Patricia has a large glass jar and she got it from her grandfather. The girl 1 it half full with clean water. The water shone 2 in the sunlight. Each drop was proud 3 its own purity (纯净).
One day, Patricia's cousin, Robin, came for a 4 . While Patricia was away, the boy saw the jar and thought: "What will happen 5 I put some ink in the water?"
Robin searched Patricia's desk and found a 6 . Just as he was going to put a few drops of ink (墨水) in the jar, Patricia walked in. "Robin, what are you doing?" she asked. But it was already too 7 . Patricia watched in 8 as the ink slowly mixed in, turning the water blue.
"Don"t you know that once a jar of water gets 9 , it's very hard to get it clean again?" Patricia sounded angry.
"I'm sorry," Robin replied in a low voice. "I was just 10 ."
Patricia 11 to get the water clean, but the jar was too heavy for the two of them to lift up. 12 could only pour some pure water into it. The jar of water would 13 be as clean as it was before.
The world's oceans are just like this jar of water. Once we 14 them, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to make them clear again. Unluckily, some people and countries don't seem to 15 this. They've poured many dirty or even toxic drops into the world's "jar". But unlike Robin, they are not curious.
Britney School is looking for a student president for the new term. The following speeches are from four candidates (候选人).
I'm Jenny. I come to you and want a chance to be your student president. I could help with your problems on all the subjects. I may not be running on the most exciting platform, I do, however, believe in fairness for all students My goal:one-on-one Q&A time for all the subjects. | Hello, everyone! My name is Albert. I will help you with your life at school if I become the student president, I will ask our school to have better lunches. Every one of you wants healthy meals. I believe. My goal:longer lunch breaks and healthier desserts. |
Hi, everyone! I'm glad to introduce myself. I'm candidate 3 Eva. Since we have a lot of study stress these days, more clubs will be opened after school during the school days to help you to relax if I can be the student president. My goal:hotline service at 8756352 from Monday to Friday. | I'm Mark. Do you want to vote for me? I'm running for student president, I will try different ways to make our life better and more colorful. A lot of things can be done like more time for sports and exercise My goal:more game time and a better gym, sometimes yoga. |
Virtual (虚拟的) worlds and the real world are going to collide (碰撞) with a new device.
On June 5, Apple released its new product—the Apple Vision Pro headset. It mixes the real environment with computer images. Wearing the headset, users can see digital content (数字内容), such as movies or games in front of their eyes. At the same time, the environment around the users is captured (捕捉) and shown on the screen as well. This makes the users feel that they are looking at their surroundings (环境) directly. "It's like your phone but right in front of you—wherever you are," one of the first users of the headset told the BBC.
The headset is equipped with 12 cameras, six microphones and different sensors (传感器). These work together to follow the user's eye movement and gestures (手势), allowing them to control the device without a remote control (遥控器). For example, tapping (轻拍) your fingers together will be viewed as a click.
The product also has some special social characteristics (社交特征). When a person gets close to someone wearing the headset, the screen will show the eyes of the user. It makes the user look more friendly. But if the user is fully immersed (沉浸在) in a virtual world, others won't see the eyes and will know the user is in a "do-not-disturb (免打扰)" mode.
"Blending (融合) digital content with the real world can unlock experiences like nothing we've ever seen," Apple CEO Tim Cook said. "Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and the iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial (空间的) computing."
However, there are still some weaknesses of the headset because this is the first of its kind by Apple. A user said it's about 0.6 kilograms—it can be heavy because you need to wear it on your face. It's also very expensive. The headset now costs $3,499 (about 25,000 yuan). Another thing is that the battery (电池) can only work for two hours. It needs to be plugged in (连接电源) for longer use.
"The first generation of the headset is about creating buzz (轰动)," Foad Fadaghi, a business expert, told American Financial Review. "We believe Apple will have a better model sometime in 2024."
Sweat poured down Marquez's face. He was preparing for a basketball game and he would win. That was a pretty sure thing. After all, he wasn't just good; he was excellent.
Basketball was a way of life in Marquez's family. His older brother Reggie was now playing at a top college. Marquez was ready to follow in his brother's footsteps and make his family proud. But he had a secret. As good as he was at basketball, Marquez's heart wasn't in it anymore. He had another sport on his mind.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead (额头), Marquez jumped on a bus heading home. Through the bus window, he could see cheerleaders dancing and performing amazingly on the field. Marquez became interested. He pulled out a sheet from his backpack. Across the top in big block letters was the phrase: Cheer-leading Competition (啦啦队比赛). That's what Marquez really wanted to do. He longed for a new challenge.
▲ , Marquez knew the meaning of cheer-leading for a game. He also knew that cheer-leading wouldn't just be a physical challenge; it would be an emotional one, too. Now, he knew it was time for him to tell his family.
