1 . For top students from low-income families, applying to colleges is particularly difficult. One approach makes this whole process easier? Provide an adviser for them.

That’s the idea behind CollegePoint, a program to help gifted students go to schools that match their intelligence. When a high school student takes a standardized test—the PSAT, SAT or ACT—and they score in the 90th percentile, and their families make less than $ 80, 000 a year, they get an email from the program offering them a free adviser. The advisers listen, guide and answer students’ questions.

Connor Rechtzigel, an adviser in Minnesota, sees the importance of his role, for research shows that low-income students are far more likely to undermatch because they don’t think they have what it takes to get in and because many don’t even know what schools are out there. He helped high school senior Justice Benjamin, the first in his family to apply to college, thinking about what his ideal learning experience was. Finally, Justice narrowed in on smaller schools where he could study environmental science and made his final choice: Skidmore College in New York.

Figuring out how to pay for college is a major part of what CollegePoint advisers do. Nakhle, an adviser in North Carolina, is working with Hensley, an Ohio high school senior who can’t get extra financial help from her family. They spent a lot of time comparing and analyzing her financial-aid award letters, which made her decision much clearer. Finally, the Ohio State University offered an option where she would pay nothing. Staying in-state wasn’t her first choice, but it was the best option for her.

Tree houses aren’t generally equal to splendor (壮丽). But the seven cabins at Sweden’s Treehotel could easily give The Swiss Family Robinson a run for its money. To begin with, the outside is extraordinary: one resembles a UFO, another resembles a bird's nest, and the bottom of the latest cabin—named the 7^th Room—features a life-size photograph of the canopy (天蓬似的树荫)view. Inside, the cabins are equipped with fashionable, minimalist furniture and comfortable lounge areas. Although some guests may have to travel to a separate facility to shower, fans argue that that's a small sacrifice to make for a one-of-a-kind camping experience.

When Chinese businessman Ma Dadong discovered that a forest of ancient camphor trees would be destroyed in China's Jiangxi Province, he undertook a mission to relocate thousands of them to the outskirts of Shanghai—700 km away—where they now surround 24 Ming Dynasty style suites and several villas (别墅) at Amanyangyun, which opened in January,201. It also nods to the past, making use of recycled wood and brick from centuries-old homes. Facilities include a club lounge, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and a variety of luxurious dining spaces, including a 200-seat banquet hall. Calligraphy (书法) lessons and tea ceremonies are available to help guests feel part of “this monumental story”.

Knowing you show great interests in Tai Chi and want to find a master to learn it from, and I’m quite sure I can give you a hand.

Tai Chi not only was an ancient martial art, but has been wide acknowledged as an effective kind of health exercise. Famous for its graceful and well-balanced movements. Tai Chi provides amazed mental relaxation and physical fitness.

Considering you choice of location and instructor, I recommend you the best school and the best coach in our city. Actually, my uncle is the master of Tai Chi whom is always invited to instruct others. So you can rely on it that I would introduce you to my uncle.

Hope you will enjoy your learning of Tai Chi in China.

6 . My cellphone rang while I was working on my computer. I looked at the phone and saw it was my 17-year-old son, Tom. I_________picked it up. “Mom, I got a 71 on the test, I did it.”With those few words, I could feel my heart start to_________.

Living in New York State, students cannot_________from high school unless they pass at least five exams: one in English, one in science, two in history and one in math. For most students, who work hard,_________class, and do their homework, it isn't that_________. But for Tom, who is dyslexic, it is such a real_________that some teachers have_________he would never be able to even attempt, let alone achieve.

We were_________with him about his trouble, letting him know that there was nothing to be_________of. Some people learn differently. If he was willing to__________, we would help him find a way to do as much as he could in his academic__________. All that was standing in his__________was this math test. He had__________it three times and did better each time, but he continued to__________. He was starting to get a bit tired of me saying this was a__________not a sprint. My__________broke each time we would get the failing results.

“Mom, thanks. I love you. Thanks for__________I could do this.”

