【推荐1】In many practical ways, I chose a nursing career because I wanted to improve lives.

My mom was a nurse, so I knew something about the profession. Her nursing magazines lay around our house, and I’d pick them up and read them when ran out on the back of the breakfast box. Some of the stories were pretty interesting. So between my freshman and sophomore years of college, I enrolled in a nurses’ aide course. I figured the class was a chance to explore the world of nursing while earning money for college.

If I liked the class, I told myself, I’d major in nursing. After all, it was a stable, respectable profession.

To be honest, the class wasn’t always exciting. I learned how to make beds! And I also learned about diseases, dementia (痴呆) and documentation. I leanred how to assess vital signs, how-to help .patients with activities of daily living, and-how to communicate to our supervising nurses. Before long, I was released onto the floor to practice our new skills — and that’s when things got interesting.

Nursing is not about the role (机械的) application of procedures; nursing is about people. Out on the floor, I worked with a 90-year-old woman who’d come over on a boat from the Old Country, alone, at the age of 13. I cared for a man who’d reverted to his native language, and quickly learned that I could ease his confusion by telling him “Gut en Natch” ( “good night” ) before tucking him into bed.

What I learned that summer is that nursing is about people, and that nurses help those who are struggling with both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. When things got tough — and they did, nursing can be an incredibly demanding job — it was my patients who pulled me through. They needed me, and their stories inspired me to help them anyway. That summer, I decided to become a nurse.

【推荐1】Suddenly screams echo through the forest as alarmed animals warn each other of a predator’s (食肉动物) approach. Lying on my stomach with my camera in front of me, I’ve been watching a nearby stream for hours, waiting. This may be it!

Yes! A 380-pound lioness steps from the trees, heading towards the stream. She crouches (蹲伏) down to drink. She’s only 50 yards away. She stands up and begins to walk towards me, not knowing I’m there. When she’s just about 20 yards away, I move my camera slightly. I don’t want to shock or panic her. She freezes for a moment, then take a crouching position and continues towards me. I’m thinking, “Uh-oh, I’m about to become cat food!” I’ve approached lions before, but now the lion approaches me.

If I stand up and yell, will she leave? Maybe not. If I stand up and run, will she chase me? Probably! So I decided to stay put.

The lioness comes closer. Now she’s only about four yards from me—the closest distance that still allows me to focus my camera lens. Surprisingly, she lies down, posing like a statue in front of me. This makes me feel very small and humble (卑微的). Then she rolls over and looks at me upside down! She seems a little puzzled and appears to be trying to figure me out —Hmm, are you suitable to be eaten? You don’t look dangerous.

Breathe slowly, I remind myself, with my heart beating fast. I carefully back up my tripod (三脚架) just a bit to focus and shoot the picture. Suddenly, she leaps up. In a flash, she runs away, leaving me overwhelmed with emotion.

Getting this photograph took a long time. I spent two years waiting for a permit to track the extremely rare Asiatic lions in the Gir Forest of India and spent three months on foot searching for them. The experience felt like a gift from the forest.

【推荐2】Wendy the octopus (章鱼) only had seven legs.

“The last one will grow when Wendy turns eight years old,” the doctor told Wendy’s mother.

For seven year, Wendy’s sister Viola, laughed at her about her missing leg.

“Wendy only has seven legs because she isn’t part of our real family.” Viola told the other sea creatures one day. It was a lie, but everyone believed Viola.

Wendy went home and told her mother that she was sad. “Everyone treats me differently because I only have seven legs,” she said

“Don’t worry.” her mother said. “Tomorrow is your eighth birthday and you will finally grow another leg!”

That night Wendy dreamed that she grew another leg. But the next day, when Wendy woke up and counted her legs, there were still only seven. Wendy was so sad that she cried. Suddenly, a fairy (仙子) appeared.

“You are the lucky octopus I have been waiting for. You can make a wish,” the fairy said.

“I wish that Viola was honest,” Wendy said after thinking for a moment

“Your wish is granted (准予),” the fairy said.

Before the fairy left. she told Wendy that she was the kindest octopus in the sea.

When Wendy got home her family was waiting for her. “Happy birthday!” they said.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have a present for you,” Viola said. “I forgot it was your birthday“

“That’s okay,” Wendy said “You are honest. Thank you.”

Wendy’s mother swam over to her daughter with a birthday balloon.

“Look, you’ve finally grown your eighth leg!” She tied the balloon to Wendy’s new leg.

It was the happiest day of Wendy’s life.

【推荐3】They waited patiently for what seemed a very long time, stamping in the snow to keep their feet warm. At last they heard the sound of slow shuffling footsteps approaching the door from the inside. It seemed, as the Mole said to the Rat, like someone walking in slippers that were too large for him and down at heel, which was intelligent of Mole, because that was exactly what it was.

The door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy eyes.

“Now, the very next time this happens,” said an angry voice. “Who is it this time, disturbing people on such a night? Speak up!”

“Oh, Badger,” cried the Rat, “let us in, please. It's me, Rat, and my friend Mole, and we've lost our way in the snow.”

“What, Ratty, my dear little man! ”exclaimed the Badger, in quite a different voice. “Come along in, both of you, at once. Why, you must be very cold. Lost in the snow! And in the Wild Wood, too, and at this time of night!”

The two animals got inside, and heard the door shut behind them with great joy and relief.

The Badger, who wore a long dressing gown, and whose slippers were indeed very down at heel, carried a flat candlestick in his paw and had probably been on his way to bed when their voices sounded. “This is not the sort of night for small animals to be out,” he said kindly. “Come along; come along; come into the kitchen. There's a first-rate fire there, and supper and everything.”

He shuffled on in front of them, carrying the light, and they followed him down a long narrow passage into a large fire-lit kitchen.

The kindly Badger helped them remove their wet coats and boots, and brought them clothes and slippers. In the comfortable light and warmth, warm and dry at last, it seemed to the storm -driven animals, now in safety, that the cold and trackless Wild Wood just left outside was miles and miles away, and all that they had suffered in it was a half-forgotten dream.