A very rich man Peter lost his sight(视力). The 1 told him that only by doing a cornea(角膜) transplant operation could he bring his sight back. Peter 2 a lot of money for the cornea, but time passed day after day, 3 came for that. It was all because he was too proud of his money, and had done many dishonest things.

    One day, he took a walk in the park. He raised his head to 4 the long-awaited sunshine. However, he saw nothing but darkness.

    Just as Peter started feeling 5, someone suddenly ran into him. "Don't you have eyes? Don't you see who you hit! I'm millionaire Peter!" Peter said 6.

    The answer was from a little boy, "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't 7. Please forgive(原谅) me!"

    Suddenly Peter changed his mind and said, "I can forgive you, but you must 8 me!"

    The boy said yes repeatedly and Peter nodded with satisfaction and asked, "Is the 9 big today?"

    The boy answered happily, "Yes, it is pretty fine today. The sun is shining 10!"

    Peter smiled. He thought he could feel the sun again. He asked, "Is the park beautiful?"

    "Yes, very! The grass is green and the flowers are pretty. The little 11 are so lovely when the birds sing in them."

    12 he was listening, Peter began to envy(嫉妒) that boy.

    Suddenly, he cried, "God! How I envy this boy! It's 13! Why not give me good sight?"

    "You are wrong!" a woman said to Peter. "My son is 14 just like you. He could only tell you so much because that's all I told him!" Tears suddenly 15 Peter's eyes.

    Since then, the city charity(慈善机构) has got a lot of money every year. It is from a man named Peter.

    If you want to stay out of debt(债务), you need to set a budget(预算). You should know what you are spending your money on. Write down what you buy and how much you spend. You can use an app or a computer program. First, write how much your food, housing, transportation, and other monthly bills like electricity cost. These are your needs. Then write your goals. These are any debts you have to pay and money you want to save. Then write the other things you enjoy. These are extras, such as going to restaurants, movies, or the gym. These are the things you like but don't need. How much do you spend on these extras each month?

    Now look at your income. Your income is the amount of money you make each month. How much of it do you spend on needs, goals, and extras? One good rule is 50 percent of your paycheck is for your needs. Pay for things in this order: needs first, goals second, and extras third. The first step in setting a budget is to know where your money goes. Then you can make payments, plan for your goals, and make good choices.

    Almost all animals need to sleep to stay healthy. But sleeping can also be dangerous because other animals may hurt those who are sleeping. This leads to many different ways of sleeping that help them stay safe. Some of these ways may surprise you!

    Almost all bats sleep upside down. They hang from a branch of a tree or the ceiling of a cave. Up high, bats are safe from most other animals. If they are in danger, they just fly away.

    A dolphin sleeps with just half its brain at a time. It must stay awake to breathe and to watch for danger. Dolphin mothers and babies can go without sleep for as long as two months to stay safe.

    Some ducks sleep with just half their brains, too. These ducks often sleep in a line. The ducks at both ends help to keep the group safe. They keep one eye open to watch for danger. The ducks in the middle sleep deeply with both eyes closed.

    Seals breathe air, but that doesn't stop some of them from sleeping underwater. They hold their breath and dive deep to sleep for up to twenty minutes at a time. Sleeping deep underwater helps these seals stay safe from animals that hunt them near the surface.

    Horses often sleep standing up. Their legs lock in place so they don't fall over. If a horse is lying down, it needs a long time to get up. A horse can run from danger more quickly if it is already standing.

    A flamingo can sleep while standing on one leg. The standing leg locks so it stays straight. The other leg remains close to the flamingo's body. Its head rests on its back. A flamingo lives and sleeps near many other birds to stay safe.

    Some seabirds can sleep while they fly. These large birds spend most of their lives over the ocean. They are in danger on the water, but they are safe in the air. They fly for many hours without flapping (拍打) their wings. Sometimes they sleep while they are flying.

    Would you like to sleep how they sleep?

    Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally(理性地) about what to believe or what to do. According to a report on the World Economic Forum (2016), critical thinking, creativity, and their practical application(应用)are widely accepted as the top three skills that young people need to have in their future career.

    A good critical thinker usually takes the following steps before he decides what to do. Whenever he needs to do something, he would, first of all, reason. He checks why he needs to do it and whether he really needs to do it. Then, analyze(分析). He tries to find out what it really is and the best way to do it.  After that, evaluate.  He makes sure whether he is able to do it and how to do it well. Finally, he makes the decision and takes action. Take the "Double 11" (a popular online shopping day in China) as an example. A few days before it, he checks carefully what he needs and whether he really needs them, and makes a shopping list. He goes to the online shops to compare the quality(质量) and the prices of the things that he is going to buy. He compares the shops that sell these things. Then he checks whether he can afford(买得起) them and in which shops he is going to buy them. Although it takes him some time to make the decisions, he would not regret(后悔)after the shopping.

