1 . Nova Scotia is a beautiful province located on the eastern coast. It is known for its winding coastal landscapes, attractive fishing villages, and rich maritime (海的) history. Take a look at what you can do while there.

This scenic drive offers breathtaking views of Nova Scotia’s rugged (有起伏的) coastline, winding through the Cape Breton Highlands. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails, vast lookouts, and opportunities for wildlife spotting. Exploring the Cabot Trail allows travelers to lose themselves in the natural beauty of Nova Scotia while experiencing its rich cultural heritage.

Peggy’s Cove is a quiet fishing village known for its typical lighthouse standing on rocks overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can wander through the village, admire the picture-like scenery, and take photographs of the coastline. The quietness and beauty of Peggy’s Cove make it a must-visit destination in Nova Scotia.

Halifax’s lively waterfront is a center of activity, offering a variety of attractions and experiences for visitors. From taking a walk along the boardwalk lined with shops and restaurants to exploring historic sites like the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The waterfront also serves as a starting point for boat tours, allowing travelers to explore the harbor.

2 . Born with a disability in her right leg, Mei faced numerous challenges in her daily life. Regardless, Mei refused to let her disability define her.

From a young age, Mei harbored a deep passion for painting. With the support of her loving family, she transformed her wheelchair into a mobile easel (画架), allowing her to create art wherever she went. Every stroke (笔画) of her brush was like a witness to her growth.

As Mei grew older, her talent attracted the attention of the local community. Encouraged by their support, she decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional artist. However, Mei soon encountered doubt from others, even her childhood best friends, who questioned her ability to succeed in the art world.

Instead of backing up, Mei pressed on, expressing her frustration (沮丧) into her artwork. Her paintings were beautiful, reflecting the beauty she saw in the world around her. Through her art, Mei found a sense of purpose, proving to herself and others that disabilities could not put out the fire of creativity.

Eventually, Mei received an invitation to showcase her artwork at Guggenheim Museum in New York. Wild with joy, she was unsure if she was ready to face the judgement of the art world. With the support of her family and friends, Mei decided to seize the opportunity.

The show was a great success. Through Mei’s journey, she was able to reach thousands of other people with disabilities who would benefit from her experience. That’s why she is still pressing on and fighting—not because she’s broken, but because she not only has an opportunity to fully achieve her potentials as a disabled person but also the will to inspire everyone else around her.

3 . When Howard Carter opened King Tut’s tomb (墓穴), it was full of gold and other valuables. When he and his team then attempted to remove King Tut’s mummy (木乃伊), they did a great deal of damage to the mummy while removing it.

Decades later, in 1968, experts conducted an examination of King Tut’s mummy using simple X-ray technology. Three important discoveries led to various theories about his death. First, the X-rays showed that bones in Tut’s chest were missing. Some guessed the damage was caused by a war injury or an accident. Plus, there was a small hole in the back of the skull (头骨), and pieces of bone inside it, causing many to believe that Tut was killed by a blow to the back of the head. Was he murdered by people wanting to take control of Egypt? Finally, a serious broken bone was discovered on Tut’s left leg. Tut was hurt a few hours before his death. This could have been the result of an accident. Could an infection from the injury have killed Tut?

In 2005, scientists under the direction of Zahi Hawass used new X-ray technology to study the mummy. They discovered that the damage to Tut’s chest was caused by Howard Carter, and the hole in Tut’s skull was made when the body was gotten ready for burial. While this ruled out the theory of murder, it still doesn’t tell us exactly how he died.

Then, in 2008, when Hawass and his team analyzed the DNA of the mummies and other tombs nearby, they made some shocking discoveries. They found Tut’s father and mother, who had similar DNA, were actually brother and sister. The DNA they passed on to Tut may have made it easy for him to catch a disease. Did an infection that started in his broken leg cause his death? No one knows for sure. But Hawass and his team hope they will someday have an answer to this age-old mystery.

4 . What would happen to you if you fell into a black hole? Some physicists believe you would burn up the moment you entered one. Einstein’s general theory of relativity predicts that you would pass through, unaware that you were lost to the rest of the universe.

