1 . When faced with the decision to get out of bed or have a few more minutes of sleep, which do you choose? Believe it or not, that decision could make a world of difference in the rest of your day.

About 85 percent of Americans use an alarm clock to wake up in the mornings, according to sleep researcher Till Roennenber. And while there are no official numbers on snoozing (打盹), a quick survey of social media makes it clear that hitting the snooze button is a popular choice for many people.

As to how the snooze button will affect your day, scientists have mixed opinions. Some scientists think people who hit the snooze button in the mornings are actually clever, creative and happy while some said that hitting the snooze button will ruin your life, or at least your day. “I feel that hitting the snooze button has got to be one of the worst things that ever happened to human sleep,” researcher Jonathan Horowitz said. “The chances of you ‘snoozing’ and actually experiencing a meaningful rest are close to zero.”

According to some sleep experts, when hitting the snooze button, you are in fact confusing your body and mind, and throwing yourself into a deep state of being sleepy. The body needs some time to wake up, so, when returning to what will be a light sleep for a brief period of time, you are putting your body back into a sleep mode before waking it again. At that point your body won’t know what it wants, resulting in a sort of half awaken state.

If you really want to take advantage of an alarm clock, the key is to form a healthy sleep cycle. Focus your efforts on getting enough sleep each night and waking up at the same time each day so that when your alarm goes off you feel rested.

2 . We should show respect to everybody, especially our elders because they are ahead of us — in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education. Our ________ have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us ________ everything to their kindness and love.

When we ________ them respect, whether it is by bowing to them, or ________ them with a smile, or offering them any help they need, it is one way of ________ our own love and gratitude to them. ________, elders have also been through all the years you are ________ and know a little more about the world than you do.

It is ________ that you do not agree with the belief of your elders, but this is nothing new. All younger generations have always ________ with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes in human ________. However much you disagree with them, give them credit for their ________.

With changing times and ________ influences, youngsters no longer know what is interpreted as disrespect to elders. Youngsters should ________ express their views and if there are arguments, they should not ________ their voices.

If there is no space on sofas or chairs, children will immediately ________ their places, and sit on the carpet. In buses and trains, youngsters are ________ to give up their places to older people. This is not a ________ of who has more rights. It is simply that those who are younger have the strength to bear ________, or tolerate unpleasantness, so it is natural to show consideration to those who are older and perhaps at a ________ disadvantage. When you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become ________ that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness.

3 . A friend of mine met with an accident driving in darkness. His legs were so hurt that he couldn’t move. What was the ______ was that he found himself unable to ask for help---his mobile phone went out of ______ as a result of exhausted battery. Nothing could be done but to _____ in cold wilderness. It was eight hours later that day broke, and then ____ of the rescue.

It is almost ______ that he could stand the horror in the darkness for so long. Even more surprising was his ______: “First of all, I checked up my ______ conditions and found myself not in danger. As there was no ______ to call for help, I leaned back in my seat trying my best to keep the wound from ______. In this way I was asleep”

His story _______ my regret for the failure of an exploration adventure that happened last year. A group of young men _______ to explore a mountain cave and got lost. ______to find a way out in the dark cave they were frightened and ran anxiously without a sense of ______. Finally they were dead in fear and exhaustion. According to the ______ people that found them, the place where they got lost was only about 10 meters away from the ______ of the cave. If they stayed on the spot and tried to ______ themselves, they would probably sense a light not far away.

Don’t you think you can compare it with ______ itself? When you meet with difficulty in life, you are lost in darkness.   ______ you it's unclear yet and you needn’t struggle ______. It seems to be negative(消极), ______ a person who can do so must have foresight(远见) and courage in the first place.

4 . Scientists have made great discoveries. But how have they influenced our personal lives? Do kids in your classroom even know when Einstein lived? You may be wondering: but why is it important to teach kids about modern-day scientists?

First, stories of scientists can encourage kids. Chris Hadfield is a Canadian who went to space, and he's a real guitar-playing person. He makes singing videos on YouTube! His story can make kids think scientists are also common people. Hearing scientists' stories makes kids think “I can do that too”!

But not only that, the stories of famous scientists can encourage kids to explore and never give up. Bill Nye was always refused when trying to be an astronaut. But today, he has made a lot of successes in his role as a popular science educator and engineer. Besides, it's no secret that scientific discoveries require trying, and trying again.

Another way some scientists can encourage kids is through their diversity（多样性）. Neil de Grasse Tyson, for example, is an African-American, which is not common in his field. Such stories can make kids think anyone can be a scientist.

It's important to know that scientists don't need to be “gifted” or “good” at school. Often we consider a scientist as being an extremely smart kid at school. That doesn't have to be true. They just need to have a great interest in science. Telling students stories of scientists can encourage them to show interest in science. As long as they are interested, they are likely to become a scientist in the future.

Modern scientists teach kids that knowledge builds upon the foundation others have laid. This is important—no one can do it alone. Scientists' stories can encourage today's young scientists to keep trying. They'll be encouraged not to give up on the dream of exploring and making discoveries. Even if they haven't made important discoveries, their research may help the following scientists.

6 . Prior’s Court is a school in Berkshire, southern England. The school is for children with autism(自闭症）. It cares for around 95 children with more severe signs of autism. Some cannot speak or communicate their needs.

The school is now finding a new use for virtual reality, or VR headsets. Virtual reality is a technology that lets you step inside a computer-created 3D world. You can explore and sometimes even manipulate(操纵) objects in that world. People with autism may find it hard to deal with places and situations they have not experienced before. VR headsets make the wearer feel they are in a different place. For example, someone wearing a VR headset can have a 360-degree view of a place as they turn around. With video, they can even hear the sounds of the place. Teachers at Prior’s Court decide to use VR to introduce children to situations like visiting a shopping mall, getting on a plane or skiing.

