As a Chinese American, noodles have been a big part of my life since I was first able     1     (eat) solid (固体的) foods. While it isn’t served at every single meal like rice is, we will eat noodles     2     least 2 or 3 times a week. Sometimes, we will go out for the wonton noodle soup at restaurants that specialize in it, which could     3     (see) everywhere in the southeastern city of Guangzhou where I was born, and in Chinatown in Boston where we often go after     4     (move) to Massachusetts when I was very young.

Noodles are part of everyday life in Chinese culture. Besides, they also hold a lot of symbolism (象征意义) when eaten during significant     5     (event).In China, noodles are often eaten on birthdays and at     6     start of the Lunar New Year. In fact, they symbolize longevity and good     7     (healthy) for the year ahead.

The main concern is flavor and texture (口感) when you’re eating noodles. Rice noodles — my favorite— taste best when they are smooth, not too hard, yet not too soft. The sauce (调味汁) or soup     8     is ready for the noodles should have a nice balance of flavors. Slurping (吃时发出啧啧的声音) is not only allowed but also     9     (strong) encouraged, because it     10     (mean) you’re enjoying the noodles you’re eating.

3 . “ Bye and good luck !” my receptionist called to me as I headed down the stairs of the large office. I had just closed my law office and _______the job that had supported my family for the past twenty-five years.

I thought back to the day I’d first _______a lawyer. I'd long been _______about the legal profession. I saw it as a( n ) _______to help people in need. My parents had been even more excited. In their eyes, a lawyer was a _______profession. They had _______me along the way. Was it their dream or mine? I wasn’t so _______anymore.

Anyway, here I was today. My parents had both passed, and my children had grown and moved away from home. It was _______to follow my true passion (热爱), which I had discovered was writing.

A few years earlier , I’d _______writing novels, more as a hobby than as a job. The more I wrote, the more I ________to write for a living. I’d ________something I was truly passionate about. I’d also realized that to be a(n) ________author, I would have to write full-time, go all in.

In the end, it all happened so________Three months earlier, I hadn’t even ________doing this. Then I quit (离开) my job, and set up a schedule to write full-time.

It’s been three years since I ________to write full-time. I’ve published ten more books.

Recently , I met a nice lady. “ What do you do ?” she asked.

“ I’m a full-time ________,” I replied.

“ Really ?” She had a look of ________on her face.“ That’s so cool. ”

And you know what? They’re________. It is cool that I am doing what I ________every single day of my life.

4 . How does it feel when someone listens to you without interrupting (打断) or giving their opinion ? This is called active listening.    1    

What is active listening ?

Active listening means trying to understand how someone feels by listening carefully to what they’re saying and by paying attention to their body language.

Annie , aged 11, explains what it means to her. “When my friend tells me something important, I listen to what they’re trying to say. I can tell by the tone (语气) of their voice and the look on their face if they’re sad or happy.    2     When you’re actively listening to someone, you’re focusing (集中注意力) on them, which can make them feel valued.”

How is active listening good for me ?

Listening closely to someone without interrupting or giving your own opinion shows that you’re interested in what they’re saying , even if you don’ t agree.     3     It’s also a good way to improve your empathy(共鸣) skills. Empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of other people.

    4    

Listen carefully to what your friend is saying, and avoid jumping in with your own thoughts and feelings. If you get the urge (强烈的欲望) to talk , make a listening sign like nodding your head instead. Ask questions or say things that need more than a yes or no answer, like “Tell me more”.     5    “Active listening is a skill and it takes practice, but don’t give up, and remember you can only do your best ,” says Samaritans, an organization that supports people by listening to their worries.

5 . California’s Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary(保护区) didn’t have a single monarch butterfly(帝王蝶) sighting last year, so no one knew what to expect for this year’s migration(迁徙). The pleasant surprise, according to SFGate :“The butterflies are back in town”, more than 13,700 of them , per the sanctuary’s count as of November 20,2021.What’s more , the high point of the overwintering season —which runs from October through February—is not even set to hit for several more weeks.

The butterflies typically head west from the Rocky Mountains each year to spend the winter along the Pacific coast; on the other side of the country , butterflies from the East Coast and Canada head to Mexico before the cold weather hits. The population decline(下降)over the years has been noticeable : For example , between 4 million and 10 million butterflies spent the winter in the Golden State in the 1980s, though by the late 1990s that number fell to just over 1 million. By 20I8, the butterflies numbered about 30,000, and last year , there were only about 2,000 seen across the California coast.

Researchers believe different factors have led to the butterflies’ population decline over the years, including climate change, use of pesticides, and loss of living space. And recent Wildfires in California have exacerbated the situation. Scientists say the public can help by planting milkweed ( the butterflies lay their eggs on the plant and their young feed on it; cutting down on pesticide use; and helping observe them.

