Sadness is a natural part of the human experience. Clinical depression, however, is an entirely different matter, and much more serious. Clinical depression, sometimes called major depression, is a biologically based brain disorder that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behavior and physical health. When people complain that they feel terrible, have no interest or take no pleasure in things, have trouble sleeping, lack energy, have a poor appetite, or cannot concentrate, there definitely is a possibility that the person is clinically depressed.
Depression in its many forms affects more than 6.5 million of the 35 million Americans who are 65 years or older. Most old people with depression have suffered from episodes of the illness through much of their lives. But some have a first onset late in their lives — it may happen to those in their eighties and nineties. Depression in older people is closely associated with dependency and disability and causes great suffering for the individual and the family.
Many old people and their families don't recognize the symptoms of depression, aren't aware that it is a medical condition, and don't know how it is treated. Others may mistake the symptoms of depression as signs of dementia (痴呆). Meanwhile, many old people think that depression is a character flaw, so they blame themselves for their illness and are too ashamed to seek help. Others worry that treatment would be too costly.
Old people with depression rarely try to get treatment for the illness. Unrecognized and untreated depression has fatal consequences in terms of both suicide and non-suicide mortality (自杀或非自杀造成的死亡). The highest rate of suicide in the U.S. is among old white men. Depression is the single most significant risk factor for suicide in that population. Tragically, many of those people who go on to commit suicide have reached out for help — 20 percent see a doctor the day they die, 40 percent the week they die and 70 percent in the month they die. Yet depression is frequently missed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The past summer in Antarctica, Elaine had spent long hours inside the plain, practical buildings of the McMurdo research station. With winter coming, she’d be heading home soon. But before she left, there was one more thing Elaine wanted to do. She was determined to see a penguin (企鹅) — up close. That night after dinner, someone said there was a lone penguin on the ice on the far side of the station. Elaine rushed out, hoping to get a closer look.
The day had been sunny and warm. But a frosty wind circled, which was a warning. Elaine knew the weather could change in a heartbeat. A sudden storm could drop the temperature by 50℃ in just a few minutes.
A biting wind blew, and she suddenly found that she had left her hat and radio back at McMurdo! But hearing about the penguin, she’d rushed out without them. This was trouble. She was out on the ice alone, without her gear (装备).
Maybe the cold had slowed down her brain, but Elaine didn’t consider the danger. All she could think of was the penguin. Watching the swinging penguin shape coming closer, she saw a flash of yellow. It was an emperor penguin!
It was against the rules to approach a penguin, she knew. So she had to wait and see if the penguin would come to her. Elaine held her breath, concentrating on the penguin walking towards her. Soon the penguin stood right in front of her: Its eyes were level with hers, its beak (喙) almost touching her nose.
She admired the golden-orange designs edging the penguin’s beak. She tried not to close her eyes as the penguin eyed her closely. Then it reached out its beak, leaned in, and tapped her cheek. Elaine’s heart beat with the thrill. The penguin bent forward, then reached its beak inside her collar. Elaine couldn’t help it — she giggled (咯咯笑). Her laugh scared the penguin. And it slipped away.
A storm was already coming, and it was past time to head back to McMurdo. Suddenly, a strong wind knocked her off her feet.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
She was pulled by the wind onto a thin skin of ice above an large ice crack (裂缝).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Realizing the penguin was leading her out of danger, Elaine decided to follow the penguin.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________37-year-old Casey Ryan felt very comfortable in the mountains of the Willamette National Forest in Eugene, Oregon. He knew its roads and hiking trails well from his time as a volunteer in a roadside clean-up crew. These days, he was often there photographing wildlife, and he almost always had his lightweight drone(无人机) with him. It was one of his favorite cameras.
Though weather conditions weren’t great that morning, Ryan decided to go on a short hike with his friend. Snow was common and Ryan felt he knew the area well enough. Still, as they drove along, the roads became icy. Ryan thought he might turn back, but after a truck passed them coming from the opposite direction, he felt safe enough to keep going. The roads must still be passable in that direction, he reasoned.
But it wasn’t long before the two men came across a woman who was stranded(滞留) along the mountain road. Ryan and his friend stopped to help her. Ryan tried to line up his truck’s rope to pull the woman’s car out —and ended up stuck in the same place.
The three tried for hours to dig the cars out, but the sun was setting fast. The temperature was dropping and the snow was turning to ice blocks around the tires. It was impossible to dig out.
Thirty miles from the closest town, their phones had no signal in such a low-lying(低洼的)area. Their car radio and walkie-talkies couldn’t transmit any signal far enough. The three travelers prepared to spend the night in their cars. The hikers had survival gear(装备) and food to share, so they weren’t terribly worried.
It was Ryan’s friend who, jokingly perhaps, brought up a news report he had seen about a man using a drone to send roses to his girlfriend living on the 10th floor to make a proposal (求婚).
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右：
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Looking at his drone, Ryan suddenly came up with an idea.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Ryan’s wife received his phone message and contacted a rescue team.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1．对你的观点进行简单阐述；
2．分析该观点合理的原因（内在美更加重要等），并举身边的例子证明；
3．提出倡议。
注意：1.词数不少于100词，可适当添加细节，使文章流畅。
2．参考词汇：真诚的sincere and honest 勤劳industry n. industrious adj.
