Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York. “Teaching means everything to us,” Tim would say. In April 1998, be learned be would need a heart operation It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.

Not long after the operation, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation(基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee. “I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire,” Tim recalls. He placed the brochure on his desk, “as a reminder.”

Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on imagination library.com. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.

The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a look-see. “We didn't want to give the children rubbish,” says Linda The books—reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists and Dollywood board members—included classics(杰作) such as Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama series.

Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative: “This program introduces us to books I've never heard of.”

The Richters spend about $ 400 a month sending books to 200 children. “Some people sit there and wait to die,” says Tim. “Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.”

1.                  led Tim think seriously about the meaning of life.

A．Tim's health problem

B．Tim's love for teaching

C．The news from the Web

2. Tim wanted to          after learning about Imagination Library.

A．retire from being a teacher

B．do something similar

C．write books for children

3. According to the text, Dollly Parton is          .

A．a well-known doctor

B．a mother of a four-year old

C．a singer born in Tennessee

4. The Richters went to Dollywood           .

A．to avoid signing up online

B．to make sure the books were the newest

C．to see if the books were of good quality

5. What can we learn from Tim's words in the last paragraph?

A．He considers his efforts worthwhile.

B．He wonders why some people are so busy.

C．He tries to save those waiting to die.

There are several ways from which to choose for you to keep your kids safe in your neighborhood. But the first step is to know your neighbors.

Knowing your neighbors can save you a lot of worry. It lets you know that the car that has just driven down the street belongs to “the yellow house on the corner”, or the truck that has just driven by the playground looks unfamiliar, but the guy in the passenger seat resides（居住）two doors down. It’s these simple things that keep you from going out of your mind whenever you see someone driving by where children are playing.

But you shouldn’t just know what they look like. The next step is to know them well. What do they do? How do they act? You might be OK with them driving by the playground since they live in the neighborhood, but are you OK with them being on the playground? Knowing your neighbors solves several things. First you find out what kind of people they are. This helps you know if you should let your child go out in an area where they gather. Let us face it: you do not want your child to play around people or people’s children that curse（咒骂）or hit each other. Sometimes you have to protect you child against your own neighbors.

Knowing them also makes them know you. Being neighbors is an interesting thing. You might not like them or have the same views as them, but we all usually protect those that we consider our own. If you know your neighbors, they know you. They are more likely to look after the child of the nice lady down the street in the brick （砖）house, than the people, in the house on the corner, who no one ever sees.

6. This passage is mainly to tell us          .

A．how to keep your child safe in the neighborhood

B．how to set a good example to your neighbors

C．how to get along with your neighbors

7. If someone resides two doors down, he          .

A．studies at the same school with your kid

B．often comes to the neighborhood to offer help

C．lives in the same neighborhood as you

8. The underlined phrase “going out of your mind” in Paragraph 2 probably means          .

A．becoming very excited

B．becoming very worried

C．becoming very embarrassed

9. From the third paragraph we can know that          .

A．it is important for you to be polite to your neighbors

B．people in the same neighborhood are quite different

C．knowing your neighbors helps to keep your kids safe

10. In the last paragraph, the writer wants to tell us that          .

A．the neighbors are likely to help the nice lady

B．the neighbors would like to help people they know

C．we should like and have the same views as the neighbor

Be the Friend Everyone Wants

Some people seem to have a special talent for making friends. So what’s the secret, anyway?

    11     Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and thought, “Wow, that person is interested in what I have to say!” Chances are that he was asking questions and truly listening to your answers. How can you do the same? If you know someone’s interest, start from there. If not, ask about his opinion on something.

    12     During a recent school lunch, Katie told her tablemates how disappointed she’d been that her swim team hadn’t placed in the meet they’d competed. “Sometimes,” she added, “I feel like quitting.” The next day, one of her tablemates asked if she felt any better about the meet, Katie immediately felt happier. “It actually cheered me up,” Katie says, “because she remembered how important the meet was to me.”

    13     Remember people’s names and use them often. Usually when we’re introduced to someone new, we’re so busy making a good impression that we forget to pay attention to the other person’s name. When you’re first introduced, make а point of repeating the person’s name aloud as you smile and look him in the eye.

    14     You know how good it feels when your friends include you in things. If someone is quietly hanging around the edges of a conversation, bring him into it by asking his opinion. Not only will you make others feel special, but you’ll open the door to making new friends, too.

    15     Your body sends messages as surely as your mouth does. If you’re interested in what someone has to say, you’ll most likely smile encouragingly, meet her eyes. So make sure your body is always sending the message you want it to send!

A．Remember what’s important to people.

B．Watch your body language.

C．Say nice things.

D．Do make an effort to include people.

