浙江省杭州市保俶塔实验学校2021学年九年级下学期英语3月独...

At 15, Stephen Sutton found out that he had cancer. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he decided to make the most of the day and live every second to the fullest. He ended up achieving more in a few years than many could in a lifetime.

Stephen made a long list, which had goals ranging from skydiving to hugging a huge animal. He didn't manage to check off all the items on his list, but he did achieve the first item, which was to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

At first, he set out to raise £10,000 for the Trust. However, the passion (热情) he put into his fund-raising efforts drew the attention of many famous people. In a matter of months, Stephen raised over £3 million.

Stephen had wanted to study hard and become a doctor so that he could make a contribution to the world. However, his doctors suggested that he take a year off from school. Instead of following their suggestion, Stephen continued with his studies, receiving excellent grades.

In December 2012, doctors told him that his disease was not able to be cured. That was when he made his list and decided to put his energy into raising money for young people with cancer. Stephen saw this as the best way to make his own life better. "I don't see the point in measuring (测量)life in terms of time anymore. I'd rather measure life in terms of making a difference, "he said.

On May 14, 2014, Stephen passed away in his sleep. He was 19. Tributes (哀悼) poured in from all over the world, calling him exactly what he was—a selfless and inspiring person. His experience teaches us the importance of appreciating life and helping others.

If you visit some villages in the English countryside, you might be lucky to see Morris dancing (莫里斯舞). People are not sure how old this kind of dancing is. Some think it started 2,000 years ago, but most agree that Morris dancing is probably about five centuries old.

Many agree that it celebrates traditional English farm life on holidays. Morris dancers wear traditional costumes. Usually, this is a white shirt, a bright jacket, a hat and small bells called "jingle bells". There are different styles of Morris dancing from different places around England.

In Cotswold Morris, the dancers usually carry white handkerchiefs (手绢) and sticks, which they hit as they dance. Each dance has six male dancers in Cotswold style, with a musician who plays a pipe(管乐器) or a violin.

Morris dancing styles from the north of England often use swords(剑) instead of sticks, and dancers can look a little like soldiers, which is different from southern styles. It is common in this style for men and women to dance together.

Border Morris comes from the west of England, near the border with Wales. Dancers in this style usually wear normal clothes decorated with pieces of colorful paper, and sometimes they put black paint on their faces.

Morris dancing is an old English tradition but it's facing a big crisis (危机). As the years go by, fewer and fewer young people join Morris dancing groups. Some worry that if nothing is done to change this, the tradition will die out.

Octopuses are kind of like aliens. They are amazing in many ways. They have three hearts. They can walk, they can swim, and they can drive themselves forward at high speeds. They can change color and copy what other animals do and they even know how to open screw-top jars(带螺旋盖的罐子) and how to use tools!

Octopuses are mollusks(软体动物). But unlike many other mollusks, they don't have a shell. This allows them to pass through tiny spaces. Although octopuses mainly eat small fish, they are able to attack and kill small sharks.

One thing that makes octopuses seem like aliens is their blue blood. It is much better at giving oxygen(氧气) in cold and low-oxygen conditions than our red blood. Octopuses lose energy easily. This may help explain their outstanding intelligence: They can't run after their prey (猎物) for a long time. They must use clever tricks.

As a hunter (捕猎者), an octopus brings its prey under control through the use of a powerful poison (毒素). The smaller the octopus, the stronger the poison. The ten-centimeter-long blue-ringed octopus is so poisonous that it can easily kill a grown man. Octopuses themselves can be delicious prey to many different animals in the ocean, but many of the times they are clever enough to know how to keep themselves safe. With their color-changing skin, octopuses can easily "hide" themselves or flash alarming colors to frighten their enemies away. If that doesn't work, the octopus will send out a cloud of dark ink and quickly run away.

