All around the world, people are working hard to make their cities safer and more pleasant for pedestrians (行人). Cities havepainted crosswalks on their streets, made streets narrower, put in traffic lights and speed bumps (减速带) and madeplans to help more kids walk or bike to school.

    Many people have learned from a man from Brisbane, Australia,named David Engwicht. His book Reclaiming Our Cities and Towns has a simplemessage{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Kids playedthere, and neighbors stopped there to talk.

    But now, streets are just for cars and trucks. People stay inside to get away from the noise and dangerous traffic, and we lose contact with our neighbors{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.  People needto take back their streets. Engwicht travels around the world, helping people think differently about pedestrians, streets, and neighborhoods.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}． He has workedin neighborhoods from Honolulu to Scotland.

    While Engwicht was writing his book, he learned how neighbors in the city of Delft, in the Netherlands, stopped dangerous traffic on their street. They put old couches, tables, and planters in the street.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. When the police arrived, they saw how these illegal actions made the streets safer. Soon city officials started planning ways to make cars slow down, and“calm”thetraffic.

    Engwicht says we should think about streets as our “outdoor living room”.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}．

    In the future, streets will be safe places for children again,and our neighbors will become our friends.

a. Cars and pedestrians crowded the street.

b. Calming the traffic is just the beginning.

c. Cars could still pass, but they had to drive slowly.

d. He says that in the past, streets belonged to everybody.

e. It's hard to take measures to solve the traffic problems.

f. Besides his books and articles, he gives many speeches.

g..  Engwicht says that we should use streets for more than just transportation.

    When we think about the dreams we have, it is surprising to see how many people failed even if they could have succeeded. So today I'm going to tell you five ways to kill your dreams.

    Believe in overnight success.

    Everyone knows the story of a tech guy who built a mobile app and sold it for a lot of money. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you investigate further, you will find that he is well educated and has been working on the project for 20 years. Therefore, your overnight success is always a result of what you've done in your life.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Constantly, people around you always have opinions on which path you should take. But whichever way you choose, there are other ways you have to pick as well. And one day you need to solve those problems yourself.

Decide to rest when success is guaranteed.

When your life is going great and everything is set— time to rest. Actually, when you're growing towards a peak, you need to work even harder and find yourself another peak. If you were content with what you've accomplished, it would stop you from a greater success. 

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Believe the fault is someone else's.

    I constantly see people saying, “I created this great product, but the market is so bad.” If you have dreams, it's your responsibility to make them happen. Yes, the market may be bad. But if no one bought your product, surely there is something there that is your fault.

     {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Believe that the only things that matter are the dreams themselves.

    Achieving a dream is a short moment, but your life is not. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} And the only way to really achieve all of your dreams is to fully enjoy every step of your journey.

A. When we face difficulties, believe in ourselves.

B. The overnight success inspires so many people.

C. The story may seem real, but I bet it's incomplete.

D. Be responsible for your own dreams.

E. Life is never about the goals themselves.

F. There's no time to settle down.

G. Believe someone else has the answers for you.

Values for Americans

    One of the most basic moral values for Americans is honesty. The well-known legend about George Washington and the cherry tree teaches this value clearly. Little George cut down his father's favorite cherry tree while trying out his new hatchet. When his father asked him about it, George said, “I cannot tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.” Instead of punishment, George received praise for telling the truth.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} But Americans still believe that “honesty is the best policy.”

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Remember Aesop's fable about the turtle and the rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he did not give up. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The hill was so steep that the little train had a hard time trying to get over it. But the train just kept pulling, all the while saying, “I think I can, I think I can.” At last, the train was over the top of the hill.

    Compassion(怜悯) may be the queen of American virtues. The story of “The Good Samaritan” from the Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The kind Samaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need,

     {#blank#}5{#/blank#}In fall 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to help Floridians hit by a hurricane. The next summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returned the favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindnesses shown to them.

A. The traveler had been beaten and robbed.

B. Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance (坚持不懈).

