How do you feel about your Chinese? Is it good or bad? If you think youare good at Chinese, you can take part in the competition named the “Chinese Characters Dictation Competition (中国汉字听写大会)”. The competition became popular among teenagers. Let's know something about it.

    More and more computers and smart phones are used by teenagers. They spend too much time onthe Internet in playing or chatting. They are used to sending messages by computers and smart phones. As a result, some teenagers forget how to writethe Chinese Characters by hand. The teachers and parents are very worried about it. What can they do?

    Not long ago, they found an interesting game called the Chinese Characters Dictation Competition. The program was similar to the American show “National Spelling Bee”. In this program, middle school students competed among themselves and wrote down the Chinese Characters by dictation. Over two hundred competitors were from forty-six middle schools. The audiences(观众) loved this new kind of competition, too. They tried to write down the Chinese Characters while the competitors were writing them. Butthey found it was also difficult for them to write down all the Chinese Characters.

    Is it an interesting competition? Can you be the winner?

      In common with other countries, Britain has serious environmental problems. In 1952, more than 4,000 people died in London because of the smog. The government introduced new laws to stop smog from coal fires and factories and the situation improved a lot.

      Today, London is much cleaner but there is a new problem: smog from cars. In December 1991, there was very little wind in London and pollution increased a lot. As a result, about 160 people died from pollution in just four days.

      One of the problem is the new "out of town" shopping centres. In the past, people often walked to shops near their homes or went by bus. Now, many people drive to the new shopping centres. Because the small shops have disappeared in the downtown, more people have to travel to do their shopping.

      Critics say that Britain needs better and cheaper public transport. Transport in Britain is very expensive. An early morning train trip from Glasgow to London (about 600km) can cost about £100, for example. A short 15-minute bus trip can cost over £1.00.

      Many people are trying to reduce the use of cars in Britain. Some cities now have special bicycle paths and many people cycle to work. Some people also travel to work together in one car to reduce the pollution and the cost.

    One day, Howard Kelly, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door in order to pay his way through school, found he had only one coin left, and he was hungry.

    He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he became very nervous when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.

    Young woman thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe(欠) you?”

     “You don't owe me anything,” she replied, “We never accept payment for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”

    Years later that young woman became very ill and was finally sent to the big city, where they called in specialists (专家）to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation (咨询). When he heard the name of the town she came from, he went to her room. He recognized her at once. He decided to do his best to save her life.

    After a long struggle, the battle was won. The woman thought it would take the rest of her life to pay for the final bill. But when she saw the bill, she read these words: “Paid in full with one glass of milk” (Signed by Dr. Howard Kelly).

Information Card

    Welcome to England! The weather of England often changes. It can be rainy, sunny, cloudy, windy, warm, foggy or cold at any time of year. If it's raining when you get up in the morning, it can be hot and sunny in the afternoon.

    In England, shops are usually open from 9:00 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon. On Sundays some shops are open from 10:00 a. m. to 4:00 p. m. But most shops are closed. Banks, museums（博物馆）or other places are open from 10:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. You can go to the parks at any time.

    All the cities have buses, trains and taxis（出租车）. People wait in line (排队等候) for buses and they will not be happy if you come to the front from the end of the line. Don't forget that, traffic goes on the left.

Be careful and enjoy your time here.

根据短文内容，完成任务。

    I have met many excellent teachers in my school life. I love them all because they have given me so much help in my study and in my life.But the one that I will never forget is my English teacher—Mrs. Wang.I was thankful for what she had done for me.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}she could always help me in time.She was the best teacher in my eyes because she gave me much help, and she even gave me something special.

    In my junior years I was considered as a silly girl, because I was always silent in class, but Mrs. Wang usually praised me.Her words were very important for me.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}With her encouragement, I began to believe in myself. As a result, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}at the end of that term.In my eyes, she is not only an English teacher but also a kind mother.She cared for me just like my own mother.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}but I loved and respected her very much.We usually played games or sang songs and did other activities together.Mrs. Wang often helped me patiently after class, taught me important knowledge and skills, and taught me how to be an outstanding person, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Because of her help, I was completely moved and touched.

    On the journey of life, Mrs. Wang has not only lighted the light of hope for me, but also given me a strong heart to face any difficulty.

A. Mrs. Wang was a strict teacher,

B. She gave me confidence and courage.

C. Mrs. Wang was outgoing and cool,

D. When I was in trouble,

E. what she only wanted to see was my improvement.

F. I got very high marks

G. It's nothing serious.

    Chris is not a traditional explorer(探险者)— he usually works in an office for a large organization. Yet his job can sometimes be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer.

    Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as Doctors Without Borders (无国界医生). MSF sends trained doctors all over the world to help people after a war or a disaster. Chris is a doctor from France who has travelled to many places to organize programmes that help people.

At the moment, there are over 27,000 trained doctors and nurses taking part in MSF projects and tasks. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be prepared to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should expect difficult conditions. Doctors with experience in tropical(热带的)diseases are especially useful because most of MSF's work is in Africa. When MSF accepts a doctor for a task, he has to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency task following a disaster, such as an earthquake.

    But why would a doctor leave a comfortable life and a good pay to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience you gain is a great help in your work. Besides, just like the explorers of the past, you need to keep an open mind and learn to get on well with the people you meet. Above all, at the end of each task, you have made a real difference to people's lives.