Yard Work

It seemed that the work would never end for Steven. He was helping his brother and father in the yard. Each weekend, there was something to do. He did not know why they couldn’t just sit inside and watch ________ like all the other kids. With a sigh (叹气), he pulled his rake a little harder and ________, hoping he might still get done in time for the last round of cartoons. After all, they’d already done so much.

First, his older brother, Karl, had started cutting the grass with the lawnmower. Dad had used the weedeater to trim (修剪) up around the house. He had used the blower to clean the driveway and the sidewalks. He couldn’t ________ much, because he had the easier jobs.

Then, they’d had to do some more things. Karl had pulled weeds in the garden beds, while dad had sprayed (喷药) along the edges of the house. Steven had to push the spreader, which threw grass fertilizer (肥料) everywhere. He marched up and down (踱来踱去) the hills and through the front lot. He probably had the harder ________ this time, but he didn’t like pulling weeds, and dad didn’t let him play much with the sprayer.

Finally, dad got out the hedge clippers. Dad was making the bushes into nice shapes, while Karl and he both got out rakes. There were a few leaves here and there. They ________ all of the things into four or five piles, and then got a wheelbarrow. Dad was done then, so he pushed the wheelbarrow and ________ them dump (扔掉) the yard waste together.

It was done! Yard work was done for a week. It was a lot of hard work, and that didn’t even ________ cleaning up the tools, and the other jobs that came with keeping the yard clean. Dad didn’t much like spending money on having someone else do the yard work when he had three sets of hands that knew how and could do it. Steven ________ it was important to work hard and save money, even if he missed some cartoons.

First Day at School

21     I still remember my first teacher. When I got to school, a teacher came and took me to a classroom.     22     I don’t really remember much on my first day of school, but I do remember that I met a girl called Sophie.     23     The first memory that came to my mind on the first day of school was that I refused to get on the school bus.

A. The teacher was very cool. He told us funny stories. He gave us some sweets and asked us about our names. It was an enjoyable time for me and my classmates. In fact, soon we were laughing and playing together. It was a wonderful first day at school. B. The smell of the new box of crayons is still the best memory. There were new pens and pencils. The books and the notebooks were also very new. Then there was the new bag and the new school uniform. It was great. Everything was new. C. She was really kind and we soon became friends. She took my hand and asked me about my name, and she told me her name. We played a game together. At the end of the day she gave me a kiss on the cheek. Sophie became my best friend. I had a really good day at school, and I don’t remember crying. D. The driver was pulling me on the bus and my mother was pushing me on it and I was screaming. I didn’t like to go to school. I wanted to stay at home. I remember I was really scared in the classroom. The best part of the day was my mother coming to pick me up. Luckily the following days were easier and better.

What is SQ3R?

SQ3R was first developed by researchers at Ohio State University. SQ3R is a useful technique (技巧) for understanding written information.

SQ3R stands for the five techniques you should use to read a book: Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review.

Survey (S): Scan the material to get the overview (概述). Read the headings to see the major points. Read the introductory paragraphs and the summary at the end of the chapter (章，篇). Remember, you are scanning the material and not actually reading every sentence.

Question (Q): Make questions that can be answered during the reading of the material. This will give a purpose to your reading. Take a heading and turn it into a question. For example, if a heading in a chapter about cell division is in your biology text, make a question by turning the title around: “How does cell division occur (发生)?” or “How many steps are involved in cell division?”

Read (R): Now you read the material and try to find answers to your questions. This is a careful reading, line by line. You may want to take notes or make flashcards.

Recite (R): As you read, look away from your book and notes and try to answer your questions. This checks your learning and helps to put that information in your memory.

Review (R): To check your memory, scan portions (部分) of the material or your notes to verify (核实) your answers. Review the material and note the main points under each heading. This review step helps you retain (记住) the material.

The SQ3R method is just one technique that can be used to understand and retain information when you read. Students learn in different ways. Therefore you should be aware of your learning styles. Knowing whether you are an auditory (learn by hearing), visual (lean by seeing) or kinaesthetic (hands-on) learner helps you to understand your best leaning environment. The SQ3R technique of reading can help to improve your reading skills no matter what your style is.

As your phone’s alarm blares (发出刺耳鸣响), you slowly open one eye. How can it be morning already? It seems like it was only a few hours ago that you finished your homework. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many teens struggle to get enough sleep.

According to the Sleep Foundation, nearly 60 percent of middle school students and more than 70 percent of high school students in the U.S. aren’t getting the recommended (被推荐的) 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night. In Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a group of students have formed an organization called Cherry Hill Students for Later School Start Times. It wants local middle and high schools to push back the start of the school day to 8:30 a.m.

In fact, schools in several states have changed to later start times in recent years. Research shows that inadequate (不足的) sleep can negatively affect students’ health and grades. Starting the school day too early can deprive teens of much-needed sleep. Studies show that well-rested teens are more likely to get good grades and less likely to suffer from (患有) depression.

As Aiden Rood, the co-founder of Cherry Hill Students for Later School Start Times, explains, “Kids are healthier in general when they start later, and they do better in school.”

However, not everyone thinks schools should push back the start of the school day.

Many school teachers say delaying (延迟) the start of the school day would create a number of challenges. First, school buses would have to be rescheduled, more money would be needed. There’s also concern (担心) that later school start times could leave some kids walking home in the dark. Changing school hours could also create child care problems for some parents.

In addition, opponents (反对者) say, later school start times would leave teens with fewer hours for after-school activities and homework. That’s what Erin Isherwood, a parent in Chico, California is worried about. The start time at her kids’ high school was pushed back 45 minutes this year. “My son has an exercise class that he absolutely (绝对地) loves at a gym, now he can’t go.” She explains.

Cave (洞穴) People

Cave people lived in the time of the ice age and they were probably nomads (游牧民) . They had no kinds of transportation, for which reason they travelled on foot.

They had to travel to gather and hunt food. Their main food was meat from hunted animals.

They probably did not waste any part of the killed animals. Not even the bones and the skins. Some scientists believe that cave people were smart enough to store food. Put it in snow or ice, dry it on wind or smoke it over fire. They used fire for cooking and for keeping warm.

Because people of the ice age had to travel to gather food, they had two types of homes. The first type is some sort of shelters made from animal parts (bones, skins) or pieces of wood and branches which could be moved and the second type is some sort of permanent (永久的) homes, which were offered by caves and rock overhangs. Caves and overhangs were sometimes dangerous because animals like bears lived in them.

If they wanted to catch a wild animal, they had to make tools. Their tools were not very complicated (复杂的), made mostly of stone, some of wood and animal bones. The most important material was stone. They sharpened it and used it as a tool.

Like nowadays ice age women had jewellery (首饰). It was simple, but beautiful, made of animal bones, plants, stones or shells. Their clothes were made of animal skins and simple materials found in nature grass.

Because sometimes there was not much to do around the cave, cave people probably told stories from hunting to their children or painted.

They knew something about art. Sometimes they drew paintings showing animals, people, plants and things that happened to them in their real life. Some of these cave paintings are still preserved and they tell stories about the ancient past.

Cave people also had the so called prehistoric pets. We are sure about that because bones of the ice dogs were found in several caves. Why did they have dogs? Probably in order to protect people from wild animals and to help them perform various jobs. Dogs also helped to pull killed animals or carry tools and equipment.