The famous scientist and thinker, Charles Darwin, was born on February 12, 1809. His family lived not far from the River Severn, England.

    Darwin's father was a well-known doctor and the son of an still greater doctor and scientist. Darwin's father hoped that his son would also become a doctor.

    As a boy, Darwin liked to go for walks in the fields and forests. He watched nature, and compared what he saw with everything he had read in science books. He also liked collecting very much. He collected many things, birds, eggs, stones and leaves. His father did not like that, a Darwin not studying very well at school.

    At the age of sixteen, Darwin was sent to Edinburgh University to study in order that he could become a doctor. But he was interested in the history of nature.

    Then he was sent to study in Cambridge University. There he studied until 1831.

    Some time later he heard that the ship Beagle was going on a trip to South America and needed a centrist. His professor advised him to go. He said the trip would be just for Darwin, So when the ship left England in December 1831. Darwin was on it. He research lasted almost five years. The Beagle studied the waters in the sea near South America. It also visited New Zealand, Australia and islands in the Pacific. Darwin saw many new plants and animals. He collected all kinds of plants.

In 1842 Darwin went to live in Kent, where he continued his studies of changes in nature. Darwin understood that plants and animals are not always the same, and that they really change.

    By 1859 Darwin had finished his famous book "The origin of Spedes "（《物种起源〉）. It made a great hit in the world of science. He was opposed by the church and even by some scientists. But later, more and more scientists agreed with him.

Stupid but serious

You see a cat sunbathing on the playground. "Hello, kitty!" You smile and walk away. About100 years ago, a scientist saw the same scene(场景). But he stopped and thought. Later, he won the Nobel Prize(诺贝尔奖).

The scientist was Niels Finsen from Denmark(丹麦). He saw a sick cat sleeping in the sun. When the sun moved, the cat moved, too. Why did the cat love the sun so much? To find out the answer, Niels kept watching the cat for days. Amazingly, the cat got better after lots of sunbathing. The sunlight could cure diseases! Then, Niels invented a light to cure human diseases and won the Nobel Prize in 1903.

In fact, many great scientific findings start from "stupid" questions and small things in life.

Scientists may ask: How many lies does a person tell in a day? How many licks(舔)does it take to eat up a lollipop? Why do roses smell good? What can we learn from animal poop(粪便)? And they take it seriously. They watch, think, and do experiments(实验) until they find an answer.

"It's such a waste of time!" You may say.

But think of the great scientist Newton(牛顿). If he just said "Ouch!" and walked away after he was hit by the apple, what might our world be like?

One day, a boy finds a penguin at his door. The boy doesn't know where it comes from, but it begins to follow him everywhere. The penguin looks sad, and the boy thinks it must be lost. So the boy wants to help the penguin find its way home.

Later, he hears that penguins come from the South Pole*. So together, they carry everything they need during the journey to the South Pole. And the boy takes his rowboat to the sea. They row* south for many days and nights. To help pass the time, the boy keeps telling stories all the way. The penguin listens to everything that the boy says! Sometimes when they getbored, they do exercise together.

They float* through good and bad weather on the sea. Finally, they come to the South Pole. The boy is delighted, but the penguin says nothing. And it looks sad again as the boy helps it out of the boat. Then the boy says good—bye and floats away. When he looks back, the penguin is still there. But it looks sadder than ever.

After a while, he suddenly realises* the pengui n isn't lost. It is just lonely. Quickly he turns the boat around and rows back to the South Pole as fast as he can. He tries to find the penguin, but he can't . Sadly, the boy leaves for home. But then the boy sees something in the water ahead of him. It's the penguin! It is waiting for the boy.

At last, the boy and his friend go home together, talking of wonderful things all the way. The penguin is happy to enjoy those interesting stories again.

Once upon a time, there lived a wise man. Everyone loved him. His son, however, was very lazy and did nothing all day.

The wise man was worried about his son's future. One day, he said to his son, "I want you to go to find some treasure（财宝）. I have drawn a map to guide you." Then he handed his son a bag. Inside the bag were clothes, some food, a little money and the map.

The son set. Out on his. Long journey the next day. He had to travel across forests, rivers and mountains. Along the way, he met a-lot of people. Some helped him with food, and some with a place to live. He also met robbers（强盗） who tried to rob him but failed. He saw changing landscapes（风景） and experienced different kinds of weather.

Finally, after a long year, he reached the place of treasure. He spent two days looking and digging for the treasure, but found nothing.

Feeling sad, he headed back to his home. On his way back, he experienced the same changing landscapes and seasons. Sometimes, he would stop to enjoy the beauty of nature. He also learned to hunt and make meals. He had to fix（修补） his own clothes and the tent himself. He was now able to tell time by the sun and protect（保护） himself from wild animals. He met the same people who had helped him earlier. This time, he stayed and helped them in order to repay them.

When he reached home, he said sorry to his father for not finding the treasure.

"There wasn't any treasure in the very first place, my son," the father answered with a smile. "But I think you have found your life's true meaning."

Do you know how words have an influence on others? Amy Beth Gardner chose a(n) 1 way to teach her daughter Breonna about this. She wrote on Facebook, "My daughter will 2 middle school tomorrow. We've prepared new uniforms, a new schoolbag and some other things for her. But tonight, just before bed, we did another pre-middle school3 that is far more important than others. 

Then she described 4 she took a tube of toothpaste and asked her daughter to empty the toothpaste onto a plate. After she did so, Amy Beth asked her to pull the toothpaste 5 into the tube. It was really a crazy request, so Breonna 6 , "But I can't! It won't be like what it was before."

Amy Beth then gave (an) important 7 to her child. "You will remember this toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life 8 death. As you go into middle school, you are going to see how much 9 your words carry. You are going to have the chance to use your words to hurt, wound and put down others. You are also going to have the chance to use Your words to help, encourage and 10 others."

Amy Beth knows that 11 fails sometimes. But it is her duty to 12 her daughter to pay attention. Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your13 ，you can't take them back. 

"Use your words carefully, Breonna. When others are misusing (滥用) their words, 14 your words. Please be aware of （意到） your gentleness and don't 15 to choose kindness."

Skate boarding, surfing and sport climbing were parts of the 2024 Paris Olympics. But they made their first Olympic appearance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. These are all popular sports among young people. Would you like to give them a try?