【推荐1】I was a fat kid and I enjoyed almost all kinds of delicious food. Sundays were the best. That's when we had our big_______，and there were so many people around laughing and talking.It was easy to _______how much you were eating. And if I _______a second part of anything，my mother's response was，“What's the matter？You don't like my _______？”At that time，consuming lots of bread，pasta and desserts never let me feel self­indulgent(放纵自己的)．I _______carried this high­calorie diet into adulthood.

It wasn't until my mid­30s that I _______something had to change. I had little energy，and because my fat body didn't want to do anything，it seemed_______was passing me by.

When a friend_______I start each day with oatmeal(燕麦片)for breakfast，I said，“You've got to be kidding！”But this friend was very enthusiastic and told me that it would make me keep full without being _______in calories or fat，so I took her advice.

I'm not exaggerating(夸张)when I say oatmeal has________the quality of my life.I used to get hungry between breakfast and lunch，reaching for a cup of coffee and its charming companion，the cake. Now，I don't even________food until lunchtime.

After a year of eating oatmeal for breakfast，I________over 15 pounds. I have more energy to do things，such as taking a walk after getting home from work instead of________．

My friends and colleagues have noted the positive________of oatmeal.So if you want to ________，why not eat oatmeal?

【推荐2】Fitness apps such as Strava can be useful tools for motivating you to start and stick to an exercise plan. But, according to a study at the National University of Ireland, Galway, these apps can make people become _______to exercise. The study, which observed 272 cyclists who use Strava, found that people who mainly use the tool to show off, _______, posting their exercise to receive praise, are more likely to develop an unhealthy desire and high stress levels.

It seems obvious that being able to track and share the tiniest details of your exercise may not always be a(n) _______thing. I had an eating disorder as a teenager and, for a very unhappy time, _______dominated my life. I weighed myself several times a day. I calculated everything from how many calories were in one bite of an apple to how many extra calories I would _______by exercising in cold weather. I used in-brain calculating technology to track all this. Had I had access to the health apps available now, it would have taken me much longer to _______– not only because these kinds of tools enable obsessive (强迫性的)behaviour, but because they _______and even glorify it.

We live in an age when you can never be too rich or too _______. Calorie-counting is now celebrated as a data-driven route to self-improvement. It is _______to spot the symptoms associated with eating disorders when everyone seems to get hooked on their fitness statistics. Also, because eating and exercise disorders are still associated with women, it is particularly easy for problematic behaviour among men to fly under the radar.

The negative connection between these technologies and wellbeing has received ________attention. Only a handful of studies hint at the dark side of these devices. A 2019 study of female Fitbit users by CNN, for instance, found that 59% felt as if their routines were ________by their device, while 30% said their Fitbit made them feel guilty. A 2015 study at Duke University found that tracking can reduce ________in the activity being quantified and make people do less of that activity when they are not measuring it. Going for a long bike ride can cease to be an enjoyment in itself but an achievement to ________about online.

Fitness apps themselves are not a bad thing. ________, as health-tracking technology becomes increasingly common – even kids use fitness apps – it is important to be aware that ________every aspect of our lives is not necessarily healthy.

【推荐3】How to Avoid the Coronavirus? Wash Your Hands

As a New York Times journalist in China, I covered the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, during which a novel coronavirus was first detected in Guangdong. My two children _______elementary school in Beijing throughout the outbreak.       

The International School of Beijing, _______ my children were students, was one of the_______in the capital that stayed _______throughout the SARS outbreak.       

The school instituted a bunch of simple precautionary (预防的) policies: a strict note to_______reminding them not to send a child to _______ who was sick and warning them that students would be screened for _______ with ear thermometers (耳温枪) at the school door. There was no _______ of food at lunch. The teacher led the kids in _______ hand washing throughout the day at classroom __________, while singing a prolonged “hand washing song” to __________ that they did more than a cursory (草率的) pass __________ the tap with water only.          

With those precautions __________, I observed something of a public __________ miracle (奇迹): Not only did no child get SARS, but __________ seemed that no student was sick with anything at all for __________on end.

The World Health Organization __________ the SARS outbreak controlled in July 2003. But, oh, those __________ continued. The best first-line defenses __________SARS or the novel coronavirus or most any virus at all are the ones that Grandma and common __________taught us, after all.

【推荐1】Spelling was sort of my superpower. I wasn’t a math or science guy, but I could chew and _________ books.

“Your word is onomatopoeia,” said the announcer. On the stage of “School Bee”, my brain _________ to the spelling bees ahead: first the county championship, then the state, and finally the national spelling bee. I glanced back at Alexa, who wanted another chance at _________. If I missed this word, she’d be back in the game. But that wouldn’t happen. Chin up, shoulders back, I _________ my throat, “O-n-o-m-a-t-o-p-o-e-i-a.” I made it.

