he knew who sent it. Jack replied, “Dad, I'm sure this is 5Billy. I wish I could ask him to have New Year's dinner with us. He must feel 6 since he has no father or mother.” Mr. and Mrs. Brown7 . Jack soon made a phone call to invite Billy home.
On New Year's Day, Billy8 quite early. The two boys played and talked happily the whole day. In the evening, while they were having dinner, Billy said,“ See what I've got!” He held up something in his hand9 Jack could see it.
Jack shouted10"Oh, you got the wishbone (如愿骨)!Let's pull(扯) it now.”Billy took hold one end of the wishbone, and Jack took hold of11. They each thought for aminute. "I know what I'm going to wish,” cried Jack. Billy smiled and said, “Me too.” Then, 12pulled and Jack got the longer end.
“Now you can make a wish,” Billy said.“What did you wish?”
“I wished that my13would get well soon. What about you, Billy?” Billy replied, "I wished that you would get your14.”
Hearing this, Mrs. Brown smiled, saying, “Sounds like that you will15achieve your dreams. Jack will be well soon.”
"I've got to stop doing this! "You tell 1. You try. You fail. You try again. You fail again. "I give up!" You finally say, "I never2 this habit!"
Bad habits. We all have them, and it is hard for us to give them up. As the saying 3, "Old habits die hard." But they can die. Don't let your bad habits control you. Learn to control them! You will feel much4.
Put it writing. First, you should know the habit you want to change. Then write down your5.For example, "I want to stop oversleeping." Make sure your goal is realistic. And work6only one habit at a time.
Make a plan. Don't think you can quit cold turkey(stop doing something at once). For example, you could decide to eat less sugar each week than you did the week7. Write down your plan. Then put it8you can see it every day.
Make your bad habit hard to do. If your bad habit is oversleeping, put your alarm clock across the room. Then you'll need to get9 to turn it off.
Reward yourself. Set small goals and reward yourself for10 them! For example, buy yourself a new book each week when you meet your TV-avoiding (keeping TV away from)goal.
Replace your habit. Often, the best way to break a habit is to take the place of it with11 one. Do you spend too much money12with your friends? Invite your friends to take a walk instead.
Forgive yourself. Breaking habits is13. If you can't stop your bad habits, don't get angry with yourself. Think about why you gave in. Then try again. Studies show that making14 breaking a habit usually takes three or six weeks. So hang in there. You can break those habits. Where there's a will, there's a 15.
"Aly, I know you tookthe money. "
"I didn't take themoney, Grandma.1 youlove me, you should believe me. "
Her anger came from a deepplace.2 herwould only cause her anger to rise. So I tried a different way.
"I love you, Aly.I don't understand3 youtook my money, but I want you to know you don't have to4 from me. When you love someone, you share whatyou have. You can keep the money you took, and I will also give you5 else you want. What else do you need?"
She shouted at me, "Ididn't take your money! I don't want your things!"
I went to the kitchen andpicked up my6 cup."I love this cup best. " I put it on the table in front of her."You can have it. " She looked surprised.
Then I started gathering other things and placing them before her. "Take this ring. Take this scarf. Take this…"
She said, "No, Grandma,no. Stop it!" But I7 puttingothers on the table. As the things grew, the fire left her eyes, her8 dropped, and then her thin shoulders(肩膀) began to shake with crying. Only then did I stop and put my arms9 her. "I love you, Aly. Just ask me for whatyou want but no stealing. "
She didn't admit guilt(认错), but the stolen money10. Aly didn't change11,but she did change. Aly is a high school student now, and an almost straight A student.She has learned to12 people'sfeelings. She is smart and funny sometimes. I am so proud of the wonderful youngwoman she has become.
Now I can leave any moneylying around. I know13 thatshe will not take it. She has not stolen from me since that14 time. Sometimes,15 is the best punishment you can give a child.
Once I heard a humorist (谐星) say, "I go to my psychiatrist (精神病医生) and pay him $75 an hour. But all he does is asking me the same question which my father used to ask me all the time —1do you think you are?'"
That's not a bad question, actually. I spent the first 20 or 30 years of my life 2who I really was. I thought I would never know what to study in school, and I wasn't sure I would work out what kind of person I might be happy to spend my life 3. Sometimes I thought I had known myself quite well, but quickly I 4my idea. And through the years, I changed my thoughts again and again. It seemed that I would never be able to 5the question "Who do you think you are?"
I like Benjamin Kubelski's story. In 1902, his father gave him a 6for his eighth birthday. It cost $50. That was a great deal of money in those days, 7for a Russian family that had recently moved to the US. Benjamin 8well and could play for some concerts. At the age of 18, he teamed up with a pianist as a musical band in Vaudeville. 9later he felt that the violin couldn't meet his wish. Then one night on the concert, Benjamin suddenly wanted to tell the audience a(n) 10event that happened during the day. He later said that when the audience 11, he felt so great. "That laughter ended my days as a(n) 12," he said. And it began his life as the comedian (喜剧演员) Jack Benny.
He found who he was and 13was ready. He followed his heart and 14as a famous comedian. Perhaps, you and I still haven't known ourselves surely. But listen to your heart. Listen to that small 15 and make up your mind to follow its advice. I don't know where you will end up, but it will be all right.
When we think of Christmas, we probably think of gifts, Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But the true meaning of Christmas 1 behind all these things: the importance of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this.
A Christmas Carol is a famous short novel written by British writer Charles Dickens (1812-1870). It is about an old man 2 Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. He only thinks about himself and is 3 to share things with others. He doesn't treat others nicely. He just cares about whether he can make more 4 and he hates Christmas. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge sees the ghost of Jacob Marley, his dead business partner. Marley used to be just like Scrooge, so he was punished after he died. He 5 Scrooge to change his ways if he doesn't want to end up like him. He also tells Scrooge to expect 6 ghosts (幽灵) to visit him.
That 7, the ghosts visit Scrooge. First, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back to his childhood and reminds(提醒) him of his happy days 8 a child. Then the second ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes him to see 9 others are spending Christmas this year. Everyone is happy, even poor people. The last one, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, takes him to the 10. Scrooge sees that he is dead, but nobody cares. He is so 11 that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is only the next morning — Christmas Day!
Scrooge decides to change his life and 12 to be a kind person. He 13 celebrates Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats 14 with kindness and warmth, spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true 15 of Christmas!
One's education starts from family,especially from his or her mother. Here is a story that happened1 I was very young.
One Saturday morning, I was watching TV inthe living room with my two brothers. My mum2 several apples of different colors and sizes.She put all the apples on the table, then3 me and my younger brothers, "Which do youlike?"4 my younger brothers and I wanted the biggestone. Before I5 say"The biggest one", one of my brothers stood up and said what I wantedto say.
My mum6 thebiggest apple and said to us, "It is good to get the biggest apple. Manypeople want the best thing, but7 really get it. Now let's start a8. Look at the lawn (草坪) in front of our9. I'll divide it into three parts. Each ofyou must finish pruning10 own part. The best and quickest one will be11 thebiggest apple." I won the apple finally.
Since then, I have learned to try my bestto succeed whenever I get a chance. I work12 toget what I want. That was what my mother advised me to do. I feel very thankfulto my mum because she taught me a very basic but the most13 lesson. It is quite fair that we can get whatwe want14 competing. My mother kept teaching us in thisway and we followed her15 all the time.
I do believe that mother is the firstteacher of children, who can teach them to be a No.1 pursuing person.
