Passage 1

The Children's Bookshow Competition is a chance for young readers to be writers.

It seems that reading is coming back in fashion, if a survey by the famous National Literacy Trust (NLT) is true. It shows that the percentage of children who admit enjoying reading has grown for the first time in the past 8 years.

So it's a good time to launch a competition that includes a shedload(大量) of new books for schools as prizes. The Children's Bookshow Competition, backed by The Independent, will be on the road again from the start of next term, with a nationwide tour of 15 big cities, featuring a line-up of a dozen children's writers and illustrators(插图画家) aiming to persuade pupils to follow in their footsteps.

The competition, launched by the children's writer and illustrator Jessica Souhami, has two categories: the under-nine's and the 9- to 13-year-olds.

Children are asked to choose their favorite fairy or folk tale and set it in an extraordinary place.

Then they are to retell it with the aid of drawings and writings--whether it is set at sea, on a distant planet, in the future or in the past.The closing date for the competition is November 30.

"Tell your tale in pictures and in words," say the organizers of the competition.“It can be in a picture book or comic book format. "

The winner of each competition will receive a signed copy of a book by each of the 12 writers involved in this year's tour, plus 150 worth of books for their school. The runners-up will receive a signed copy of Souhani's new book.

Passage 2

So many of us hold on to little resentment(怨恨)that may come from an argument, a misunderstanding, or some other painful event. Stubbornly, we wait for someone else to reach out to us--believing this is the only way we can forgive or rekindle a friendship or family relationship.

An acquaintance of mine, whose health isn't very good, recently told me that she hadn't spoken to her son for almost three years. She said that she and her son had had a disagreement about his wife and that she wouldn't speak to him again unless he called first. When I suggested that she should be the one to reach out, she resisted initially and said, “I can't do that. He's the one who should apologize.”She was literally willing to die before reaching out to her only son. After a little gentle encouragement, however, she did decide to be the first one to reach out. To her amazement, her son was grateful for her willingness to call and offered an apology of his own. As is usually the case, when someone takes the chance and reaches out, everyone wins.

Whenever we hold on to our anger, we turn “small stuff" into really“big stuff”in our minds. We start to believe that our positions are more important than our happiness.They are not. If you want to be a more peaceful person, you must understand that being right is almost never more important than allowing yourself to be happy. The way to be happy is to let go, and reach out. Let other people be right. This doesn't mean that you 're wrong. Everything will be fine. You'll experience the peace of letting go, as well as the joy of letting others be right. You'll also notice that, as you 'reach out and let others be “right", they will become less defensive towards you. They might even reach back. But if for some reason they don't, that's okay too. You ' ll have the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your part to create a more loving world, and certainly you 'll be more peaceful yourself.

Passage 3

Can people change their skin color without suffering like the King of Pop Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.

The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 percent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to100 percent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.

Scientists have changed the color of a dark striped zebra fish(斑马鱼) to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment(色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebra fish skin color is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin(黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.

It appears that, like the golden zebra fish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation(变异) in the gene for melanin production. This results in less pigmented skin.

However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebra fish genes.

Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultraviolet rays(紫外线) of the sun, which can cause skin cancer.

But when modern humans leave Africa to live in the northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.

Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color, said Cheng.

The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It could also lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.

Passage 4

Mostly, only a single answer is correct to a question. But there is a question that has numberless correct answers. That question is "What's your name?" Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.

Have you ever wondered about people's names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?

People's first names or given names are chosen by their parents.Sometimes the names of a grandparent or other members of the family are used.Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.

Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means "bright"; Beatrice means "one who gives happiness"; Donald means "world ruler"; Leonard means "as brave as a lion".

The earliest last names or surnames were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near a brook;someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long,paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.

Other early surnames came from people's occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter--a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter--a person who made pots and pans. The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter's great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.

Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or their skin,or their size, or their special abilities. Suppose that there were two men who were named John in the same village. The John with grey hair probably became John Grey. Or the John who was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.

Some family names were made by adding something to the father's name. English-speaking people added -s or -son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family's ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac-, Mc- or O-. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O' Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.