The trophy (奖杯) was presented to me. I shouted onstage, “I am the alpha-best.” Surprisingly, my sister, Deandra, rolled her eyes. “You’re a terrible winner.” Deandra made a _________ face. “She tried to shake your hand but you _________. ”

I didn’t _________ at all. “Anyway, I won the school bee.” “Don’t be proud. You’ll soon be facing the best of the best in the county bee.”

“Will they _________ me? I am the alpha-best with no efforts at all.” After six rounds, the number of students _________ from more than 100 to just seven and I was one out of the seven. If I had been given words like aerospace or conical, I’d make __________ already. Unfortunately, I crashed with the word maestro at last. I stood __________ for the longest moment.

The final winner acted the exact __________ of mine. He accepted his trophy with a small bow, and then shook hands with the runner-up (亚军). I got to know Deandra’s words __________.

I apologized to Alexa, “I’m sorry I was so impolite when I won.” “How was the county bee?” Alexa asked. “A __________.” “If you need a study partner for next time, I’m happy to help.” “Really? Let’s __________ on it, partner.” “Better late than never,” Alexa said, shaking my hand.

【推荐3】When Rojas was biking to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge last November, she planned to go bird-watching. Bingo! A mile into her walk, she saw a female ________ near the water’s edge. Rojas had worked at a wild bird rehab (康复) center and ________ that swans can be likely to attack people. But as she got close this time, it didn’t ________. She was certain that the bird needed ________ attention. Rojas put her jacket over the bird’s head to keep it calm, ________ picked it up and held it in her arms. And then a thought ________ her: What should I do now?

Her best ________ was the rehab center, but that was on the other side of town. How was she going to transport a 17-pound swan on her ________ all that way? Luckily, some ________ driving by offered her, her bike and the swan a (n) ________ to the rehab center.

Workers at the rehab center ________ that the swan had lead (铅) poisoning. They got the swan back up on its feet. ________ , the swan had a bacterial infection(感染). Two months after Rojas came to its ________ , the swan died.

It’s a (n) ________ ending, but the story shows just how far people are willing to go to ________ animals.

【推荐2】A couple in Ohio accidentally dropped off a bag containing almost $ 100,000 at an Ohio charity shop. Thanks to _______ employees, they got the money back.

The employees were going through _______ last week when they came across a _______. Inside was $ 97,004. “It was so much cash,” employee Kelsey Croy said. “I looked in the bag and we _______ it right there on the desk. And it was $ 97,004.” Thankfully, the owners _______ a receipt for tax purposes when they dropped off _______ that morning. The employees _______ called the couple but there was no _______.

Not wanting to _______ that amount of cash in the store, they called the Zanesville Police Department. ________ repeated calls, officers finally got a hold of the couple. The couple hadn’t realized the money was ________. They told the police they withdrew all their money to deposit it in another bank. On the way, they ________at the charity shop to donate a bag of clothes. That’s ________ the money ended up there. “When we finally ________ them, they just asked if they could get it back tomorrow,” the officer said.

The couple has made contact with the original ________ who found the money to thank them. “I’m just glad that I meet with a bunch of honest and loyal people,” Croy said.

Within minutes, that woman was at my door and a thousand thoughts crossed my mind before she rang the bell. I could pretend I wasn’t home or tell her, “I’m sorry, you have the wrong _______.”

But it was too late; the bell rang and Molly was barking. I opened the door, _______ myself to face my fear.

One look at Molly and the woman’s face _______ like a Christmas tree. “Here, Lucy,” she called. “Come to Mamma, girl.” Molly (Lucy) instantly obeyed, wagging her tail _______ at the sound of the woman’s voice._______, she belonged to the woman.

Tears were at the back of my eyelids and threatened to _______ at any moment. I wanted to grab Molly and run. _______, I smiled faintly and asked her to come in please.

The woman had already bent over and _______ Molly up into her arms. She awkwardly opened her purse and stretched out, a twenty-dollar bill.

“For your_______” she offered.

“Oh, I couldn’t.” I shook my head. “She’s been such a joy to have ________, I should be paying you.” With that she laughed and hugged Molly tighter ________she were a lost child.

Molly licked her face wildly. I knew it was time for them to go home. Opening the door to let them out, I ________a little girl sitting in the front seat of the van. When the child saw the puppy, a smile as bright as a firecracker exploded________her face.

My glance turned to a small ________fastened to the back of the van. The woman saw me look at the chair and offered a(n)________ without my asking. Molly (Lucy) was given to the child to ________emotional healing after a car accident had left her crippled for life.

“She formed a special bond with the puppy and Lucy gave her a ________ to live,” her mother explained.

Suddenly I felt very ________ and selfish. God has blessed me with so much, I thought. As they pulled out of the drive, the smile on my face was ________. I knew I had done the right thing — that puppy was exactly ________ she belonged.