1 . I have many new teachers in high school, but Lori Runkle, my English Language and Composition teacher, is my favourite teacher.

Ms. Runkle enjoys getting to know more about students, so I have many chances to talk with her after class. I have always wanted to become a journalist. Since Ms. Runkle used to be a journalist back in the United states, she has introduced many helpful journalistic writing skills to me.

Although she is my teacher, Ms. Runkle and I are more like friends. She often invites my classmates and me to take part in different activities outside school. For example, I went to listen to a journalists speech, which helped me better understand current events (时事).

Not only does Ms. Runkle talk with me outside of school, she is also a great teacher in the classroom. English Language and Composition is a really hard subject for a second language learner. We felt worried in the beginning, but Ms. Runkle makes an effort to help us out. In class, Ms. Runkle always encourages students to question everything to keep us active. One part of class I love the most is when groups of students are required to give speeches on events that are happening in the world. It requires a lot of deep thinking and I really learn quite a lot from it.

I love Ms. Runkle very much. She not only helps me to get good scores, but also acts as a good friend and always gives me advice on life.

Spring is an inviting season for outdoor activities. But be careful—the warm weather is also a hotbed for viruses (病毒) and disease.

This March, the influenza (流行性感冒) A (H7N9) virus hit Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. It was reported that by April 11 at least 35 people had been infected (被感染的) with the H7N9 virus, and nine of them had died.

The influenza A (H7N9) virus is one type of influenza A H7 viruses. Influenza A H7 viruses normally spread among birds.

This is the first time human infections with H7N9 viruses have been reported in China. Earlier reports were about H5N1 and H1N1.

All the three viruses are influenza A viruses but they are not the same. H7N9 and H5N1 are animal influenza viruses that could infect people. However, H1N1 viruses can be divided into two groups. One group can normally infect people and the other normally infects animals. Also, H1N1 can spread from human to human, but H7N9 probably can’t, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Most people infected with H7N9 looked like they had the common flu. Some people had bad pneumonia (肺炎). They suffered from a fever, a cough and shortness of breath.

But don’t be afraid-it is not easy to be infected with the virus. One of the possible reasons is close contact with sick poultry (家禽) waste. People may also be infected through breath according to National Health and Family Planning Commission.

Here are some tips from the WHO that can protect you from being infected.

Most children love sweet food. However, eating too much candy or drinking too many sugary drinks is _______ for our health. Many countries have started to do something to control the amount of sugary drinks kids have.

The sale and advertisement of _______ drinks have been limited (限制) in Boston, US. It will be impossible to buy sugary drinks in _______. It’s reported that about one half of the US population aged 2 and older _______ sugary drinks every day. One in five American children aged 12 to 19 is overweight.

Many other _______ have taken similar actions. The governments of France and Hungary started a new tax (税) on sugary drinks. They _______ this will keep populations healthier. China is facing the same _______. Middle school students in big cities in China each drink about 1,200ml of sugary drinks every day according to a recent study. The number of overweight _______ has increased 5 to 10 times in the last 20 years.

Gao Xiang of Harvard Medical School call on the Chinese government to deal with the situation actively. Gao gave some suggestions, including limiting the sale of sugary drinks in schools and their advertising.

The Book Thief was written by the Australian author Markus Zusak and it has been his most popular work. Published（出版）in 2005, it has become an international bestseller and been translated into several languages. In 2013, it was adapted into a film of the same name.

Are you wondering who the “book thief” is? It was Liesel Meminger, a 12-year-old girl living in Germany during World War II. While the Nazis were creating horrors（恐怖）all around, Liesel came across something that she couldn’t give up: books. She stole books that belonged to the mayor’s（市长的）wife, as well as books that the Nazis wanted to destroy.

A Jewish man named Max inspired Liesel’s love for books. Liesel’s family hides Max in their house. He developed a close relationship with Liesel and taught her to read in secret. Soon, Liesel realized the power of words. She not only stole books, but also wrote her own stories.

“It is not the kind of story that has you crying one moment and laughing the next,” as The Guardian reported. Instead, the sadness of Liesel’s story interests you. It makes you realize that such kinds of things have happened to many other people. And it makes you think a lot.

8 . A Welcome Gift

Dario and his mother loved their new apartment. The living room was large enough for their piano. That night, the two of them _________ side by side at the piano. They played jazz music to celebrate their new home. The loud music fled the room and made them feel very happy.

The next morning, however, their happiness disappeared. Someone had left a _________under their door during the night. One of their neighbor had written to complain（抱怨）about the sound of the piano. Dario’s mother asked the building superintendent（管理员） if he knew anything about it. But he said that they were all _________ people and he couldn’t imagine any of them had done that. Later that morning, Dario suggested that they write a letter to their _________ and apologize for their playing.

“Maybe we could go and visit everyone in person.” his mother said.

“What if we invited them to come here for a _________ instead?” Dario asked.

They both loved the idea over the next few days, they sent out invitations and prepared desserts for their guests. They decorated the apartment with streamers party lights.

Finally, the day of the party _________. Some guests brought presents others brought flowers. Some even brought desserts to share. One woman, Mrs. Gilbert, Dario’s man, Mrs. Gilbert, _________ Dario’s mother with a book of piano music by Chopin.

“I heard you playing the other night,” she said. “The sounds woke me out of bed. I worried that you might play like this every night. So I wrote a short note. I hope you don’t think disliked the playing.”

Dario’s mother smiled at Mrs. Gilbert. “I think maybe we owe（亏欠）you an apology.” she said, “I didn’t _________ how late it was when we were playing. Maybe we should play some quieter music at night.”

“You play, you play!” Mrs. Gilbert said. “I like what you play! Just not so loud at night.” She pointed to the book she had given them. “These songs are not such loud music.”

“These songs are beautiful music.” Dario’s mother said. “We will be _________ to play them in the evening,”

“And we won’t play so loud or late!” Dario said. He was already looking forward to __________ the new music. More than that, however, he was happy to see the big smile on his mother’s face. It gave him a feeling of warmth and made him feel that they were home at last.

9 . People living in the country enjoy several advantages that people living in the city can not enjoy. They are in close contact with nature. They make friends with trees and stones, cows and dogs. They listen to the songs of birds.

This contact with nature is good for people’s health. There are many diseases that are common in the city, but may not be found in the country. For example, near­sightedness(近视) is almost unknown to country people.

Because of the absence of cars, one can walk more freely in the country than in the city. There are no rules of the road nor traffic signs to obey.

People living in the country can easily get fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fresh milk. And they get them at lower prices than in the city.

Country people are mostly honest. They say what they mean, and make and keep promises with sincerity. They do not put on air. They do not pretend to have those ridiculous manners which are necessary in what we call polite society.

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