A Commitment to Life

    The snow was falling and the roads had become dangerous. The schools were dismissed early, but much to my surprise, my1wasn't canceled. So I went, feeling especially heroic. As far as I could see, I was risking my life to keep my2. Snow or no snow, I would be on time for my scheduled donation at the local 3 center.

    When I got there, I discovered I wasn't4. Four more “hero-types” were already lying back in donor chairs with lines5to their veins, and machines quietly pumping away to6their lifesaving gifts.

    Seeing my fellow donors honoring their own commitments, I realized why I was there. I lay back in my donor chair, ready to make a difference in the life of someone I would never7.

    To be honest, I'd never really thought about why I donate. I just do it. But a few months ago, during one of my8donations I learned that my blood was specifically for a cancer patient and for a newborn baby—both patients needed what I would give in order to live. I've viewed my visits to the blood center9 ever since.

    My wife Karen is a 10  too. And more importantly, she has been on the bone marrow (骨髄) list for fifteen years, ever since she signed up to provide bone marrow to a kindergartner with leukemia (白血病). That little girl died before Karen's bone marrow could help her, 11Karen was called again recently. Her test results were still on file, and it turned out she was a potential 12 for someone else. The caller asked Karen if she would still be willing to become a bone marrow donor. “Yes,” she said and then immediately began answering questions on the pages of paperwork for further testing. It was a race13time.

    I wish I could say that this 14was won. It wasn't. The caller later thanked Karen for her participation and asked a few more questions—including whether or not she'd15 on the donor list. “Of course,” Karen answered.

    Last week Karen gave blood and next week I'll make my usual donation. I'll16an afternoon from my schedule and make an appointment. I don't know whose life my donation may 17 .Most likely it will be a 18  but on any day the person needing a blood product could be you or me or maybe a loved one. It is worthwhile to 19our time to donate.

    I really do feel 20 every time I donate. And I like the feeling.

    Under a very fearful storm, floods began to submerge (淹没) a small village. A priest (神父) in the church 1 and watched the flood submerge his knees. A lifeguard driving a boat came to2 the priest and said: “Father, come on as soon as possible!3 you will die in the flood!” The priest said: “No! I am 4 that God will save me. You can go to save others.”

    But soon the 5 have come to the priest's chest. At that time, a man was driving a speedboat to the priest. He said: “Father, fast up, otherwise you really will be submerged!” The priest said: “No, I would like to 6 my church. I 7 that God will save me. You'd better start to save others.”

    And after a while, floods have submerged the 8 church. A helicopter flew over 9 the pilot dropped a rope 10 and shouted: “Father11. This is the last 12!” Father firmly said: “No, I would like to keep my church! God will save me.” Rolling in the flood, the priest finally 13.

    Father went to the heaven and asked God the question: “Lord, I give my life to 14 you. Why do you 15 to help me!” God said: “Are you 16? The first time I sent a boat to save you, you refused it—I thought you were 17 about the risk boat; the second time I sent a speedboat to go, you refused it too; the last time I send a helicopter out, you were 18 to accept the results. Therefore, I thought you wanted to hurry back to my 19”

    In fact, too many obstacles in life, mostly because of extreme 20 are caused by ignorance.

    The life of George Washington was well-known for punctuality. For him, being on time was a way of showing  1 for others, and he  2 to be treated with the same level of respect  3.

    Once Washington asked a man to bring some  4 he was interested in buying at five in the morning.  5, the man arrived fifteen minutes late. Washington's groom（马夫）told the man that the general had been  6 there at five, but had now moved on to other business. Washington said that he wouldn't be able to  7 the horses again until the following week. The man left with his horses, feeling a deep sense of  8.

    When he told Congress（国会议员）that he'd meet with them at noon, he could almost always be found walking into the meeting room just as the clock was  9 twelve.

    Washington's punctuality extended to his 10 as well. He ate dinner each day at 11 four o'clock. When he 12 members of Congress to dine with him, and they 13 late, they were often  14 to find the president halfway done with his meal or even leaving the table. To his shocked, late  15 he would say, "We are punctual here. My cook never asks whether the guests have arrived, but whether the hour has  16."

    And when Washington's secretary arrived late for a meeting, and blamed his  17 for his lateness, Washington quietly replied, "Then you must get another watch, or I another  18."

    Washington, one of the most respected presidents in American history, is a good example to us all. Today, punctuality is still a(n) 19 part of the character of a nice person. So next time when you are struggling with arriving  20, think of these stories about the punctual president.

    Once upon a time there lived an old man in a nice cottage with a large garden. The old man was seen 1 for his flowers all the time. They were so well-tended that every passer-by could not but 2 for a glance.

    One day a young man went by the garden. He gazed at the splendid garden,  3 in admiration at the beauty of these views. Then, suddenly he 4 the old gardener was blind. 5, the young man asked, "Why are you busy tending these flowers every day which you can't 6 in fact?" The old man smiled and answered, "I can tell you 7 reasons. First I was a 8  when I was young, and I really like this job. Second, although I can't see these flowers, yet I can 9 them. Third, I can smell sweetness of them. As to the last one, that's 10."

    "Me? But you don't know me," responded the young man 11.

    "Yeah, it's 12 that I don't know you. But I know everyone loves flowers and would never 13. I know the beauty of my garden will get many people into a good 14. In the meantime, it also 15 a chance to me to have a word with you here and to enjoy the happiness these flowers have brought us."

    The old man's 16 astonished me. The blind man grows flowers and 17  them as a link of minds so as to make 18 enjoy the sunshine in spring. Isn't it one kind of happiness？

    I believe every flower has 19 with which they can see the kindness of the man's heart. The blind man grows flowers in his heart. Though 20 to see the beauty of blossoming, he surely can hear the voice of it, I suppose.

Professor Zhang Liangren from the School of History at Nanjing University has found a unique and engaging way to transmit historical and archaeological knowledge to the public—through food vlogs. His approach, combining culinary （食物的） delights with fascinating historical insights, has taken China's social media by storm, attracting a wide audience and gathering praise for its innovative method of storytelling.

Before digging into food vlogging, Professor Zhang Liangren usually dined at the school cafeteria or restaurants near his community. However, since he started making food vlogs in the summer of 2023, he has been exploring the world extensively, dining at a variety of restaurants that were previously unknown to him. Zhang Liangren frankly admits that he is far from being a qualified "foodie": He enjoys good food, but has not yet reached the point of searching everywhere for it. What truly led him onto the path of a food vlogger was his passion for archaeology. While watching Zhang taste the food, viewers can listen to him explaining the historical stories behind the dishes. Although the food cannot be immediately tasted, the spiritual nourishment （营养） of archaeology has satisfied the taste buds （味蕾） of netizens, who have expressed their satisfaction.

Speaking of the situation at the beginning of filming, Zhang Liangren frankly admitted, "Because I rarely did these things before, I was quite uncomfortable in front of the camera at first. My Mandarin was not very good either, so my speech and movements were very awkward. But gradually, I got used to it, and overall, it's much better than before."

As for which places he prefers to visit for check-ins, Zhang Liangren states that he prefers shops with a certain level of fame, "It must be down-to-earth, the kind of place that caters to the common people." He mentioned that he usually chooses small stands or shops with a long history and good reputation. Sometimes he also selects based on festivals, tasting the food while narrating the methods of preparation and the cultural significance behind the dishes.