2 . Around six weeks ago, Kaileen came running into the house, just getting off the bus from school. She was excited about a story about homeless pets because of Hurricane (飓风) Katrina and all that was going on to help them. She said that this information came from her animal newspaper (your KIND News). Kaileen has a great love and compassion (同情心) for animals, so her excitement did not surprise me. Her next ideas, however, did. She said that we should go around right then to our neighbors and collect all their change to send to the animal shelters (保护所).

I thought this was a school project, but in fact, it was not. This was what Kaileen wanted to do on her own! Well, it warmed me all over. To see your child so willing to help others just lets you feel that maybe you had done something right in raising (养育) her.

Anyway, I told her to make a card and send it out to our neighbors first. With the help of her older brother, Kaileen soon made a lovely card that asked our neighbors to help these pets by giving their spare change. She gave them a few days and a date she would come by to pick up any donations (捐赠).

Well, I had to go out and buy a donation box. Kaileen collected $279.50!!! I just thought you would like to know how KIND News had touched a little one’s heart and given her the idea to show her compassion for animals. Thank you — we really enjoy your paper.

3 . Shaw began losing his sight as a young man and had difficulty holding jobs due to his failing vision.     1     But Shaw said he couldn’t bear to part with a dog and adjust to a new one, perhaps several times in his life.

Finally Shaw heard of a program about the tiny guide horses. Shaw learned that the horses are clean, friendly, and easy to train. They can be housebroken and learn to live in an urban setting, but they are best suited for suburban or rural homes.     2     This would enable Shaw to have the same guide companion for most of his life.

Shaw immediately applied to be and was accepted as the first person to receive a guide horse. He went to the Burlesons’ farm to begin his training.     3     “It’s like it was meant to be,” he said.

As part of their training, Shaw and Cuddles learned to cross busy streets, step onto stairs, and find doorknobs and elevator buttons. Cuddles even showed his ability to step in front of Shaw and block him, to prevent him from walking into a dangerous situation.     4     When walking inside, Cuddles wears two pairs of tiny sneakers to prevent him from slipping on smooth surfaces.

    5     They toured the crowded streets and attractions of New York City. They visited the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and even rode the subways. They got along without any difficulties and passed the exam successfully. Shaw is confident that Cuddles will change his life for the better. Years ago, he never would have imagined himself owning a guide horse. Sometimes, however, it is the less obvious choice that works out for the best.

National parks are places to be treasured—places     1     the country locks away the very best it has to offer for everyone to enjoy. Not all famous national parks are on land. One good example is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia.     2     (stretch)over 2,300 kilometers, the Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the natural     3     (wonder)of the world. The park was created in 1975 to protect the reef from overdevelopment and fishing. Unfortunately, the biggest danger to it is global warming,     4     park management cannot stop.

Most gardeners will probably say gardening is good for you. According to a study, people who garden have a       1     (healthy) diet, get more exercise, and feel less stress. Researchers studied the benefits of gardening in shared community gardens       2       people work together. They suggest gardening may reduce stress because it exposes people to nature, while community gardens also provide       3       (chance) for social interaction. Therefore, they hope the results will encourage doctors and government leaders to regard community gardens       4       a vital part of the public health system.

Dean Schneider leaves his life in Switzerland behind and goes to Africa     1     (pursue) his passion and make the world a better place. He was always fascinated by the animal world since he was a child. That is     2     he decided to form a club to help lions born in captivity (圈养). The name of the club is “Hakuna Mipaka”—a Swahili expression meaning “no limits”. It develops from five core values that Dean tries hard to follow:     3     (free), loyalty, appreciation, brotherhood, and boldness.

The African penguin is expected to go extinct in the wild in just over a decade, given its current population decline. The main reason is a lack of food caused by disturbance to ocean conditions from global heating and     1     (compete) from the commercial fishing industry. According to a study, recently scientists     2     (identify) a possible additional cause, one that is an entirely new threat and that further     3     (prevent) the penguins from finding food: noise pollution from marine ships in a bay.