Smith entered Mr.Watson's office.The boss was a hard man.He fired people who didn't do well without giving them a second chance.

    “Smith，” said Mr.Watson，“this past year your department hasn't earned money.We're going to drop that department.It's finished.I'm sorry，—but you'll have to go.” “But，sir—if I just had a little more time.For the moment I need the job to keep my son at Riverside School.”

    “What's that！” said the boss.“Riverside！I didn't know you had a boy there.That's an expensive school for a man with your salary.”

    “I know，sir.But he likes it there so much！He's a star athlete and the best boxer in the school.The boys call him Champ (冠军)there.”

    The boss sat perfectly still for a long time—a faraway (恍惚的) look in his eyes.Then，suddenly，he said，“We've got to close your department，Smith. But you'll take over a new job in another department.It means longer hours—maybe more pay.Now get out.You're here for life.”

    Smith got out，with surprise on his face.Then the boss took a letter from the top drawer of his desk.It was Herbie's last letter from Riverside School—written a few days before he died.He had read it over and over again with sick pain.The letter read：

    I can't say the boys here are any nicer to me than the others were.I guess it's the same everywhere when you're a cripple (跛脚的人)．But don't worry about me，Dad.They've got a good chemistry department here.And there's one boy here who is really great.He's a track star and boxing champ and just tops in chemistry.The boys call him Champ.He made them stop throwing my books around.And he knocked a boy down who hit me.He is the best friend I ever had.Dad，when I grow up，I want to do something for Champ.Something big—that he won't even know about.

    Having a clean and organized workspace takes time and effort—especially if we want to keep it that way. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} According to recent statistics, the average office employee spends one and a half hours a day looking for things. That's an hour and a half that is wasted every day because of disorganization. Keeping things organized can give you more time each day. Having a clean workspace can have a number of additional surprising benefits. Let's look at some of those now.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Untidiness can be a distraction that interferes with your thought process and prevents you from being as effective as you can be. When your workspace is clean and organized, you can spend more time focused on your tasks, without the unorganized chaos to attend to.

Attain More Success

    It's hard to be productive when you're disorganized. Organization can make it easier to concentrate, and allows you to get things done faster. Whether you're an employee or self­employed, organization is a crucial component for success. If clients see that you're well­ organized, they'll be more willing to trust you.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Make a Better Impression

    In addition to making it easier to focus and work, having a clean workspace also helps to convey a professional image. Your workspace says more about you than you may think. When someone walks past your space, they instantly form an opinion about you based on what your space looks like.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, to the outsider, you may look overwhelmed and incapable of taking on extra projects.

Have a Happier Work Experience

    If you're surrounded by a clean environment you'll have space to think, will be able to get more done and will feel better working in that space.

Fortunately, keeping your space clean and organized is easier than you might think.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You'll be amazed at the difference a clean workspace can make to your mindset and how much more you'll be able to accomplish during the day.

A. Improve Focus

B. Regain Tidiness

C. But the results are more than worth it

D. Maybe you feel productive with papers scattered around

E. It shows that you know what you're doing and that you are capable

F. Clearly being disorganized can have a negative effect on your performance

G. Try to get rid of or throw away everything that you don't need to maximize your productivity

    A medical study has shown that excess(过度的)coffee drinking could cause heart attacks in people who do not metabolize(使新陈代谢)caffeine fast enough.

    The study, published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association, says an enzyme(酶)that metabolizes caffeine in the liver works differently in some people, depending on the make­up of the gene(基因). People who have a slow version (版本)of the enzyme are at a greater risk(风险)of a heart attack when they drink more coffee. The risk had something to do with a person's age and how many cups of coffee he drinks.

    The team from the University of Toronto in Canada studied 4,024 people living in coffee­rich Costa Rica between 1994 and 2004, of whom half suffered non­fatal(非致命的)heart attacks. They found slightly more than half had the slow version of the gene, while the rest had the fast form.

    Two to three cups of coffee a day increased the possibilities of a heart attack by 36 percent for those with the slow­acting gene and four or more cups a day lifted it by 64 percent.

    But those under 50 who had the fast version of the gene had a lower risk of heart disease, even with four or more cups a day.

    Those with the fast­acting gene who drank two to three cups of coffee a day had 22 percent reduced possibilities of having a heart attack, but drinking four or more cups a day only lessened the risk by 1 percent. Scientists recommend limiting coffee consumption(消耗量)to within four cups a day.

    The values of artistic works, according to cultural relativism (相对主义), are simply reflections of local and economic conditions. Such a view, however, fails to explain the ability of some works of art to excite the human mind across cultures and through centuries.

