5 . To the firefighters who deal with danger each day, every life is worthy to be saved.

Wildfires are just one of the many situations firefighters _________ toward when everyone else is going in the opposite direction. Every year, it seems wildfires _________ parts of California, Washington and Oregon. In September, 2023, Daniel Trevizo, a Los Angeles Fire Department head, and his team worked hard around-the-clock to _________ the fires in the south of California.

One day, they were watering down embers (余火) near Lake Oroville when he _________ a surprising thing. When the fires were put out, his team quickly did everything they could to _________ the fire scene. _________, Daniel heard an animal crying nearby. So he started looking around for the _________ of the sounds. Then they found a small cat under the burnt bushes. The frightened and lonely cat came right up to Daniel.

Daniel _________ the soot (煤烟)-covered cat, later named Ember, and kept it _________ in his jacket pocket until it got much-needed __________ in an animal hospital. The veterinarian (兽医) said Ember had only some minor __________. With medication and Daniel’s care, Ember __________ a few days later. Ultimately, Daniel managed to find Ember’s owners, who got __________ from it while they escaped from the fires.

There’s no doubt Ember’s life was saved by __________ Daniel and his team! They risked their lives to save those around them, and we couldn’t be more __________!

7 . I love watching football games and couldn’t help but notice how many footballers chew gum while playing! I always thought of it as a choking danger, so why would they risk it?

When we chew something, the receptors in our mouth that sense taste and pressure from the jaw movements start firing and sending electrical signals to the brain. These electrical nervous system signals move to the brain, which works to understand these signals. This added brain activity places the mind in a more attentive state, which is why focus and concentration are improved.

Additionally, chewing gum has been reported to decrease stress and anxiety levels. The brain activity stimulated (刺激) by chewing gum occurs mainly in the prefrontal cortex, the front part of the brain responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation. When chewing gum, the prefrontal cortex is activated, leading to the release of a “feel-good” neurotransmitter called dopamine (多巴胺). Dopamine is known to promote a sense of pleasure and reward, helping to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety.

So does this mean that the harder you chew, the better the focus levels? Yes…to an extent. Chewing harder gum does boost attention more than softer gum. Similarly, chewing flavored gum is better for cognitive (认知) functioning, as it activates more receptors in the mouth than chewing flavorless gum.

With lower stress levels and better focus, athletes have better decision-making abilities in the middle of the game. It also helps them keep their anxiety levels in check during big games. Chewing gum does give your body a little boost, lifting up your spirits. That explains why athletes prefer chewing gum while playing a sport. But for the sake of safety, you’d better chew just one piece to reduce the choking risk.

8 . Emily, a 14-year-old teenager, walked through her town one afternoon. Her eyes were drawn to the sight of people without homes on street corners, trembling (颤抖) against the chill. It was a scene that stirred something deep within her — a desire to make a difference, no matter how small.

Emily decided to turn her love of baking into a force for good. She whipped (搅打) cream, mixed flour, and baked cookies and cakes in her family kitchen. With the support of her friends and family, she set up a colorful stall in her bustling neighborhood, offering her homemade treats to passersby in exchange for donations.

The response was overwhelming. People were not only touched by Emily's handmade cookies but also inspired by her spirit. Before long, donations were pouring in. In just a few short weeks, Emily had raised over $1,000 — a symbol of one's kindness to ignite a community's generosity.

But Emily's heart was set on doing even more. Inspired by the success of her bake sale, she came up with the idea of organizing a charity run. A community-wide event that would bring people together in support of a common cause. She reached out to local businesses and called for volunteers to help her realize the project. On the day of the charity run, participants ran under the clear, open sky, and the running campaign raised over $5,000 for the local homeless shelter.

For Emily, the true reward lay not in the dollars raised or the miles run but in the knowledge that she had touched the hearts of her community and shown that even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference to the world.

9 . Cultural tourism is a form of travel that focuses on exploring and experiencing the cultural heritage and traditions of a particular destination. Cultural tourism is a good way to enrich your experience as a tourist.     1    .

Cultural tourism helps to encourage the protection of culture and heritage by keeping endangered traditions alive. For example, heritage handicraft skills (手工技能) might be little practical, but outside interest could be enough to safeguard a tradition that might otherwise have been lost.

Cultural tourism also improves education.     2    , such as workshops, language lessons, or historical tours. They can learn about the traditions and customs of different cultures, and enrich their knowledge and experiences.

However, when cultural practices and traditions are presented only for tourism purposes, they may lose their true meaning and become superficial (表面的) performances aimed at entertaining tourists.     3    .

In addition, a lot of tourists can put a pressure on local resources.     4    , which leads to overcrowding, too much pollution and damage to historical sites.

Most importantly, cultural tourism may lead to the loss of cultural diversity. As destinations become more popular to mass tourism, there is a risk of homogenization, where cultural practices and traditions become standardized to the tastes and expectations of tourists.

    5    , can the benefits outweigh the downsides.

The Internet is good for many millions of things. In today’s     1     (connect) world, it’s hard to imagine once again living in a world without the Internet. Of course, there are still libraries     2     you can get information or photo-printing stores in which you can order pictures, but the Internet has made the way we live our lives much faster than it     3     (be) in the past.

Along with the good comes the bad, though. If you’ve never thought of the Internet as a possibly-dangerous place, you need to be aware that, just like in the real world, there are some people who intend     4     (use) the Internet to harm you. Therefore, it’s important to learn how to stay safe when you’re online.

First, you should never give out the following types of information online: your full name, your address, your phone number, your birth date or your password. Of course, you will have to provide these things when you order things online, but be sure you’re dealing     5     an honest online shopkeeper.

Second, choose email addresses, screen names, and passwords     6     (careful). Make sure they don’t uncover personal information about you. For example, don’t use your real name as your screen name! Passwords should also be nearly     7     (possible) to guess.

Third, if you feel like you’re being cyberbullied (网络欺凌), whether via email, a social media website, or in a chat room online, be sure to report     8     (they) to an adult.

Finally, remember that the Internet is a large place, but it has a way of     9     (spread) things around very quickly. If you wouldn’t want a friend or parent to see something, it’s probably something you shouldn’t post from     10     beginning!