Passage 1

There are three kinds of goals: short-term, medium-range and long-term goals. Short-range goals are those that usually deal with current activities, which we can apply on a daily basis. Such goals can be achieved in a week or less or two weeks, or possibly months. It should be remembered that just as a building is no stronger than its foundation, our long-term goals cannot amount to much without the achievement of solid short-term goals. Upon completing our short-term goals, we should date the occasion and then add new short-term goals that will build on those that have been completed.

The intermediate goals are built on the foundation of the short-range goals. They might deal with just one term of school or the entire school year, or they could even extend for several years. Any time you move a step at a time, you should never allow yourself to become discouraged or overwhelmed. As you complete each step, you will reinforce the belief in your ability to grow and succeed. And as your list of completion dates grows, your motivation and desire will increase.

Long-range goals may be related to our dreams of the future.They might cover five years or more.Life is not a static(不变的) thing. We should never allow a long-term goal to limit us or our course of action.

Passage 2

Are you worried by the rising crime rate? If you are, then you probably know that your house, possessions and person are increasingly in danger of suffering from the tremendous rise in the cases of burglary and assault(攻击).

Figures indicate an ever-increasing crime rate, but it is only too easy to imagine"It will never happen to me." Unfortunately, statistics show that it really can happen to you and, if you live in a large city ,you run twice the risk of being a victim.

Fortunately, there is something definite that you can do. Protect Alarms can help to protect your house with a burglar alarm system which is effective, simple to operate and easily affordable.

You must remember that possessing a burglar alarm is no indication that your house is packed with valuable possessions. It quite simply indicates to unwelcome visitors that yours is one house they will not break into easily, so they carry on to an unprotected house where their job is made a lot easier.

Send now for our free leaflet telling you how we can Protect Alarm your house quickly, easily and cheaply. Complete and tear off the slip below and post it to us. Postage is free. Alternatively, telephone us at 3276721 where we have a round-the-clock answering service. It costs nothing to find out about Protect Alarms.

Passage 3

Have you ever been bitten? Of course you have. You are surrounded by living things which might, or do, bite. Even when you rest your head on your pillow, bedbugs are probably nibbling you. They live happily inside most pillows.

Take a walk outside and you are a target for "man's best friend". Hundreds of dog-bite victims visit US emergency rooms daily. Many bites are terrible. To avoid the dogs in your neighborhood, you might want to hike into the desert or the woods. There, you run the risk of bites from rattlesnakes, scorpions, and blood-sucking ticks, not to mention bears, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions.

Speaking of housing, watch out when you touch the corner of your house. Shy but deadly, the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider make themselves comfortable in quiet areas of your closets. One bite from either of them can make you very sick, and occasionally, people die from such bites. Unfortunately, many people fear all spiders, not just the few dangerous ones. People often squash them or run away from them at first sight, not realizing that most spiders are actually beneficial to man.

If you’re concerned about bites, don' t forget about rabid(患狂犬病的) animal bites. Any warm-blooded animal can get infected with rabies. Although humans in the US rarely get attacked by rabid animals, the disease is painful and dangerous. You will most likely die if you not treated properly within 48 hours of being bitten.

Passage 4

Golden eagle populations in the UK are set to increase as some chicks are reintroduced to the north of England. Ten birds were released from the south of Edinburgh in summer, 2018, with the hope of preventing the species from disappearing in England. More eagles will be released in the summertime of the next five years.

The project received $1.3 million of lottery funding in March and has now been awarded a further 150,000 to employ workers to run the operation. Project manager Cat Barlow said, "This is a really exciting time as the project is now starting to happen and we will soon start to see its benefits. The work will start next summer, when we collect a number of golden eagle chicks in the Highlands and bring them south to be reared and released from an already selected place."

The birds will be released with satellite tracking tags that will allow the scientists to gather information about their behavior and find if they suddenly go offline.

Recently, golden eagles have died out in England as the last known one is believed to have died. Due to the popularity of shooting birds of prey(猛禽), those birds in the wild struggle to survive. Main causes of death are poisoning, shooting and nest disturbance by gamekeepers.

