These days, people can travel easily. But that means plants, animals and germs(病菌) can travel easily, too. Living things from foreign countries can be ______ . They can hurt a country’ s native(本土的) plants and animals. So countries must ______ themselves. When people go into a country, they go ______ customs(海关). Customs officers check their bags. They ask people about food.

People cannot bring any fruit or meat into the country. Some travelers don’t like these ______.

They want to bring food home with them. They think a little fruit or meat can’t hurt ______. But germs can spread ______. Then they can hurt a country’s farms. So people should obey the rules. ______ people want to bring in food products(产品), they should ask customs.

Plants and seeds(种子)are also a ______. Non-native(非本土的) plants can hurt native plants. Some non-native plants will grow very quickly and ______ fast. They can hurt the animals that eat those native plants. Bringing non-native plants and animals into a country is ______ a good idea. It is important to be careful when you travel.

Blind people cannot see, so they need help getting around. Guide dogs can help them. The Huikuang Guide Dog School trains guide dogs. It started in 1991 to breed(繁殖), raise and train guide dogs for blind people in Taiwan. People think that guide dogs are pets, but they are much more than that.

Guide dogs lead their people as they walk around. The dogs “see” dangerous things and keep their people safe. This is why some people call guide dogs, “seeing eye dogs”.

For the first step of guide dog training, each puppy(小狗) is placed with a caring family until it is around a year old. The family cares for the puppy, making sure it stays healthy and learns to get along well with people. The family takes the puppy to different places. They allow it to experience different environments and situations.

The puppy also learns good house manners. It learns to stay off furniture and not touch anything that is not a dog toy or food.

When the dogs are about one year old, they go to the guide dog training school. There they learn commands(命令) such as “go,” “wait” and “stop”. They must also learn when to obey and when not to obey. For example, at a street corner, a dog must not “go” when a car is coming, even if its owner tells it to. When the training is finished, each dog must pass many tests. If it passes, it is carefully paired with a blind person to lead the way to a better life.

“My dear lady,” says Holmes. “You’re shivering(颤抖). Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?”

“I’m not cold,” the woman replies, “I fear for my life!”

“We are here to help you. Don’t worry about anything. I don’t know you. For example, I know how you travel. You come to London by train. You also ride to the strain station on a horse-drawn wagon(马车).”

“Why, yes. You’re right. But how do you know these things?”

“I see a return ticket in your glove. I see fresh mud(泥) on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem.”

“My name is Helen Stoner,” she says, “My mother and father are dead. I am living with my stepfather(继父), Dr Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and a big old house. We are living in the house. Dr Roylott is using my mother’s money for his life. Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages(婚姻).”

Holmes is sitting in his chair. His eyes are closed. He is listening carefully to Helen’s story. He hears every word.

Helen continues. “My stepfather has no friends. He fights with everyone. He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him.”

“He has no friends at all?” asks Holmes.

“No. He talks to no one except the Gypsies(吉普赛人). They are poor people who travel from place to place. A band(群) of Gypsies is staying on our land right now.”

“Are you and your sister afraid of the Gypsies?”

“My dear Mr. Holmes. You are making me so sad. My sister is dead. That is why I am standing here in this room.”

54. 在春节联欢晚会上相声演员为大家讲述了姥姥的故事，展现家风家教的传承，温暖了每一个中国人的心。假如你是Sandy，你所在的小区正在进行“模范家庭”的评选，请根据下表的提示要点给你所在的社区中心写一封英文推荐信向他们推荐你的家庭。

I would like to recommend my family for “Model Family” in our neighborhood this year. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I hope we can get the award. I am looking forward to your answer.

Yours faithfully,

Sandy