Cambridge University is one of the {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(old) universities in the world, and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. It is famous {#blank#}2{#/blank#} outstanding academic achievements and the high quality of research undertaken in a wide range of science and art subjects. The university pioneers work in the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (understand) of diseases, the creation of new materials, advances in telecommunications and the research into the origins of the universe. It trains doctors, veto, architects, engineers and teachers. At all levels about half of the students at Cambridge study arts and humanities, many of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} have gone on to become outstanding figures in the arts, print and broadcast {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(medium). The university's achievements in sconces can be measured by the sixty or more Nobel Prizes {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(award) to its members over the years.

    As Cambridge approached {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(it) eight hundredth anniversary in 2009, it was looking to the future. The modern university is an international center of teaching and research in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} vast range of subjects. It continues to change in response to the challenges it faces. The 1990s {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(see) a major expansion of the university accommodation for teaching and research. There are many major new buildings either underway {#blank#}10{#/blank#} already completed, including the Law Faculty Building and the Judge Institute of Management Studies.

    Jane Foster was out shopping when some wedding photos in the window of an antique shop{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (catch) her eyes. It took her quite a while {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she realized that she was looking at her mom's long-lost old wedding photos.

    But how did they go {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (miss), to begin with? Along with many other {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (belonging), the photos had been auctioned (拍卖) off in 2003 after her family missed a payment for the storage facility where they were kept. You can only imagine how upset Jane must {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) at the time. She was searching for them for 14 years before she{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (accident) found them.

    She was flooded with {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (relieve), but the owner of the store had another surprise for her. The photos weren't the only items he had purchased from that auction. He remembered that he had also bought a wedding dress from 1948, and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} turned out that this was Jane's mother's dress!

    Unfortunately, the woman passed away in 2013 and was therefore {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(able) to be reunited with her prized possessions. But her daughter is thrilled with the treasured finding, considering it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a sign that her mom is still around and watching over her!

Is Hothouse Earth Avoidable?

    Nearly 50 years ago, the Club of Rome's report "Limits to Growth" warned that if economic growth continued fast without regard for the environment, the world could face ecological and economic collapse in the twenty-first century. Yet that is essentially {#blank#}1{#/blank#} has happened. As new research for the Club of Rome shows — and the latest report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states — the world {#blank#}2{#/blank#} well be headed towards disaster.

    Many wrongly {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(interpret) the "Limits to Growth" as an attack on uncontrolled economic expansion. In fact, the report argued that {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the unlimited-growth pathway was chosen, it would require complementary policies (including funding) {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (preserve) the planet's limited life-support systems.

    This argument {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (ignore). Instead, the world has continued to pursue fast growth, without regard for the environmental consequences. This has enabled us to make enormous progress in reducing poverty, increasing longevity, and increasing wealth. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} it has come at a high cost to the formation of the society and the restoration of the planet.

    As scientists have conclusively shown, in the last decade, we have entered a new geological era, the Anthropocene, in which human activity — in particular, economic activity — has been the dominant factor {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(influence) Earth's climate and environment. In the Anthropocene, our planet's life-support system is changing faster than ever.

Climate change now represents a clear and present danger. If our planet becomes just 2℃ warmer than pre-industrial temperatures, we may be placed irreversibly on the path toward "Hothouse Earth" — a situation {#blank#}9{#/blank#} temperatures are many degrees warmer than today, sea levels are considerably higher, and extreme weather events are {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(common) — and more destructive — than ever.

    All our teachers try to make classes lively and {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(interest), so that we won't get {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(bore). The class of my English teacher is organized well although some students often say they hate this subject. I know I can't avoid {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(lose) my confidence unless I work hard. I also know I must make sure of enough time and energy {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(learn) English. I once {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(admit) to my parents that I had trouble with my English learning and they encouraged me greatly. The teacher is always strict {#blank#}6{#/blank#} me. With my teacher {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(help) me, I have made great progress in English. Last week, I didn't get nervous in the English examination or answer incorrectly, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} meant that I succeeded. My teacher thinks I am shy {#blank#}9{#/blank#} much more intelligent than other students! In my opinion, my English teacher is patient, energetic and serious in his English literature class, and he leaves me such a deep and good {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(impress). I will show respect for him forever.

The annual Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is Harbin's main tourist highlight. It is the world's biggest winter festival. The {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (bitter) cold winters are just right for this festival.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} sets the Harbin festival apart is the scale and size of the sculptures and the {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(beauty) lighting. It is bigger than {#blank#}4{#/blank#}ones in Sapporo, Norway, and Quebec.

At first, mainly Chinese participated, but in the last decade, it {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(become) an international festival and {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(compete). As the festival grows in international participation, and as China's economy grows, the size of the snow sculptures and ice architecture exhibits keeps {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(grow). The work going into making those exhibits is astonishing, and their size and beauty is amazing.

The lightning {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(effect) on the huge ice sculptures in the Ice and Snow World are technologically complex.

Officially the festival {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(hold) from the end of December through February. Opening dates keep changing, and ending dates partly depends {#blank#}10{#/blank#}the weather.

The Sun Island Scenic Area will be opened from Dec. 21 to Feb. 28.