What should we do when we are in a bad situation? Some may choose to give up. But is that what we should do? The following news report may get you encouraged.

    With a population of 156 million, Bangladesh has one of the largest populations in the world. What makes the situation worse is that most of the country is situated on the low-lying Ganges delta(三角洲). As a result, it often suffers flooding, especially during the rainy season from July to October. In this period, the rivers rise as much as 12 feet. In such situations, people can only get to certain places by boat.

    The problems are particularly serious in the Chalanbeel region, a poor area where people survive by farming on the rich delta soil when it is not underwater. But many parents there don't want to send their children to school and there are not enough teachers. As a result, many kids living there do not attend school on a regular basis. The problem becomes worse during the rainy season when land schools cannot be reached. Many students never return to school after the forced breaks.

    How to help students attend school regularly? 22-year-old Bangladeshi architect Mohammed Rezwan decided to take action. In 2002, the young man used $500 he had received in scholarships to start Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha. The non-profit organization's mission was to set up floating schools. It took Rezwan four years to raise enough funds to open his first boat school. But as the world began to know about the organization's worthy cause, money started to pour in. Until now, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha has built 22 floating schools, some with playgrounds on the upper deck. Now a lot more children in the Chalanbeel region go to school regularly.

    We should keep in mind that there is always a solution to every problem.

    A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin (顽童) was walking around the shining car. “Is this your car, Paul?” he asked.

    Paul answered, “Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was surprised. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…"He hesitated.

    Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He wished he had a brother like that. But what the boy said surprised Paul greatly.

    “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Paul looked at the boy in surprise, and then he said again, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?” “Oh yes, I'd love that.”

    After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes shining, said. “Paul, would you mind driving in front of my house?”

    Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the boy wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked.

    He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast.

    He was carrying his little. crippled (残疾) brother. He sat him down on the step and pointed to the car.

    “There he is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it… Then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas window that I've been trying to tell you about.”

    Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his cat. The shining-eyed elder brother climbed in and three of them began an unforgettable holiday ride.

    Louise Blanchard Bethune showed early promise in math. But Louise did not go to school. Instead, her father taught her at home until she was 11 years old. She also discovered a skill for planning houses. It developed into a lifelong interest in architecture and a place in history as the first professional female architect in the United States.

    After graduating from high school in 1874, Louise traveled and studied. She hoped to prepare herself to attend the new architecture school at Cornell University. But then Buffalo's leading architectural firm of Richard A. Waite and F.W. Caulkins offered her a job. She knew that architects gained their training from practical experience, not from school. She took the job.

Louise worked there as an assistant, 10 hours a day for five years. She learned —-and mastered—-drawing and architectural design. She also met her husband, Robert A. Bethune. Their new firm, R.A. and LBethune, opened in October 1881.

    Bethune appeared to be the strength of the business. At the turn of the 20th century, the city of Buffalo was rapidly expanding to meet the demands of growing industry. The firm received tasks to build hundreds of structures throughout western New York. The firm designed lots of schools, apartment buildings, department stores, churches and factories.

    Bethune believed that being an architect meant being an artist, a scientist and a business person. She made a point of advocating for women in the profession. She became a member of the Western Association of Architects(WAA) in 1885. In 1888, she was the first woman to join the American Institute of Architects(AIA). Besides, Bethune took a firm stand on equal treatment for women architects. She insisted on equal pay for equal work.

    Bethune left almost no papers or letters, and few people recognize her name today. But her legacy remains in the foothold she established for women in the field of architecture. She started her own firm and enjoyed a successful career.

    To help the environment, many Americans have made the change from paper and plastic(塑料的) bags to reusable shopping bags. But a report by a Florida newspaper says that reusable shopping bags sold by some supermarkets have high levels of lead (铅), which can be dangerous to humans, especially young children. Now, there's a call for a rethink about the use of reusable shopping bags.

    “When our families go to the store looking for safe and healthy foods, the last thing they should be worrying about is a bag,” Charles Schumer, a government official said.“ Quick and complete research will allow everyone to make right decisions.”

    The newspaper bought more than a dozen bags sold at Publix supermarkets from Florida supermarkets to test them for lead. The results showed that certain bags had lead levels that worried health officials. Some bags had enough lead in them to be considered dangerous waste if people were to throw the bags out with other rubbish. Lead in the bags may not move onto food. But over time, paint on the bags can break off and the bags can wear out. When this happens, lead can be freed.

    The bags with the highest levels of lead had beautiful designs and many pictures. Plain （朴实无华的） reusable bags without them are found to have little lead. People worried about lead levels in reusable bags can turn to cloth. Paper bags are also a good choice, since paper can be reused.

    John, a very thin boy, loved football with all his heart when he was very young. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he could only sit on the bench and hardly ever played in games. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always standing with cheers and encouraging him.

    When John went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-on”. Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach thought he could provide the other members with the spirit they needed.

    The news that he had survived the cut excited him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.

    It was the end of this last football season. One day John received a telegram and asked one week off. Nobody knew what happened except the coach. The coach said, “Don't plan to come back to the game on Saturday.”

    Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well：When the team was ten points behind, John came back. “Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today,” said John. The coach pretended not to hear him. But John persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in.

    Before long everyone could not believe their eyes. John was doing everything to fight. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed and blocked like a star. And at last his team won the game.

    After the game, John looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?'' John swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him that I could do it.”

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