Imagine looking out of your window and seeing a whale swim by. That's the sight that surprises New York City residents recently. In the past years, humpback whales have been spotted in the two rivers surrounding the island of Manhattan, the Hudson River and the East River, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Experts say that river cleanup efforts have improved water quality and led to an increase in the number of fish there. Fish are on the humpback's menu.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The sighting is also an encouraging sign that conservation efforts are helping humpback whales come back. In 1973, the species was listed as the endangered. Now scientists say humpback whales are making a comeback.

    By the middle of the 20^th century, hunting whales for profit had nearly wiped out many whale species. In 1973, the U.S. set up the Endangered Species Act. People were no longer allowed to hunt them in the U.S. waters. In 1982, the International Whaling is illegal worldwide.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Last September, it was announced that nine groups of humpback whales are no longer endangered. Four groups are still endangered and a fifth is threatened.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The number of them is growing particularly faster in the Southern Hemisphere like Tasman Sea and Coral Sea. And the number of humpback whales in Hawaii has made an amazing recovery. In 1966, there were fewer than 1,500 humpbacks there. Today there are about 10,000. But humpbacks in other parts of the world are still struggling.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}“We still have a lot of work to do,” says Angela Somma, head of NOAAS Fisheries' endangered species division. "But with the right protection, the number of humpback whales should continue to grow.

A. These efforts to save whales are paying off.

B. People are frightened when seeing whales in the river.

C. Last year, one even swam past where the mayor lives.

D. Today there are about 100,000 humpback whales worldwide.

E. The extra food in the rivers is mainly what's attracting the whales.

F. Scientists have carried out further research on the number of the whales.

G. Scientists say that the focus needs to be on the whales that are still struggling.

    Everyone has heard of Groundhog Day (土拨鼠日).{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    People in America think that the groundhog awakens from its winter's sleep on February 2^nd. The groundhog comes out of its hole. If the sun is shining, it will see its shadow. The shadow scares it. So it runs back into its hole. This means six more weeks of winter. If the day is cloudy, it will not see its shadow. Since it is not scared, it stays out of its hole.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. These are the same things we say on Groundhog Day today.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}They are known mainly to country people. City people just don't know how to look for them. City people think that a groundhog sitting by its hole may look like a root(根). It could also be seen as a clod (块) of earth. Or it may look like a broken fence-post(栅栏柱). But a farmer sees groundhogs anywhere he looks. They'll be watching like guards.

    The groundhog is a native American.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} It may also appear as far north as Alaska. It is hated by farmers. The groundhog eats a third of its weight in a day. What a big appetite(胃口)！It may eat about a half-ton of alfalfa(苜蓿) in a summer. So 10 groundhogs in a big field would eat five tons.

    Why do groundhogs eat so much? To prepare for winter.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} .This extra food is changed to fat. This fat is what they live on during their long winter's sleep.

A. It is an American holiday.

B. Groundhogs are strange animals.

C .This means that spring will soon come.

D. There are several ways to protect the groundhog.

E. In the fall, when there is a lot of food, they fill up.

F. It is found in most states east of the Rockies(落基山脉).

G. While it is not one of your major holidays, it is one that children love.

    Over time, habits of negative thinking about ourselves can lower self-esteem (自尊). So if you want to feel better about yourself, try some of these things:

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Are you so used to focusing on your problems that they're all you see? Next time you find yourself trapped in problems or disappointment with yourself or your day, find something positive to deal with it. Each day, write down three good things about yourself, or three things that went smoothly that day because of your action or effort.

    Aim for effort rather than perfection. Some people get held back by their own pressure to be perfect. They lose out because they don't try. Usually, you may think, “I won't audition (试镜) for the play because I probably won't get the lead.”{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Remind yourself that everyone is good at different things.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Thinking more like this: “She's a great basketball player — but the truth is, I'm a better musician than athlete. Still, I'll keep playing because I enjoy it.” It helps you accept yourself and make the best of the situation.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Don't be afraid to voice them. If someone disagrees, it's not a judgment on your worth or your intelligence. That person just sees things differently from you.

    Set goals.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Then make a plan for how to do it. Stick with your plan, and keep track of your progress.

