All languages change over time, but some change at a faster rate than others. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The most important factors are the number of people who speak a language, where they live and whether they move around, the importance of the language for world trade and communication, and changes in technology.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} However, today English is the most widely used language in the world. English is spoken by about 350 million people as a first language in countries such as Great Britain, the United States. In addition, about a billion more people speak English as a second language.

    English started to take over French as an international language during the period of British colonialism (殖民主义) when the English ruled many countries in Africa and Asia. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The colonial period came to an end at the same time that several other changes occurred. For example, the U.S. started to play a greater part in global affairs and the international economy. New means of communication technology such as television and the Internet spread English worldwide. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In addition, they could use the Internet for information, business, or e-mail communication, all in English. Just as the use of English spread, other languages changed English by contact or by new inventions and technology.

    In contrast, Icelandic is a language that has changed very slowly. Icelandic speakers today can understand poetry written in a slightly different dialect over 1,000 years ago! Why has Icelandic changed so slowly? The main reason is the isolated (孤立的) location of the island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Compared to England, Iceland had no history of colonialism. Iceland's small population has not played a major role in international trade or communication. Today, most Icelanders speak English in addition to their native language. With outside influences, Icelandic is changing more rapidly now.

A. People everywhere could watch the news or sports events in English.

B. These changes have a great influence on the development of society.

C. Isolation meant that for hundreds of years, Icelanders had little contact with speakers of other languages.

D. What are some of the factors that influence how quickly a language changes?

E. The language communication brings about the communication of technology.

F. In the past, other languages such as Latin or French were more important than English.

G. English was the primary means of communication in these colonies.

    Do you know that over ten million American kids go to camp every summer ?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Back then, hot city summers made people feel bad and even unhealthy for children, so escaping to the country for a few weeks became popular. Today, kids have different reasons for making camp a part of their lives.

To meet new people

    Camp is a great way to make new friends and learn about different places and cultures. Michiko, 13, put it like this, “I loved camp. I met this girl named Manny who lives in New York and she is cool.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}We taught each other words.”

    To challenge (挑战) yourself

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Activities like trying new sports, learning new games, or pushing yourself to achieve something need a lot of courage. Arabella, 13, told us, “I went to summer camp and I passed my swimming test! I can hardly swim, so it was a big progress.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}”

    To experience nature

    There's a great big natural world out there, and going to camp helps you learn how beautiful and important it really is.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Getting out into the woods or mountains can give you a better understanding of the world.

A. Not all the things that kids do at camp are easy.

B. She speaks Spanish and I speak Japanese.

C. I felt great afterwards.

D. It's also a great way to learn about teamwork.

E. Summer camp has been a U.S. tradition for over 150 years.

F. Going to camp is all about having a good time.

G. Without trees, soil, water, and wildlife, the Earth couldn't survive.

    Everything you do to protect the planet helps all living things, including humpbacks（座头鲸）and other species of whales that live in oceans worldwide. And yes－just one kid, like you, can make a difference.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Don't litter. Rubbish thrown away carelessly outside often washes into storm drains（排水沟）, which empty into rivers and eventually flow to the oceans.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}including whales.

    Say, “No bag, thank you.” Whether you're buying toys, snacks, or clothes, tell the checkout person you don't need a bag.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}you'll help reduce the 100 million plastic bags that each year block sewers（下水道）, and get swallowed by whales, sea turtles, and other wild life.

    Plant a tree.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}They produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）, a gas that animals, including humans, produce naturally as they breathe. But because carbon dioxide also comes from cars and factories, there is too much of it in the atmosphere, which is contributing to global warming. If everyone planted one tree, those trees would remove a large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Every time you leave a room for more than a minute, turn off the light you're using. In this way, you save energy and keep greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.

    Try the family challenge! Many streams and rivers are polluted and littered with rubbish. You and your family can help preserve the waterways by joining others in your community to pick up rubbish.

A．Trees help clean the air we breathe

B．Turn off the light

C．Avoid driving cars

D．By carrying your own reusable bag

E．Treat them like friends

F．Here are ideas for easy small things you can do

G．Pollution is a growing problem for all the Earth's oceans and its wildlife

Why Do We Get Angry?