As soon as he arrived home, his parents and Reggie were at the door. Marquez's face grew bright as he hugged Reggie. "You're home?" "Of course, little man. I planned to come to your game. You're going to be a better player than me!"
Everyone in the family was smiling…except Marquez. His family had such high expectations for him when it came to basketball. But Marquez was tired of trying to keep up with his brother. He was ready to carve his own path, He wanted to tell his parents, but Reggie being there put much more pressure on him.
However, Marquez knew what had to be done. "I don't think I want to play ball anymore," he said. "I want to do something else." The family stood confused (困惑的), "Like what, son?" his father said, breaking the silence. "Cheer-leading," Marquez replied. Nervous, unbelievable laughter followed that word. They thought he was joking. "That's what I really want to do," Marquez said in a voice that came out louder than expected. When they saw he was serious, they were quiet.
Over the next few weeks, his family began to understand and support him for the big event. Over weeks of training, he could see that he was improving with practice. A week later, it was time for the competition. From the sidelines, dad, mom, Reggie cheered Marquez on. As the music played, he hit every beat the best he could. The following Monday, results for the competition came out. Marquez saw his name at the top of the list. He made it—of course he did. This time, he felt proud of himself. So did the family.
The next day Marilla went to see the doctor. When she came back, she looked very tired and ill.
"What did the doctor say?" asked Anne worriedly.
"He says I mustn't read or write, and I must wear glasses. Then my head won't hurt. But if I'm not very careful, I'll be blind in six months!"
For a minute Anne was silent. Then she said firmly, "Then you must be careful, Marilla."
"Think how terrible it is to be blind! But how lucky you've got a free place at Redmond College! I can't give you any money, you see. All our money's gone, and I can't work now. I think I'll have to sell the farm, and go and live with Rachel Lynde!" and poor Marilla sobbed wildly.
That night Anne sat alone in her bedroom. She thought and thought for some time, and then she smiled. When she went to bed, she knew what she was going to do.
The next day she explained it all to Marilla.
"You can't sell Green Gables. It's our home! Just listen, I've planned everything. I'm not going to Redmond College, it's too far away. I'm going to teach, in one of the village schools near here. Then I can live there during the week and come home at weekends to look after you. Diana's father will use our fields and pay us for them, and so we'll have some money. You see?"
"Oh Anne! I'll be all right if you're here. But you must go to Redmond, if you want to study..."
"Redmond College doesn't matter," laughed Anne. "I'm going to study at home in the evenings. And I'm going to be a really good teacher! That's better than anything!"
Marilla shook her head and tried not to cry. "You're a good girl, Anne. Now we can keep Green Gables!"
① To go and live with Rachel Lynde.
② To work in one of the village schools.
③ To look after Marilla at weekends.
④ To study at home in the evenings.
⑤ To be a good teacher at Redmond College.
A mystery box (盲盒) keeps what's inside a secret (秘密). Mystery boxes originally referred to toy boxes where consumers could not know what's in the box before they open them. They were first introduced by Japanese company EMI and later became popular. Nowadays, mystery boxes have already spread all over the world, and what's inside is no longer limited to toys. Many other mystery boxes are coming in different kinds and at different prices.
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Working people will order some food online during the workdays, but sometimes two meals will cost too much. The products that are on their due date are starting to attract young people. The "snack freedom" that can be achieved for 20 to 30 yuan is becoming a new carnival (嘉年华) for young people. Some believe the snack mystery boxes are only loved by elderly people, but actually they start to enter young people's life, because the box with milk, coffee, bread and snacks inside are much cheaper.
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Maybe archaeology (考古) is a bit boring, so some museums are trying very hard to get more people interested in the traditional art pieces and their cultural meanings behind them. The "Archaeological Mystery Box" is a cultural and creative product created by the Henan Museum. It puts the popular concept of "mystery boxes" together with cultural relics (文物). If you buy a piece of archaeological mystery box, sometimes you will also get a mini shovel (铲子). You will feel you are really digging for the archaeological pieces! It's so fun to learn about culture this way.
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Travel is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're going to get, especially when using a mystery box plane ticket.
Earlier this year, mystery box travel are becoming among China's young people. In normal trips, people often plan their vacations well before they set off. After buying a mystery box at a low price usually 100or 200 yuan however, the travelers using this method will choose their departure (出发) airport and receive several destinations to choose from. After the destination is decided, their trip begins. If you travel alone and don't know where to go, you can have a try!
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Maybe you are tired of thinking about what flowers to buy for the new coming week. Some special mystery boxes of bouquets including different kinds of flowers are very popular on the Flower-plus platform. They will be sent to you every week, and you will never know what flowers are waiting for you. If you receive flowers of different kinds and different mixes, the excitement of opening the box will certainly hit you together with nice smell and great colors. Seeing such warm colors in winter and festivals makes it feel particularly warm at home.
