Everyone can help to save the world

    We are all environmentalists now. We all know about acid rain and the ozone hole. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} As consumers we have the power to make decisions which will contribute to a better world and it is in our power to do what we can to protect the earth.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} In this way we have the power to influence retailers (零售商) to sell us these so-called “green” products. Therefore, the supermarkets have understood the message and are now trying to improve their environmental image. They are turning to less wasteful and recyclable packaging. The range of “green” products will continue to expand to meet the growing demand. This message has also reached the manufacturers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They have realized that protecting the environment may start as an advertising campaign but in the hands of intelligent people it can become a very profitable business. Besides, we can do more.

    Furthermore, we also know there are other areas where all of us can make a positive contribution to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} There are a number of ways we can do this. For example, we now know how important it is to have our homes well insulated (隔热). We should choose the best energy efficient technology, such as modern light bulbs which can reduce electricity consumption by 80% over the older ones. We must also work hard to reduce the amount of rubbish we produce. We all produce tons of rubbish and waste disposal has become a big problem. As an environmentally-conscious consumer we should buy products which do not have so much packaging. Also, we should try to avoid non-returnable goods at all costs. In Scandinavia and Germany, for example, plastic bottles and cans are now returnable goods.

    In conclusion it is important to emphasize once again the rise of consumer power. We must realize that we are all part of the problem.   {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. We can all reduce energy consumption at home and so cut the emissions from power systems.

B. For example, when we walk into a supermarket we can choose to buy environmentally friendly products and reject products which damage our planet.

C. There are some other ways to protect the environment.

D. Companies are developing environmentally friendly products that maintain a high quality and a low price.

E. But what are we doing about these problems?

F. Nevertheless we must also realize that we have the responsibility to be part of the solution.

G. Everybody has the duty to contribute to a cleaner world.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}The Christian Science Monitor became the first national newspaper to shut down its print edition, and recently, the world famous magazine Newsweek announced that it would soon cease publishing on paper and shift to an online-only format(版式). Will the printed newspaper one day be replaced by online newspaper?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    People who believe that printed newspapers will disappear think the new media, such as the Internet and mobile phone applications, have a great influence on people's life. Online newspaper is fast, instant, and convenient, while the printed newspaper often responds slowly to the latest news. People are now used to reading online newspaper on their smart phones, and no one has the patience of waiting for the printed newspaper.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}The printed newspaper consumes a large number of natural resources, and will, in the long term, be gradually replaced.

    For those who hold an optimistic view, they have their own reasons{#blank#}4{#/blank#}For these people, printed newspaper is an important way to know about the latest events at home and abroad.

    Although the printed newspaper cannot be as fast-responding as the online newspaper, it still can provide many in-depth reports and analytical articles for readers. Many column writers are invited to write special feature reports for the printed newspaper.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Many readers prefer to read the printed newspaper for they do not like staring at the computer or cell phone screen. Printed newspaper is also preferred by the elderly people.

A. Some believe so while many still hold an optimistic view on the future of traditional newspaper.

B. However, those who work for newspaper are finding work in other areas.

C. In recent years, traditional printed newspaper has faced a serious challenge.

D. Online newspaper is also environment-friendly, which consist with the trend of saving energy in today's world.

E. Increasingly, many audiences are turning to the Internet, which has become the primary location for finding news stories.

F. There are still a large number of people in the world who have no access to the Internet.

G. Online newspaper, on the other hand, is only suitable for fast reading.

Things to Remember When You're Having a Bad Day

    Even the hardest days contain lessons that will help you be a better person. Feeling down? Consider these things to remember when you're having a bad day.

    No one promised life would be perfect.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Don't base your happiness on meeting every expectation you set for yourself. It is good to be ambitious, but you'll never be perfect. If you expect otherwise, your life will be filled with disappointments.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. Don't kid yourself into thinking success will come quickly. It isn't easy to be patient, but anything worth doing requires time{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Without hard times, you wouldn't appreciate the good ones.

    Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to give up, that is strength{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It is hard to find much to smile about when you fail, but how else would you improve yourself? If you look at failures as a part of your growing process, you'll stay positive and follow your goals for as long as it takes.

    It's OK to cry sometimes.