Still , even though last year’s numbers were worrying, some experts say it may not be as terrible as it seems. David James, an entomologist at Washington State University, tells SFGate that the butterflies seem to be adaptable(能适应的), based on a recent study he led, and that he’s “ confident ” they’ll avoid extinction. Xerces Society conservation biologist Emma Pelton agrees, saying that “ We can make a difference. There is still time to act. ”

6 . UNICEF is an organisation that helps young people around the world. To celebrate its fantastic work, we are taking a look at why UNICEF was formed, how it has helped millions of children and find out about the work it does today.

UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children’ s Emergency Fund. It was formed in 1946 by the United Nations ( UN ) after the Second World War. UNICEF’s goal was to help all children, whatever country they were from. Maurice Pate was UNICEF’s first executive director and the organisation’s Leadership for Children Award is named after him. In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent(永久的) part of the UN.

UNICEF’s mission is to make the world a better place for young people and help them realise their potential(潜能). The organisation provides education , food , water , medicine and shelter to those in need. This can be in challenging(挑战性的) situations where emergency help is needed. UNICEF also carries out longer-term development projects to improve certain regions.

The organisation helps to provide care for babies and children in the UK. It offers training to people who work with parents and families, to ensure that all babies get the best possible start in life. Last year UNICEF provided support for about 600,000 babies. It also teaches schoolchildren about their rights. UNICEF also organises activities to raise money for projects around the world. In 2020, the UK contributed(捐赠) more than £382 million to UNICEE.

UNICEF has had many successes over the past years but young people still face challenges. However , a UNICEF report said that whether the problem is war , COVID -19 or a lack(短缺) of water, medicine or education , UNICEF is helping. Henrietta Fore , UNICEF’ s executive director, writes that UNICEF is using its experience to build a better future. She says,“ Young people are the most important partners of all. Their strength, creativity and courage give me hope. We can reimagine a better future for every child. ”

7 . Growing up, Chris Hadfield spent every summer at his family’s cottage (小屋) on Stag Island in southern Ontario. Like just about everyone else on the island, the Hadfields didn’t have a television set, so late in the evening of 20 July 1969, Chris and his family went to a neighbour’s cottage to watch the Apollo 11 landing on TV. When he saw Neil Armstrog step onto the surface of the Moon , Chris’s life changed forever. He knew he wanted to be an astronaut (宇航员) too.

At the time , it was impossible. For one thing, he wasn’t a grown-up yet. For another , all of NASA’s astronauts were American. Canadians weren’t even allowed to apply for the job.

But Chris decided to start getting ready, just in case things ever changed. He worked hard at school, learning everything he could about science , rockets and Space. As a teenager, he learned how to fly gliders (滑翔机), and then, after graduating from military college, he became a fighter pilot. Later , he became a test pilot who helped make military aircraft safer. Twenty-three years after that summer night on Stag Island, Chris’s dream came true: the newly formed Canadian Space Agency chose him to be an astronaut.

Since then , he has orbited (围绕……运动) the Earth thousands of times on three separate missions. Most recently, Chris was in Space for nearly five months, from December 2012 to May 2013, when he served as the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station ( ISS ).

Today, Chris travels the world teaching people about Space, sharing the beautiful photographs he took and playing the songs he recorded on the space station. On summer nights, he likes to sit on his dock on Stag Island, watching for the ISS to pass by overhead. Even in the darkest dark, on a moonless night, the spaceship’s light is clearly visible (看得见的).

8 . Discover mind - blowing details and improve your knowledge with this factual selection.

Find the answers to 366 questions asked by young people in this fun illustrated (有插图的) book. Which was the biggest dinosaur? How much bamboo can a giant panda eat ? Do aliens (外星人) exist ? Experts including famous, award-winning chefs and staff at the Natural History Museum provide the information.

This book takes you on a journey through history, one day at a time. You’ll learn about events that took place on each day of the year --- whether they were important historical moments or strange happenings --- and discover which historical characters share your birthday.

Explore the hidden stories behind everyday objects with Maddie Moate, presenter of CBBC’s Do You Know. Learn about ink made from soot（烟灰）, shoes made from old tyres（轮胎）, and paper made from elephant poo --- as well as many other ways people throughout history have used and reused things around them.

Visit wonder-filled cities around the world and throughout history with this beautiful book of illustrated maps, put together by experts from the British Museum. Explore Athens in ancient Greece, China ’ s long-lost city of Xianyang and modern-day Tokyo --- one of the world ' s most densely（密集地）populated cities.