2 . Lots of people have trees to look at from their bedrooms, but my perspective（视角）is different. My name is Miranda Gibson. I have been living at the top of a tree_______60 meters for 449 days now. Some people might wonder_______on earth I would choose to do this.

Stretching out below me is one of Tasmania's last areas of ancient forest---in an area that was proposed for World Heritage protection, yet remains under the_______of industrial logging（砍伐）. On 12 December 2011, machinery（大型机械）rolled into the forest and the destruction began. I couldn't_______the thought that these forests would be_______forever. So, on 14 December 2011, I packed up my life,_______of my job plans, and climbed 200 feet onto the top of this tree. I have been here ever since.

People often ask me what I do up here all day. It's busier than you would imagine. Like an office job, but with a splendid_______! I spend my days writing about this forest and its urgent（紧急的）need for_______on my blog.

Life in the treetops can be_______at times. I have times when I feel frustrated（沮丧）and wish I could________, to anywhere, just to have a change of scenery for a minute! There are also times when I feel terribly________. I miss my friends and family. My only connection to the outside world is my phone and computer, which I charge via solar panel.________these times, I find myself loving the experience. Living on the tree has been inspiring. I am willing to________up here for as long as it takes, but I honestly hope it won't be too________before I will be able to get down and put my feet on the ground in a forest that is no longer under threat—in a forest that will be________guarded for future generations.

3 . What do you usually do to comfort your friends when they are feeling sad or depressed? You probably pat them on the back or shoulder, or maybe you give them a big, warm hug.

We used to think that knowing when and how to comfort others was an ability that only humans have. But scientists have discovered that apes （猩猩）have this ability, too. Two researchers from Emory University in Atlanta, US, went to an Ape Protection Centre in Congo to study bonobos （倭黑猩猩）,which are closely related to humans.

The researchers analyzed the bonobos' reactions after more than 370 cases of stressful situations, such as fights and losing temper, and found that some bonobos rushed to hug those that were screaming after being attacked, just like humans would have done.

However, researchers said that not all bonobos were able to comfort others. In the protection centre, many bonobos are orphans （孤儿）whose mothers were killed by hunters. They were found to be more anxious in times of tension and have greater difficulty controlling their own emotions, malting them worse at reaching out to help friends in need.

"Orphans, who have not had the benefit of a mother helping them handling their emotions, are much worse al comforting others,” Professor Frans de Waal, one of the researchers, told The Telegraph. "Bonobos with moms were able to curb their negative emotional reactions more quickly. Therefore, they pay more attention to others.” This pattern mirrors the way that human children have been found to react. Those who seem more capable of handling their own emotions—for example, the ones who can calm themselves down more quickly after upsetting experiences—are usually better at expressing their concerns for others .

Yours,

Li Hua

Chinese Dumplings and culture

Chinese dumplings or jiaozi,

I am writing to express my congratulation to you on your winning first place in the English Speech Competition holding recently. It is no wonder that you have made such a great progress in your Chinese study because you had always been working hard. Your efforts have paid back at last. To be honest, what I admire most are your hard work. It’s from you who I have learned a valuable lesson. Your experience will be great helpful to me in my learning. If only I can be successful like you. I will appreciate if you can write me back and give me your advice. Looking forward to your early reply.

Yours,

Li Hua

7 . Reading instruction in the classroom is a key concern for all teachers and there are many ways to go about it. However, is our determination to achieve excellence in reading skills in our children killing their love and enjoyment of a good book?

In my work with parents, I am frequently asked the best ways to encourage reluctant readers to be engaged with books. Parents report that their children return home from school with no inclination to pick up a book and read.

Any eager reader will gladly talk about the joy with a good book to read away the hours on a cold, rainy afternoon. Reading a good book is one of life’s greatest pleasures. We need to share these experiences with our children in order to assist them in developing into strong readers. But the use of boring, mass-produced home reading texts in children’s early years at school can be seen as the beginning of this negative cycle.

As children progress through their schooling life, there are many other instances of learning reading skills that don’t help reading development. Frequently, teachers feel the pressure to give their students “just enough” in terms of reading strategies to be able to achieve the test, which leaves little time to focus on reading for pleasure.

Kelly Gallagher, a high school teacher, outlines the term “Readicide” in his book. He says it’s: the systematic killing of the love of reading, often worsened by foolish, boring practices found in schools.

Recent research shows that many teachers tend to follow the traditional literacy practices that they have experienced in their own education, which can often have negative intentions for their students.

