It is said that some people fear public speaking more than anything else. ______, they can overcome (克服) that fear with two simple ways: practice and using positive energy from the listeners. Practicing for a speech is important. ______ the task of writing the speech is finished, speakers must practice, practice, practice. The more times they practice the speech, the more ______ they are when discussing the topic. Use ______ such as mirrors or video camera. When they practice, those things can show what they look and sound like to the listeners. Video is very helpful because the speakers can ______ many times.

Another ______ of overcoming public speaking fears is using listeners’ positive energy. Speakers need to remember that listeners want them to ______. Something like a small nod or a smile from a member of the listeners should give ______ to the speakers behind the desk. While it is easy for nervous speakers to only care about what they speak, using the audience’s ______ will(意愿) helps much in making a speech better.

With support from the listeners, speakers will find it much easier to make a speech better. So there is no ______ to fear public speaking any more.

Nowadays, people usually shake hands when they meet each other. Do the Chinese always greet others like this? In fact, handshaking was introduced to our country around 100 years ago.

There were several kinds of greeting in ancient China. Among them the fist and palm salute(拱手礼) was a quite common one, with a history of about 3, 000 years. It was first used by people in the West Zhou Dynasty. In ancient times, if people met a stranger, their hands were always ready for holding something used for fighting. Holding out both hands showed that people could feel relaxed.

When people meet, men usually use their left hand to hold the right one. It’s believed that people considered the left as the important side for men in Chinese history. While for women, the important side is the right. So when they give the fist and palm salute, they should put their right hand on the top. When someone presents the fist and palm salute to you, you are supposed to do it back as well.

In many wuxia or kung fu TV series and movies, people greet each other with the hold fist salute, or Baoquan in Chinese. The gesture (手势) is that the right hand is made a fist, while the left band is to cover the right fist. It’s similar to the fist and palm salute, but they are different. Baoquan is widely used among kung fu masters and students.

So, don’t make a mistake.

From Oct 3 to 5, more than 400 students across China took part in the China Daily “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition online. They gave speeches on different topics, such as their hometowns and China’s development (发展). Teens talk with the top three winners in the junior high school group. They share their ideas about making a good speech.

Champion(冠军):

I think the best part of my speech was my stage manner, such as my confident smile, proper body language and the right pace when I spoke. These manners make my speaking more attractive(吸引). It’s a great way to share ideas and call on people to take action.

—Wang Siqi, 15, Nanjing International School.

First runner-up(亚军):

I see public speaking as an art. You need to combine logic with emotion(结合逻辑与感情). You need to have stories as well as opinions. A good story makes your opinion stronger and easier to be accepted by others. And how you do that is the charm of public speaking.

—Lan Yunjie, 15, Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School.

Second runner-up(季军):

I often start my speech with a question. It can easily draw people’s attention (注意力). I also like to make impromptu speeches(即兴演讲) in front of a mirror whenever I have any thoughts. This habit helps me collect (积累) lots of ideas. That’s why I did a good job in the impromptu speaking part during the competition.

—Yang Zihan, 14, Gaoxin Middle School of Shenzhen Nanshan Foreign Language School.

US Schools ban bake sales

Can you bake(烘烤)? In the United States, children learn to bake from a very young age. They have “bake sales” at school. It is a tradition (传统).

Students bake sweet treats (甜品) at home. Then they sell the treats at school. The schools make money. They may use the money to pay for field trips, art and sports activities.

However, now there are some different ideas about bake sales. Twenty-four states(州) don’t let students sell or buy sweets during the school day. They follow the Smart Snack rules. The rules say food at school must be healthy. But sweets like cakes and cookies can be bad for students’ health. So students have different ideas about bake sales.

Tracy hates bake sales. She says they aren’t good for children and there are other ways to raise(筹集) money. For example, schools can sell water. Schools should care more about students’ bealth.

But Ana likes bake sales. She thinks it’s more fun to buy cakes than carrot sticks(棒). Students can make baked food healthier. They can use natural ingredients(天然食材), Also, baking is nice way for students to spend time with their friends and family.

Peter Pan is one of the best-loved children’s books of all time. It was written by the famous British writer James Matthew Barrie. James likes writing stories and s    71     them with his friends. He tells them that baby Peter can f    72    , and the bars of the windows of the children’s bedroom are to stop him flying away. Then the i    73     for Peter Pan is born.

The book tells the story of Peter Pan and his’ mother’ Wendy. One night when Mr. and Mrs. Darling go out, Wendy m    74     Peter Pan, a little boy who never grows up. Peter t    75     Wendy and her brothers to fly and takes them away to an island called Neverland. They have p    76     of adventures (冒险) together. Wendy and his brothers have a good time there, but they miss their parents s    77    . So one day, they decide to return home, but the bad man, Captain Hook, catches them. Peter fights with Hook and finally s    78     them. After that, the children fly back to their home in London. But Peter Pan doesn’t want to grow up and returns to Neverland. Many years pass. When Peter v    79     Wendy again, she is married and has a daughter of her o    80    . Peter takes her daughter to Neverland for a visit. And ten years later he takes her daughter’s daughter.

Never growing up is a children’s fairy tale dream, but they can’t refuse to grow up. What’s more, after reading the story, I think it’s a pity that something pure and beautiful will be forgotten as we grow up.