A Student Profile
Name: Kristin Lacey
Hometown: Merced, California, USA
School & College: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) at MIT
Major: English literature
Favorite book: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Favorite class: British Literature with Professor Anna Henchman
Favorite place to study on campus: Athan's in Washington Square or Cafenation in Brighton Center
Favorite restaurant in Boston: Sweet Checks
Extra-curricular (课外的) activities: President of the Graduate Student Association; leading the Graduate Student Fiction (小说) Group; Volunteering at Gifford Homeless Cat Center in Brighton.
Study experience: I studied for four years and earned my undergraduate degree in English in 2020 at California State University, Fresno. I was the first in my family to attend graduate school and college.
When I graduate, I hope to teach literature at a local college and help the other first-generation college students to get higher education. It's important to give a helping hand to those who need it.
Advice to other first-generation college students:
I know that being first-generation graduate means always pushing against your background and stepping out of your comfort zone. And it is important to take as many lectures as possible and be open-minded to good advice from your teachers, while know the line between helpful and bad recommendations. Be outgoing with your friends and build your support network by asking for help when you need it and giving help in return.
Mark Smith and Jarryd Haines are good friends. The two boys from Sydney have known each other for most of their lives. Both of them enjoy playing Australian football.
A few years ago, when Mark was nine, he developed brain cancer. The disease robbed the boy of his sight, part of his hearing and his ability to play his favorite sport. However, throughout the years, Jarryd remained his closest friend. They still share their love of Australian football. And they still enjoy talking about the Sydney Swans, their favorite team.
Two weeks ago, I took my seat at Sydney Cricket Ground to watch the Swans. The old stadium was crowded with fans. Shortly into the second quarter, I heard some great commentary from a boy. Play by play, Jarryd was bringing the game to life. I turned and saw him. Mark was sitting next to him.
Although he cannot see anymore, Mark still loves the Swans very much. Usually, he goes to the stadium and listens to the commentary on the radio. However, in the second quarter of that match, the radio system broke down. That was when his friend Jarryd stepped in.
I hardly looked at the Swans and Buddy, the team's star player. Instead, I was focusing on Jarryd and Mark. "What's happening now, mate?" Mark asked. "Don't worry. Mark," Jarryd replied. "Okay. Buddy's got it. Will he go for it? He's going for it! It's his tenth goal! Buddy is on fire!" Mark listened carefully. He was lost in the magic of Australian football brought to life by his friend.
Sports can be competitive. However, they can also allow us to share wonderful moments with others, may they be close friends or perfect strangers. Here, Jarryd and Mark have moved me, and perhaps some other spectators, with the best commentary.
In February, before the outbreak of Covid-19, I sold my old-style car. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal: I live in London within walking distance of three subway stations and countless bus stops. I own a bike；there are taxis and supermarket delivery services, and I joined a car-share program, all of which can save me a big sum of money to fund my future green transport.
Then the lockdown (封锁) happened and being car-free suddenly felt like a big deal. I couldn't get a supermarket delivery. I couldn't take my broken garden chairs to the recycling center. And a few days into lockdown, somebody stole my bike!
When the lockdown stopped, it just got worse. I was eager to go to the countryside or beach, but taking public transport or a taxi felt like too much of a risk. The car-share program turned out to be unbelievably difficult to deal with—every area has its own rules about where you can and can't park, and taking a car-share vehicle beyond the city is impossible. And renting a car is clearly expensive and time-consuming.
So last month I did a U-turn. I felt guilty but also a sense of satisfaction: I had tried, but the pandemic (疫情) beat me. Most of all, I got freedom, sitting behind the wheel (方向盘) and getting to wherever I want. Don't get me wrong. I still expect to travel without creating greenhouse gases and pollution. But life in a pandemic has drawn attention to some of the disadvantages of public transport, such as time and money wasted on the road to offices and the risk of Covid-19. It has also stressed our need to review our relationship with the environment. Problems with public transport have meant that the ownership and use of a car has become quite a useful thing.
The British have long been known for their love of tea, but people in London also drink a lot of coffee. In fact, the average Londoner reportedly drinks 2.3 cups of coffee every day.
And now, waste coffee grounds (咖啡渣) will be used to help fuel part of the city's transportation system.
A technology company announced on Monday that some buses will be using a biofuel (生物燃料) that contains coffee oil.
The company, bio-bean, and its partner, Argent Energy, say they have made enough coffee oil to power one of London's famous double-decker buses for a year.
The announcement made bio-bean a trending story on social media.