While teaching children key concepts for analyzing and evaluating texts is important, the manner in which it is done and time that is spent on this can lead to unexpected results. Schools aren’t to blame when it comes to not arresting students’ lack of interest in reading, but they have an important role to play in fostering reading enjoyment.

8 . 5 Things I Wish I Knew Freshman Year

During my freshman year of college, there were a few things I learned along the way that I wish I had known right from the beginning.     1    . Below is a list of 5 important things any freshman should know, from day one.

It’s okay to miss your best friend forever from home, or to try to make it work long distance with your high school boyfriend. But don’t be lost in high school and leave the drama behind. Meet new people, make new friends and most importantly keep an open mind when it comes to your high school relationship. If you feel like you’re crushing on someone else, explore the opportunity!

Now that you’re in college, you shouldn’t pay full price for anything you buy. Sign up for Student Card to enjoy discounts at Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Lenovo, and many more. When you go to the library, or grab a pizza in town, always ask if the store offers a student discount.     3    .

    4     And you’re hoping your high school friends are watching…, but put away your phone once in a while and enjoy the moment! Also be mindful of what you’re sharing online. Do you really want your future employer, or your 15-year-old cousin to see you shotgun a beer on Instagram?

If you’re going to skip your 8 am class because it is too early, pick a later class. I know what you’re thinking, “I took morning classes in high school and I was fine.” It’s not the same, try to avoid these classes.

    5     Take risks things, explore your passions, meet new people and smile! Remember, if it’s not going so well at first, you have three years to find something on campus you like and if you are enjoying yourself, be sure to spend your time wisely as four years go by quicker than you could ever expect!!

9 . A sea turtle named Herman, an octopus called Octavia, and a seal named Lidia all spent this summer at the Smithsonian’ s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. But unlike the zoo’s other residents, they are not real animals. These creatures are actually huge sculptures and they’re made entirely out of plastic trash from the ocean.

These giant artworks, along with 14 others, are part of a traveling exhibit called “Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea”. The Washed Ashore project, led by artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi, works to raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution in Earth’s oceans.

More than 315 billion pounds of plastic litter the world’s oceans today. Most of the plastic is garbage from towns and cities, as well as trash that people leave on beaches. Rainwater, winds, and high tides bring the trash into the ocean or into rivers that lead to the ocean. Once it is under the waves, the plastic begins to break up into smaller and smaller pieces. It often collects in spots called garbage patches, which spread over large areas of the ocean.

Thousands of marine animals — including whales, sea turtles, and fish — die each year from eating or getting stuck in plastic bags and other items. Plastic pieces can also injure coral and kill sea grass.

Washed Ashore and other organizations are working to stop that from happening. Since 2010, Washed Ashore volunteers have collected 38,000 pounds of plastic trash from more than 3000 miles of beaches. They helped Pozzi create more than 60 sculptures of marine creatures that were harmed by plastic pollution.

The artworks on display at the National Zoo include a 20-foot-long coral reef, a 12-foot-long shark, and a 16-foot-long parrot fish. Each one is made from hundreds of pieces of trash like water bottles and sunglasses.

“These sculptures are a powerful reminder of our personal role and global responsibility in preserving biodiversity on land and in the sea,” says Dennis Kelly, director of the National Zoo.

10 . Do you remember your first day of school? Were you excited or a bit scared? When I started school, I lived in an area of southern Germany. I remember how frightened I was, mostly because I didn’t know what to expect.

My mother and I walked quietly, downhill into the center of town. When we entered the classroom, I noticed all the children were sitting quietly in their seats. Anxiously, I picked a spot next to a friendly-looking girl.

In my nervousness, I had totally forgotten I was to receive a Schultuete (school cone) on the first day of school, but as I looked at my teacher's desk I remembered. Her desk was covered with huge cardboard cones. I knew that my mother had filled my Schultuete with goodies and brought it to my classroom the day before, but I didn't know which one was mine.

That morning, the focus of my attention remained with those cones. All of the fear slowly disappeared. When the teacher asked me to approach the desk, she did not seem threatening at all. When she smilingly handed me my Schultuete, I was the happiest girl.

Proudly, I carried my gift home. The hill did not seem steep at all. Hurriedly, I unwrapped my Schultuete and discovered candies, chocolates, and oranges. This day stayed in my mind as one of the sweetest in my life.

When I was older I asked my mother about her first day of school. She told me she hadn't received a Schultuete from her parents because the custom had not been established all over Germany at that time.

The custom began in the cities in the 1800s and then spread to the towns and villages. By the early 1950s, the tradition of the Schultuete was established all over the country. And it has been passed on even in the present day.