Stop wasting food!Activity update The activity to reduce food waste has just entered its third week，and we're already seeing some great results.We'd like every student and teacher to join in the activity at school and at home，so if you haven't started yet，read on and join in! |
Stop wasting food at school According to school lunch director Marge Kaplan，"the children are making a big effort to think in a sensible way about the food they put on their plates.We now have about 15%less waste and we think this percentage will grow as more children join in the activity." The school canteen now offers two sizes for all main meals：small and large.This week they'll replace single bread rolls with slices of bread.You can take as many slices as you want，but one at a time to save waste. |
Stop wasting food at home Every year，we waste about a third of our food.A lot of this waste is cereals，fruit and vegetables.In the UK，more than 97%of waste ends up in a landfill site.That's a lot!Come to a special meeting with supermarket owner Carlos Rodriguez to learn how we can save food and money at home!Activity meeting! How to save food and money at home When：Friday 12 May，5-6 p.m. Where：School hall Who：Carlos Rodriguez What：Top tips on how to store food，measure sensible portion sizes and cook tasty meals from leftovers Students and families welcome! |
"Class，this is John Evans，"Mrs.Parmele announced，trying to sound enthusiastic.We saw a boy in worn-out clothes and shoes with holes and patches.John looked around and smiled，hoping somebody would smile back.Nobody did.He kept on smiling anyway.
I held my breath，hoping Mrs.Parmele wouldn't notice the empty desk next to mine.She did，and pointed him in that direction.He looked over at me as he sat down，but I looked away.
By the end of his first week，John was at the bottom of our school's social ladder."It's his own fault，"I told my mother one evening at dinner."He hardly even knows how to count."
As I ate lunch with him the next day and listened to him，however，I realized that John was actually pleasant to be around.After lunch，I decided that I would be John's friend.
One night，as Mother came into my bedroom，I said，"Mom，tomorrow is John's birthday，and he's not going to get anything.Nobody even cares.""Don't worry，"Mom said as she kissed me goodnight."I'm sure everything will be fine."
I wished John a happy birthday the first thing in the morning，and he was glad I had remembered.In the afternoon，as Mrs.Parmele was writing on the blackboard，I heard a familiar voice singing the birthday song.Moments later，Mother came through the door with a tray（托盘） of cakes.She was also taking a present in her hand.Mrs.Parmele joined in.Mother found John looking like a deer in the headlights.She put the cakes and the gift on his desk and said，"Happy birthday，John."John kindly shared his cakes with the class，taking the tray from desk to desk.I caught Mother watching me.She smiled and winked（眨眼）.
How long does a year last？Children might say that a year lasts forever.But your parents might say that a whole year can pass " in the blink of an eye".Why does time seem to pass faster as we get older？
According to scientists from Duke University，US，our brains degrade（退化） and change over time.This physical change causes the rate at which we take in and deal with new information to fall down.
Babies，for example，move their eyes much more often than grown-ups because they're dealing with images at a faster rate，Adrian Bejan from the university told the Daily Mail.They take in a lot of information and do many things in a single day.This makes them feel like a single day lasts for a long time.
However，as people's brains degrade over time，fewer images are dealt with in the same amount of time.Therefore，older people receive less information during a day than younger people.This causes things to seem as if they're happening more quickly.
What's more，people may also "feel"time differently due to psychological（心理的） reasons.People may measure time by the number of memorable events that can be recalled within a certain period.
Have you ever noticed that when you recall your firsts （first day of school.first family vacation，etc.），they seem to be in slow motion!That's because when something is a "first"，there are many exciting things to remember.Recalling these memories makes you feel like they took forever，according to David Eagleman of the Baylor College of Medicine in the US.
For many grown-ups，life is made up of daily things.When they look back they might feel like there are not many interesting things to remember.Therefore，time seems to be moving faster to them.
There are some popular family videos that are being posted on Chinese social media these days. The parent enters the room smiling，turns around and calls out to their own parent；the grandparent then enters smiling and calls out to their parent-the great-grandparent.
The format（形式） of these videos is being described as the"four-generation challenge".It started on Chinese short-video platform and has since spread to social media in other countries.
"I have to give that to China.Family devotion is usually a strong value，"wrote one Facebook user Antonie Yupud.The "four-generation"videos have not only touched foreign viewers，but also given them a deeper look into Chinese family values.
