2 . For the first 19 months of her life, Helen Keller was like other pretty happy babies in every way. Then in 1882, a sudden illness destroyed her sight and hearing. Because she could not hear what other people were saying, the child could not learn to speak. For the following 5 years, she lived in a world of darkness, without sounds or words and her parents could do nothing but let her be.

The person who changed Helen’s world was her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who entered her life. Miss Sullivan had accepted a job, which seemed impossible. She had agreed to teach a blind child who had never learned to act like a human being, because no one had ever been able to guide her in any way. No one could control Helen. She acted like a young animal, rushing wildly around, throwing things, and hitting anyone whom she could reach. Who could believe that such a child could be taught?

But Anne Sullivan was a very special kind of teacher. She had been blind during part of her own childhood and had learned to read Braille, a system of writing that uses raised dots which can be felt by the finger of a blind person. She had learned to see again after several operations, but she had never forgotten the experience of being blind.

Miss Sullivan understood Helen. She loved her and believed she could teach her.

Anne Sullivan could not teach Helen Keller to speak until some other important things had been learned. The little girl had to learn to control her actions and feelings. She had to learn that she could not always do what she wished to do. She had always been able to get what she wished by using force. The teacher had to change such habits without breaking the child’s spirit.

Miss Sullivan’s battle began. Sometimes, there was real fighting between the wild child and the strong young teacher. At last, however, the battle was won by Miss Sullivan, who had succeeded in showing Helen that she loved her and wanted to help her. The child and her teacher became friends. They continued to be friends until the teacher’s death, 50 years later.

The day on which Helen finally accepted Miss Sullivan as her friend and teacher was a great day in Helen’s life. After that the teacher could begin to teach the child language.

6 . Pasteur discovered that bacteria (细菌) cause many diseases.     1    . He proved that diseases could be cured by stopping the spread of bacteria.

How Pasteur helped industry

Louis Pasteur was born in France in 1822. He studied physics and chemistry in Paris. The wine-making industry in France was in trouble during the mid-1800s     2    . Pasteur discovered that germs were getting into the wine and turning it sour. He found that heat killed these germs and prevented the wine from spoiling. Pasteur later applied his discovery to milk. His way of heating foods to kill bacteria is now called pasteurization (巴氏灭菌法).

    3    . In the mid-1800s, a disease was killing off silkworms before they could spin silk threads. Pasteur showed that the disease was in the silkworm eggs and that getting rid of any infected eggs could keep the disease from spreading.

    4    

Pasteur then discovered how to make vaccines (疫苗) to protect people and animals against disease. He observed that animals infected with a disease sometimes became immune to the disease — that is, protected from getting the disease again. Pasteur found that he could weaken germs in his laboratory. When he put weakened germs into the bodies of animals, the animals became immune to the disease caused by the germs. Pasteur made a vaccine to protect sheep against a disease called anthrax.

One of Pasteur’s most important discoveries was a vaccine against rabies (狂犬病). People can get this deadly disease     5    . In 1885, a mother begged Pasteur to treat her young son who had been badly bitten by a dog with rabies. The vaccine worked, and the boy lived.

7 . Four Famous Educators

John Dewey

Birthplace: Burlington, Vermont, United States

A faithful advocate of progressive education and liberalism, the American philosopher was the founder of the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. John Dewey’s famous writings included The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology and Human Nature and Conduct. According to him, passion for knowledge and intellectual curiosity were central to a teacher.

Savitribai Phule

Birthplace: Naigaon, India

Savitribai Phule was a revolutionary social reformer who devoted her life to educating girls and bringing about gender (性别) equality in the face of resistance from the conservative Indian society. Phule, who was illiterate (文盲) until her marriage, went on to become a teacher, an achievement accomplished first by an Indian woman. With her husband, she established schools for girls in Maharashtra.

Maria Montessori

Birthplace: Chiaravalle, Italy

Maria Montessori was an Italian educator and physician best known for developing the Montessori method of education, a student-friendly method, which is being used in several public and private schools around the world. In 2020, she was nominated (提名) by Time magazine as one of their Top 100 Women of the Year.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, composer, and writer. His political philosophy influenced aspects of the French Revolution. He also helped develop modern economic, political, and educational thought. His writing inspired a complete change in French drama and poetry. His works also influenced such writers around the world as Tolstoy.

8 . It doesn’t take a lot to make someone feel special. However, it not only makes you happy but also helps you win their friendship! So take a step forward and do something for them to make them feel special.

Praise them.     1     Instead of looking at them for what they are, look at them for what they can be. And of course, let them know.

Smile. A warm smile can take away a thousand sorrows, and a loving hug can mend every broken heart. Give someone you care about a hug when they are having a bad day.     2    

Surprise them. Remembering dates that are important to someone shows them that you care about them.     3     The fact that you take time and efforts to make them feel happy lets them know that they are on your mind.

    4     Although it may not be your favourite thing, yet if the other person is really crazy about it, take some time to try it. Who knows, with this person around, you might actually enjoy the activity!

Make time. The best gift that you could give someone is your time.     5     However, more importantly, you should let them know that you are always there for them, and that you would choose to be with them over anyone else in the world.

10 . Many people are aware of the beauty of a solar eclipse (日食), but are surprised to learn that lunar eclipses are often just as impressive. While a total solar eclipse lasts only for a few minutes and can be seen only in a small area of a few square kilometres, a total lunar eclipse can last for several hours and can be seen over much of the planet. Therefore, the beauty and stability of lunar eclipses make them a favourite of both amateur and professional photographers.

Lunar eclipses generally occur two or three times a year, and are possible only when the Moon is full. When we see the Moon, we are actually seeing sunlight reflect off the surface of the Moon. When the Earth passes between the Moon and the Sun, however, the Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon, and a lunar eclipse occurs.

The type of lunar eclipses—total, partial, or penumbral (半影的)—that occurs depends on both how much of the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow and through which part of the shadow it passes. A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s outer shadow. This type of eclipse is brief and frequently goes unobserved by anyone but astronomers. By contrast, total and partial eclipses occur when all or part, respectively, of the Moon passes through the umbra (本影) of the Earth. These eclipses are quite easy to see and are widely observed.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to watch. Solar radiation that occurs during an eclipse of the sun can cause a form of burns of one’s eyes know as eclipse blindness. In fact, the only way to safely view a solar eclipse is using specially designed equipment. However, since the Moon’s light is reflected sunlight, it is completely safe to watch a lunar eclipse without any special equipment, although a pair of binoculars (双筒望远镜) can certainly help the viewer appreciate the beauty of this phenomenon.