Nuno Guerreiro is a computing teacher at Prior’s Court School. He said, “Our children have difficulties with sensory（感觉的）issues so they dread going to very busy places. They like what they are familiar with; they like their routine. ” The school officials hope the VR experiences will help children feel better about changes from their routine.

Susan Green is the mother of an eight-year-old boy with autism under the care of Prior’s Court. She said，“My son spends most of his time indoors. But I do want him to know more about the world and experience new places. I hope this product will bring something different to his life.”

Susan Green isn’t alone. Many parents of children at Prior’s Court think that way.

7 . A cancer survivor has become the first woman to complete an exhausting “Sea to Summit” triathlon（三项全能运动） which saw her swim, cycle, and run over 330 miles in just five days. Andrea Mason was overjoyed when she crossed the finish line early Wednesday morning.

The race was set in the French Alps. Setting off at 6:15am on Friday, 39-year-old Mason battled through severe pain, and hallucinations(幻觉)，but she pushed on --managing to complete the race in an impressive four days, 23 hours, and 41 minutes. Andrea had been diagnosed with cancer and needed life-saving surgery. Following a successful operation, she is now hoping to raise awareness of women’s health. In the past year，Andrea set up her own charity, Lady Talk Matters, in order to improve surrounding female’s health.

Andrea, from Blackpool in Lancashire, England, said，“I am so happy all went according to plan as there were so many things that could have gone wrong. I wanted to do it in five days， and I did，but it was very tough. I had some low moments, particularly when I couldn’t sleep in my limited rest periods, and when I couldn’t keep any food down as I was running. For sure I had some doubts along the way as I was exploring the unknown with such a huge run, particularly as large parts of it were in the dark. It was bigger than I imagined, the impact on my body was huge. But every time I felt like giving up，I thought about all the women out there in pain or who still hadn’t been diagnosed. That is why I put myself through this.”

Andrea had to swim 23 miles around Lake Annecy, cycle 205 miles with 30,000 feet of vertical climbing around Mont Blanc, and run 105 miles with 4,000 feet of vertical climbing around The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc. You could say Andrea’s actually spent a lifetime training for an event like this. She completed her first three-mile race “powered by chocolate bars＂ when she was just four.

There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.

Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley, close to the town of Garland hut, is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.

Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. You will see many of the animals on this trip. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.

• Please bring enough water and food for all walks.

• Wear good walking shoes—no high heels.

• Wear a hat for day walks.

• Dress warmly for night walks.

• Children must be with an adult.

• Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.

• Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.

Bookings for the above trips can be made by telephone(8934847) or on the Internet at www. Bluemountaintour. com

9 . Many Americans have felt lonely and afraid this year. The Weber family in South Dakota, is no different.

The 11-year-old Emerson Weber has a _______ — She writes lots of letters. One day last spring, she _______ wrote to her mail carrier. “I wanted to thank you for taking my _________ and delivering them. You are very _______to me.”

In no time, Em’s simple thank-you note was _______ around the United States Postal Service (USPS). Many of the workers there who _______ her thank-you note wrote her one back.

Em has a serious letter-writing habit. She _______ active correspondence （联系） with her favorite people. And if you’ve been lucky enough to receive Em’s _______ letters and envelopes, then you have a pretty good idea of the _______ they bring.

A letter from Em is likely to ________ some art, a joke or two, a mention of her younger brother and her love for Taylor Swift. So when she decided to thank the mail carrier for the ________ he provides her, she left ________ out. In went Taylor Swift, in went the little brother, in went the jokes.

Em also wrote, “I’m Emerson. You may know me as the person that writes lots of letters and decorates the envelopes. I want to thank you. The ________ why you are very important in my life is that I don’t have a phone, so how can I ________ my friends? You make it ________ !”

Her local mail carrier, Doug and his co-workers were all so ________ that they shared Em’s note ________ a “Token (信物) of Thanks” inside USPS and they wanted to write back to thank her.

Today, Em got two BOXES of letters from around the country. They are ________ with a sense of kindness. ________ there was something more in these letters. People felt ________ ---some for the first time in a longtime. It was a beautiful moment of silent exchange of love.

10 . Christmas Traditions

Since about 400 AD, Christmas day has been celebrated on 25th December. This date was the old mid-winter festival in pre-Christian times, around the time of the longest night and the shortest day. Christmas in the 21st century has many traditions.

Shops can make about 60 per cent of their year's income in the three months before Christmas. So most shops get ready for it in October. The shopping centres are beautifully decorated and stay open late at night. The first time this happened was in 1867 when Macys', a famous shop in New York, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve (24th December).

By mid-December, almost every house, shop and street has a Christmas tree. This tradition was started by the Germans as early as 700 AD. In the northern countries of the world, winter is cold and dark and most trees lose their leaves. The beautiful green trees decorated with lights and coloured glass balls give people hope that spring will come again.

Father Christmas is known across the world with his white hair, red coat and big bag of toys. Young children are told that he lives it in the north of Finland and makes toys for them. By tradition, he brings the toys to children at midnight, on the night before Christmas.

On Christmas day a traditional meal is eaten, usually turkey and a rich, spicy cake. Some people hate Christmas. Others feel it is a magical and exciting time. They love seeing family and friends; they also love the traditions. Love it or hate it, Christmas is a time to look back over the old year and forward to the new one.