Polar bears are suffering in a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (warm) world.

    Polar bears live in environments too cold for most animals. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} much of the year, they live and hunt on the frozen Arctic sea ice. Nature has prepared {#blank#}3{#/blank#} for the cold conditions. But nothing has prepared the bears for the danger that {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (threat)the only home they know.

    The polar bears' world is melting. Studies show that the polar ice has reduced by 9.8% every 10 years {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 1978. Now about 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears depend on the sea ice for their {#blank#}6{#/blank#}． (survive). “The sea ice is more than just this platform that the bears walk over,” says Andrew Derocher, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} scientist who studies North American polar bear populations. “{#blank#}8{#/blank#}  it, they can't exist.”

    Some melting and refreezing of the polar ice is natural. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in a warmer world, these cycles speed up, and bears have less time to hunt. Normally, they have three months in the spring when they gain more weight. The extra fat is used later, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the bears are not actively hunting.

    Like many new graduates, I left university full of hope for the future but with no real idea of what I wanted to do. My degree, with honors, in English literature had not {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(real) prepared me for anything practical. I knew I felt like {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) a difference in the world somehow, but I had no idea{#blank#}3{#/blank#} to do that. That's when I learned about the Lighthouse Project.

    I started my journey {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a Lighthouse Project volunteer by reading as much as I could about the experiences of previous volunteers. I knew it would be a lot of hard work,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}that I would be away from my family and friends for a very long time. In short, I did not take my {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(decide) to apply for the Lighthouse Project lightly. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} did my family.

    Eventually, however, I {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(win) the support of my family, and I sent in all the paperwork needed for the application. After countless interviews and presentations, I managed to stand out among {#blank#}9{#/blank#} candidates and survive the test alone. Several months later, I finally received a call{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(ask) me to report for the duty. I would be going to a small village near Abuja, Nigeria. Where? What? Nigeria? I had no idea. But I was about to find out.

    One morning, I was waiting at the bus stop, worried about {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) late for school. There were many people waiting at the bus stop, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} some of them looked very anxious and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (disappoint).When the bus finally came, we all hurried on board. I got a place next {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the window, so I had a good view of the sidewalk. A boy on a bike {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (catch) my attention. He was riding beside the bus and waving his arms. I heard a passenger behind me shouting to the driver, but he refused {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (stop) until we reached the next stop. Still, the boy kept {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (ride). He was carrying something over his shoulder and shouting. Finally, when we came to the next stop, the boy ran up to the door of the bus. I heard an excited conversation. Then the driver stood up and asked, “Did anyone lose a suitcase at the last stop?” A woman on the bus shouted, “Oh, dear! It's {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (I).”She pushed her way to the driver and took the suitcase thankfully. Everyone on the bus began talking about {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the boy had done, and the crowd of strangers {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (sudden) became friendly to one another.

    Have you ever awakened and felt like you couldn't move? If so, it {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (probable) scared you. You may have thought something terrible had happened to you. Actually, many people have this experience on a regular basis. It {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (call) sleep paralysis(瘫痪). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it sounds scary, it is normal.

    Sleep paralysis happens when a person is falling asleep or waking up. As the person falls asleep, his or her body slows down. Usually the person's mind {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(relax) at the same time, but occasionally the mind stays awake{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(long) than the body. As a result, the person can be conscious, or aware, but have trouble moving or {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(speak). Sleep paralysis can also occur as you wake up. Fortunately, the condition rarely lasts for more than a few seconds. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(move) and speech soon return to normal.

    Some people report unusual experiences during sleep paralysis. They may hear, see or feel things {#blank#}8{#/blank#}don't exist. At one time, people {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(think) that ghosts or monsters had entered the room and were holding them down，keeping them from moving. Science has helped us understand that such visions are actually part of sleep paralysis. Now we know that getting too little sleep, taking certain medications(药物), and changing your sleep schedule can cause sleep paralysis. This condition can be scary, but it's just a trick that you mind is playing {#blank#}10{#/blank#} your body.

    I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled "A Real Test in My Life" before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes fixed on me. I had no choice but {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (prepare) for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory—for to read from the paper {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (forbid). The real moment began when I stood on the platform with my legs {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (tremble) and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (I) back, delivering my speech without difficulty. After {#blank#}8{#/blank#} seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding—I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before the audience disappeared. Actually with my {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (confident) built up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (great) difficulty on our way to success is our fear. Overcome it and we will be able to achieve our goals.