1 . Shane Porter knew clearly that he was dying of cancer when he one day came home with a rusty (生锈的) 1969 Jeepster Commando. He planned to _________ it. And it was intended to be a (n) _________ activity that he could work on with his wife and their two sons for the rest of his time.

The family _________ the project and fixed the vehicle until Shane Porter died after three years. The family couldn’t finish the project, but they couldn’t imagine _________ the car either. It has emotional value.

So the car sat there — until last May, when Bob Mauger, a close family friend, noticed it and saw a (n) _________ . “This would be a good project for my students to complete,” Mauger thought, an automotive technology teacher.

He shared the _________ with his class, and the students were _________ on board. The restoration (整修) of the vehicle was the class’ most significant project _________ the meaning behind it. It also proved more _________ than the students had expected with engine parts missing and cooling system issues. It took 15 months to __________ all the problems. Many students spent their free time on the project and some even continued __________ the project after they graduated.

Eventually, the car __________. It became drivable and safe. The students __________ the revived Jeepster to the family, causing tears of gratitude (感激) and emotion. “I know they’ll have that car for a long time. It feels __________.” Judah Castillo, a student, said. For the Porters, the revived car is more than just a vehicle; it is the __________ of Shane Porter’s life and the students’ devotion.

2 . Like many tales of the South Pacific, my “storytelling”begins on the water.

Our wooden boat, navigated by our guide Aminiasi, was saılıng smoothly to a popular island of Fiji(斐济) to spend the holiday. With melodic welcome, we ________ on the island, where the white sand ashore felt soft beneath my feet.

In the wooden house, a barbecued feast was ________ out before us. We sat on the matted floor and ate taro(芋头) leaves with roasted meat, as well as fish caught from the lake. “People on the island ________ 98% of what we eat from our wild gardens,” said Aminiasi, who explained that living with nature has been a(an)________ part of Fiji’s culture for more than 3,500 years.

After meal, I ________ my hotel surrounded by views of the ocean. Next day, I wanted to experience more, so, with the sun ________ in the early morning, I set out for a mountain village, Nadi on Fıjı’s main island. Here, homes, built with tradıtional materials and techniques,________ the landscape. Children played in the streets, laughing and talking in the local ________, while elders sat under the shade of trees,________ stories and wisdom. People here have found a way to ________ the traditions with the demands of the modern world, creatıng a ________ and peaceful way of lıfe. This was a joyful trip even if I couldn’t particıpate much in their conversation. Luckıly, Aminıasi ________ us and interpreted for us all the way.

Throughout my island journeys,________, I was occasionally informed by the Fijians of their ________ over the effects of climate change on the sea level. For a conscious traveller, it struck me that we should do some good to ________ Fijian customs, which will importantly protect these beautiful islands.

3 . Eve O. Schaub is the author of Year of No Garbage: Recycling Lies, Plastic Problems, and One Woman’s Trashy Journey to Zero Waste. She calls on people to stop “recycling” plastic.

According to her, plastic, as a material, is not recyclable, and the very best thing we can do to celebrate Earth Day this year is to acknowledge that fact. This seems against the common sense. We’ve been told for decades that the answer to the plastic-waste crisis is more, better recycling: If only we sorted better! If only we had better access to recycling technologies! If only we washed and dried our plastics more adequately!

This is all a smokescreen, designed to distract us from the truth that plastic recycling—if by “recycling” we mean turning a used material into a new material of similar value and function —is a myth. Unlike paper, glass and metal, plastic is not easily, efficiently turned into new products. What passes for “recycling” plastic is costly, energy-intensive and toxic (有毒的).

On top of all that, the process requires the addition of a shocking amount of new virgin plastic— around 70 percent—to hold the newly formed plastic items together. As a result, only about 5 percent of plastic gets “recycled”, compared that with a 68 percent recycling rate for paper and cardboard. Considering that, as a society, we’ve been actively trying to get better at plastic recycling since the 1970s, 5 percent represents an extremely clear failure.

Many environmentalists will oppose this claim. They might correctly point out that plastics labeled with the resin (树脂) identification code of 1 or 2 have a higher measure of recycling success: about 30 percent. Shouldn’t we support recycling at least this kind of plastic? For a long time, I thought so. But this brings us to another myth: that plastic is harmless to human health.

What many people do not know is that plastic is made from two ingredients: fossil fuels and toxic chemicals. What’s worse, there are tens of thousands of chemicals involved in the production of plastic, most of which have never been tested for their effects on human health, although many are known to be harmful to some degree. What this means is that even if we were to get better at recycling plastic, we shouldn’t want to.

4 . With Mother’s Day coming up, gorgeous family-friendly hotels to spend time together are the order of the day. Here the Good Hotel Guide shares two top family-friendly hotels for Mother’s Day lunch.

Chewton Glen, Hampshire

A five-star country house hotel in Hampshire, combined with a celebrated spa, Chewton Glen is a typically English escape with extra modern luxury. In addition to the rooms and suites in the main house (decorated in traditional style with sumptuous furnishings), the hotel has made use of its enchanting New Forest location by introducing treehouse suites.

