1 . 每个人的成长都离不开榜样的引领。

我们身边的老师、家长或朋友可能是我们的榜样；奥运冠军，感动中国的人物也可能是我们的榜样。假如你是李华，某英文报社发起了主题为“A good example around me”的征文活动，请你根据以下要点，写一篇英语短文，介绍一下你身边的榜样，并谈一谈你对“何为榜样”的看法。

A good example around me

There are many good examples around me. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2 . We think with our brain. But can computers think?

Does a computer have a brain? We can use a computer to calculate, play games, send emails, do homework and other things.

A computer has several parts. Which part is the brain of the computer? In the main part of the computer, there is an element (元件) called CPU. That’s the brain of a computer. The keyboard and mouse are like a man’s eyes and ears. They can get information from the outside. And the monitor and printer are like a man’s hands and mouth. They can send the information to the outside after the brain-CPU thinks about it.

We often use a computer. We use the keyboard and mouse to give a computer some information. Then the computer sends the information to CPU. After CPU thinks about it, the computer gives the result to the monitor. Then we can see it!

    1     people use mobile phones     2     (send) messages, they always type in the words.

However, in China, it is     3     (usual) difficult for old people to type Chinese characters. Typing is also much slower than     4     (speak).

Is it possible for a mobile phone to type in     5     words for us as we talk?

The answer is “Yes”! With a special program, a mobile phone can recognize your voice. After you teach it to get     6     (use) to the way you speak, you can talk to the mobile phone and it will obey your commands and write for you. In this way, you can send messages at a     7     (fast) speed.

Some of the latest mobile     8     (phone) can also talk to you. When you talk to them, they reply and answer     9     (you) questions. For example, they can tell you what the weather will be like today and find out     10     the hotels near you. Some mobile phones can even chat with you, although sometimes they make funny mistakes.

Have you ever talked to your mobile phone?

In the long history of China, the Tang Dynasty is famous for its poems.     1     People often say, “If you can read 300 Tang Poems over and over again, you will be able to repeat some of them at least, though you can’t write one.”

    2     He showed his cleverness when he was a small child. When he grew older, he began to learn poems and painting. As a smart boy, he became good at them in a short time. Later, he became one of the best poets and painters of his time.     3     Today, we can still enjoy about four hundred of them.     4     When you read his poems, you can imagine a painting in them. When you watch his paintings, you can feel a poem within them.

5 . Have you ever thought about one question: Why do we need to learn Maths?

It is an interesting question. Kids around the world have been asking it for years. For US students, they may get the answer from a new exhibition (展览) called “Maths Alive!”

Forty-seven activities are designed (设计) to teach kids how Maths is used in everyday life. For example, at one exhibition station, visitors can test that a person’s arm span (跨度) equals their height. At another station, visitors can control the robot with the help of Maths skills.

The exhibition will visit 15 US and international cities in the next five years. Organizers say they want more kids to learn why Maths is important in daily life. Think of simple things, like clocks. They tell time, but only if you know how to read them. That means using Maths. How much longer until school ends? How long did you sleep last night? That’s all Maths too. Even when you’re not doing Maths, it is all around you.

So enjoy Maths, not for exams, but for the wonderful world it helps to build.

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7 . Connor Halsa is a 15-year-old boy. One day, he caught a wallet while fishing with his family on Lake of the Woods. Connor opened the wallet and found there was some money in it. He showed everyone the wallet. Then they took out the money and put it all on the ground to make it dry.

There was a total of $2,000 inside the wallet. “My dad said we should give the wallet back to the owner. We did it. We found a business card in the wallet and called the number. At last, we got in touch with the owner, who was a farmer named Jim Denney,” Connor said.

A month ago, Jim Denney was fishing in the same lake. His wallet slipped (滑落) out of his pocket and fell into the water. He didn’t even realize it was missing until he had to pay for the boat trip. But he gave up looking for the wallet because the lake was so huge that it was nearly impossible to find the wallet.

Jim Denney made the trip to meet Connor and his family. “To thank them, I tried to give them some money, but they refused,” he said.

Do you believe picking up rubbish has become a world competition?

In November of 2023, the first Rubbish Collection World Cup     1     (hold) in Asia. Teams from 21     2     (country) took part in it. According to the rules, each team will have 60 minutes to collect rubbish as much as possible. Britain     3    (final) won the first prize. “We hope more people around the world will pay attention to     4     (environment) problems,” said a British team member.

When Ken, the founder (创始人) of the competition, was interviewed, he talked about how he came up     5     the idea. Several years ago, he found many sea animals died     6     of the rubbish in the sea. So he started to pick up rubbish on his way to the beach every morning.

“Picking up     7     piece of rubbish may save a turtle’s (海龟的) life. It’s also a good way to keep the beach clean.” In his eyes, changing     8     (people) thoughts about rubbish was more important.

“Picking up rubbish is meaningful and     9    (help),” added Ken. “Now, I am glad to hear that lots of people take part in it     10     (protect) our environment.”

Have you ever read Little Women by US writer Louisa May Alcott? The classic has been changed into plays, films and television programs many times because of its popularity since it came out in 1868. It tells a story of a mother raising her four daughters, while their dad is away fighting a war. Meg, the eldest, wants to live a better life very much. Jo, the second-born, wants nothing more than to be a writer. Beth is a sweet girl who loves music and always brings joy to others. The youngest daughter, Amy, dreams of being an artist. The girls feel hopeful about the future even though their dreams may not come true.

After reading Little Women, I have a feeling of warmth and kindness from the family.