A young boy lived with his father alone. He loved playing football and his father ________ encouraged (鼓励) him to do that.

His father never ________ a game. Even though (尽管) his son had to sit on the bench, his father would always be there cheering for him.

When the young man went to the college, he did his best to try out for the football team. The coach (教练) decided to keep him in the team ________ he always put his heart into every practice, and helped other team members when they were in need.

It was the end of this year’s football season and he was practicing ________ the big game. Just then he received a telephone call. The young boy became ________ for a long time after it. Then he went to the coach and said “Coach, please let me play today! I have to play today!”. To his surprise, the coach ________ without thinking.

When the young boy started playing, the other team couldn’t ________ him. He played like a star and they won the game at last.

After the game, the coach saw that he was siting ________ in the corner all alone. He went to him and said, “You did really great today! Tell me ________ you did it.”

The young boy with tears in his eyes replied, “Well, my Dad died in hospital this morning, but did you know that he was blind? Still my Dad came to all my games. Today it was the ________ time he could see me play. And I wanted to show him I could do that!”

Pei Ju was a government official (政府官员) who lived during the Sui and Tang dynasties. He was a dishonest official during the Sui Dynasty, but a loyal one during the later dynasty.

When Pei worked during the Sui Dynasty, he often said things to make Emperor Yangdi (隋炀帝) happy. He never disagreed with the emperor. He knew that the emperor liked fighting, so he advised starting wars. This, however, led to Sui’s downfall. The wars cost too many humans and materials.

During the Tang Dynasty, Pei started to work for the new government. He seemed to become a different person. Instead of flattering (奉承) Emperor Taizong, he always spoke out against his wrongs to help the emperor work better.

Why did Pei change? According to Chinese historian Sima Guang, it was not Pei who really changed. Emperor Yangdi hated criticism (批评), but Emperor Taizong loved to hear useful advice. That made the difference.

We can learn from the story that the environment (环境) makes a difference. A good environment makes you do good things, while a bad one may take you the other way. We should also try to put ourselves in a good environment where we can meet good teachers and friends.

If someone said they would pay you 1,800 dollars to stay away from social media (社交媒体) for six years, would you do it? Could you?

Sivert Klefsaas did just that.

In 2016, Loma Goldstrand Klefsaas challenged (挑战) her 12-year-old son Sivert to stay away from social media for six years. If he completed, she would give him the money on his birthday. On February 19, 2022, Sivert got his prize.

Sivert said it wasn’t too difficult to live without social media, and he didn’t think about it much during the six years. As a 12-year-old boy, Sivert said he wasn’t using social media very often. “I wouldn’t say there was ever a time when I thought I was about to break,” he said. “As it went on, it was more of an interesting thing.”

He also had his friends talk about the latest information with him. “I said no to all the unnecessary things happening around,” Sivert added. It also meant he had more time for schoolwork and sports instead.

“We are not against social media, but it’s the healthy using of it,” Lorna noted. “It’s about not letting yourself feel sad and worried about it, or affected (影响) by things that people share.”

“It was affecting their lifestyles,” she said. When one of her daughters was 16, Lorna took away her phone because of it. Lorna says her daughter later thanked her for doing so, as it made her feel better.

Li Shizhen was born in Qichun, Hubei in 1518.     31    

Both of Li Shizhen’s grandfather and father were doctors.     32    . He always took a bag of medicine and cured people in the villages. His father wrote several medical (医学的) books.

Li Shizhen often helped his father in his medical practice when he was young. His father wanted him to work in the court (朝廷). Li Shizhen studied for the exams and passed the country-level examination, but he was never able to pass the imperial examination (殿试).

When he was 38, he helped the son of the Prince of Chu become healthy again and was invited to be a member in that court. A few years later, he became an official (官员) at the Imperial Medical Institute.

    33    . One year later, he left the court and returned to be a doctor again.

Li Shizhen was famous for his book, Compendium of Materia Medica. He spent 27 years writing the book.     34    . It is a successful book and is known as one of the most important medical books in China.