    Then what would happen if he didn't think critically before he made the decisions? After the crazy "Double 11", there were usually a lot of complaints(抱怨)on the Internet. There were regrets about buying more things than they needed. There were complaints about the poor quality and the prices of the things they bought. There were also complaints because they received wrong things or simply received nothing. There were all kinds of regrets and complaints. Why so? They had not thought critically before they made the decisions.

    Critical thinking helps you make wiser decisions. It helps you avoid wasting time, money and so on. Therefore, do look before you leap.

    Kathy could still remember the night she had to leave her home in Hungary. It was the beginning of World War II and her family had to leave their country as soon as possible. She quickly filled a bag with a few pieces of clothing, her diary, and her treasure—a beautiful silk scarf.

    Kathy and her best friend, Monica, had asked their parents to buy them matching scarves. They each would wear the scarves as a symbol of their friendship. Kathy had no idea that she was going to America that night and would not be returning.

    Kathy kept that special silk scarf for many years. One day she decided to give it to her granddaughter, Eliza, to wear to her first job interview for good luck. Kathy was afraid that Eliza would lose the scarf, but the granddaughter promised, "Don't worry, Grandma, nothing's going to happen to your scarf. You'll see. It is going to bring both of us luck today." And with that, Eliza kissed her grandmother and left for the interview.

    That afternoon Eliza left the interview, feeling sure that she had got the job. So she decided to celebrate by going to a restaurant. As she was sitting at her table, she felt someone looking at her. Sitting next to her was an old woman, who could not take her eyes away from her.

    "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Eliza asked.

    "I'm sorry, dear, but you make me think of someone I once knew," the old woman replied. "My best friend looked like you and used to wear a scarf just like the one you're wearing around your neck." Eliza listened carefully, with her eyes and mouth wide open. She had heard stories of her grandmother's best friend and knew the meaning of the scarf. Could this be Monica, her grandmother's childhood friend?

    Eliza introduced herself and waited to hear the name of the other woman.

    "My name's Monica, dear. I lived in Hungary as a child, but my family had to leave when I was fourteen years old. I've been living here in California ever since." said the old woman.

    Eliza could not believe her ears …

    English is the first language of several countries. However, it has many differences. British, American, and South African English are all spoken differently. In many English language courses, the British and American differences are taught. One is not more correct than the other, but there are important differences between the two.

    Probably the biggest difference between American and British English is the vocabulary. Different words and expressions are used to talk about the same thing. For example, in the United States, people throw their garbage into the trash can. In England, people throw their rubbish into the dustbin. In Britain, people take a lift to the fifth floor. In America, people take an elevator.

    American and British grammar can be also different. For example, speakers of British English will ask "What did you do at the weekend?", but Americans usually say "On the weekend." In the United States people usually say "I've gotten a new car.", but in the UK they will say "I've just got a new car."

    The pronunciation in American and British English is also different, even when the spelling is the same. The word "tomato"—pronounced "to-mah-to" in British English—is a classic example of this.

    Vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation are three ways English is different in different parts of the world. Learning all these is not easy, so English learners should just know that they are always there.

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    Nowadays, more and more Chinese teenagers are becoming homebodies (someone who enjoys being at home). Most of them are shy and (沉默的).They spend time watching TV or playing with their  (可移动的) phones at home. They (很少) or never take part in outdoor activities. They never (敢于) to speak in front of a crowd.

    The problem should get much  (注意)of parents. It is clear to us that using smart phones or computers for long will do harm to students' health and(大脑). They are at the age of growing body, so this may influence their courses at school. Even if this isn't a problem, kids still prefer indoor life. After finishing the homework, they prefer to read a (小说) such as Harry Potter, listen to music or just rest at home rather than go out. Experts (建议)that teenagers should keep away from smart phones or computers and do more sports. It's good for their health and schoolwork.

    However, foreign students think quite differently. Outdoor activities are part of their (日常的) life. They go out to the beautiful nature to enjoy the warm sunshine and the fresh (空气). Even if it just means going to the park or reading a book under the tree, the pleasure is great!

    One day I took my daughter to the park. As soon  we got there, my daughter ran to the swing (秋千) and asked for a push. When I was helping my daughter, I noticed another girl trying to make her own swing go high by  (she). Her grandma was sitting on the chair nearby and smiling at us. Gradually, my daughter (push) higher and higher by me. Then I walked towards the little girl and asked  she wanted me to give her a push. She smiled and said "Yes". For the next two hours, I pushed the swings and played  them. Although I was very tired, my heart was flying much  (high) than the swings.

    Two years  (late), I went to pick up my daughter. While I was waiting outside the school gate, a little girl smiled at me and gave me a big hug (拥抱). After a while, I  (realize) that she was the girl whom I gave a push in the park. So far, I (not forget) her sweet smile and the warm hug.

    In life, the love and the  (kind) we give others will always come back to us with a pleasant surprise.

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短文首句：The book I'd like to share with you is The Old Man and the Sea.