3 . People are often addicted to high-tech products. On the way, almost everybody is________their eyes on phones. I feel sorry about this, and I can't comment on what might be happening in other cities, but in my city, there are some________moments of connection. I just________one the other day.

On the subway, I took out my________and started reading like others. Then I noticed that________was sitting on the three seats across from me. After careful observation, I________why. Next to the empty seats was a________dressed old woman. She smelled as if she hadn't________for a few days or something in her bag had gone bad.

After a while, a man sitting beside the door started to________her. "Grandmother, are you okay?" We all waited for her________, but she just nodded.

"You never know, maybe the other day you or me will be in the difficult________like her," he said to us and the young lady who was with him. He also________his pocket, took out some money and gave it to the old woman. Others were________to do so, too.

The couple, just before they left, made a(n)________to us. "We just got________." There were a round of cheers from the passengers. "________," someone called out. The first thing the newlyweds did was________. What a perfect beginning to their marriage!

I was________and put something in the old woman's hand before I________. Although it was very________outside, but I felt warm.

5 . The fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar (日历), also known as the Lantern Festival, is the last day for the Spring Festival celebration. It's time to enjoy the important festival food: rice glue balls. It is called tangyuan in the south, and yuanxiao in the north of China. It's one of the favorite dishes at Chinese festivals, as the round shape represents reunion.

Li Mingcheng, more than 60 years old, has been making rice glue balls for over 40 years. His snack bar brand was founded over 100 years ago. He is the sixth generation leader of the family. Every kid looked forward to the Spring Festival, because long ago, rice glue balls were luxury (奢侈的) food. People only made them during the Spring Festival. Besides the rare (罕见的) dishes like meat, the rice glue balls were an important part of Li's childhood memories.

"The wrapper (包装材料) is made of rice from northeast China. It is the best," says Li. After being put into water for 24 hours, the rice is wet-milled (湿磨) to make dough (面团) and it is decorated with sweet juice. For the filling, black sesame (芝麻) is a classic choice. It's a mixture of sesame, sugar and lard. Some people prefer it with walnuts, peanuts and brown sugar.

After eating rice glue balls, families make full use of the remaining holiday to see lantern shows. In the colorful lights, people wish for a whole year as happy as today. Those sweet times would be connected with rice glue balls and happiness at the festival.

6 . New research has shown how the Leaning (倾斜) Tower of Pis has managed to keep standing in the face of several strong earthquakes. It has leaned at an angle of about five degrees.

The vulnerability (脆弱性)of the UNESCO World Heritage Site has confused engineers and scientists for a thousand years. Earthquake activities were expected to significantly damage the tower or even result in its falling over. However, unbelievably, this has not happened.

A research group of 16 engineers at the University of Bristol have now discovered that the height and hardness of the tower, combined with the softness of the base soil, ensure that it doesn’t resonate (共振)with earthquake ground motion, which is known as Dynamic Soil-Structure Interaction (DSSI) and the lower now holds the title of world record holder in DSSI effects.

What is interesting is that the very same soil, which caused the leaning instability(不稳定性) and made the tower almost fall, can be credited for helping it survive these earthquake events.

The tower continues to attract visitors keen to express their big surprise at amazing buildings. Construction of the tower began in the twelfth century and continued for over 199 years clue to the onset of a series of wars.

Multiple efforts to preserve the historic site have occurred over the years. In the 1920s, the bases were put in cement grout (水泥架)with the intention of making the tower firm. In 1990, a decision was made to completely close the site to visitors due to the fear that it was at risk of falling over.

It was the first time the tower had been closed in 800 years. It reopened again in 2001 and remains one of Italy’s most popular tourist attractions.

7 . It’s never too late to get a college diploma(毕业证书). Pat Ormond , more than seventy years old, is living proof of this. She received a bachelor’s(学士)degree in anthropology 42 years after taking her first college class.