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With a new term starting, lots of students are rushing to buy new stationery (文具), Erasers, ballpoints, and notebooks, schoolbags, and so on. But what if they come in a package and you don't know what are inside? Students love to buy stationeries in this way, because they love the feel of great surprise at the beginning of the term this way and have a nice talk with their classmates and friends about what they get. It will surely bring a lot of fun to their study time at school.
A. Stationery mystery boxes add fun to your study time. B. Leftover mystery boxes offer new ways to stop food waste. C. Unknown destinations give travelers a great surprise. D. Short shelf-life food mystery boxes help to save money. E. Archaeological mystery boxes help to bring fun to culture spreading. F. Flower mystery boxes get different kinds of flowers ready to brighten your day. |
Wish(《星愿》) is the latest Disney film that shows the (魔力) of making wishes. It came out in Chinese mainland cinemas on Nov. 24, 2023. In the film, 17-year-old Asha makes a wish to the sky. Star (回答) her and they go on a great adventure.
Do you like to make wishes? In (澳大利亚), where I'm from, we like to make wishes in different ways. Playing outside, you see a dandelion (蒲公英). Pick one up and (吹) its seeds (种子) away, then make a wish! Interestingly, an old tradition is to make wishes with water. Water is so important to life. People felt it was a (礼物) from the gods. So, they started throwing coins into wishing wells or fountains. They must say their wish out (响亮地). This way, they believe the spirits (精灵) of the water will hear the wish and make it come true. And of course, no one (错过) making a wish on their birthday.
I (很少) make wishes at Christmas. But, that year I made one. I left cookies and milk for Santa Claus and wrote a note to him: "Dear Santa, please tell my dad to stop smoking. It is bad for his (健康)". On Christmas Day, I saw the reply from "Santa". He wrote: "Dear Maddy, thank you for the cookies and milk. As for your dad's stopping smoking, that is something he has to do for (他自己)." Can you guess who wrote it?
I felt a bit sad that Santa couldn't help my dad. But it taught me something important: Only the person himself or herself can really make something come true. Making wishes into reality relies on your action.
make energy deep percent tradition |
The 2023 China-Germany Automobile Conference (中德汽车大会) took place in Jilin, Henan, and Zhejiang recently, discussing the new vehicles (NEVs, 新能源汽车) and collaboration (合作) between China and Germany.
China is leading in electric (电动的) cars. In 2022, more than 65 of the world's electric cars were from China, China Dailyreported, In the European market, Chinese cars, such as BYD and Hongqi, are among the top 50 best-selling motor companies, The Times reported. According to BYD, the company's electric buses have now hit the roads of more than 100 European cities such as Berlin, London, and Paris, helping Europeans cut carbon emissions (二氧化碳排放) by over 200,000 tons.
NEVs in China are also popular in Mexico. One local, Israel Aguilar, is impressed (使……留下印象). After nearly a year of trying out a Chinese NEV, Aguilar said he may never go back to driving his petrol (汽油) car. "The NEV offers better comfort," said Aguilar.
Are you an "I" person or an "E" person? These two personality labels in particular are (wide) discussed online. They are part of a popular personality test called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI. All of the results have four letters, and there are 16 results total. "I" and "E" refer to "introverted" (内向的) and "extroverted" (外向的), respectively.
Even if someone is rather quiet, many online discussions suggest that an "I" person can still act outgoing at times. For example, when an introverted person is with a group of introverted friends, they might become (much) social like an "E" person.
According to psychologists, this idea of temporarily switching personalities (临时个性转变) is called "masking". That is hiding your true personality in specific (situation). "Human beings want to feel they belong, and they might become people-pleasers to do so," wrote the Master Class website.
(use) the MBTI result to identify and describe someone's personality seems fun. However, I went too far at one time. My sister was excitedly making a day-to-day travel plan when I remembered from article that "P people" don't like to make or stick to plans, I said to her, "You don't seem like a ‘P person'." "Why?" she asked back. "Since when do I need to follow my personality test tells me to do?" It was then that I realized I'd taken the result too seriously.
The MBTI personality test may show something you don't know about (you) and can even be a fun icebreaker question when meeting new friends. And that's all it is-for fun. Knowing someone's MBTI result doesn't mean you really know this person. And what kind of person you are (decide) mostly by your genes and home influence, not just by the four letters.
Some think | Others think | My opinion |
1. save much time 2. act like patient teachers | 1. more screen time 2. be poorer in problem solving | ... |
注意：
1) 必须包含所有要点 ， 可适当拓展。
2) 文中不得出现真实的人名和校名。
3) 词数80-100；首句已给 ， 不计入总词数。
Last Friday, we had a heated discussion on whether the Apps like "Zuoyebang", "Wenxinyiyan", and the like can truly help us in study.