    Do not apologize for crying. Without this feeling, we are only robots. Don't be afraid of crying{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Instead, it is an acceptable way to let go of your depressed feelings. If you let those feelings build up without release, you'll have a much harder time dealing with them later.

A.Don't get sad if you lose.

B.It isn't a sign of weakness.

C.Success doesn't happen overnight.

D.It's not OK to worry now and then.

E.Don't compare your life with others'.

F.Remember: Rome was not built in a day.

G.If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.

    World records can be set even if you are over 100 years old. Robert Marchand was born in 1911 in northern France. He enjoys riding a bicycle, and started cycling seriously when he was in his 60s. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    On Wednesday, a crowd gathered at the Velodrome National, about 30 kilometers outside of Paris. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The record for one hour is held by Britain's Bradley Wiggins, a former Tour de France winner. Wiggins covered 54.5 kilometers in 2015.Evelyn Stevens of the United States holds the women's record. She went almost 48 kilometers in an hour last year. In 2012, Marchand set a record for riders over 100 years old when he traveled almost 27 kilometers in an hour. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Marchand set off on his record attempt as sports lovers cheered and photographers watched. He moved slowly, but steadily, around the cycling track.

    Marchand is relatively small.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} When the hour ended, he completed 92 times around the track. That is just over 22.5 kilometers. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} He did not see his trainers telling him he only had 10 minutes remaining.“ I would have gone faster. I would have posted a better time,” he said. But the news was still good, as he did set a new record for riders 105-years-old or older.

“I'm now waiting for a rival,” he said.

A. Marchand is now 105 years old.

B. Marchand does well in riding a bicycle.

C. They were there to see how far he could travel in one hour.

D. They knew Marchand could travel over 22.5 kilometers.

E. He is only 1.52 meters tall and weighs 52 kilograms.

F. After the event, Marchand said he could have done better.

G.So the question many people asked this week was: “Could he break his own record?”

Cats in ancient Egypt

    Many of us love cats. They are beautiful, soft, clever and loving. The ancient Egyptians(埃及人) considered cats, also known as Mau, to be very important. They honored them with great respect. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For one thing, cats helped people by keeping their homes free of mice, rats, and snakes.

Without cats Egypt could not have been the important grain-growing(谷物种植) center that it was. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Though I don't know what other pets the Egyptians had, cats were probably the most important. Cats were also trained to help hunters. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The Egyptians loved cats so much that Bast, an Egyptian goddess, was pictured in the form of a cat. Bast appeared in artwork. She was the protector of the house. This idea made a special connection between cats and children. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The safety of all cats was of great concern to ancient Egyptians. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Foreigners sometimes took cats out of Egypt secretly and took them to other lands. Egyptian soldiers were sent to pick up cats found in other countries and bring them back home to Egypt.

A. There were good reasons for that.

B. Two types of cats appeared in ancient Egypt.

C. In grain fields, cats helped catch rats and mice.

D. They were able to help pick up the wounded birds.

E. There were even laws against getting a cat out of Egypt.

F. Anyone who killed a cat on purpose would be put to death.

G. That's why most Egyptian families had cats for good luck.

    Lots of people give you advice on overcoming (克服) fear. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}  However, I want to tell you that a world without fear would be more dangerous, less rewarding. So we want to treat fear as a friend？Here are three reasons. 

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Think about it. Do you get more nervous when you meet the girl (or guy) of your dreams？Which is more fearful, talking to the boss of your company or to some of your friends?{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you didn't have fear to guide you, you might not know that! Not so bad, right？

    Next, fear encourages us to take action. Fear is a call to action. In the past, our ancestors (祖先) didn't run away in fear when they saw a tiger running toward them but tried to kill it for food. Now, most of us don't face serious danger like hungry tigers every day, but we do face serious bosses or public speaking. So, what can we do？{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Lastly, fear lets you know you are alive. Why do we like roller coasters (过山车)？{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Same for horror movies.

    So fear can guide you towards what's important for you and encourage you to take action to improve. Don't we all need that kind of friend？

A. Don't fear to be wrong.

B. It frightens us in a mostly safe way.

C. Imagine what life would be like without fear.

D. The first is that fear is an excellent guide to opportunity.

E. They say if you can overcome fear, you will be successful.

F. Let fear provide us with the energy to do what needs to be done.

G. Fear is showing you what is important and what matters to you.