C. As a matter of fact, it is these virtues that help the country develop.

D. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle.

E. There used to be a high and steep hill.

F. Sometimes American honesty—being open and direct—can hurt people.

G. Another story tells of a little train that had to climb a steep hill,

    The key to dealing with test-day anxiety is through preparation! {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is important to prepare your mind and body for the experience of working under pressure.

    Get some sleep. I know you've heard this before, but it's often repeated because it's so important. Get plenty of sleep the night before the test! If you don't have enough rest, you'll find it much harder to concentrate. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Leave early. Be sure to leave earlier than normal on the day of a test to avoid the added fear of arriving late. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The embarrassment will cause you to be distracted and lose valuable time.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Once you arrive at school or at the testing center, find a quiet space where you can be all alone. You can use your car if you drive, or you can find an empty locker room or office (ask a teacher). Once you locate in a quiet place, do a relaxation session. Close your eyes and try to relax completely. Take deep breath and keep calm.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's possible that some students start to stress out as other students discuss the material. When you hear others chatting, it might sound like you skipped over something important or you misunderstood a concept. It's probably not even true——but it can seem like it!

A. Take a quiet moment.

B. A sleepy brain is a foggy brain!

C. Watch out for the road conditions.

D. Walking into an exam late is the last thing you need!

E. You might also find time for a quick bite during a break.

F. Don't talk with other students in the minutes before a test.

G. But full preparation means more than knowing the test material.

    Is college really worth the cost? Let's explore some of the pros and cons. It takes money to make money.

    Do college graduates make a higher salary? In general, yes. Those with a bachelor's degree make nearly twice the income of someone with only a high school diploma.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Among the majors that make the most money out of college are engineering, math and computer science. Not surprisingly, some of the lowest include art, religious studies, and early childhood and elementary education.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The average cost of a year of tuition (学费) in the United States is more than $30,000.That's just one year. Because of that, many college graduates come out with debt that annoys them for years after they graduate.

    For many tradesmen, a special skill in their specific field is all that's needed to make not only a fairly good living, but a comfortable one. The average electrician, for example, makes $58,933, whereas the average preschool teacher, after college, makes around $30,000. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    College grads have higher job satisfaction.

    Another plus for going to college? In general, college graduates are more satisfied with their jobs — 57 percent of college graduates are satisfied in their careers as compared to 37 percent of people with just a high school diploma. What's more, college graduates are less affected by job cuts when economy is weak. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    They also have a better social network.

    College also provides numbers of social benefits, providing social networks that stay with people throughout their lives. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The college years are formative years in our lives.

A. But college tuition is pricy.

B. Better universities cost more but bring more.

C. That being said, not all college majors are created equal.

D. They really have a better sense of achievement in their career.

E. They are more marketable and can generally find another job more easily.

F. How many people do you know who met their future wife or husband in college?

G. And that salary doesn't factor in the cost to pay back student loans from four years of college.

    Playing a musical instrument can be a fun and rewarding hobby. It's a good way to express feelings and develop confidence in your abilities. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are a few questions to help you decide.

    What kind of music do you like?

    What you are interested in will encourage you to play. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Traditional orchestra musical instruments are what you hear in classical music. Modern music calls for modern instruments, like electric guitars.

    Where are you going to practice?

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Think about where and when you are going to practice, as well as the patience of the people you live with or near. Some instruments like the guitar give you the chance of playing in the night using earphones, while your housemates sleep in peace. Also, you may need to consider going to a school or a music center to practice.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    This is quite a big problem. A lot of instruments can be bought in different price ranges. But this doesn't change the fact that many instruments, such as the piano, are always expensive. If you can't afford your chosen instrument, will you be able to borrow someone else's?

    Are there any physical limitations?

    If you are small and don't like lifting heavy objects, you won't want to carry around a cello (大提琴). If you don't have great lung power, think twice about the saxophone. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But remember that with the right coaching, everyone can develop the right skills.