A Thanksgiving Day story in the newspaper told of a school teacher {#blank#}1{#/blank#} asked her class of first graders to draw a picture of something they were thankful for. She {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (think) of how little these children from poor neighbourhood actually had to be thankful for. But she knew that most of them would draw pictures of turkeys or tables full {#blank#}3{#/blank#} food. The teacher was taken back with the picture Douglas handed in—a small childishly hand!

    But whose hand? The class was {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (puzzle) by the abstract drawing. “I think it must be the hand of God {#blank#}5{#/blank#} brings us food,” said one child, “a farmer,” said another, “because he feeds turkeys.” Finally, when the others were at work, the teacher {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (bend) over at Douglas' desk and asked whose hand it was. “It's your hand, Teacher,” he said in a low voice.

    She remembered that {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (frequent) at break she had taken Douglas, a small lonely child, by {#blank#}8{#/blank#} hand. She often did that with the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (child). But it meant so much to Douglas. Perhaps this was everyone's Thanks-giving, not for the material things {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (give) to us but for the chance, in whatever small way, to give to others.

    Astronauts are people who go out into space. Being an astronaut is an exciting job. While in space, astronauts can look down and see {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（cloud）, land, and water. They can even see the moon up close. Astronauts get the chance {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(see) more stars than you or I have ever seen. Being an astronaut may be exciting, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it is not an easy job. A person who {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(want) to be an astronaut has to study for years. There are many things an astronaut must learn to do before going into space.

    Agricultural experts say crop diversity is important to feed the{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(increase) population of our planet. They say having a large variety of plants also{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(help) to protect against possible crop diseases and future crises. But many experts say the number has decreased sharply during the past century.

    One of the world's {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(large) seed conservation projects has predicted further losses. The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is warning that up to one hundred thousand plant species could {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (permanent) disappear. The rich collection of genes{#blank#}5{#/blank#} decide their qualities would disappear with them.

    Many experts blame climate change and loss of habitat, normal growth area, for damaging plant life. They say human{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(activity) and poorly planned, overly heavy use of land also are responsible. Modern business farming is responsible{#blank#}7{#/blank#}loss of farmers' traditional crop varieties. The "Green Revolution" of the twentieth century changed agriculture. Some experts say the use of modern commercial farming methods saved millions of people from{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(starve). Farmers planted, watered, and fertilized their crops with the help of machines. They treated their fields with chemicals{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(control) diseases and insects. Harvests grew larger and higher quality,{#blank#}10{#/blank#} another result was that some traditional crops were lost. Damage to the environment over the past century makes people believe that crop diversity also suffered.

    Man Kaur started running in 2009, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}she was in her 90s and began racking up medals. At 103, Man Kaur is not only going strong, she's getting others to follow in her footsteps as well.

    India's oldest female athlete is spending her summer {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(coach) 30 young athletes. Kaur and her 81-year-old son and trainer, Gurdev Singh, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (invite) for two weeks to several universities, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}their methods made such an improvement in the students' performance that they were asked {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(stay) through September.

    This invitation came on the heels of Kaur's participation in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Poland earlier this year, where she {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(win) gold in all four events. Though she was the only {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(compete) in her age category for all four events, for the 60-meter dash, she had company from other categories: two 85-year-olds and three 90-year-olds. Though they weren't competing for the prize in her age bracket, they ran alongside her and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (eventual) ahead of her.

    Ten years after she first started running, Kaur still loves it, according to her son. "She enjoys {#blank#}9{#/blank#}company of her admirers," her son adds. "Every time she participates, she feels proud that people around the world feel {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(inspire)."

    I never believed in lucky coins. But one day as I was mowing the lawn (修剪草坪), I noticed a shiny object some five yards away. I stopped the machine to go and see {#blank#}1{#/blank#} had caught my eye. Just as I bent over to pick up the object, the machine exploded behind me. I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (stand) there, frightened but unhurt. I {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (save) by the shiny object—a coin. I now believe in lucky coins and stop to pick them up whenever I see them.