No matter where you are, humans are constantly measuring and checking time. Some of us are good at it—planning and doing things ahead of time,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}others are always trying to beat the clock and do things at the eleventh hour.

    Tardiness (拖拉) can be serious. If you{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) one minute late for work, would you resign? It may sound extreme, but that is exactly {#blank#}3{#/blank#}occurred in the UK upper chamber of parliament, the House of Lords, in January 2018. International development minister Lord Bates arrived one minute late, and, as a result, was unable to answer a {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(schedule) question. Instead of trying {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) up for lost time, as many might do, he resigned on {#blank#}6{#/blank#}spot. He apologized for his discourtesy (无礼) and stated that he was ashamed. His resignation, though.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (reject) by the UK prime minister.

    So, how late is too late? Many cultures take punctuality very seriously. In contrast, others seem to view tardiness{#blank#}8{#/blank#} just the normal way of things. What is considered acceptable is based on culture. That is, if you don't mind waiting, it might be best to attend your{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (appoint) in good time. And if the worst comes to the worst, remember the old English proverb.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (well) late than never.”

Food from the air

    Everyone has seen plants growing, but have you ever thought {#blank#}1{#/blank#} they get their food? In the seventeenth century, a European scientist {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (call) Van Helmot asked this question. Like most people, he thought that plants must get their food from soil. However, Van Helmot decided {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (test) the theory with experiments.

    First, he dried some soil, put it into a pot and weighed it. Next, he weighed a small tree, planted it in the pot and added rain water. Then, he watered it {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (regular) with rain water.

    After five years, he removed the tree from the pot and weighed it again. He found that the tree had gained {#blank#}5{#/blank#} huge amount of weight. When he weighed the soil, however, it was almost exactly the same as it had been five years {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. So Van Helmot drew the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (conclude) that the tree grew by drinking water. Though it turned out to be wrong, he showed the importance of the use of scientific evidence to support ideas.

    We now know that plants and trees make their own food. Their leaves, when exposed {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the air and sun, are like factories {#blank#}9{#/blank#} can change the energy from the sun into chemical energy. During this process (过程), oxygen and sugar {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (produce). The oxygen is released back into the air, and the sugar is used by the plant as food.

    We high school students do have some growing pains, but we can get rid of them correctly and wisely.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, some of us are upset {#blank#}2{#/blank#} their body styles and looks. It's unnecessary and it's not important at all. We needn't care about it. It is one's inner beauty {#blank#}3{#/blank#} matters. Second, we sometimes seem to be misunderstood {#blank#}4{#/blank#} our teachers, parents and classmates.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (face) with this, we can find a proper time to have a heart-to-heart talk with them, trying to remove the{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (understand). Some of us have fewer friends. I think being open-minded and{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (friend) will do you good .Third, we may fall behind others, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} makes us stressed. Actually we can encourage {#blank#}9{#/blank#} to work efficiently, full of determination. At last, some of us don't have much pocket money, so they feel unhappy. Isn't it strange? So long as we have some, that's enough. And we can learn {#blank#}10{#/blank#} to spend money!

    Has Jackie Chan retired? Surprise! He released a new film. A repeat of his action film in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 1970s, Police Story 2013 is about a {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (devote) policeman named Zhong Wen (Jackie), {#blank#}3{#/blank#} works so hard that he doesn't have time for his family.

    As Zhong Wen is occupied {#blank#}4{#/blank#} his job, his daughter Miaomiao (played by Jing Tian) becomes rebellious (叛逆的) and gets into a relationship with the bar owner Wu Jiang (played by Liu Ye). Miaomiao asks Zhong to meet her at her boyfriend's bar, not {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (know) that she's being used by Wu Jiang to get to her father. Wu Jiang then keeps the bar's customers as hostages (人质) and asks for the freedom of Fu, a {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (crime) captured by Zhong years ago.

    Jackie Chan said that {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (physical), he had a hard time with the film because he did the fight scenes with real mixed martial arts fighters. "The fights were with genuine MMA (mixed martial arts) boxers, not stunt (替身) men," Jackie Chan revealed (透露). "So, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} didn't know how to control their strength when we {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (film) the fight sequences (片段). Those were rock-hard and solid kicks.”

    Police Story 2013, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (bring) by Megavision Inc, will be on at the cinema on January 22.