Ears are an important part of our face. Let me tell you __________ interesting about our ears and our characters.

The size and shape of our ears show our character more than any __________ part of the face. Other pars of the face change shape as we get __________ , but ears do not change __________ shapes. They only change in size. __________ people’s characters from their ears is a very old science. In old times, people thought that a person with a big ear had a good and generous character. They thought that a person whose ears were a pale and small was dangerous. They also thought the shape of the ear showed __________ person was musical or not. Today, many people believe that the size and shape of the ear help you know if a person is musical. Ears are __________, and each characteristic has a meaning. Next time you look at a person, see if his or her ears are large, middle sized or small. Look at the lobes (耳垂) Chinese people believe people with big ear lobes __________ have good luck. Ears that are always red mean a person may __________ angry easily, or he or she may just have high blood pressure. Ears that are always cold and pale mean a person has a nervous character. And a big inside hole of the ear means a person is musical.

Can you __________ more about our ears and our characters?

When I entered Berkeley I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight—A student, I believed I could __________ tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he presented in class.

When I took the first exam, I was shocked to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,__________ English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained __________.

I decided to try harder, although I didn’t know what that meant because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I reasoned with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn’t change his __________.

One more test before the final exam. One more chance to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, __________ the first time, learned the meaning of the word “ thorough” . But my efforts did no good and everything went as before.

The last obstacle(障碍) was the final. No matter __________grade I got, it wouldn’t cancel C-pluses. I might as well kiss the scholarship goodbye. I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even treated myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I’d have fun with a test.

A week later, I was surprised to find I got __________ A. I hurried into Professor Jayne’s office. He seemed to be expecting me. “ If I gave you the A-pluses you expected, you wouldn’t continue to work as hard.”

I stared at him, __________that his analysis and strategy(策略)__________ correct. I had worked my head off, as I had never done before.

I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I’ve always remembered Professor Jayne’s lesson: you alone must set __________ own standard of excellence.

These days Chinese people are really angry. Since March, some Western companies, including H&M and Nike, have come under the spotlight(受到关注). They say they will stop using cotton from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

They say that they are following industry requirements set by the Better Cotton Initiative(BCI 良好棉花发展协会). It is a Switzerland-based cotton organization with 2, 100 members worldwide, including famous brands like Nike, Adidas and Burberry, Recently, the BCI said forced labor(强迫劳动) might be used in Xinjiang.

This is a complete lie, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The so-called “Xinjiang Uygur question” is nothing but the way for the US to weaken China from the inside, said Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on March 26.

Many BCI council members are from the US and Europe. Member fees(会员费) are the main financial(财务的) source for BCl, so brand members from these countries have great influence.

In fact, China is protecting human rights in the region, China Daily noted. The government has been organizing job offerings for cotton field owners in Xinjiang, as well as improving local people’s lives. The region’s cotton and textile(纺织) industry has created jobs for more than 600, 000 local people. In 2020, the per capita disposable income(人均可支配收入) for residents(居民) living in cities and towns of Xin jiang was 34, 838 yuan, 2.41 times that of 2010.

“ China is the world’s second-largest cotton producer and Xinjiang accounts for nearly 90 percent of the country’s cotton output(产量). However, the increases in China’s cotton production and the growing textile industry are making some companies in the US and the West nervous,” Xinhua said. Although the BCI sets the rules for the global cotton industry, its move was driven by pressure from these countries. “It’s time to end the ‘drama(闹剧)’ from the US side,” Hua noted.

Once there was a man who liked to eat mangoes (芒果). One day he decided to get the sweetest mango from the very top of the tree. Mangoes which are exposed to the sun the most are the sweetest.

So he climbed up to the top, where the branches (树枝) were thin. He managed to pick up a few sweet reddish fruits, but, in an attempt(试图) to climb down, he slipped and started falling towards the ground. Fortunately, he caught the branch as he was falling and remained helplessly hanging on the tree. Then he started to call nearby villagers for help. They immediately came with a ladder and sticks, but could do little to help him.

Then after some time one calm and thoughtful person arrived—a well-known sage who lived in a simple hut nearby. People were very curious to see what he would do, as he was famous in solving many people’s problems in the area and sometimes very complicated ones. He was silent for a minute and then picked up a stone and threw it at the hanging man.

Everybody was surprised. The hanging mango lover started to shout, “What are you doing? Are you crazy? Do you want me to break my neck?” The sage was silent. Then he took another stone and threw it at the man. The man was very angry. “If I could just come down, I would show you!”

That’s what everybody wanted—that he came down. But how? Now everybody was tense (紧张), as to what would happen next! Some wanted to punish the sage, but they didn’t. The sage picked another stone and threw it again at the man, even more forcefully. Now the man on the tree was enraged and developed a great determination to come down and take revenge(报仇).

He then used all his skill and strength and somehow reached the branches which were safe to start going down. And he made it! Everybody was amazed.

However, the rescued man found the sage gone. He stood there, realizing that the man really helped him because he induced (劝说) him to try his best and save himself.   “I should be thankful and not angry.”