Black holes have a bottom, but you wouldn’t live to see it. Gravity, as you fell, would grow stronger. The pull on your feet, if you were falling feet first, would be so much greater than the pull on your head that you would be stretched until you were torn apart. But pieces of you would reach the bottom. From there, some physicists believe that those pieces that once were you could end up in another universe.

However, nobody has ever seen or will see a black hole. A black hole is invisible, a blank spot in space, but scientists are able to know its existence by the effect it has on things around it. For example, if an object comes close to a black hole, it should be possible to see the powerful gravity of the black hole trying to pull the object in. In fact, this is exactly what scientists are planning to do: to observe one while it eats a very large object.

The black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is peaceful but is currently pulling a gas cloud toward itself fast. As the gas cloud begins to enter the black hole, telescopes will be able to take a picture of a black hole in action. This will be the best proof so far that black holes certainly exist.

A black hole is an eater. The nearer objects get to it, the hotter they become. Black holes also spin (旋转), and the extreme heat and spinning break up and expel large amounts of matter at extremely high temperatures. This heated matter flies through space, away from the hole at unbelievable speed. It can travel millions of light-years straight through a galaxy. The material then cools, comes together, and eventually forms new stars around the galaxy, thus the birth of new universes.

5 . Before setting out on her journey, Shirley led an elegant and peaceful life in the quiet countryside. Little did she _________ the adventure that would beat her thoughts and lead her far from the _________ of home.

Regardless of her prior unwillingness, Shirley’s _________ with Sally, who suggested this trip, threw her into a category of adventures she had never imagined. Yet, despite the _________ that arose, from encounters with tigers to struggles with crocodiles (鳄鱼), Shirley remained somewhat _________ in her devotion to the journey.

Her ideal, to prove her _________ and find her place, became a (n) _________ driving force as she faced the challenges of the journey. Along the way, she _________ awesome wonders, from the fascination of the Kenyan safari (游猎) to the thunders of the misty Kilimanjaro. _________ her expectations, Shirley found herself bound to the fate of home, owing much to the friendship she had and the __________ she had discovered within herself. And when faced with the fear of mother nature, it was Shirley’s bravery that __________ her only companion, Sally.

As her journey __________ its end, Shirley realized how much she owed to the journey, not just the material treasures she had got, but the personal growth and self-discovery that came from __________ beyond her comfort zone. And so, with confidence and a heart of __________, Shirley started going back home, forever __________ by this unforgettable adventure.

10 . “I never got to choose my jobs,” John Baker reflects, his voice filled with a newfound sense of freedom. For twenty years, he worked tirelessly beneath the bustling streets in the London Underground, dedicated to his career. But upon turning sixty, he finally had the power to chart his own course. So, he became a lifeguard.

Three years prior, during a routine blood donation, Baker experienced an acute chest pain. A moment of clarity washed over Baker. “The doctor asked, ‘Do you drink?’ Yeah, probably too much. ‘Do you smoke?’ Yes.” His body, substantially burdened by tobacco and alcohol, whispered warnings. “I’m never going to be in this position again,” he made a firm resolution. Vowing to radically change his unhealthy way of life, Baker began his journey of transformation which was fueled by a switch to a vegan lifestyle. The tunnels of the underground faded into memory as Baker embraced a new horizon.

“I’ve always had to earn as much as I can for my family,” Baker reflects, his dedication evident in the lines of his weathered face. Long hours and unwavering commitment defined his career in the engineering fleet. But amidst the demands of work, he realized his family was neglected. “For twenty years, it was like they were wrapped in cling film,” he recalls, regret tugging at his heartstrings. So, he made a promise to his daughters, “If you have a child, I’ll - be a caring grandparent.” As time passed, Baker embraced his role as a grandfather, though it came with its challenges.

For the first six months after he qualified, Baker was asked at least once a day how old he was. “I was forty years older than anyone else in the lifeguard course,” he chuckles. Yet, to have young peers give you a different perspective.

Today, as he watches over the water’s edge, Baker finds comfort in the rhythm of the waves. “Every day is a learning experience,” he shares, wisdom gained over the years. “I feel it even more now at sixty.” In the ebb and flow of life, he’s found balance — between work, family, and self. “This is everything I’ve wanted,” he concludes, a sense of fulfillment guiding him forward.