The most amazing part of an octopus is its arms. They can turn in any direction. The arms are too complex(复杂的) to be controlled from a central brain. Instead, they work almost independently. An octopus gives instructions and believes that they will be carried out. This means that the animal doesn't have a very good idea of where its arms are. They can't work out the shape of something by feeling it, like we can.

Growing up is not always easy. When you face difficulties, what should you do? Just sit there and wait for help? Or believe in yourselves? Here are some suggestions which might be helpful to you.

Stress is your body's enemy. Life isn't just study, study, study. Though schoolwork is important, it's equally important to enjoy yourself, such as listening to music, doing sports, having a meal or going out for a travel.

Whether it is to get to the store or get home, or if it is climbing the stairs instead of taking the lift, remembering a "Because I can" idea is an easy way to add more activities to your life. Break the "I'm tired." or "It is too hard. " rule. Increasing your activity level will give you useful things.

You'll never meet any help if you sit there to wait for it to fall into your hand. Take steps at once to your dreams and greet each challenge! You will find you have more chances in even day life.

Some people are already lucky, and they just don't know it. Instead of giving all your attention to what you are short of look at how lucky you already are. You no doubt have some wonderful friends, family, and a roof over your head.

This is the most important one. Whatever happens in life, you family will still be your family. Whatever difficulties you have, you can always talk to them. They will be always there to help you.

Jasmine and Beth Thomson are sisters but they're very different. Pale-skinned Jasmine has got long, white hair and white eyebrows. 1, her sister, Beth, is dark-haired and her skin is also quite dark. When you're a person with albinism(白化病) like Jasmine, people sometimes aren't very nice. But Jasmine is always a  2  and confident person.

When they walk down the street, some people 3 Jasmine strangely, and one or two make comments, but Jasmine doesn't react 4. "People sometimes say bad things," she says. "Often this is because they are actually a bit afraid of 5even if they don't realize it."

But Jasmine always 6  positively. She wants to help other people with albinism to become stronger and more confident like her. She has 7 her own websites which gives advice to young people around the world who have albinism. "In this country people are 8 understanding about albinism, but it's different in some other parts of the world." Says Jasmine, "there are places where people will move away from you and 9 to talk to you."

"Lots of people visit my 10 every month and say that it helps them," Jasmine says proudly. "It's difficult not to be upset when people are hostile(敌对的) towards you 11 you're different, and it happens, but you can learn to be strong. The important thing is to be friendly and speak to people. Then they relax and  12 you normally. "

There are people 13 across the world who are unfriendly to others simply because of the 14 of their skin, their clothes or their appearance in general. It's sad 15 true. If it happens to you, remember to react in a positive way and that will make you stronger.

A British man in his late 20s, with the Chinese name of Ding Yirui, has found pleasure in recording his life in China through his phone. Living in Chengdu now, he (produce) 15 video clips (视频剪辑) about the city since 2020.

"In the videos, I show how Chinese people make (they) happy and celebrate festivals," said Ding.

Most Ding's videos are about Chinese culture. Last year, while hanging out with a Chinese friend at a local teahouse, Ding become (deep) interested in Chinese tea art and (shoot) a video about it.

"British people drink tea as well, that culture is greatly different from this one in China," he explained, expressing the hope that his videos could present the (difference) across different cultures to people from all over the world.

In his videos, Ding also said that it was difficult for him (get) used to life in Chengdu completely, speaking on topics such as stress at work and snacks that are not his cup of tea. "However, this does not influence my love for Chengdu," he explained.

At beginning of 2020, Ding's team shot short videos about Chengdu's fight against COVID-19, introducing China's anti-epidemic experience and efforts. The videos are very (use), because they taught people in South Africa how to protect themselves against COVID-19.

"I'd like to show Chengdu from different aspects (方面)," Ding shared, adding that he plans to show more about the delicious food and the food culture in the city.

—It's f.

—It's 5:30. She must be making dinner in the k now.

—Not y. Wait a moment please.

Dear sir/madam,