E．Ask questions and listen to the answers.

F．Use people’s names.

G．Be polite to people.

Misadventures in English

Last week, our forum asked if you bad any funny or strange stories about using English. Here are some of our favorites, to remind us that some of the English we learn in the classroom is rather different from the English in the outside world!

Yancy People say that the British always play safe with what they eat. Not true! I went to a summer school in Manchester and my English teacher was called Maggie. One day, a different teacher took our class. He told us that Maggie couldn't teach that day COZ she had a frog in her throat. Poor Maggie-but why did she try to eat such a big frog? Then I learned that it means someone's throat is dry or blocked. How funny! Sophie When I first visited New York, I went to a downtown shopping center to buy some winter boots. At the information desk at the entrance, I asked a lady where the shoe section was. She said that it was on the first floor. So I went up to the first floor, but couldn't find any shoes. I decided to leave. When I was looking for the exit, I saw the shoes were actually sold downstairs on the ground floor, not the first floor. Why did she give me the wrong information? Then, I realized that the first floor was the ground floor. Julien I've got an English penfriend who I finally got to meet in London this summer. He had told me that his grandfather was "really wicked". But when I met his grandfather, I liked him a lot. I found it very odd. Why did my friend use a negative word about such a nice man? Guess what? When speaking informally, "wicked" means "very nice"． Zheng Xu The British must have really high standards. I was part of a student exchange programme between a university in England and my university in China. I spent days preparing and writing my first English paper. I did a good job and was looking forward to getting a positive comment. When I got the paper back, I found my teacher had written the comment “Not bad! " Not bad? But there weren't any errors in my paper. Actually, British people use "not bad" when things are pretty good! I got a good comment!

16. Maggie couldn't go to school because there was a frog in her throat.
17. Sophie thinks "the first floor" means the second floor, but it's not in New York.
18. In Julien's opinion, "wicked" is not a good word to describe a person.
19. Zheng Xu is satisfied with the comment "Not bad!" by his teacher.
20. The passage tells us that some of the English we learn in the classroom is not right.

From May 16 to May 23 in 2019, the Asian Cuisine Festival. Guangzhou was held to encourage communication among Asian countries.

During the festival, there were a number of activities showing Guangzhou culture and the beauty of Asian cuisine. Visitors have enjoyed all the best foods of Asia in one city, with a list of the 24 top restaurants in Guangzhou. Many famous people were invited to have morning tea, tasting the popular food like shrimp dumplings, beef or fish balls, chicken feet, etc.

Besides, “My Favorite Asian Cuisine" was held in Guangzhou to choose the best restaurants and dishes. A 1.2-meter-long hand-painted picture was published. The picture was about the cuisine choices along the Pearl River. Food and technology companies were also invited to show how to make traditional food by using modern technology. Visitors could buy other products about traditional food and culture, such as books, postcards and stamps.

The slogan (口号) of the festival is “Enjoying Asian Cuisine and Savoring the Taste of the Millennium Flower City”. Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, is well-known for its rich food and its culture. The director of the festival said that one would need a year or two, rather than a day or two, to fully enjoy the best of Guangzhou cuisine.

Information Card

The purpose of the Asian Cuisine Festival Guangzhou	21
The number of the top restaurants on the visit	22
The thing that the hand-painted picture was about	23
The way to make traditional food in this festival	24
The things that Guangzhou is well-known for	25

Wanted, Someone for a Kiss We're looking for producers to join us in the second of London 100FM. You'll work on the station's music programs. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply （申请）in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.

Father Christmas We're looking for a very special person preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit. Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December 17 to December 24 except Sunday, 10:30—16:00. Excellent pay. Please contact the Enterprise Shopping Center, Station Parade, Eastbourne.

Accountants Assistant When you join the team in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience. Wealden District Council

Software Trainer If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in program writing. You will be allowed to make our decision, and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of ￡15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV to Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.

26. Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station?
____________________________________________________________________________
27. If you get the job as Father Christmas, how long do you need to work in the shopping centre?
_____________________________________________________________________________
28. Which position is open to recent school graduates?
_____________________________________________________________________________
29. What kind of person would probably apply to Palmace Limited?
_____________________________________________________________________________
30. Which ad tells you how much you will get paid if you get the job?
_____________________________________________________________________________

31. Focus on the other person and the result you want to ________/ ə'tʃi:v/.

32. Don't you think it's an awful________/weɪst/ of time and youth?

33. Sybil ate three________/'bɪ skɪ ts /, one after the other.

34. The light from his ________/'kændl/ threw his shadow on the wall.

35. Parker's grandma's already________/fləʊn/south for the winter.

36. I ________/gest/ from his name that Jose must have been Spanish.