For one of the few__________in my life, I really had nothing left to say. For that one__________moment I knew, really, really, knew that everything we did to help our son to__________what he wanted was worth it.

7 . In today’s world, technology is a part of daily life. In order to keep civilization hand in hand with technological advances, and to understand the connected future they will have, children in schools have to be taught technical skills. But how can teachers integrate(使……融入)technology into their classroom? Here are a couple of ways.

Teach acceptance of connected learning. In the information age, it’s only right to teach kids how to jump at connected learning.    1    For example, a tablet PC could be used in art class to draw pictures or even signs for the school.

Use a video chat system to teleconference. The idea of pen pals can be strengthened by video chat systems.    2    In this situation, children will learn how to share experiences and build new relationships from a distance. Teleconferencing is a great way to teach children about teleconferencing etiquette(礼仪).    3    

Develop a class wiki or blog. In order to help get your students active in class lessons, you can use a blog or wiki to make them comment on lessons, topics and current events. Students should also be allowed to create new posts about news or their thoughts.    4    

Create a podcast(播客)for your class. Technology is always about being seen.    5    It can also be used to be heard. With a classroom podcast, you can read passages from a textbook or a novel or schedule discussions on a certain topic that’s in line with your curriculum. This will teach broadcasting skills, speaking skills and critical thinking skills.

8 . Drive through any suburb in the US today, and it’s hard to miss the bins that have become companions to America’s trash cans. Recycling has become commonplace, as people recognize the need to care for the environment. Yet most people’s recycling consciousness extends only as far as paper, bottles, and cans. People seldom find themselves facing the growing problem of e-waste.

E-waste rapidly increases as the techno-fashionable frequently upgrade to the most advanced device and the majority of them end up in landfills(垃圾填埋地). Some people who track such waste say that users throw away nearly 2 million tons of TVs, VCRs, computers, cell phones, and other electronics every day. Unless we can find a safe replacement, this e-waste may get into the ground and poison the water with dangerous toxins(毒素), such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. Burning the waste also dangerously contaminates the air.

However, e-waste often contains reusable silver, gold, and other electrical materials. Recycling these materials reduces environmental problems by reducing both landfill waste and the need to look for such metals, which can destroy ecosystems.

A growing number of states have adopted laws to ban dumping(倾倒)e-waste. Still, less than a quarter of this waste will reach lawful recycling programs. Some companies advertising safe disposal(处置)in fact merely ship the waste to some developing countries, where it still ends up in landfills. These organizations prevent progress by unsafely disposing of waste in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind location.

However, the small but growing number of cities and corporations that do handle e-waste responsibly represents progress toward making the world a cleaner, better place for us all.

9 . It was the day after Halloween when my grandmother was admitted to the hospital with the worst headache she'd ever had. While posing in our costumes the night before, we knew something was wrong, just not how wrong.

Grandma's house was the central gathering place of my family, Sunday lunches, birthday dinners, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—all were our traditions, with her as hostess. While my parents were busy running their small business, there were many nights when Grandma fed me and put me to bed in her spare room, until they came to get me. I spent my summers at Grandma's and I went everywhere with her. I couldn't imagine a time when she wouldn't be around me.

Then November 1, 1991 began her month-long stay in the hospital—she suffered from a rare infection called nocardia asteroides. After being born in the year of the Great Depression, living through World War II, raising three kids, and being widowed at the age of 48, Grandma never expected to live into her seventies. The infection in her brain seemed to confirm that she wasn't long for this world. But that's not the end of her story. A team of doctors successfully removed the abscess（脓肿）, and Grandma even made it into a local medical journal. Her doctor called her "the brain lady".

Grandma celebrated her 85th birthday in March this year. In the almost 23 years since her recovery, she's seen two of her four grandchildren get married and welcomed three great-grandsons. Although they damage something in her house, she loves it when my two boys come over. And while I know they make her day, seeing her love blossom for another generation makes my day too. Happy Grandparents' Day to my amazing grandmother!