But the Ormond family had another graduate from the University of Tennessee T Chattanooga(UTC) that same day: Ormond’s granddaughter, Melody Ormond. “I always knew that I’m going to graduate from college,”said Melody. “I just never knew that my grandma was also going to be there.”

Pat took her first college class at Kennesaw State University. After one term, she dropped out to move to Tennessee. She spent the next several decades working as an accountant and raising a family. And while she did an occasional class at UTC, her family continued to encourage her to finish her degree, especially after she retired.

Pat and Melody graduated last November. Their graduation ceremony was socially distanced, meaning that no audience were allowed. The achievement had made Pat somewhat a celebrity.

“We were so proud to have students like Melody Ormond and her grandmother, Pat Ormond , in the UTC class of 2020,” said UTC Chancellor Steven R. Angle. Together, they are examples of determination and love of lifelong learning we encourage in every UTC graduate.”

Pat hopes she can be an example for other nontraditional college students who want to get their degrees. “Learning never stops,”Pat said, who isn’t planning to stop anytime soon. She’s working on another degree一a bachelor’s degree in history.

9 . Children under the age of 18 will be allowed up to three hours per week to play video games, according to a notice issued by China's National Press and Publication Administration. Online game companies are required to provide services to minors — from 8 to 9 p. m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays — as a way to safeguard their physical and mental health. Children are playing more and more online games these days. Is it time to limit their online gaming time? What role do parents have? Readers share their opinions.

Rizlared

Online games are addictive, but if children are taught how to manage in a sensible and responsible manner then it is no longer a threat(威胁).To achieve this, parents need to set examples for not being glued to their phones. Teaching is and always will be the best solution to such problems.

Andrew

Good policy. By limiting time spent on online games, kids can spend time doing more useful things to develop their potential. They can go outside and run, jump and swim instead of sitting on a couch at home and playing with a smart phone.

Adam

It is often seen that parents argue with children over cellphones. Most parents can hardly set and enforce the time limit for its daily usage. Some forcibly take away their cellphones, but it will ruin trust and relationship. Even worse, it will make their kids hate them.

Pink

Excessive(过度的）gaming is purely a waste of time and energy for minors and has a negative effect on both physical and mental health. The gaming industry should not put profit- flaking interests as its priority ( 优先事项) . They should act in a socially responsible way to provide an environment for children to ensure their well-being and development.

Lauren

There would be a loophole(漏洞). Children could use their parents’ or other adults’ IDs to avoid real-name registration, thus making it impossible to put this policy in effect. Parents absolutely need to strengthen guidance and supervision to keep their children from gaming addiction.

10 . The year our youngest daughter, Shelly, was four, she received an unusual Christmas present from “Santa.’’ The gift Shelly________that Christmas Eve was a giant bubble-maker, which the inventor promised would create huge bubbles. Both Shelly and I were________about trying it out, but it was already dark, so we’d have to wait until the next day.

Later that night I read the instruction while Shelly played with some of her other new________. The inventor of the bubble-maker had tried all types of soaps for________bubbles and found that dishwashing detergent（洗涤剂）created the best giant bubbles. I’d have to________some.

The next morning, I was________very early by small stirrings（移动）in the house. I knew in my________mind that Christmas Day festivities would soon begin, so I got up and________my way toward the kitchen to start the________. In the hallway（走廊）, I met Shelly, already wide awake, the bubble-maker in her little________. Her eyes were________with excitement, and she asked, “Daddy, can we make bubbles now?”

I________heavily and rubbed my eyes. I looked toward the window, where the sky was only beginning to lighten. I looked toward the________, where the coffeepot had yet to start dripping its sweet reward for early-rising Christmas dads.

“Shelly,” I said，my________almost begging and perhaps a little annoyed, “ it’s too early. I haven’t________had my coffee yet.’’

Her smile________. I watched her eyes light back up.________I felt a father’s regret for bursting her bright Christmas bubble, and my heart________a little.

I broke________getting to the store, and in no time we were out on the front lawn creating huge bubbles—each one________with joy and sent out shimmering（闪光）into the Christmas sun.