阅读理解

      If you have failed in the past to try to make big changes in life, try again now, one tiny step at a time.

      Every year it's the same. As December comes to an end, you think about the new year and all the ways you want to improve your life. But as you start to write down your hopes for the new year, you think about the last year. You excitedly write down all the changes you are going to make, but by the end of January those ideas get lost in your busy life. 

      Here's a suggestion: Forget the too big, hard-to-achieve goals and just think about the small ones. “We often think that we have to do everything in big steps, even though it's so hard for us to reach it.” said Robert Maurer, who recently wrote the book One Small Step Can Change Your Life. “What we try to do is to begin with such a small step that we can't find any excuse not to do it.”

    “Kaizen”, a Japanese word, is used to mean to change behavior and attitudes (态度). During World War II, American factory managers were able to increase productivity by trying small, continuous improvements instead of sudden changes. After the war, the idea was brought to a rebuilding（重建） Japan. It made Japan develop fast. The Japanese called it “kaizen”, which means “improvement”.

     Maurer studied the idea and did some experiments with it. “Kaizen” could possibly help people succeed in doing everything. 

      Andrew Holleman, a 12-year-old boy, loved playing in the open land near his home. The land was wet and forested, and made a home for birds, other animals and many different plants. It made the perfect place for him to study and get to know the nature. He had seen some red-tail hawks, red foxes, wood turtles and other animals. He also found special native flowers.

      Suddenly it was announced that the “empty” land would be improved by a lot of houses on it. The plants would be removed, the animals would run away and most would probably die. Then the wet soil(土壤) would be covered with extra grounds. When he heard about the news, he was not happy. He was very worried that the land and water would be polluted.

      Andrew wrote down clearly all the research he had done about the area, and how the houses would affect the local environment. He sent letters to members of local government and television reporters. He also called on his neighbors to oppose the building of the houses.

Although he was only 12 years old, he had the courage and wisdom of a person much older. Andrew's teachers described him as gentle, shy and active. His classmates also admired how much he knew about local animals and plants and the environment. Each day after school, Andrew went door-to-door, to ask the people to sign, who did not want the houses to be built. In only one month, he got the signatures of 250 people. In the end, the land remained a safe place for birds, animals and plants that belonged there.

      Andrew won many prizes for his brave and great work to stop the houses being built, and thus help save the environment.

      What would the world be like if cars could drive themselves? Imagine seeing an empty car passing by on its way to pick up its owner, or a car full of passengers who are reading, listening to music or even sleeping. But none of them are worried about the road ahead.

      Well, all of this could be the future of driving. There are several companies, including Google, working on driverless cars. So far, no Google self-driven car has gotten a traffic ticket, but some of them have been in accidents when other cars hit them.

      These cars are now still in the testing stages. But, if the tests are successful, these electric self-driven cars could be put into use very soon.

      The cars already have many features（特点）allowing them to take the place of drivers during certain situations. Some features include cars being able to park themselves, or slow down when they notice objects close by. They can also control the speed if there are dangerous conditions.

      Scientists and engineers believe, with the help of wireless signals, cameras and GPS, we are now at a stage where creating a safe self-driven car might be possible.

      The cause of deadly road accidents is usually careless drivers or dangerous conditions. The self-driven car may be able to prevent these. However, some people do not like the idea. American lawyer Whit Drake, for example, doesn't believe these cars are safe. He thinks that technologies can also be mistakes.

“Mommy, I got something for you!” Cody ran through the door after school. His face wore the biggest smile ever. He waved something above his head. “It's a pen. But not just any pen. It's a lucky pen!” He handed me the pen 1 , waiting for my reaction（反应）.

I looked at the pen in my hand. There was nothing 2 about it. It looked just like any other ballpoint pen. I had a drawer full of them. At that moment, I didn't realize how special it was or how much I would come to treasure（珍爱）it.

I had made the decision to be a(n) 3 . I had dreamed about it for a long time but I was afraid of being refused by the publishing houses. The night before, I told my husband my 4 when I thought Cody wasn't listening. “What if 5 likes my writing and I fail?” But Cody did 6 what I said. Now he stood in front of me, watching me examine the pen. “You don't have to be afraid now,” he said. “This pen will make your 7 great and everyone will love you.”

Tears filled my eyes. Refusal and failure didn't seem like such a big problem any more. Even if I 8 sold the first book, I had everything I could ever need. I knew that pen would bring me luck, though. And I felt 9 already, just by having Cody in my life, especially when I heard what he did to get it.

In the lunchroom, Cody heard an older boy talking about having a lucky 10 . He decided to get it for me. The boy was a tough negotiator(强硬的谈判者) but Cody didn't 11 . In the end, he 12 his favorite Matchbox car, two army men his brother gave him, a crayon, and a piece of candy—his most important things, for that pen. Just to make 13 feel better.

I still have that pen, though it's long out of ink, in a cup on my desk. When a refusal letter arrives and I start feeling 14 , I look at it and remember just how lucky I am. For while I value that pen, it's Cody who I really 15 in my life.

      Long long ago, there was a small village in the Middle East. In the village there was an old man called Sthira. He lived by (he). His only son had (go) far away to study. Sthira's friends wondered whether his son would return, But Sthira always said, "Whatever happens, happens for good.”

      One day    old man's son returned and the villagers were very happy for Sthira. He thanked them and said (polite), "Whatever happens, happens for good.” , later, Sthira's son broke his leg. Once again the villagers came to visit him and once again the old man thanked them and said, "Whatever happens, happens for good."Some of the villagers were surprised  (hear) this. Why? What was good? His (son) leg got badly hurt!

      After a few days, the army came to the village and forced all the young (man) to join the army. When they found his son had a broken leg, they left him . Once again, all the villagers came to congratulate him on his good luck. Like always, the old man was still (thank) to them and said. “Whatever happens, happens for good.”

今年春节，很多人加入了抢红包游戏活动，但也有人表示担忧。假如你叫李华，你班最近开展了一个有关抢红包游戏活动的调查。请你用英文给学校校刊《英语园地》写一封信，介绍此次调查的结果并谈谈你的观点。

要 求：   1）表达清楚，语法正确，上下文连贯；  

          2）必须包含表格所提供的相关信息，并适当发挥； 

3）词数：80词左右（短文的开头已给出，不计入总词数）；

4）不得使用真实姓名、校名和地名等。

参考词汇：抢红包grabbing red packets      

Dear Editor,

I am writing to tell you about the survey on the activity of “Grabbing red packets” in our class. ……