1 . I have lost something before but it was a whole different experience to lose my wallet in the sand on the beach. Last Sunday I spent the whole day on the fascinating Old Orchard Beach, feeling _______. At nightfall when I was to leave the beach, I _______ the wallet wasn’t with me. Then I was _______around the sand for about a half hour with my phone flashlight. I must have looked _______.

I really needed_______but didn’t know how to ask for it. For that, I was greatly _______ that one gentleman offered to _______ my steps with his metal detector. He told me the metal detector would be able to _______ the metal in my credit card, so we walked on the beach and tried our hardest, but no_________ .

This man was going to keep ________all night if I didn’t stop him, and truly, it was the highest form of ________. Sometimes I got caught thinking that the world was just not as kind as it used to be until little acts of kindness like this ________ me to keep going.

________ , we should try to see the issue from a different perspective. At first, I was ________ I lost my wallet, but the situation it put me in while trying to find it was almost worth it. Now I’m even ________I lost my wallet because it makes me believe that there are still good people around!

2 . People who have trouble walking or moving around often have a hard time enjoying the beach.Most beaches don't have ramps (坡道) or special walkways to allow disabled visitors to move around easily, or to get in and out of the sea safely. But hundreds of beaches in Greece now offer a new way for people in wheelchairs to get into the water by themselves. It's called Seatrac.

Seatrac is a system that was designed to solve this problem. Seatrac is basically a chair on a moving ramp that can smoothly carry a disabled person into the sea. Once in the sea, the person can either remain in the chair, enjoying the water, or go for a swim. The Seatrac system can help anyone who has a hard time walking,including older people and pregnant women.

The chair is operated by remote control. When the person is ready to get out of the water, the Seatrac system brings the chair back to the top of the ramp. It's even possible to take a shower in the Seatrac chair after going for a swim.

Seatrac was invented and developed by Mr. Fotiou, a professor and his partners at Greek university. They designed the system and in time, they formed a company called TOBEA to build and sell the systems. The company worked hard to make the system simple to put in place and easy to run.A wooden walkway allows wheelchair users to reach the Seatrac. The system is solar powered. It doesn't require outside power, and can continue to run even if the electricity goes out. The Seatrac system can easily be packed up and stored when swimming season ends.

This summer, the Seatrac system is being used at over 220 beaches in Greece, Cyprus, Italy,and Latvia. The Seatrac service in Greece is gratis to tourists. The Greek government has helped pay for it and hopes that Seatrac will help attract more tourists to the country.

4 . By the time I was a junior at Yale, I’d already met everyone I cared to know. I also knew those I didn’t want to know, including Maxey. He and I were like planets in different ________ .

Everything changed dramatically when we had a field trip for a weekend. Although I was________, I could get along well with others except Maxey who still made me________. I couldn’t think of anything to say to him. When he walked up to me and stuck out his hand, I just ________ it quickly. We stood awkwardly for a few minutes. When someone tried to get my attention, Maxey politely ________. That last morning, when we discussed how to return home, he insisted I ride home on the back of his motorcycle. I said I thought it was a terrible ________ and I wanted to refuse, but Maxey ________ a helmet at me. ” I wanted to give you a________. You didn’t seem to like me. I want you to like me.” he said. Maxey started up the________ and we roared out of the driveway. The bike ________down the highway. I________ my arms around him and held on for dear________. Maybe our friendship started from that day.

We were now both 60, but my ________ with him remained strong. I was sure if I was in ________, Maxey would be there for me. I was ________sure that if he wanted my help, I would give it without hesitation.

5 . Self-Improvement

Life can be a whirlwind of responsibilities and stress, but the right focus goes a long way towards ensuring you become a better person.     1     Keep reading to learn how you can go about your self-improvement journey.

    2     Everyone needs something to live for, so think about what you want in life. Not only can struggling for something make you a happier and better person, but it can also help you find your purpose. Use a pen and paper and write down the short and long-term goals you would like to achieve.

Forgiving yourself and others can help you improve relationships. To be a better person, it’s important to have a go at forgiving any hatreds you’re holding. Allow yourself time to forgive your past mistakes and recognize what they’ve taught you.     3    You may not be able to forget what they’ve done, that’s okay, but forgiveness can give you peace of mind.

Everyone has flaws, but you can concentrate on improving yours. Notice how your behavior and attitude affect others. Are people generally happy or sad around you?     4    

Answering these questions and analyzing your interactions with them can help you discover and perfect your weaknesses.

Imagine what someone’s been through can give you a new perspective. Empathy is one of the first steps to being a better person because it builds your compassion. Not only does cultivating empathy help you be more sensitive toward other people, but it also helps you form lasting relationships and feel less isolated.     5    

9 . Getting motivated when you don't feel like working out is so much easier when you have a workout partner!    1    Your workout partner can actually help you realize your fitness goals.

    2    You are NOT your partner’s personal trainer or coach. You are equals, pushing each other to reach a similar goal together.

If you are doubting your discipline or feel like your motivation ebbs and flows(起伏), then a workout partner can make all the difference! For both of you!

With A Workout Partner, You Show Up

You set time to meet and exercise about an hour, and you are getting dressed and planning to head out soon. When you are alone, so many things can get in the way and seem more important: the laundry, the kid's needs, fixing dinner, petting the dog...     3    With a workout partner, the time is set and it becomes about them, their time, and honoring your commitment to them.

You’ll Work Harder With A Partner

You and your workout partner will have a workout plan, and you'll know what is expected for the day.     4    It's great how it works to motivate both people! Especially when, by themselves, they may not have worked out as hard.

A Workout Partner Keeps You Focused

Your focus on the exercise at hand is multiplied when you have a workout partner. There is a purpose for your meeting, and it becomes clear how to make the goal a reality with consistent work. The hard work seems worth it when you have a partner who is working towards the same goal.    5    

10 . Scientists recently conducted a study that involved giving pet parrots (鹦鹉) a tablet. They could use the tablets to make video calls to other parrots. It turned out that the birds showed signs of feeling less isolated (孤独的). They also began to engage in more social behaviors, including cleaning their feathers, as well as singing and playing.

Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, a co-author of the study, works at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. She said that video calls had helped many people feel less isolated. “There are 20 million parrots living in people’s homes in the U. S., and we wanted to explore whether those birds might benefit from video calling, too,” Hirskyj-Douglas saíd. “If we gave them the opportunity to call other parrots, would they choose to do so, and would the experience benefit the parrots?”

In order for the parrots to use their tablets, the birds first had to learn to ring a bell. They could then touch a photo of another bird on the screen to call that bird. The birds were also given a choice of which “friend” to call. In total the birds made 147 deliberate calls to each other during the study. Scientists took detailed notes on the birds’ behavior and later reviewed the video footage (片段).

Their analysis suggested that there were, indeed, benefits for the birds. In the wild, many parrots live in large groups. As pets, they tend to be kept alone or in a small group. Isolation and boredom can cause birds to develop psychological problems. These are problems related to the mind and behavior. These problems can look like rocking, pacing back and forth, or self-harming behaviors such as feather-plucking.

Rébecca Kleinberger, who works at Northeastern University in Massachusetts, also helped with the study. She said video calling could reproduce some of the social benefits of living in a larger group.