    Anger seems simple when we are feeling it, but the causes of anger are various. Knowing these causes can make us examine our behavior, and correct bad habits. The main reasons we get angry are triggering（触发）events, personality traits（特征）, and our assessment of situations. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Triggering events for anger are so many that to describe them all would take hundreds of pages. However, here are some examples: being cut off in traffic, a deadline approaching, experiencing physical pain, and much more.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} The reason why someone is triggered by something and others are not is often due to one's personal history and psychological traits.

    Each person, no matter who they are, has psychological imbalances. People who have personality traits that connect with competitiveness and low upset tolerance are much more likely to get angry. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Also, sometimes pre-anger does not have to do with a lasting condition, but rather a temporary state before a triggering event has occurred.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Sometimes even routine occurrences become sources of pre-anger, or anger itself. Sometimes ignorance and negative (消极的) outlooks on situations can create anger.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}However, anger can easily turn violent, and it is best to know the reasons for anger to appear in order to prevent its presence. With these main reasons in mind, we can evaluate our level of anger throughout the day and prevent cases of outbursts by comprehending the reasons for our feelings.

A. Our attitude and viewpoint on situations can create anger within us as well.

B. But some types of situations can help us to get rid of the occurrence of anger.

C. Anger is rarely looked upon as a beneficial character trait, and is usually advised to reduce it.

D. Anger is a particularly strong feeling and maybe people think that they have reasons to feel angry.

E. Having these personality traits implies the pre-anger state, where anger is in the background of your mind.

F. Understanding these reasons will control our own anger if we are willing to evaluate ourselves with a critical eye.

G. Not everyone acts the same in response to events, and that is why what triggers one person may or may not trigger another.

    I've been keeping an English blog for many years. These practical tips have helped me over the course of my blogging.

    Read quality books, blogs, journals, etc. which are written in English.

    Blogging is not always about writing. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Reading also improves your English comprehension, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and writing.

    Practice helps, so continue writing.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Trying to make a perfect post free from grammar and spelling mistakes is good but you're not making use of your time efficiently.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Think about the main points you want to raise. I prepare an outline of my post and a list of the points I want to talk about. Doing this has helped me stay on track and centre on my main points. The outline and the list of points I want to write about serve as my guidelines when I'm writing.

    When writing, use simple words and sentences.

    Using simple sentences makes your job as a blogger easier. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Always remember this: The aim of your writing is to get your message across and the only way to become an effective writer is successfully getting your message across to your readers.

    Write your posts ahead of time.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} To free yourself from the pressure of making a post on daily basis, which might influence your writing, consider making your posts ahead of time.

A. Also, it makes your posts more understandable to your readers.

B. Welcome comments from your blog readers.

C. There are advantages of daily blogging, but if it becomes tiring, forget about it.

D. Don't be afraid of making mistakes.

E. Mistakes can be reduced with the help of your readers.

F. You need to read to be able to write fluently

G. Prepare an outline of your post.

    Are you happy with your appearance？{#blank#}1{#/blank#} "Almost all the girls with single﹣fold eyelids in our class have had double﹣eyelid operations, "Zeng, a Senior 2 student from Chengdu, told Xinhua. Zeng had the same surgery done this summer. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    From popular photo﹣editing apps to plastic surgery, it seems that large eyes, pale skin and a skinny body are the only standard for beauty these days. But can following this standard really make us feel good about ourselves？

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} According to Huxiu News, over six in ten girls choose not to take part in certain daily activities, such as attending school, because they feel bad about their looks. As much as 31 percent of teenagers avoid speaking up in class because they worry that others will notice their looks.

    Many teenagers are upset about their appearance because they believe in unrealistic standards of beauty, experts say. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Seeing all these things can make anyone believe that they're too dark, too fat, too short, or too tall.

    However, trying to live up to strict standards can make us feel anxious. What troubles us is not just our "imperfect" looks, but the fact that we criticize ourselves too much.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Plus﹣size models are being featured in some fashion shows. All of us should be just as confident as they are.

A. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.

B. Body image anxiety is common among teenagers.

C. Guys care just as much as girls do about their body image.

D. Some teenagers might feel negatively about their appearance.

E. She and many of her classmates believe bigger eyes look more beautiful.

F. It's not uncommon for teenagers to feel confident about their appearance.

G. Perfect faces and bodies are everywhere in advertising TV shows and social media.