“Eric! Eric! Wake up! You will be late for school today!” Eric’s mum said while pulling Eric out of bed.

“Mum, don’t worry!”Eric said as he quickly got up, put on his clothes, took his bag, and ran to the bus stop.

Recently, Eric had gotten enrolled (注册) in a new school so he knew no one there and had made no friends yet. At school, Eric longed for the bell to ring for the class break so that he could eat something. After a while, when the bell rang, Eric quickly opened his bag to take out his money to buy some food. But just then he remembered he had forgotten to take the money his mum had given him.

Not knowing what to do, he walked out of the classroom and sat on a bench (长凳) in front of the dining room. He saw a few of his classmates there, among them was Bob. He was one of the richest kids in his class but he was very unfriendly. But as Eric was new, he didn’t know much about anyone.

Eric thought he might borrow some money from Bob and return it to him the next day. So he got up and slowly went towards Bob and asked if he could borrow some money.

Bob smirked (幸灾乐祸地笑) and said,“I knew you were a loser, but I didn’t know you were a beggar too?” Bob laughed out so loud that the other kids heard and also made fun of Eric.

It was too humiliating (丢脸的) for Eric. He could not answer Bob and slowly walked back towards an empty bench. He could still hear them laughing at him in the distance. When he reached the bench, he noticed something lying near it. It was a wallet. He picked it up and recognized it as Bob’s, as he remembered Bob showing it to his friends and saying that his uncle bought it for him from the UK.

Para l: First, he thought to keep it a secret.

Para 2: “Because I was told by my family that ‘Honesty won’t let you down’,” explained Eric.

3 . In a classic episode of The Simpsons, Homer’s class reunion ends in shame when one of Homer’s guilty secrets is exposed: he never graduated from high school. To get his diploma, he must pass a science test. As he sits down to retake the exam, he holds one of his trademark dialogues with his brain. “All right, brain. You don’t like me and I don’t like you. But let’s just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.”

Many a true word is spoken as a joke. Homer Simpson’s Everyman character really is an Everyman. For most people, engaging in the kind of effortful thinking that is required to pass a science test feels too much like hard work. It is so much easier to quit and let the brain’s autopilot take over.

And no wonder. Evolution has blessed the human brain with all kinds of mental shortcuts that make life manageable. If we had to think about every action or weigh up every decision, we would break down. As a result, certain ideas and modes of thinking come naturally to us, such as effortless thinking.

But at huge cost. Our mental shortcuts work fine at the level of individuals and small-scale societies, but in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, they are a danger to society. Effortless thinking is at the root of many of the modern world’s most serious problems: terrorism, hatred, inequality and religious extremism. All are caused by people disengaging their critical thinking and going with their gut (非理性的) feeling.

Everybody is capable of gut feeling, but also of the critical thinking. Both thinking styles are needed to make the world go round. Unfortunately, the latter requires training that is unavailable or unappealing to many people.

One of the bright spots in 2017 was the start of a movement called the March For Science. Those who believe in the power of science need to keep on marching, or give more power to people who don’t much like their own brains — or other people’s.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

7 . Randy Kraus was disabled. His left side was useless. He'd been a police officer before, and he was strong and able. Now, he felt he could do nothing.

His trouble started with Parkinson's disease, but it didn't end there. In July, 2002, the 60-year-old Kraus went into the hospital for an operation on his brain to control the shaking. But during the operation，he had a stroke. He was paralyzed. The doctor said, “You may never walk again and you might not even be able to talk.”

Kraus found that he couldn't lift a fork or take a drink by himself. Physical treatment was so painful and slow. What did he have to live for? So Kraus held the gun against his head. Feeling the cold metal on his skin, he began to consider the pain he would cause for his wife, daughters and grandchildren. He didn't pull the trigger (扳机)．

Andrew Garud, his exercise physiologist, told him, “You are where you are. The pace would be slow；the pain would be real. But as long as you are alive, you will have the ability to get better.”

After three months of working with Garud, Kraus wanted to see if he could stand.

He could. Then he took three steps, sat down and cried like a baby.

One step, as they say, led to another. Next he managed a short walk along the edge of a boxing ring (拳击台) in the health club. It was the hardest fight of Kraus's life. People at the gym cheered him on. Garud kept saying he could do more. Now, Kraus can brush his teeth，shave himself and get around the house with a walker. Only the disabled can fully understand little success.

One day, when I was cooking the evening meal, my daughter stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked her down. “Move out of the way,” I said impatiently. She walked away, and her little heart was    1    (break). I didn’t realize    2     rudely I’d spoken.

When I    3     (lie) awake in bed, God’s small voice came to me and said, “While     4     (deal) with a stranger, you use common politeness, but the children you love, you seem to abuse. Look at the kitchen floor, and those are the flowers she brought for you.”

By this time, my tears began to fall. I quietly went and sat by her bed. “Are these the flowers you picked     5     me? I’m so sorry.” I said. She smiled, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay. I love you anyway.” I said, “Daughter, I love you too, and I do like the flowers,     6     (especial) the blue.”

You should be aware that if we were to die tomorrow, the family we left behind would feel the    7       (lose) for the rest of their lives. And come to think about it, we devote     8     (us) more to work than to our family---an unwise    9    (decide) indeed. So, what is behind the story? Fill life with love and bravery, and we shall live    10     happy life.

9 . Reasons Why You Should Go Hiking

Whether you're looking to lose weight, reduce （减少）pressure, or clear your head and get out into nature, hiking is the best choice. If you're looking for some motivation （动力）to get off the sofa, consider these reasons to start hiking.

Hiking is healthy. According to the American Hiking Society, hiking is good for your health.     1     You can lose weight, reduce heart disease and slow aging by it. It also offers mental health benefits by reducing pressure and worry.

    2    As you hike more frequently, you'll begin to develop additional patience, skills and comfort along the way. The beauty of hiking is that we can do it naturally and easily. It's easy to stick with hiking because the frustration （挫败）level for beginners is low and you can find the pace that works for you.

Hiking is cheap.     3     Prepare good shoes, some proper clothes, a comfortable pack, and you're pretty much ready to go. Most of you have easy access to parks and natural areas, so you don't have to spend a lot of money or time heading out on a hike.

Hiking is real. We all spend too much time on computers at home, writing under electric lights or watching TV indoors （often you're writing while watching TV）.     4    

Hiking is a great way to introduce kids to the world of the outdoors.    5    So let your kids hike together with you and have a good time.