    History has witnessed the endless production of Shakespearean plays in every major language of the world. It is never rare to find that Mozart packs Japanese concert hall, as Japanese painter Hiroshige does Paris galleries. Unique works of this kind are different from today's popular art, even if they began as works of popular art. They have set themselves apart in their timeless appeal and will probably be enjoyed for centuries into the future.

    In a 1757 essay, the philosopher David Hume argued that because “the general principles of tastes are uniform (不变的) in human nature,” the value of some works of art might be essentially permanent. He observed that Homer was still admired after 2000 years. Works of this type, he believed, spoke to deep and unvarying features of human nature and could continue to exist over centuries.

    Now researchers are applying scientific methods to the study of the universality of art. For example, evolutionary psychology is being used by literary scholars to explain the long-lasting themes and plot devices in fiction. The structures of musical pieces are now open to experimental analysis as never before. Research findings seem to indicate that the creation by a great artist is as permanent an achievement as the discovery by a great scientist.

    While Chongqing is most famous for its hot pot, chuanchuan, and noodles, there is one more indispensable, delicious food offered to people in Chongqing: the fish.

    Huguo Hot­Potted Corydoras

    Perhaps Chongqing's best­loved fish restaurant, Huguo Hot­Potted Corydoras has been going for decades and is a can't­miss place for most visitors because of its special flavor. When the pot is served, you will be surprised by its look and stunned by its fragrance. The combination of the great local cuisine and low price makes this a very popular place, particularly in the evening.

    Average price per person: 78 RMB

    Address: No. 62­1, Shangda Tianwan, Yuzhong District (470m from the Gate 6 of Lianglukou Station) Xiang Yu

    Xiang Yu is a Chinese­style restaurant and extremely popular among local people for serving great fish dishes, particularly the signature Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Hot Chili. Since the dish is steamed, the hot chili flavor permeates the flesh.Just use chopsticks to dip a bit of it into the sauce and you'll find its tenderness and robust taste.

    Average price per person: 80 RMB

    Address: F4, Block C, Longfor Shidai Paradise, Changjiang 2nd Road Jipinxuan Beidu Fish Village.

    Established in Chongqing about 20 years ago, all the fish served here is prepared in one of 3 flavors total: hot­spicy, pickled, and tomato.Or, if you're up to try it, you can ask the friendly chef to blend these 3 flavors into one dish.One thing of note: the number of appetizers you get for free depends on how many fish you order.

    Average price per person: 61 RMB

    Address: No. 42, Changjiang 2nd Road, Daping Ran's Bean Salted Fish Hot­pot.

    Serving fish since the 1980's, and maintaining high quality on all terms, the restaurant's reputation has grown among the people of Chongqing. Don't judge this book by its cover, and don't let the modest decoration scare you off, the food is super delicious! The fish is stir fried in oil, which makes the skin crispy and fresh. The dish is also covered with dripping sauces, providing fragrant aromas and strong, lasting flavors.

    Average price per person: 46 RMB

    Address: Opposite of Zaoqin Village, Shipingqiao Street, Jiulongpo District (Near Sanxia Paints Company)

This summer has brought ex treme heat and droughts to places around the world. The droughts are leading to serious problems and the effects of the droughts are likely to be felt for years. Droughts aren't new, but Earth's rising temperatures because of global warming are making them much harder to avoid. The drought in the Horn of Africa may be the most serious situation. For several years, the area has had very little rain during the rainy seasons. The dry conditions have killed millions of farm animals and destroyed the crops of farmers.

The drought is causing energy problems in Europe, too. The low water levels have cut the amount of hydroelectric power that can be produced. Some rivers are so low that the heavy boats that carry coal can't travel on them.

Farmers in California and Arizona have been hit particularly hard. California has put limits on water use across the state. Now water is being limited in other places. When there are water limits, farmers aren't able to grow as many crops. That can drive up food prices, and that affects everyone.

China is facing similar problems. The drought has dried up much of the water in the Yangtze River. That has cut the amount of energy produced by the world's largest da m by 40%. China hasn't been able to produce enough energy, since millions of people are using electricity to keep cool. The government is calling on the public to turn off the air conditioner when it is not too hot. The country is trying to make it rain by shooting chemicals into clouds. But this is an uncertain and temporary response.

There are no easy solutions to any of these droughts. It took years to create the climate crisis, and it will take a long time to get it under control. For now, governments and people will need to care fully manage water supplies and other resources to limit the damage as much as possible.