Do not turn our backs on those who are in need. That’s what the Bible says.

One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a small _________ in Philadelphia   and asked whether they could be put up here.

“I’m sorry, ” the clerk said politely, “all of our rooms are _________ tonight. But I can’t send you out in the rain at this moment. you could stay in _________ room if you don’t mind. It’s not exactly a suite, but it will be _________ enough to you two. As I’m on duty, I’ll _________ in the office anyway, and I can do some bookkeeping business there.”

The elderly couple accepted his _________ with thanks. The next day, as he was paying his bill, the elderly man said to the clerk, “You are the clerk that _________ boss(es) in the hotel business would dream of. Maybe someday I’ll _________ one for you.” The clerk was amazed, but gave the words no more thoughts, deciding that the man _________ have been joking.

Two years later, the old gentleman invited the clerk to a new building and said, “ This is what I _________ to build for you. Remember what I said then? Well, I was _________ serious about it. I hope you will manage it for me.”

Filled with _________, the young man stammered, “But...will there be any conditions, Sir? _________ do you choose me?” “Like I told you before, you are the best clerk in my mind!”

This young clerk _________ imagined a simple action would make him the manager of one of the world’s most famous hotels, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Always be _________ to help others because that’s the best gift we can give others and also ourselves.

Year 2020 is coming! It will be very important for both China and the world. What will it look like?

Let’s check it out.

	# First Chinese Princess Mulan, the Chinese Disney princess, takes the place of her father and becomes a soldier. A new Mulan movie will come out in the new year. Liu Yifei plays the brave princess. She will fight for her family and country.
	# ________ Space stations are homes in space. The US and Russia both have their own space stations. There is an international space station, too. China will build its own space station in 2020. It will include three capsules and a cargo spaceship. It will work in space for over 10 years.
	# Summer Olympic Games Sports fans will be excited to see some new sports at the Tokyo Olympics, such as Karate and skateboarding. The Olympic Games will start on July 24. Don’t miss it!
	# Heading for Mars What does Mars look like? Is there any life on Mars? We will very likely find out the answers in 2020. The probe will arrive on Mars in 2021 after more than nine months of space travel.
	# Best Place for Travelling The magazine Lonely Planet has picked the best places to visit in 2020. Bhutan is at the top of the list. It is a small kingdom in the Himalayas. The list also includes Guizhou that is famous for mountains and waterfalls. The world’s highest bridge is also in Guizhou.

Sometimes children need extra help to learn at school. In some schools in England, volunteer tutors work with children who are struggling to learn and write. The tutors spend time with them, away from their class, to help them learn to love books and enjoy school. These children can then become more confident about school and learning.

Lorna is six years old and struggling with her reading and writing. This is a report from her tutor, Mrs Snow, who has been visiting her at school.

When I first started working with Lorna, she was very shy and didn’t really enjoy reading.

Her class teacher told me she was very quiet in class. During our lessons together we spent lots of time reading books. We also played word games to help with her spelling and writing. As time went on, Lorna began to relax and became more confident. She realized that reading and writing could be lots of fun!

Lorna even wrote a book by herself about Beauty and the Beast. She also drew some lovely pictures to explain it. What great progress!

Her favorite reading book was called Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She was very happy every time we sat down to read it!

Her class teacher is very pleased with how well Lorna is doing. Lorna proudly tells her classmates about what she has done in each lesson. I think they all want to join in as well!

I am very pleased that Lorna is also spending more time at home reading with her mom and dad. They are all enjoying reading together. Lorna tells me that they have bought her a special bookmark to use in her reading books.

Fever, coughing, sore throat... most of us at one time or another have had these signs. What causes them?

In fact, many diseases are caused by viruses, including some deadly ones like AIDS, SARS and COVID-19 which breaks out in China and all over the world.

What are viruses? How can viruses cause so much trouble? Viruses are very tiny particles which are about one millionth of an inch long. Unlike human cells or bacteria, viruses aren't living organisms–they can’t reproduce on their own. Instead, they enter the cells of living organisms to reproduce, spread and take over.

Virus can infect every living thing–from plants and animals down to the smallest bacteria. For this reason, they are always a hidden danger to humans.

Viruses lie around our environment all of the time, waiting for a host cell to come along. They can enter our bodies by the nose, mouth, eyes or breaks in the skin. Once inside, they try to find a host cell to infect.

