阅读短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。

    Some of the greatest problems we face today are the destruction (破坏) of our environment． Brown clouds, polluted water, endangered wild animals．．, these problems seem so huge．

    So my family does what we can． We take cloth bags to stores instead of using plastic bags． We walk where we don't have to drive．．．

    But does it do any good? When I am the only one in line at the market with cloth bags, am I doing any good? Does my walking to stores make any real difference to the world?

    I recently learned something about flamingos (火烈鸟) which like to get together in groups of a thousand or more． Every year, when the time comes for migration (迁徙), a few of them first takeoff from the lake． But none of the others seem to notice, so the small group returns．

    However, the next day they try again． This time few more fly along with them, but most of them still pay no attention, so they return again． They try for several times． Every time a few more birds join in but, since the thousands of others still take no notice, the great migration plan is once more stopped．

    Then one day something changes． The same small group of birds once again starts flying and a small number more join in just as before, then more． Finally, they all take flight and the migration really begins．

    What a spectacular sight it must be—thousands of flamingos taking off into the sky at once!

    A few can make a difference． Even if you're the one to take the first step, and continue trying, others will someday take notice and together we will solve even our greatest problems．

B

    There is an elephant and a monkey. They're friends. But one day they want to know who is stronger. One of them says, "Who can get apples over there, who is stronger?"

    There is a river over there. The monkey says, "I can't swim." The elephant says, "I can swim. Please sit on my back." They go across the river. The apple trees are very tall. The elephant can't reach the apples. The monkey climbs up the tree and gets many apples.

    Now they know they should help each other.

    Today is Saturday, but Julie gets up very early. She wants to go to the library. The library is far from her home. Julie has a good breakfast. She has some bread, two eggs and a cup of milk. Then she leaves home and gets to the bus stop.

    Julie gets on the bus at eight. After one and a half hours, she gets to the library. The library is big and clean. There are lots of interesting books in it. Julie reads a storybook there. It's very funny. When it's time for lunch, Julie leaves the library and goes back home. She borrows three books from the library: one English book, one science book and one history book. She wants to read them at home.

We all know it's important to encourage children's interests. But Maryland mom Charmaine Britt took support to a whole new level when she gave her daughter Breana Britt the green light to start her own baking business five years ago—- when "Bree" was just 12 years old. "She kept asking me, so I finally said, 'Well, you can start it online with you baking and me doing deliveries(运送)and we'll see how it goes,'" Charmaine, 38, said.

    Things went well. The now 17-year-old Bree's Sweet Treats had grown from a little online cupcake-and-cookie business became a full-service bakery plus café that delivers to the entire Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. "She makes great baked goods so I just thought it could be a good way to help her become financially responsible," says Charmaine. "I never thought it would become this."

    Bree, on the other hand, said she never had any doubts. "I love doing this," says the junior. "And I just think, if I'm doing something I love, I may as well make money." Bree makes about $1,500 a month.

    "When we opened the store I took some time and thought: Is this what I want?" Bree says. "And it was." She admits there have been rough patches (困难时期). There have been times where we get frustrated（受挫）. Am I willing to give up a bit of time with friends for this?" She says. "But I never regretted having this business. It's been a part of me for so long."

    Charmaine is already thrilled with what her daughter has accomplished. "over the years I've seen her become a leader and I'm so impressed with her dedication (奉献), especially for someone her age." says the mom.

    Three travelers, Allan, Carl and Paul were sitting on the chairs in a train station. They were waiting for a train that was very late.

    To kill time, they began talking to each other.

    At first, they talked about the weather and their work. Then Paul said, "Tell me-what would you most like to do if your doctor tells you that you have only three months to live?"

    The other two men thought about this for a while, then Carl spoke.

    "Well," he said, "if I have only three months to live, I'll take all my money out of the bank and go to foreign countries for holidays with my best friend, Erik. I'd like to travel to the places in the world as many as possible. And I'll stay at the best hotels and then eat the best food. I think I'll have a wonderful time. "

    "That's very interesting." Paul said.

    With these words, he turned to the other man, saying, "And what about you?"

    "I'll tell you a secret," Allan said. "I always want to be a racing driver. So if I have only three months to live, the first thing I'd like to do is to sell my house. With the money I'll buy the fastest car in the world. Perhaps I can enter all the big motor races."

    Then he laughed, "I might even end up world champion (冠军). "

    "Now it's your turn," Allan went on, "If your doctor tell you the bad news, what would you most like to do?"

    "Oh," said Paul with a smile. "__________________________"

    "Haha! Why didn't we think of that?" The three of them laughed together.

    For Schultz, a 77-year-old man, this is a chance of a lifetime.Schultz is part of a group of around 50 Germans who are on a bus journey along the ancient Silk Road.

    Speaking of his journey, he says, "I have been deeply interested in the Silk Road since I was a child ,but now I finally have a chance to experience it."

    The two-month bus journey will take the group through Germany ，Russia and other 4 European countries. They will then enter China from the country's western part. It will be an unforgettable memory for them.

    Nearly half of the 13,000-kilometer trip will be inside China. From Xinjiang in the west to Shanghai in the east, the German visitors will see more than 20 Chinese cities. "We have managed the trip of the Silk Road for around 10 years. An increasing number of people, not only from German-speaking countries ,have been joining us ,"says Liu Guoqiang from China Tours.

    Almost 26 million foreigners traveled to China in 2015, and about 5 million of them were from Europe. Beijing ,Xi'an , Shanghai and the Changjiang River are traditional Chinese travel destinations(目的地) for European tourists. Speaking of where he wants to go ,Schultz says ,"Compared with modern cities ,the culture in western China attracts(吸引)me more."

    As Shi Xiang head of the China Tours, says ,"Being a new brand to attract foreign visitors ,the Silk Road is good for people to know more about China ,especially the northwestern part of the country."

    (China Daily)