修改时间：2024-07-13 浏览次数：807 类型：期末考试
Last summer I got a real taste of Swiss life when I spent six weeks with a host family in the Bernese Alps.
On arriving in Erlenbach where my host family live,I knew I couldn't have asked for a better setting: it was such a beautiful mountain village.
And I couldn't have asked for a better host family,either.They made me feel like part of their family,rather than a tourist—I joined in my host family's day-to-day activities,whether helping pick berries in the garden or going to friends' houses.I wasn't only traveling around Europe seeing the major sights,but I lost myself in a different culture.
While many Swiss cultures are similar to America's,there are lots of differences,too.For example,most Swiss leave their windows open—without screens—all the time.At first I thought all the bugs（虫子）were going to get in and eat me alive,and wondered why they didn't close the windows and turn on the air conditioner.But then I realized there weren't many bugs and I really enjoyed the fresh air.
Probably my biggest shock was the language.I expected the Swiss to speak German,but they spoke a dialect called Swiss German,which has hardly anything in common with German.At times I was very frustrated（受挫的）because my three years of German did not help,but my bad mood did not last.Anyhow,many people knew English and were extremely willing to speak it.
Signing up for a cultural exchange was probably the biggest risk I ever took,but it was also the most rewarding. When I left,I promised I would return to Erlenbach.There is more to Switzerland than cheese and watches.
It may appear strange to hear that crops are making headlines.But this is no ordinary produce—these fruits and vegetables have been grown in simulated（模拟的）Martian and lunar soils!
Though the possibility of growing crops in outer space only gained widespread interest after Matt Damon grew potatoes in the movie "The Martian",scientists have been testing the idea for many years.Fresh produce will after all be the key to setting up space colonies（殖民地）.
Among the pioneers in this effort is a team led by Wieger Wamelink,a scientist at Netherland's Wageningen University.In 2013,they planted fourteen varieties of plants in simulated Martian and lunar soils.Though the "Mars" plants did not bear any produce,they grew better than the "lunar" plants,most of which died shortly after being planted.Lack of vapor in the soil,according to the scientists,might have accounted for the failure.
The second experiment began in late 2015.The researchers selected the same crops,while this time they used larger containers and added grass to them.In March 2016,their efforts were rewarded with a variety of produce including the vegetable that kept "The Martian" alive: potatoes.
However,the researchers were still not sure if the produce was safe to eat.That's because the Martian and lunar soils contain heavy metals like lead and arsenic,which do not affect plants but are poisonous to humans.
After months of testing,earlier this week,the team finally confirmed that the produce was safe for human consumption.Some of the crops even contained lower levels of heavy metals than plants grown in the "ordinary" earth soil.
To celebrate the success,the scientists held a dinner party that centered ground the crops.While there is no word on how the food tasted,it sure looks delicious.
For centuries people have hunted animals for food and pleasure.The invention of the gun made it so easy for humans to hunt that some animals were lolled by the thousands and even became extinct（绝种的）.This brings up some serious problems since breaks in the food chain upset the balance of nature.
Large animals like tigers are being killed by the hundreds every year in India.The Royal Bengal tiger is the only type that exists in India and their number is greatly reduced every year because of poaching（偷猎）.The present number is about 2,000, all of which live in tiger reserves.Two hundred years ago the population was 23,000 or more.
During the British rule of India,many of the so-called English gentlemen killed tigers for pleasure and to show their bravery.This seems stupid because killing an innocent（无辜的）creature with a gun is not a brave deed.
Today the tiger skin is very popular.Rich people and fashion designers have no idea what they are doing. Competition between the rich to show off makes them blind to the serious effects.People persuade villagers to kill tigers to get money,and they do it because they are poor and need to feed their families.We must educate them,and the government should give them proper jobs to help solve this problem.
The people to blame are those who buy animal products like ivories,furs,tiger bones for medicine and handbags made of animal skins.They must be put behind bars to stop this kind of trade.The earth is home for everyone on it. The trees,animals,birds,and fish of all kinds belong here as much as we do.Only we have the power to change their fate.
Looking back at my younger years,I am sometimes amazed at how life has turned out.The only thing that stays the same is who I am,my values,and my interests.If I could go back in time and hang out with my younger self for a day,here's what I would tell her.
Everything happens for a reason.
Without mistakes and failure,you would never have learned.Without pain,you would never have grown.Once you understand this,you will know that everything comes in to serve a purpose.So don't think that life is unfair, because everything happens for a reason.
Focus on one thing at a time.
It is not surprising that many of us are doing too many things at once.We need to make ends meet.But if you are working three jobs at a time,it is not likely that you will succeed at any of them.You have to keep your eyes on the big picture.You have to ask yourself: What exactly do you want to achieve for the next 10 years?Focus on one thing at a time.
You might be graduating or have hit a turning point with your career.You might feel a bit lost and unsure of where to go.It's okay.Go out there and try as many different things as you can.Don't ever feel like you're wasting your time.Enjoy the journey.Every little path will lead you somewhere.And looking back,you will be able to connect the dots.It will all make sense.
Don't try too hard with people.
Don't worry if you feel like it's hard to make new friends.It might take a while until you find new best friends and a mate for life,but when you do,you will know it.It's not hard work.So,just do your things and be yourself.
A. Achieve your goals one by one.
B. You can plan everything ahead.
C. Only time will tell what life will teach us.
D. Just be yourself and be as open as you can.
E. It's okay to be unsure about your purpose in life.
F. Nothing is exactly what I had originally planned for.
G. Don't worry too much about a decision you have to make.
In February last year,my wife lost her job.Just as suddenly,the owner of the Green House,where I worked as a manager,1a heart attack.His family announced that they were going to2the business because no one in the family wanted to run it.Things looked pretty3.My wife and I read the4in the newspaper each day.
Then one morning,as I was5a going-out-of-business sign at the Green House,the door opened and6 walked a customer.She was an office manager7company had just moved into the8office park on the edge of the town.She was9some potted flowers to place in the reception areas in offices."I don't know anything about 10,"she said,"I am sure in a few weeks,they'll all be11."While I was helping her12her goods,my mind was racing and an idea13me.Perhaps as many as a dozen firms had recently opened offices in the new office park and there were several hundred more acres with construction（建造）work14.
I drove up to the office park15the woman left.By 6 o'clock that evening,I had signed agreements with seven companies,which would16plants at the Green House and17me a fee to look after them.
Within a week,I worked out an agreement to buy the Green House from the owner's family.18,business increased rapidly19our efforts.
Now we are proud to be the20of the Green House.
On the first day of school our professor(introduce) Rose,a little old lady,to us."Why are you in college at suchold age?"I asked later.She jokingly replied,"I'm here to meet a rich husband,get(marry),have a couple of children,and then retire and travel."
At the end of the first term we invited Rose(make) a speech to our football team.She cleared her throat and began,"We do not stop playing because we are old;we grow old because we stop playing.you lose your dreams, you will die.There is a huge differencegrowing older and growing up.Anybody can grow older.The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity.The elderly usually don't have regrets for what they've done,rather for things they haven't done.The only peoplefear death are those with regrets."
At the end of that year Rose finished the college degree.One week after graduation Rose died(peace) in her sleep.Over two thousand college students attended her funeral（葬礼）to honor the wonderful woman who taught by example that it'stoo late to be all you can possibly be.
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