I was driving home from the gym with my children. It was approaching bed time.

    “My legs hurt, I can't walk to the car.” said my son, William. Then be sat on the ground regardless of whatever we said.

    “Maybe you just need a banana? They're good for tired bones.” his sister, Meredith, persuaded him in a wise way.

This was the first time I had heard of the banana's miracle(神奇的) cure for achy bones. It distracted(使分心) William and we were able to make it to the car. His wish for bone relief brought him energy and he persisted(坚持) the entire ride home. Upon arrival, he struggled out of the car and slowly went up 3 steps into the house. While he took his ”medicine”, we arrived on a suitable diagnosis (诊断) for his “illness” —a serious case of Banana Bone. He was probably just over—tired. He had a long day and played hard in the Adventure Room at the gym. Thankfully we kept some bananas in the fridge, and hugs and kisses were given as a booster (辅助药剂) , which gave him the courage to walk upstairs to sleep.

    Banana Bone sounds like something I've had before. The aching hasn't been in my bones so much as in my head and my heart. I think it's a condition related to stress, lack of rest and stretching of one's abilities. Perhaps you're experienced it too. It is about long days facing challenges or pressing against the edges of your own ability without any hope.

    That's when you realize Banana Bone doesn't have to be a physical illness. It can be mental. It can drive emotion. It means you can choose it or you can choose against it. It's not real. It' s your reaction to what's real. I know, it' s still not easy. But it' s part of “growing up”. We must have the courage to overcome it and I believe we can make it﹗

    My advice to you? Eat a banana and go to bed. You'll feel a lot better and be your fresh self in the morning.

根据短文内容，选择最佳答案，并将选定答案的字母标号填在题前括号内。

    The tallest building in the United States, the One World Trade Center, opened on November 3, 2014 in New York. The building is 1,776 feet tall, making it the 3rd tallest building in the world. It has 104 floors. The building stands in the area where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. On September 11, 2001, a group of terrorists destroyed these twin towers and killed nearly 3,000 people. It took 8 years to build the new One World Trade Center. Does the height of the building in feet reminds you of something in history? The number is the year when the United States declared(宣布) its independence(独立) from Great Britain.

    One problem with such a tall building is how to clean the windows. Well, a platform(平台) hangs from ropes, and workers on the platform clean windows. On November 12, while two men were busy cleaning windows, a rope of the platform broke near the 68th floor. The two men were saved by cutting a hole in the glass window.

The two tallest buildings in the world are the BurjKhalifa in Dubai, UAE and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    The light from the campfire brightened the darkness, but it could not prevent the damp cold of Dennis's Swamp (沼泽地) creeping into their bones. It was a strange place. Martin and Tom wished that they had not accepted Jack's dare. They liked camping, but not near this swamp.

    “So,” Martin asked as they sat watching the hot coals. “How did this place get its name ? ”

    “Are you sure you want to hear it ? It's a scary story,” warned Jack.

    “Of course!” cried out Tom. “If there were anything to be scared of, you wouldn't have chosen this place!”

    “Ok, but don't say I didn't warn you,” said Jack, and he began this tale.

    “Way back in time, a man called Dennis tried to start a farm here. He built that cottage over there to live in . In those days, the area looked quite different — it was covered with tall trees and the swamp was a crystal-clear river. After three hard years, Dennis had cleared several fields and planted crops. He was so proud of his success that he refused to listen to advice.

    “ 'You are clearing too much land, ' warned one old man. ' The land is a living thing. It will hit back at you if you abuse it. '

    “ ' Silly fool,' said Dennis to himself. 'If I clear more land, I can grow more crops. I'll become wealthier. He's just jealous!'”

    “Dennis continued to chop down trees. Small animals that relied on them for food and shelter were destroyed. He was so eager to expand his farm that he did not notice the river flowing slowly towards his door. He did not notice salt seeping to the surface of the land. He did not notice swamp plants choking all the native plants.”

    “What happened? ” Martin asked. It was growing colder. He trembled, twisting his body closer to the fire.

“The land hit back —- just as the old man warned, ” Jack shrugged. “Dennis disappeared Old folks around here believe that swamp plants moved up from the river and dragged him underwater. His body was never found.”

