1 . Twelve-year-old Catherine has a lot of friends—632, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.

But is it possible that Catherine’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.

Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not words with friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.

Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platform.

In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger. “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.

Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual world, we will have little time for our real-world friendships,” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need anyone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.

Yours,

Li Hua

4 . About 15 years ago, I packed my suitcase and traveled to a town a few hours away. I would have an important _______ the next day, so I arrived _________. When I woke up the next morning in the hotel and started to get _______, something came to my notice—I had _______ to pack a white shirt.

This discovery made me get into _______. There was only about an hour left. Without thinking, I _______ went down to the lobby (大厅) immediately and flew to the attendant at the front desk. I explained my _______ situation and asked if he could suggest a nearby store where I could get a new shirt. I received a response before I finished speaking. “Sir. I have got a _______. “The attendant replied. How excited I was when I heard that! But rather than _______ me to a nearby shop, the man did something ________. Without saying a word, he ________ his own white shirt and handed it to me.”

I finally arrived on time. Things ________ in the end —I got my dream job. I expressed my ________ when giving back the shirt.

That nice __________ has stuck with me over the years and that man's behavior has ________ me ever since. And so now, when I see someone who needs anything, I'm willing to share.

5 . By making positive changes in your life you can become better.     1    . Here are some quick and easy ways to help you become a better person.

Know your weaknesses.

    2    . For this you can ask a trusted friend or family member for help. Being unaware of your weaknesses makes it hard for you to improve. The successful people know where they aren’t strong and they use their strengths to make up for it.

Quit a bad habit.

Quitting a bad habit is good for you. It not only makes you a better person, but it makes you more confident. If you aren’t ready to quit your bad habits right away, start out with small steps.     3    .

Break up with negative thinking.

Do you always see the negative side of things?     4    . Negative thinking really makes you down mentally and physically. Trying to think more positively helps you reduce stress and requires you to stop making excuses.

    5    .

Showing other people that you care for them is a great way to be a better person. Small acts of kindness will make other people feel better and lift your spirits as well. Something just like buying a coffee for your classmates can make a huge positive impact on their and your day.

6 . In 2002, Huang Hui, a researcher of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, went diving (潜水) near Xisha Islands. In addition to getting an irremovable suntan (晒黑), she was left with memories of a beautiful experience with clear water and masses of colorful corals reef (珊瑚礁). However, due to climate change and human activities, the coral reef is reducing at an alarming rate and much of the breathtaking view of this reef has disappeared. “We started to grow corals near the Xisha Islands in 2010, and restored more than 200, 000 square meters of coral reefs,” Huang said.

In 2004, when Huang was attending the 10th International Coral Reef Conference, she found herself the only person from the Chinese mainland. She said she felt sad but she made up her mind to strengthen communication with other countries to improve China’s level in coral research. She visited top coral research organizations in the US and Australia, establishing long-term partnership with some of the world’s top coral researchers. By far, Huang has worked on coral research and conservation for 22 years.

Huang believes that making people be more ware of coral conservation matters most to the conservation of the coral reefs. “I want to call on more people to love nature and take part in the protection of ocean,” Huang said. “I am 50, and when I become 60, I hope that not only a coral island will be built but a sustainable development pattern (模式) will also be created,” said Huang. “The ideal state is that the coral island should be able to support fishermen and preserve the ecosystem,” she added.

Six months ago, Xie Lei boarded a plane for London to complete     1     business qualification. It was the first time that she     2     (leave) her motherland and she found     3     hard for her to adapt to the new life in a different country. Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family, who can help with her     4     (adapt) to the new culture. In this way, Xie Lei felt     5     (comfort) when she felt homesick. Another challenge for Xie Lei is the academic requirement because they are different form those in China. Xie Lei also found many courses included students’ participation in class as part of the final results. Students need to generate ideas, offer examples, apply concepts, and raise questions, as well as give presentations. After a lot of efforts, Xie Lei adapted to all of these. Her presentation on traditional Chinese art was a great success,    6     boosted her confidence. Now, Xie Lei feels much more at home in the UK. What seemed strange before now appears quite normal to her. As well as studying hard, she has been involved in social activities. She is keen     7     (share) our culture with British people because they     8     (fascinate) by our culture. She is acting     9     a cultural messenger     10     (build) a bridge between China and Britain.

8 . “On Earth, something is always burning,” experts at the American space agency NASA said. They explain that a wildfire could be started naturally by lightning. However, sometimes people using controlled burns to clear land for farming can accidentally start a wildfire. Between 2003 and 2022, 85 percent of wildland fires in the U. S. were caused by human behavior. This includes leaving campfires burning, burning rubbish, throwing lit cigarettes and starting a fire on purpose.

Wildfires can clear dead and dying plants to help new growth. However, wildfires create large amounts of smoke which is dangerous to breathe. Wildfire smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds. Smoke from burning houses and buildings contains even more toxic chemicals. An increasing amount of scientific research points to possible long-term health damage from breathing in very small particles (微粒) of smoke. There are short-term issues as well. At-risk people can be hospitalized and sometimes die from smoke.

Officials in the U. S. have been moving quickly to better protect people from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke. However, they find it more difficult to communicate these dangers to people who live thousands of kilometers from the fires. Jeff Pierce is an atmospheric scientist. He said smoke loses its odor (气味), but remains harmful even when it travels long distances. A recent study found that people who live close to fires are more likely to be prepared.

If advised, avoid outdoor activities to reduce your exposure to smoke. Keep doors and windows closed. Run an air filter to clean the inside air. Face coverings, or masks, can protect against breathing in smoke. As with COVID-19, the most effective are N95 masks.

NASA satellite images show that wildfires are now burning on every continent. Large wildfires in Australia and the U. S. often attract the world’s attention. Dan Jaffe is a wildfire smoke expert at the University of Washington. He said, “These fires are going to be burning all summer. In terms of bad air quality, everywhere in the country will be worse than average this year.”

Welcome to our school!