It was a Monday in 2203. In a history class, the teacher showed the students a film about the life in 2023, 180 years ago. It was called The End of Green. The film ______ that things called plants once grew on earth. It said that plants had _____ disappeared from the planet. No one knew why, but this had caused problems with the air. Scientists had to create new technologies for cleaning the ______. People had built the Bubble (气泡) to create an environment in which everything could survive (生存). This had been a difficult time in human history.

The next morning, ______ David was on his way to school, he stopped to look up at the cloudless blue sky over the Bubble. It was a beautiful day. David took a ______ breath. The air smelled fresh and sweet. The air cleaner must have just ______, David thought.

Suddenly, David noticed ______ unusual. In a little piece of dirt in the empty lot, a small green post stood on the ground. David walked over to it for a ______ look. The post was about a foot tall, with four or five green flaps (片状悬垂物) hanging off it.   

David recalled the film he watched in ______ class the day before. One of the plants in the film was called a tree. It just looked like this post, only thicker and taller. It also had a lot more flaps, which were called leaves, David recalled.

“Its a baby tree,” David said, reaching ______ his hand carefully to touch it. “This is a real, live tree!”

Born in the 2000s, what do you think of your generation(一代人)? Young, creative connected, smart, maybe good-looking? But what do other people think about your generation? Some adults worry that you’re more interested in the phone than the world around you. They see you as the “face-down generation” and wonder how you will deal with school friends, and family. Are today’s teenagers too busy texting and taking selfies(自拍) to become successful in real life—or “IRL”, as you would say?

Other adults worry that today’s youth are spoiled and don’t want to face the challenges of adult life. Many children born in the 1990s and 2000s were raised by “helicopter parents” who were always there to do everything for them. So today’s young people seem to prefer to live like teenagers even when they are in their 20s or 30s.

Does the face-down generation need a heads-up? Well, probably not. The fact is that many of today’s teenagers are better educated and more creative than past generations. They also seem to be willing to become leaders. More young people than ever volunteer to serve their communities. There are also brave young people such as Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for pushing girls’ rights to go to school.

So if you are one of them born in the 2000s, there’s reason to be hopeful about the future. Things are looking up for the face-down generation.

There is an interesting part of your body. It is always dying, and it is replaced(更新) every 28 days. Everywhere you go, you leave very small pieces of it. It is the largest part of your body. It is your skin(皮肤)

When we think of parts of the human body, we usually think of the heart or the brain. But the skin is also a part of your body. In fact, it makes up about 15% of your body weight and covers an area of about two square meters.

The skin is always replacing itself. Dead skin cells (细胞) are always falling off your body. In fact, scientists say that half of the dirt in your house is made up of dead skin.

The skin protects your body. Your skin is a covering for the inside parts. It also works hard to keep your body warm or cool. Very small holes in the skin can open or close to help control body heat.

Your skin is also a “feeler” for your body. It feels touch or pain. Parts of cells that feel touch are connected to the brain. When you touch something, your brain decides what to do and then tells your muscles(肌肉). But the parts that feel pain are connected straight to muscles. The muscles don’t need the brain to tell them to jump. Because of all the things the skin does, it truly is an amazing part of your body.

Honesty is a long-lasing virtue(美德) not only for the Chinese people, but also for the people all over the world. But many people believe that in the market economy(经济) society honesty will disappear someday in the future.

For example, the food safety problem influences all aged people, from a one-month-old baby to an old person. 1. This shows that some people are not honest. That’s too bad. If everyone is not honest how can we trust each other? So our society is facing an honesty problem. 2. If we can’t deal with honesty well, the society will be worse and worse immorality(道德). We will be led to a terrible society that I dare not imagine. Honesty is important. I expect everyone to keep it in mind.

Peter was the richest in town. He had earned (获得) himself a bad name because he was too     66     of his money. One day, Peter became blind. Only doing a cornea transplant surgery (角膜移植手术) could he see again,     67     there was no donor (捐献者). Peter had to wait in the hospital sadly.

One afternoon, Peter wanted to sit     68     the sun, so he went to the little square before the hospital. He raised his head to enjoy the sunshine. However, he saw     69     but the whole darkness. Just as Peter felt hopeless, someone     70     him hard all of sudden. That angered Peter, so he shouted loudly, “Don’t you have     71    ? Don’t you see who you hit! I’m Peter!”

The answer was from a little boy, “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t notice, please forgive me!” Peter changed his mind and ordered, “I can forgive you, but you     72     talk with me!” The boy began, “How beautiful! The grass is green, the sky is blue, the flowers are     73     out everywhere, and the little trees are also very lovely. The clouds are floating.”

As he was listening, Peter began to envy (嫉妒) that boy.     74    , he shouted, “Oh, my God, the little boy is so poor, nothing but a pair of eyes! Why do you give him light?” “You are wrong!” came the     75     of a lady, “My son is too poor to have eyes. What he just described is what I told him!” Peter sat on the square silently, tears coming up in his eyes.

Since then, the city charity would receive lots of money every year from the richest person, Peter.

A thoughtful present shows the receivers that you care for them and makes them feel your love. But it isn’t easy to choose a thoughtful present. Here is some advice that may help you.

Care

There are many things you can buy for your friends, family members or even teachers. Each present sends a powerful message. And the closer your relationship is, the prettier your present can be. Before you buy something, consider the taste of the person you’re buying the present for. It’s not the price of the present, but the thought behind it.

Time

You can also give your time in many ways. A homemade present is special and shows you care enough to make an effort. It could be knitting (针织) a scarf, making a greeting card or baking (烤) lovely cupcakes. Whatever you decide, make it amazing—for them and for you.

Meaning

From “I’m sorry” to “I love you” and “thank you” to “good luck”, presents can express inner (内心的) feelings when you are too shy to speak them out. It’s also a wonderful feeling for you when the person is surprised and touched by your care and attention.

87. “俭，德之共也；侈，恶之大也。”古往今来，“勤俭节约”体现了中华民族的价值取向和道德风尚。习总书记一直提倡“厉行节约、反对浪费”的社会风尚。请你从以下几个方面谈谈作为一名中学生，你在日常生活中是如何进行节约、杜绝浪费的。