A. Focus on what goes well for you.

B. Take pride in your opinions and ideas.

C. Think about what you'd like to achieve.

D. It's certain that the role will go to someone else.

E. Recognize what you can change and what you can't.

F. Train your inner voice to remind you of what you are accomplishing.

G. Cheer on others for their success and keep in mind what you do well.

    You can take fish oil supplements. You can invest in a language class. There are countless methods to improve your memory and cognitive functioning.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. It's called reading. It is amazing how such an ordinary activity can improve your brain in so many ways.

    The most basic impact occurs in the brain area associated with language reception. Compared with processing spoken language, reading encourages the brain to work harder and better.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. A study found that some of those benefits lasted for five days.

    Reading also energizes the region responsible for motor activity. That's because the brain is a very lively play actor. When it is reading about a physical activity, the neurons（神经元）that control that activity get busy as well. You may not actually be riding a horse when you're reading Seabiscuit, but your brain acts as if it is.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}, the better it is for your overall cognitive performance.

    What if you are a poor reader who feels as if you'll never be able to read enough to harvest these benefits?{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Scientists studied children aged eight to ten who were below-average readers. One hundred hours of reading classes significantly improved the quality of their brains' white matter -the tissue that carries signals between areas of gray matter, where information is processed.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Results from a study indicate that close literary reading gives your brain a better workout than leisurely reading. The ability to read closely needs to be developed. So turn off your phone and your computer, set aside a good hour or two-and just read.

A. Reading is good for your health

B.A book can fix that problem too

C. If you read books on a regular basis

D. Not all reading is actually created equal

E. And the benefits continue long after reading

F. The more parts of your brain that get a workout

G. But the most effective way to sharpen your brain is right here

    If you are in a crowd, the first and most important thing is to make yourself familiar with your surroundings and mentally notice alternate exits.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Make yourself aware of the type of ground you are standing on, and know that in a crowd of moving people wet or uneven ground can be slippery or hazardous, causing you to fall.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference, giving you the possibility of taking advantage of escaping route. Always stay closer to the escape route. If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down, because you could easily get trampled.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Take advantage of any space that may open up to move sideways to the crowd movement where the flow is weaker. Keep your hands up by your chest, like a boxer—it gives you movement and protects your chest.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}If you cannot get up because you are injured, get someone to pull you back up. If you have kids, lift them up. If you fall and cannot get up, keep moving by crawling in the same direction of the crowd, or if that is not possible, then cover your head with your arms and curl up into fetal position.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Be aware of the general atmosphere of the event, as panic situations can often be expected.

B. There is always space between people.

C. Do not lie on your stomach or back, as this dangerously exposes your lungs.

D. The worst is to be pushed by the crowd against an immovable object

E. If you fall, get up quickly.

F. No matter where you are, make sure you always know how to get out.

G. Instead, move in the same direction of the crowd.

Humans are social creatures, which is why we feel lonely from time to time, for example, after moving to a new school or when a child leaves for college. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. This persistent (持续存在的) emotion can harm their health and even change their brains.

How can a subjective (主观的) feeling like loneliness have such a great effect on the brain's structure and functions? Scientists believe that long-term loneliness affects brain areas related to social thinking and emotions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Additionally, loneliness can raise blood pressure and heart rate, further affecting the brain. Loneliness might lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking and lack of physical activity. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

To fight long-term loneliness, experts suggest making new friends through activities like art classes, sports teams, support groups, or volunteering, and the goal is to put themselves in places where people come together. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Additionally, cognitive behavioral therapy (认知行为疗法) can help by changing a person's attitudes and thoughts about social interactions. This therapy get to the root of the problem, exploring what makes it hard for a person to interact with others.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. However, understanding the deep reasons of long-time loneliness is crucial for maintaining brain health and overall well-being. By actively connecting with others and seeking support, people can improve their mental and physical health, leading to a more satisfying life.

A．The feeling is closely linked to sadness

B．Thus, loneliness significantly damages overall health

C．However, some people experience long-term loneliness

D．There is a connection between loneliness and mental illness

E．All in all, these skills are simple and effective in dealing with loneliness

F．These social situations work best when participants share a common identity

G．They also hold that loneliness causes stress and affects how our brains age over time