But the basic question is, where did viruses first come from? Until now, no clear explanation for their origin exists. Finding out the origins of viruses is difficult, “Ed Rybicki, a scientist at the university of Cape Town in South Africa, told Scientific American, because viruses don't leave fossils and because of the tricks they use to make copies of themselves within the cells they've entered.”

However, there are three main theories to explain the origin of viruses. First, viruses started as independent organisms, then became parasites. Second, viruses evolved from pieces of DNA or RNA that “escaped” from larger organisms. Third, viruses co-evolved with their host cells, which means they existed alongside these cells.

For the time being, these are only theories. The technology and evidence we have today cannot be used to test these theories and identify the most reasonable explanation. Continuing studies may provide us with clearer answers. Or future studies may find that the answer is even more unexpected than what we have considered now.

Sue and Johnsy found their tastes in art are so similar that they became close friends soon. They also had a neighbour, an old and cold painter called Behrman. One morning in late autumn, Johnsy was ill. The doctor invited Sue into the hallway. “She has one chance in ten,” he said, “ And that chance is for her to want to live. Your little lady has made up her mind that she’s not going to get well. If you will get her to be positive, I will promise you a one-in-five chance for her, instead of one in ten.”

After the doctor had gone, Sue cried sadly. But she entered Johnsy's room,smiling and whistling as if nothing had happened. Sue found Johnsy's eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and counting backward. “Twelve,” she said, and little later “eleven”, and then “ten”, and “nine”, almost together. What was there to count? There was only an old, old ivy vine, grew in the corner, climbed half way up the brick wall.

“Six,” said Johnsy, “There goes another one. There are only five leaves left. When the last one falls, I must go, too. ”

“Oh, I never heard of such nonsense,” complained Sue, “What have old ivy leaves to do with your getting well? The doctor told me you would get well very soon.” After saying that, Sue held the tears back and quickly left the room.

Not having many friends, Sue shared Johnsy's situation with Mr Behrman. She told him how she feared she would, indeed, light and fragile as a leaf herself, flow away. “Is there someone foolish enough to believe she will die because leaves drop off a vine? I have never heard of such a thing.” He laughed as he walked away.

As time passed, there stood out against the brick wall one ivy leaf. “It is the last one,” said Johnsy. “It will fall today, and I shall die at the same time.” That night, it rained heavily. As first rays of the morning sun lit the world, the last leaf still stood there. Johnsy was surprised at first, but luckily she found back hope, the hope to live. After one-week recovery, the doctor was sure Johnsy would get better. As Sue and Johnsy hugged and jumped crazily, they heard a nurse in the hallway say:

“Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia a week ago in the hospital. His shoes and clothes were wet through and icy cold. I couldn’t imagine where he had been on such a terrible night. And it is strange because we also found a lantern, still lighted, and a ladder, and some scattered brushes, and a palette with green and yellow colours mixed on it.”

Sue and Johnsy looked out of the window, at the last ivy leaf on the wall. Even the wind blew, it never flew or moved...

Zhong Nanshan — a national hero

Zhong Nanshan, an 83-year-old doctor, became a household name 17 years     46     (以前) for fighting against SARS. Now he is leading China and making an effort     47     (控制) the new disease which is caused by the new virus COVID-19.

The virus first     48     (出现) in the city of Wuhan, which has 11 million people. It has frightened tens of millions of Chinese who are traveling for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday. After being appointed, he immediately took the train to Wuhan on     49     (一月) 18^th, 2020. Soon he found out the truth, and reported that the new coronavirus could be spread rapidly     50     (在……之中) humans. Then all transportation to and from the city was closed off. Thanks to him, the government took actions and we paid more attention to the new virus and started to protect     51     (我们自己).

Now he is working hard to fight the new virus COVID-19 to save people's     52     (生命). In 2003, he played a huge role. He stuck to the truth and     53     (最后) found a way to treat SARS. To avoid being infected by the virus COVID-19 , people     54     (不允许) to go out without wearing masks. He has given people much confidence in winning the battle.

Zhong Nanshan is exactly regarded as one of our     55     (最伟大的) national heroes, together with other doctors, giving their courage to face the disease.

56. 疫情期间，同学们都开始了“停课不停学”的居家学习。请你以 “Home   Learning”为题，根据自己的亲身经历向外国朋友介绍一下你利用网络居家学习的情况（利用 app 自学，网络课、作业等） 并谈谈你的感受。

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