In most East Asian cultures，it is common for many generations of a single family to live together under one roof. In most Western countries，most families are nuclear families（小家庭），or families that are made up of just children and their parents.
In Western culture，privacy and independence are highly valued. Many of them apply for loans and work part- time jobs in order to pay for college and rent.If they choose to continue living with their parents after becoming an adult，it can be seen as a sign of immaturity（不成熟） or failure.
That might be why the " four- generation " videos have won so many hearts around the world.
A. Kids usually move out of the house after they turn 18. B. This is called an extended family. C. In these videos，a young child calls out to their mother or father. D. Although family structures in the East and West may differ，the love between family members is common. E. People from all over the world have commented on them. |
A teacher decided to let her class play a game.The teacher told each child in the class to bring a plastic bag with a few 1 .Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child 2 .So the number of potatoes would depend on 3 people he/ she cannot forgive（宽恕）.
The next day，every child brought some potatoes 4 the name of the people he or she hated.Some had just one or two potatoes 5 others had as many as five or six.The teacher then told the children that they would have to carry their potatoes with them wherever they went for 6
Several days 7 .Some children started to complain，as their potatoes began to rot（腐烂） and 8 bad.Those children 9 carried more potatoes also complained about how10 their bags were.
After one week，the game was over.The teacher simply smiled and said："This is11 what it's like to carry hatred in your heart.You have to carry it with you wherever you go.The burden（负担） of hatred will12 your heart and you will 13 carrying an unnecessary burden with you.If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week，can you 14 what a burden it would be to have the hatred in your heart for your lifetime？"
It can be 15 to carry hatred in your heart for a whole lifetime.Forgive others and move on with your life.
please；down；sense；offer；give；in；such；tired；what；difficult |
Albert Einstein was regarded to be a genius.This story about him shows that he not only was smart but also had a of humour.
Einstein often received invitations to explain his theories at different universities.On these trips，his driver Hans often said to him，" It's a（2） to drive a genius like you，Dr Einstein."
One evening，on their way to a university，Einstein said，"I'm so .I wish I could avoid my lecture tonight，Hans，but I don't want to let my audience ." "I know to do，" said Hans."I can give the lecture for you.I' ve listened to your lecture so many times that I've learnt it by heart.No one knows you at this university，so they won't find out."So，they changed places.At the university，Hans was guided to the front of the hall.Einstein took a seat，listened to Hans give his lecture without ， and joined in the applause at the end.However，before Hans left，a man shouted， "I'd like to ask you a question."He then asked a question so difficult that Hans had no idea what he was talking about.Einstein turned pale." Oh no!" he thought." Now we' re trouble." But Hans just laughed and said，" That's an easy question that even my driver can answer it.Hans，please..."Einstein stood up and answered the question perfectly.
They left the university，with Einstein driving.A little later，Hans to drive."No，"laughed Einstein."It's my honor to drive a genius like you，Hans."
Lunar calendars depend on the position of the moon， the date of the new year changes each year.Lunar New Year usually celebrated in January or February.
There are many Lunar New Year traditions.For example，in Vietnam，people believe the first person to enter their home in the new year will decide their luck for the next year.In Korea，families often celebrate this festival playing traditional board games together.In China，many people have firecrackers， burn and make a loud noise.In the streets，dancers dress up as a lion or a dragon.They dance to music and drums.
All the celebrations are about wishing everyone good things for the next year.Happy Lunar New Year!
A：Congratulations!You won the first place in this handicraft（手工） competition.
B：Thank you!
A： ？ I can't wait to see it!
B：Of course!This is my art piece!
A：It looks so fantastic!I can't believe it was made by a teenager. ？
B：It is made of iron and other materials from old cars.
A： ？
B：It took me about 2 weeks.With the help of my art teacher，I finally made it.
A：You are really creative!Why did you use the old things instead of buying new materials to make it？
B：
A：That sounds great!I also want to learn how to make art pieces with the old things. ？
B：Sure，I'd like to.I hope more people can take action to recycle and reuse old things.
要点：
（1）你遇到的困难及感受是什么；
（2）你是如何克服这次困难的；
（3）这件事使你有什么改变。
要求：
（1）文中不得出现真实姓名和学校名称。
（2）词数100左右。
