For hundreds of millions of years, turtles (海龟) have struggled out of the sea to lay their eggs on sandy beaches, long before there were nature documentaries to celebrate them, or GPS satellites and marine biologists to track them, or volunteers to hand-carry the hatchlings (幼龟) down to the water's edge lest (for fear that) they become disoriented by headlights and crawl towards a motel parking lot instead. A formidable wall of bureaucracy has been erected to protect their prime nesting on the Atlantic coastlines. With all that attention paid to them, you'd think these creatures would at least have the gratitude not to go extinct (die out).

    But Nature is indifferent to human notions of fairness, and a report by the Fish and Wildlife Service showed a worrisome drop in the populations of several species of North Atlantic turtles, notably loggerheads, which can grow to as much as 400 pounds. The South Florida nesting population, the largest, has declined by 50% in the last decade, according to Elizabeth Griffin, a marine biologist with the environmental group Oceana. The figures prompted Oceana to petition the government to upgrade the level of protection for the North Atlantic loggerheads from "threatened" to "endangered"— meaning they are in danger of disappearing without additional help.

    Which raises the obvious question: what else do these turtles want from us, anyway? It turns out, according to Griffin, that while we have done a good job of protecting the turtles for the weeks they spend on land (as egg-laying females, as eggs and as hatchlings), we have neglected the years spend in the ocean. "The threat is from commercial fishing," says Griffin. Trawlers (which drag large nets through the water and along the ocean floor) and longline fishers (which can deploy thousands of hooks on lines that can stretch for miles) take a heavy toll on turtles.

    Of course, like every other environmental issue today, this is playing out against the background of global warming and human interference with natural ecosystems. The narrow strips of beach on which the turtles lay their eggs are being squeezed on one side by development and on the other by the threat of rising sea levels as the oceans warm. Ultimately we must get a handle on those issues as well, or a creature that outlived the dinosaurs (恐龙) will meet its end at the hands of humans, leaving our descendants to wonder how creature so ugly could have won so much affection.

    We accomplish our goals one step at a time, doing a little each day. So, starting your day on the right foot is most important. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Get up an hour early.

    People who get up early in the morning have a jump on the day. In American English, we like to say, “The early bird gets the worm.”{#blank#}2{#/blank#}This expressions means that people who rise up early have a head start and, therefore, are more likely to succeed.

    Don't answer e-mail or jump into social media as soon as you get up.

We've all done it. You see a Facebook post from a friend you haven't seen for a long time. He is angry about some political issue and the heated discussion pulls you in.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}You hurry out the door so as not to be late for work. This is not the best way to start your day.

    Exercise!

    Physical fitness experts and trainers often suggest some form of exercise in the morning because the middle of the day is a busy time for most people. By the day's end, you may not have the time or energy to exercise.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Think about your day at night.

    Take time at the end of the day to think back on all the things that have happened.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}It may help you to prepare if you take a few minutes to think about what you need to do the next day.

A. And spend a little time to think about tomorrow.

B. Here, if you're a bird, the worm is the reward.

C. In fact, the morning may be the most productive part of your day.

D. Exercising in the morning prevents that from happening.

E. Avoid jumping into social media as soon as you get up.

F. Here are four ideas on how to start your day off right.

G. Before you know it, an hour has passed.

    Every year, thousands of students choose to study in another country for a semester, the summer, or a year. Studying overseas can be an exciting experience for many people.

Why do you study overseas?

    Living in another country can help you to learn a language, and about another culture. You will see the world in a new way, and learn more about yourself. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Many companies today want employees who speak a second language, or have experienced living or working in another country.

    Make the right choice.

    Once you decide to study overseas, you have to make some choices. To choose the right country or school, ask yourself: Where do I want to go and why? How much do I want to pay? How long do I want to study overseas? {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Get your passport and visa (签证) early! Before you go, learn some of the language, and read about some common customs in your host country. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Bring some of it, and a credit card with you.

    Once you are there.

    After the first few weeks overseas, many students will feel a little homesick. They may miss their family, and familiar ways of doing things. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When you feel sad or homesick, try to talk to others, or write your feelings in a notebook.

A. Get ready to go.

B. Learn about the country.

C. Get quick access (进入) to foreign universities.

D. Overseas study may also look good on your future resume (简历).

E. Do I want to live with a host family, with roommates, or alone?

F. Remember that it takes time to get used to a new place, school, and culture.

G. As a study-abroad student, you will pay tuition fees (学费) to the overseas institution.

    You can read a book for pleasure one time through and be just fine. However, it is harmful to deal with academic reading the same way. In order to read and comprehend a book or article for school, you need to be much more strategic（策略）. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Understand types and themes.