The government agency Transport for London has been turning to biofuels to cut production of carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are the gas produced by the burning of carbon, and the gas is released into the atmosphere.
London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, said last month that his city has a "health crisis... caused directly by poor-quality air". The government has taken steps to discourage people from driving cars that do not meet European Union emissions requirements.
Bio-bean said Londoners produce over 200,000 tons of waste coffee grounds a year. The company said it collects waste grounds from chain coffee shops and factories. The grounds are dried and processed to remove coffee oil.
"It's a great example of what can be done when we start to reimagine waste as an untapped resource," said one of bio-bean founders Arthur Kay. The coffee fuel technology has been receiving support from the oil company Royal Dutch Shell plc.
Most of us haven't been taught how to apologize. Sometimes our efforts tend to be hurtful and can make people feel even worse. When the apology is absent or it's a bad apology, it puts a crack in the very foundation of a relationship and can even end it. And that's why it is important to get it right. A good and responsible apology can meet the moment and improve our relationships.
Less is more
Keep your apology short and avoid the drama. If you've forgotten to return your friend's bike, you don't have to overdo it as if you've run over her kitten. , —it affects the flow of the conversation and shifts(转移)the focus away from the person who needs to be paid attention to. You've made the apology all about you.
No ifs Or buts
When you're apologizing for something, it's essential to show true sadness and regret. "But" almost always means a criticism, or an excuse. It doesn't matter whether what you say after the "but" is true. The "but" makes your apology false.
If you always listen for what you don't agree with in order to defend yourself and correct the facts, it will do harm to both sides. Instead, you should keep an open mind and listen with an aim to understand the other person.
An apology isn't the only chance you ever get to address the existing issue. The apology is also the chance to establish the ground for futures communication.
When done with attention and care, an apology can be a channel for greater understanding and deeper connection.
A. Be real
B. Drop your defenses
C. Over-apologizing is annoying
D. Here are some tips to offer an apology
E. A good apology is a beginning, not an end
F. A sincere apology does not include ifs or buts
G. It's not "I'm sorry" that fixes the problem, but your deeds
"I never will be a runner." I spoke those words at any mention of this 1. I didn't discriminate (歧视) against running, though. I 2 all physical activity.
When my co-workers invited me to join them in a 5K run and I 3 the event was The Color Run, I 4. Once, after seeing a picture of a runner covered in colored powder (粉末), I'd said, "If I ever 5 a run, it would be a Color Run."
I signed up and trained for eight weeks. I felt intimidated (胆怯) by my co-workers, who were experienced runners. I worried I would 6 myself in front of them.
However, the day of the race, I not only kept up but I 7 the group. I had become a 8.
Two months after the race, a friend invited me to run a half marathon. It seemed 9, but I signed up and started training.
As the event date came closer, I got 10. Thoughts troubled me. I can't do it. I'm not ready. Two days before the race, I came close to 11. But I'd paid the fee for this race and thought that if I had to walk I would.
The first few miles passed easily. At mile 5, I felt 12. At mile 11, my friend needed to 13. I walked with her but didn't need to. I'd 14 more than I thought possible.
Now having run three half marathons and a full marathon, I know I can do things that seem 15.
—It was in the hotel ______ he stayed.
—I'm not sure. She _________ be in the kitchen.
If you're looking for a way (deal) with stress, consider tai chi.
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful (优雅的) form of exercise. It involves a series of movements (perform) in a slow, focused manner and accompanied (伴随) by deep breathing.
There are different (type) of tai chi. Each style may have various tai chi rules and methods. Some styles may focus health maintenance (维持), while others pay attention to the martial arts aspect of tai chi.
Tai chi is low-impact and puts the least stress on joints, (make) it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is a low-impact exercise, it may be (especial) suitable if you're an older adult otherwise may not exercise.
You may also find tai chi attractive because it is inexpensive and requires no special equipment. You can do tai chi anywhere, including indoors or outside. And makes tai chi more interesting is that you can do it in a group class.
Although tai chi is generally safe and really (help), people with joint problems or back pain should ask their health care provider for help before trying tai chi. Other kinds of exercises that avoid some challenging postures (姿势) may (recommend).
要点如下：
1. 历史悠久。
2. 中国人独有的传统节日。
3. 家庭团圆。
4. 共进晚餐。
5. 吃月饼。
6. 赏月。
要求：
1. 词数100左右。
2. 可适当添加细节。
3. 开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Mike,
I'm glad to know that you are coming to China with your parents and spend the Mid-Autumn Day here