It is hoped that the newly released birds will move further south in search of new living areas and food supplies.The project expects to see the number of wild birds in Scotland and England increase as the range of the animals develops. While the birds were gone in England, in the Highlands of Scotland the number of golden eagle rocketed. With up to 500 breeding pairs, the chicks will be sourced from here. It is hoped that golden eagles may finally return to the north of England, and all goes well, the number will grow steadily.

Passage 1

The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Doug loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough covered with ugly yellowish marks.Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work. I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. He got up and went outside twice, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing.Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in our rubbish bin. Picking up the stick again,he held the lid up enough for me to see. l felt cold.But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt, it was my work.The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast(酵母) made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the living thing was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing--Doug or me.

Passage 2

Sometimes people give us nicknames(绰号)in order to make fun of us,which can really hurt.

Four Eyes, Metal Mouth, Dumbo, Slow Poke and Grater Face. We've all heard kids calling nasty(令人厌恶的) nicknames like those. Maybe you've ever used similar nicknames on other kids, or had one yourself.

A playground bruise or wound usually disappears after a couple of days, but the pain and anger coming from being called a cruel nickname can last much longer than that. If you've ever laughed at another kid by making up or using a teasing nickname,or if you've ever received one ,you know that names like Fatso(胖子), Smelly and Short Stuff can be very hurtful. In addition, they have a habit of sticking to us like glue!

People use negative nicknames as a way of keeping someone out of a group, of gaining power over someone, or of making themselves feel more important.You may know a kid in your class who always makes nicknames for the other kids. This student likes to feel cool by acting like the official“nickname maker".This can give a student a feeling of power,but that power comes at the cost of making other kids feel bad. Kids who give others hurtful nicknames are often trying to cover up the fact that they really feel bad about themselves.

Like other kinds of insults(侮辱) , cruel nicknames can be used to make a kid feel being left out or angry .Sometimes they' re even nastier than most ways of being mean,because they can be so hard to shake off.

Passage 3

One of the qualities that most people admire in others is the willingness to admit one's mistakes. It is extremely hard sometimes to say a simple thing like "I was wrong about that" and it is even harder to say, "I was wrong, and you were right about that."

I had an experience recently with someone admitting to me that he had made a mistake fifteen years ago. He told me he had been manager of a certain grocery store in the neighborhood where I grew up, and he asked me if remembered the egg boxes. Then he related an incident and l began to remember vaguely the incident he was describing.

l was about eight years old at the time，and I had gone into the store with my mother to do the weekly grocery shopping. On that particular day, I must have found my way to the dairy food department where the incident took place.

There must have been a special sale on eggs that day because there was an impressive display of eggs in dozen and half-dozen boxes. The boxes were stacked three or four feet high. I must have stopped in front of a display to admire the stacks. Just then a woman came by pushing her grocery cart and knocked over the stacks of boxes. For some reason, I decided it was up to me to put the display back together, so I went to work.

The manager heard the noise and came rushing over to see what had happened. When he appeared, I was on my knees inspecting some of the boxes to see if any of the eggs were broken, but to him it looked as if I were the culprit(肇事者). He severely scolded me and wanted me to pay for all the broken eggs. l tried to explain it wasn't me who had broken them, but it did no good. Even though I quickly forgot all about the incident, obviously the manager did not.

Passage 4

Language learning begins with listening. Children are greatly different in the amount of listening they do before they start speaking, and later starters are often long listeners. Most children will "obey" instructions for some time before they can speak, though the word "obey" is hardly accurate as a description of the eager and delighted cooperation usually shown by the child. Before they can speak, many children will also ask questions by gesture and by making questioning noises.

Any attempt to study the development from the noises babies make to their first spoken words leads to considerable difficulties. It is agreed that they enjoy making noises, and during the first few months one or two noises sort themselves out as particularly expressive as delight, pain, friendliness, and so on. But since these can 't be said to show the baby's intention to communicate, they can hardly be regarded as early forms of language. It is agreed, too. that from about three months old they play with sounds for enjoyment, and that by six months old they are able to add new words to their store. This self-imitation leads to deliberate imitation(模仿) of sounds made or words spoken to them by other people. The problem then arises as to the point at which one can say that these imitations can be considered as speech.