    In most reading tests, the student is asked to read a passage and predict what might happen next. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}This is to make sure you're able to infer information from the clues. The type of text of a book helps you make predictions about the action-which helps you.

    Read with tools.

    Any time you read to learn, use active reading skills and there are tools that are not so good to use. A pencil and a pack of sticky notes will be good tools. You can mark in the margins without any damage. Use your notes to write down thoughts, impressions, predictions, and questions as you read. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You create some serious damage when highlighting.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    It is not wise to look up new and unfamiliar words as you read. Make a logbook of those new words, and revisit them later. Be sure to keep a logbook of new words and visit it often!

    Analyze the title (and subtitles).

    Once a text is completed, the writer may reflect on the true message or purpose and come up with a new title. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Find out the new words.

B. Work the vocabulary skills.

C. That is, if you want to earn a good grade!

D. A highlighter（荧光笔）, on the other hand, can be a really bad tool.

E. What might happen next will help you a lot in reading.

F. Prediction is a common reading comprehension strategy.

G. It will be a clue to help you understand the message better.

Traditional Chinese Culture

    Chinese culture is over 5,000 years old.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    The spirit of the tea ceremony

    Xihu Longjing(West Lake Dragon Well)and Yunnan Pu'er have long been world famous.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} The spirit of the Chinese tea ceremony captures the Chinese attitude towards life and spirituality. These are the things that people all over the world can benefit from.

    A handful of good tea leaves with some boiling water and a set of lovely tea ware are the perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon and gain some insights into the wisdom of that ancient civilization.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    During the 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, many different flavors, styles, and cuisines(烹饪)have developed, based on traditional philosophy and culture. This ancient food culture has had a direct impact on the countries such as Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore. It has benefited billions of people around the world through innovations such as Chinese vegetarian culture, tea culture, vinegar, pasta, medicinal diets, ceramic tableware, and the use of soybeans in the diet.

    Confucianism

    Confucianism emphasizes peacefulness and harmony between heaven and humanity, through pursuing the "Tao", which is the harmonization between nature and mankind. It advocates harmony and moderation, including the harmony between individuals, as well as the harmony between a man and his inner self.

    Confucianism has flourished during the last 2,500 years of China's 5,000­year history.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} This school of thought has had the most profound and long lasting influence in China's history. Seventy­four Nobel Prize winners and many other highly respected scholars have stated that for the benefit of mankind's livelihood and development into the next century, these teachings should be promoted and adopted worldwide.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Chinese cuisine

B. Traditional Chinese culture

C. It has been the mainstay of that ancient civilization.

D. They are pretty popular due to their superior color and flavor.

E. The following three items of traditional Chinese culture have had a worldwide impact.

F. This wonderfully rich food culture has also had an impact on Europe，America and Oceania.

G. This would provide long lasting benefits for man，helping to ensure a peaceful and happy life.

One of the tallest wooden buildings in Europe, a 98m timber mixture skyscraper, is to rise in Berlin.

The 29-storey WoHo Tower, to be designed by a firm of Norwegian architects, is intended to be a "light-house project" for low-carbon construction, towering over Potsdamer Platz and the Landwehr Canal.

Its core, including lifts and a staircase, is to be built around a steel-reinforced concrete structure but the rest of the building, including flats, offices, cafes and a kindergarten, will be fashioned down wooden beams and panels.

"As Norwegians, we are used to working a lot with timber," Nicolai Riise, CEO of the Mad Architects' Practice said.

"The thing about timber is that it demonstrates sustainability from top to bottom. The carbon footprint is close to zero and it's a fantastic material to build with. If you look at this in a broader way, it's one of the ways we are going to be able to beat the climate crisis."

Wooden skyscrapers, once regarded as an unprofitable pipe dream, have become a realistic prospect with the coming of cross-laminated building techniques and more flexible planning laws. Because these structures' parts are fit with care, they can be far lighter than their concrete equivalents and are thought to be relatively resistant to fire. A cubic meter of wood can also take an estimated ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Larger wooden structures are planned elsewhere. London is examining blueprints for the 300-meter Oakwood Tower. A project in Tokyo could rise to 350m.