    “What a stupid story, ” laughed Tom. “Plants can't …” Before he had finished speaking, he screamed and fainted (晕倒). The other two boys jumped up with fright, staring at Tom. Suddenly, they burst out laughing. Some green swamp ivy (常春藤) had covered Tom's face. It was a while before Tom could appreciate the joke.

    If you're dreaming of visiting one of those picture-perfect European towns filled with old-world attractiveness and scenic beauty, here is a look at the most beautiful small towns in Europe.

    Manarola

    Manarola, Italy, is filled with rainbow-colored homes carved right into a wall of stone along the Mediterranean coast. This charming fishing town is famous for its unbelievable wine, and the paintings. There are no cars here, no traffic lights, or traffic noise. You can drive to Manarola, but you'll have to park just outside the town and then take a shuttle bus or walk in on foot.

    Garmisch-Partenkirchen

    Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, is a fascinating mountain town. Once two separate towns, one Roman and the other Teutonic, the 1936 Winter Olympics forced them to combine, though the two sides still have different characters. The town dates back to 15 AD, filled with narrow, cobblestoned streets lined with historic three or four-story buildings painted with regional and religious scenes.

    Marsaxlokk

    The energetic trading port of Marsaxlokk, Malta, was built in 900 BC. Today, this pictures-like town is the main supplier of fish to the island nation that sits in the Mediterranean Sea. It has no modern buildings to ruin its appeal. With such quiet surroundings, including the traditional luzzu's (fishing boats), it's a particularly charming place to visit.

    Portmagee, Ireland

    In a country filled with beautiful towns, Portmagee, is a standout, sitting on the southwest coast of Ireland. This postcard-perfect seaside fishing town has a row of brightly colored buildings along with a rich and colorful history. At The Bridge Bar, you'll find live music many nights of the week along with fantastic food and a fine glass of beer.

    CAREER DISCOVERY DAY

    Ages: 11—17, with an adult chaperone (监护人)

    Purpose: To find out what it is like to work at a zoo.

    Descriptions:

    Join us for a great programme for middle and high school students to explore animal — related careers at Denver Zoo.

    From keepers to trainers, vets and exhibits designers, different kinds of possible zoo and animal careers will be explored during our Career Discovery Day this fall. The programme starts with an amazing gathering in which our animal stars will appear and perform. Participants will attend lectures given by professors of the zoo and take part in special tours filled with activities find information. And you, 11 have time to ask questions about what it takes to work on the wild side.

    Registration required:

    Registration closes at 10 a. m., September 16th. Lectures and tours are limited to registered participants and their one chaperone only.

    Cost:

    Members: $ 70 per person. Nonmembers: $ 75 per person. The cost includes zoo admission for one participant and one required adult chaperone.

Note:

    Participants will not be admitted without an adult chaperone and chaperones must stay with participants during the period of the event.

    If you have any questions, please call at 720—337—1491 or e-mailat teenprogrammes denverzoo. org.

    Scientists have found evidence of a link between social and economic status and childhood attention deficit disorder(ADHD)(注意力缺陷多动障碍)in the UK. A team led by the University of Exeter Medical School analysed data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a database of more than 19, 500 UK children born between 2000 and 2002 .The study was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

    Findings showed that more children with ADHD came from families below the poverty line than the UK population as a whole, with average family incomes for households whose study child was affected by ADHD at £324 per week, compared to £391 for those whose child was not. The study found the odds (机会)of parents in social housing having a child with ADHD was roughly three times greater than for those who owned their own homes.

    The team also found that the odds of younger mothers having a child with ADHD were significantly higher than for other mothers. Mothers with no qualifications were more than twice as likely to have a child with ADHD than those with degrees, and lone (孤独的)parents were more likely to have a child with ADHD diagnosis than households with two live-in parents.

    Information was gathered from surveys when the cohort children were nine months old, and at the ages of three, five, seven and eleven.

    Dr Ginny, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the study, said, "There is a genetic element to ADHD, but this study provides strong evidence that ADHD is also associated with a disadvantaged social and economic background. Some people believe that ADHD in children causes disadvantage to the economic situation of their family, but we found no evidence to support that theory. It's important to discover more about the causes of this disorder so that we can look towards prevention, and so that we can target treatment and support effectively. "