1 . All around the world, buildings are going green! People are making green buildings. What does it mean to go green or to make a green building? A green building is designed (设计) in a way that is not harmful to the environment. The building uses energy, water, and other materials in ways that are good for the environment.

When planning green buildings, architects (建筑师) must think about how to use energy, water, and materials in an environment-friendly way. There are many ways to save energy. Architects can design buildings to use natural light. Buildings can also be made with solar or wind power to get energy from the sun or the wind. To save water, green buildings can have areas on the roofs to collect rainwater. Kitchens and bathrooms can have sinks (洗池) and toilets (马桶) that conserve water. As for the materials used to build the building, it is important to use materials that do not have chemicals that are harmful to the air or water. Recycled materials can also be used for buildings.

Buildings around the world use all three of these ways to go green. An office building called CH2 in Melbourne, Australia, uses wind and solar power. A cultural center in London, England, is made from recycled train cars and is powered by solar and wind power. The Academy of Sciences building in California in the U. S. has recycled materials, solar energy, and a huge "living roof" of plants. A temple in Thailand is made out of one million recycled glass bottles! This is a good use of recycled material, and it also lets natural light into the temple.

More and more green buildings are being built and they are making the world a better place!

In a small village, there lived a young boy named Ravi. He was always glad to lend a helping hand.

One day, he saw a wounded _______ lying on the ground with a broken wing (翅膀). It was unable to _______. Filled with worry, Ravi picked up the bird and carefully bandaged (包扎) up its wing. He provided food and water _______ it. Days turned into weeks, and the bird became better and better. It was _______ ready to fly again.

As Ravi watched the bird flying higher and higher in the _______, he felt a deep sense of happiness and realized he could have a great influence on the lives of others. So he began to do a lot, including feeding homeless animals and visiting _______ people. His kindness spread throughout the village, encouraging people to follow his example.

Years passed, and Ravi _______ to be a beloved (深受喜爱的) member of the community. His simple deeds (行为) _______ the village into a place full of love and care.

Our acts, no matter how _______, can make a difference. _______ kindness is spread around, we will have the power to create a better world.

4 . Liu Lingli has been a teacher for hearing-impaired (听力受损的) children for 33 years. Her first communication with hearing-impaired people was with her neighbor, Mrs. Wang. One day, when Liu was playing in her house, Wang used sign language (手语) to communicate with her. But Liu couldn’t understand. Wang’s husband told Liu that Mrs. Wang wanted to make her a scarf.

“I was moved by her kindness, and thought it would be great if she could speak,” Liu said, “so I decided to become a teacher for hearing-impaired students.”

At first, Liu almost gave up because of difficulties. She then thought about her neighbor and the pain on her face when she could not make people understand what she was trying to say. That made Liu stick to her dream of being a “special education” teacher and she succeeded.

Although she was only 18 at that time, she regarded the students as her children. Every day, she spent much time teaching them to speak. One of her students, Jiang Yan, said Liu would show over 100 times how to speak just one word. She also taught the students how to wash their face and clothes, and clip their nails (剪指甲).

Liu Lingli put lots of efforts to help them live better, too. With her help and encouragement, another student Liu Hanxiang could communicate normally with others. Liu Hanxiang learned dancing and is a member of an art group now.

Thanks to Liu’s devotion (奉献), more than 20 students have received higher education. “Whenever they tried to say ‘mom’ or ‘dad’ for the first time, I felt it was the sweetest sound in the world,” Liu Lingli said.

Everyone should be proud of who they are. What makes you who you are? Part of who you are comes from the past. It comes from the culture of your parents, grandparents, and people before them. It comes from the art you see, the stories and music you hear, and the traditions you share.

Traditional Chinese painting is one of the oldest art forms in the world. It usually shows the painters’ love for nature and life. It mainly includes three kinds: landscapes (山水), flowers and birds, figures. Landscape painting is seen as the highest form of Chinese painting.

Traditional Chinese folk stories are part of our history. They usually carry some information about Chinese beliefs (信念) and traditions. Many traditional folk stories such as Yu Gong Moves the Mountains, Hou Yi Shoots the Suns, Chang’e Flies to the Moon, are passed down from one generation to the next. People tell these stories to teach, to remember and just to pass time.

Traditional Chinese music is a treasure of the Chinese nation. It is a medium (媒介) for the ancient people to express their feelings, experiences and thoughts and is still much loved by people so far.

Dragon boats have a history of more than 2,000 years. Dragon boat racing is a popular tradition in China. Racers must work together to win. Today dragon boat racing has become a modern world sport.