It is a problem we need to get our teeth into. The meaning of a word depends on what a particular person means by it in a particular situation and it is clear that what a child means by a word will change as he gains more experience of the world. Thus the use at seven months old of "mama" as a greeting to his mother can not bed is missed as a meaningless word simply because he also uses it at other times for his father, his dog, or anything else he likes. Playful and meaningless imitation of what other people say continues after the child has begun to speak for himself. I doubt, however, whether anything is gained when parents take advantage of this ability in an attempt to teach new sounds.

Passage 1

1970 was "World Conservation Year". The United Nations wanted everyone to know that the world was in danger. It hoped that the governments would act quickly in order to conserve nature. Here is one example of the problem. At one time there were 1300 different plants, trees and flowers in Holland, but now only 860 remain. The others have been destroyed by modern man and his technology. We are changing the earth, the air, the water, and everything that grows and lives. We can't live without these things. If we continue like this, we shall destroy ourselves.

What will happen in the future? Perhaps it is more important to ask "What must we do now?" The people who will be living in the world of tomorrow are the young of today. A lot of them know that conservation is necessary. Many are hoping to save our world. They plant trees, build bridges across rivers in forests and so on. In a small town of the United States a large group of girls cleaned the banks of eleven kilometers of their river. Young people may hear about conservation through a record called No One's Gonna Change Our World. It was made by the Beatles, Cliff Richard and other singers. The money from it will help to conserve wild animals.

Passage 2

According to the dictionary definition of "create", ordinary people are creative every day. To create means "to bring into being, to cause to exist"-something each of us does daily.

We are creative whenever we look at or think about something in a new way. First this involves an awareness of our surroundings. It means using all of our senses to become ware of our world. This may be as simple as being aware of color and texture, as well as taste, when we plan a meal. Above all, it is the ability to notice things that others might miss.

A second part of creativity is an ability to see relationships among things. If we believe the expression "There is nothing new under the sun", the creativity is remaking or recombining the old in new ways. For example, we might do this by finding a more effective way to study or a better way to arrange our furniture, or we might make anew combination of camera lenses and filters to create an unusual photograph.

A third part of creativity is the courage and drive to make use of our new ideas, to apply them to achieve some new results. To think up a new concept is one thing; to put the idea to work is another.

These three parts of creativity are involved in all the great works of genius, but they are also involved in many of our day-to-day activities.

Passage 3

It is a tall tale(荒诞不经的故事) that terrifies most young children. Swallow a piece of chewing gum and it will remain in your body for seven years before it is digested. An even worse tale is that swallowed gum can wrap itself around your heart.

But what will happen if you accidentally eat a stick of gum? Chewing gum is made out of gum base, sweeteners, coloring and flavoring. The gum base is pretty indigestible(不易消化的)--it is a mixture of different ingredients that our body can't absorb.

Most of the time, your stomach really cannot break down the gum the way it would break down other foods. However, your digestive system has another way to deal with things you swallow. After all we eat lots of things that we are unable to fully digest. They keep moving along until they make it all the way through the gut(肠道) and come out at the other end one or two days later.

The saliva(唾液) in our mouth will make an attempt at digesting chewing gum as soon as we put it in our mouth. It might get through the shell but many of gum's base ingredients are indigestible. It's then down to our stomach muscles--which contract and relax, much like the way an earthworm moves--to slowly force the things that we swallow through our systems.

Swallowing a huge piece of gum or swallowing many small pieces of gum in a short time can cause a blockage within the digestive system, most often in children, who have a thinner digestive tube than adults, but this is extremely rare.

Passage 4

When I was young, my mother often suddenly pulled over to examine flowers by the side of the road or rescue a beetle from tragedy while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.

Though Mother's Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related to each other. My mom lived a "green life" because she was concerned about the environment. Mom often saved glass jars, empty cheese containers and reused her plastic bags.

Mom created a kind of harmonious relationship with wildlife in her yard. She often picked the apples on her trees a little early to avoid the bears. Spiders that made their way into the house and were caught in juice glasses would be set loose in the garden.

l try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for dandelions(蒲公英) to fly in the wind; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, l realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn't need to lecture; she didn't need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came mercy and an instinct for protection.

l am slowing down and it isn't because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself. I've begun to save glass jars and reuse the packing of envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other in the trees above my house.

Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands.Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with sweetness I immediately wanted to share with my mom.

Passage 1

Like all buildings, hotels can catch fire. Plan what to do when you check in. You won't have time to make a plan during a fire.

If there is any sign of fire, call the front desk immediately. Give your name, room number, and a brief description of the situation. If your family is with you, determine a meeting place outside the building so you 'll know everyone is safe.Feel the door to see if it is warm. If it is, do not open it. If it is not warm, drop to your knees and slowly open the door, but be ready to shut it tightly if smoke rolls in. If the corridor is clear, head for the exit.

Do not stand upright, but keep low to the floor to avoid smoke. When you reach the exit, walk quickly, but carefully down the stairs. If you are unable to leave your room, make every effort to let people know that you are in your room. If you cannot reach the front desk, call the local department and explain clearly your exact location so that you may get help as soon as possible.

Passage 2

Thank you for shopping at Sparky Clothes!

We hope that you have enjoyed shopping with us and that you are very happy with your purchase. All of our clothes are made with the highest quality materials. We're sure you'll enjoy wearing your Sparky item of clothing for many years to come.

∙ Please note that you must return items to us within 28 days.

∙ We offer exchanges for items which do not fit (too small, too big, etc. ).

∙ we also offer credit notes which are valid for one year.

∙ We only offer refunds for items which are faulty.

∙ Please note that we cannot offer exchanges or refunds unless you have the receipt.

If you have any questions about our return policy, please email customercare@sparky. com.

Don 't forget to visit our website for news of special offers and discounts!

And remember: if you want to get the $500 voucher for Sparky Clothes, just visit our website and fill in the survey. Good luck !

Passage 3

A budget(预算) is a spending plan. It can help you spend money wisely. It can do this by cutting out wasteful spending. Of course, preparing a budget takes planning, and following a budget takes willpower(意志力). Your budget should meet your family's needs and income.

The first step in creating a budget is to set your goals. What does your family need and want? You must know all that to work out the details of the budget, Never spend more than you can.Then decide which goals are the most important.

The next step is estimating family income. Before you can plan wisely, you need to know how much money you have to spend! Write down all the money you expect to receive ( wages, savings, interest, etc. ) during the planned budget period.

After you have calculated how much money will be available, it is time to estimate expenses. List all of your family expenses.

If you are not satisfied with what you got for your money, look carefully at your spending. Studying your records will show where overspending has occurred. It will also point out poor buying habits.

It is also a good idea to set aside a small amount of money for emergencies. Every family has emergencies; a blown tire, a broken device, or the need for medical care.

Passage 4

College is a new and different experience for me. I'm away from home, so I have many things to adjust to, such as being on my own and meeting many different types of people. There are a lot of things l like about college that I would like to describe for you.

First of all, living at the college gives me a sense of responsibility and of being on my own. My parents aren't around to say ,“No, you 're not going out tonight."or "Did you finish your homework?”Everything l do has to be my decision, and that makes me responsible for my own life.During the second week when I was at college, l had to go out and look for a bank where I could open an account. And when I got to the bank, l had to decide whether to have a checking or savings account and whether or not to get a credit card. Decisions! Decisions !

What I like about college is friendly people. On the first day I came to Mary mount University here in Virginia from New York, I was a bit confused about where I was going. My mother and I drove in. We did not know the building we were supposed to go to, but the guard was very nice.With a smile, he told us what building we were looking for and where we could park our car. My room was on the first floor of New Gerard, and I knew I had to go through some glass doors, but my mother and l didn't know which ones. Some students saw me and asked, "Are you a new student?"When they found out l was looking for New Gerard, one said, “Oh, just follow us; that's where we' re going." Even now I feel comfortable in the dorm (学生宿舍) because there are friendly people around to talk with.

l do like a lot of things about college, but that doesn't mean I don 't think about things at home. Although like college, I can still get homesick. New York is a very good place, too! And sometimes I miss it !