For families it’s a real treat, with everything from free children’s accommodation to kids’ clubs and activities. Dining is a joy with a delicious Sunday lunch, ingredients from their very own Kitchen Garden, laid back feasting in The Kitchen or formal feasts in The Dining Room. As is the top attraction, there’s even a cookery school so you can take some of the cooking magic home with you.

Moonfleet Manor, Dorset

Part of the Luxury Family Hotels collection, Moonfleet Manor is a seaside haven on the Jurassic Coast. A Georgian manor turned family-friendly retreat, they combine elegant style with family activities and experiences. An on-site spa goes hand-in-hand with 90 minutes of free childcare per night’s stay, fossil hunts on the beach and entertainment in the grounds.

Informal family dining is always on the menu, complete with games and Bugaboo Giraffe highchairs plus a children’s menu as well as pureed (泥状的) food for little ones. Dishes feature locally-sourced ingredients and season al options, whether you fancy afternoon tea or a roast with all the fixings.

8 . To communicate without words, humans use a host of gestures—whether a wave to wish someone goodbye or a thumbs-up to indicate approval. Now researchers have found, in a particularly polite example, the first documented evidence of a symbolic gesture used by birds. Some birds seem to flutter (拍翅膀) their wings to tell their mates they should enter the nest first, suggesting that the animals may communicate with a variety of gestures.

Toshitaka Suzuki at the University of Tokyo and his colleagues set up hundreds of nest boxes in a forest populated with Japanese tits (山雀) near the town of Karuizawa. Each box had a 7.5-centimetre-wide hole, just big enough for one bird to squeeze through at a time. During breeding season, the team observed 321 nest visits across eight breeding pairs, with the tits often bringing food for their baby birds. If a bird couple arrived at the nest together, each tit would land on a nearby branch before entering. About 40 percent of the time, the female fluttered her wings for a few seconds, with her chest facing the male. This was quickly followed by the male entering the nest first, then the female. When neither bird fluttered its wings, which made up 44 percent of nest visitations, the females usually entered first. Only one male was seen repeatedly fluttering its wings, which was followed by the female entering first. Wing fluttering wasn’t observed at all when each bird arrived separately.

The team believes that this discovery conflicts with earlier beliefs that only a few species use gestures to communicate. “They’ve done a really good job here of showing there is an association between this movement, this gesture, and then… the other bird doing something,” says Mike Webster, an ornithologist at Cornell University, who was not involved in the research. “It’s a really strong support to the notion that it’s a symbolic gesture. The bird that’s the receiver knows what it means, and it does what it’s supposed to do.”

“We can conclude that this wing fluttering conveys ‘after you’.” says Suzuki. “This study is the first to show us clearly by evidence that birds can use wing movements to convey a particular meaning.”

9 . During my two years living in London, I found that the British people really enjoy eating and drinking outdoors. When the weather is nice, restaurants and bars always bring out chairs, and everyone eats, drinks, and chats in the sunlight or under the lights. This continues even in the winter. However, it seems that Chinese people generally don’t eat and drink this way, except at markets.

Markets always bring people joy. Each region in China has its own unique market. Usually just a few small stalls, a couple of tables and chairs, are enough to allow people to have a hearty meal in an open-air setting.

Living in Beijing year-round, I have always complained that it is too much of a metropolis, too much concrete and steel. It wasn’t until I went to the suburban markets that I discovered a hidden version of Beijing, intimate, bustling, and lively. The open-air markets can usually be found in suburban areas. The opening times are mostly based on the lunar calendar.

But for someone like me with social anxiety, the most precious thing about the market is the sense of freedom that comes from being able to blend in despite the large crowds. When you see something delicious, you just buy and eat it, getting your hands and mouth oily, because with so many people in the market, no one will even notice.

The open-air market is like the city of Beijing itself. It is so vast that it seems to be able to accommodate everything, and yet because of its size, it also seems to provide a sense of invisibility, allowing you to feel warm and free, where every person who arrives can find something for themselves.

10 . Having healthy boundaries is key for preserving your mental and emotional health, but boundaries in relationships can seem confusing and hard to define at times.       1    .

Identify your limits. For some of us, it can be hard to know whether a boundary has been crossed or a limit overstepped until after the fact. The first step to setting boundaries is to identify what your limits are. And the key to identifying them is to listen to your first reaction of whether you have the time or energy to commit to something.

Clearly communicate your boundaries. Once you’ve gotten an understanding of some concrete and specific boundaries you’d like to set in your life, you can move to the next step.       2    . So, finding a straightforward and genuine way to communicate your needs is key to setting and maintaining these boundaries.

Practice what you want to say. Practicing what you want to say and how to say it will increase your chances of successfully setting a boundary. Be sure to know how you want to communicate your needs and limits ahead of time.     3    .

Avoid over-apologizing or over-explaining.     4    , some people can fall into a tendency to over apologize or explain the reason why they’re setting a limit. But really, saying no doesn’t have to be rude or require an explanation.

    5    . It is important to stand your ground and be consistent with your original decision. Especially if you’re setting boundaries with someone for the first time, it might be helpful to prepare how to respond if they push back.