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For thousands of years, Chinese people have valued the large family with three, four, or even five generations living under the same roof. That's what we call an extended family. Now it is changing. Compared to extended families. nuclear families which involve only two generations living together are becoming the trend. Apart from family size, these families are also featured by reduced dependence on the last generation. Young people are able to make decisions on their own and children are less likely to be brought up by their grandparents.
The reason for the tendency of nuclear families can be reflected as follows. It's a time when young people think highly of individual freedom. Young people like to have personal space that won't be disturbed by the old generations. In this way, they are more likely to avoid conflicts caused by different living habits from their parents.
It's also a time when social welfare institutions are highly advanced for old people to lead a comfortable life . Senior citizens can live together in some nursing homes and be taken good care of by specialized nursing workers, which may base young people's heavy burden of attending their aging parents.
However, the problem concerning attending to children turns up as the number of nuclear families increases. Young people are busy with their work and spend less time with their children. As a result, lacking enough care both from their parents and grandparents during their growth, children may develop mental illnesses like loneliness and depression. Many young people, therefore, hire babysitters to look after and keep company with their children, which adds a financial burden to them.
Facing the problem above, young people can seek help from old generations, communities and government. Old generations are welcomed to take care of their grandchildren, especially when young people are asked to work overtime. Communities ought to organize some volunteers to look after unattended kids. And government can set up special loads for young people to relieve their financial problem. With the joint efforts, nuclear families are expected to fit in well with the development of the society.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Adventurous Tour
It was a perfect hot summer day. The sky was as blue as the ocean with white soft clouds floating like cotton candy. Tom, Sam, Jack and Ron were very excited. They were best friends and were going sailing that day. Tom’s dad gave them a boat named Flying Ranger which they liked very much. Their mothers packed some delicious snacks and juice for their journey. They were like kids in a candy store and waited eagerly to set sail and begin their adventure.
They joyfully began their journey. Their boat was sailing swiftly in the wind. They saw big white birds flying overhead. Their cries echoed(回响) in the clear summer sky. The sea was calm, with small waves gently swaying. The boys joked and laughed as they controlled the boat, feeling the freedom of the open sea.
“Oh, no! Look at that large shark. It is coming towards us! Help!” Suddenly, Jack screamed. They couldn’t immediately grasp what was going on. By the time they tried to turn the boat in the other direction, it was too late. The shark bit their boat and it started sinking slowly. They jumped into the water and shivered like leaves. They shouted, “Help!” But there was no one around. Fortunately, the shark also left with the boat sinking.
Finally, they swam and reached the shore of an island. The island was vast with white sand and tall coconut trees standing like bodyguards. The boys were happily exploring the place. All of a sudden, an enormous black scorpion(蝎子) appeared. The boys were shocked and their mouths fell open. The scorpion was as huge as an elephant and looked like a big monster with its sharp nails. The big scorpion started advancing towards them. The boys were frightened and began to run for their lives. They ran as fast as deer and took shelter in an old cave.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The cave was dark and dusty, but the boys had no choice.
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Meanwhile, the parents were anxiously looking for their children.
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That summer I turned 18. I was wild with excitement because I just took my driving license and my parents bought me a new perfect car. I was reminded repeatedly by my parents to drive cautiously. Along with this new privilege (特权) came new responsibilities. I would practice the same routine — call my parents and tell them where I was going, whom I was with, and when I would be home. It became a typical cycle.
I had been working all day in the hot sun. I was exhausted and ready for a nap. But I was hungry. So I called my friend Mike and made our way into town. After our meal, we never knew our day would soon change for the worse.
It takes only a moment to turn your life upside down. I was driving fast. Actually too fast.
Mike and I were driving down a dust y gravel (沙砾) road. I was driving a shiny black Saturn, which was the car I had admired for long. I was filled with excitement and pride to be driving it. I could see the rolling hills in the distance. Tall pine (松树) trees traveled on both sides of the road. The music playing loudly, we both were in high spirits. Somehow, without realizing it, I sped up.
Enjoying ourselves in my car, we came across a loose spot of gravel. My car was stuck in it and desperate to escape. My car started fishtailing (摆尾行驶). Terrified, I tried to stop the car and all of a sudden the car lost control. I froze, my body was stiff, great panic holding me entirely in its power. Looking into the right, I took a glimpse of Mike, whose body had leaned towards me. His face went pale but he was trying to balance himself. The car was rushing left to right, coasting (惯性滑行) along the g ravel as if it were ice. It was only seconds later that my car crashed head-on into a big pine tree.
I heard a roaring sound of my car hitting the tree.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Fortunately enough, Mike and I were not seriously injured.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Life is a series of unpredictable events. One man, who suffered a severe injury while on the job, underwent a life-changing and first-of-its-kind medical procedure, and the trials and hardships have changed his entire outlook. James, a 46-year-old Arkansas native, was familiar with what it was like to go through such situations and turn into a changed man, both on the inside and the outside.
It was one day in June when James had his entire life changed forever. While on the job, James was attempting to transfer wires to a new electrical pole. However, James’s face touched a live wire, sending more than 7,000 volts of electricity into his body.
The injuries from the incident were deadly. Half of his face was blown off. He was left without his left eye and his nose. Additionally, doctors had to remove part of his arm and several of his teeth. That period was an extremely difficult time for James and his family.
The injury had left him unable to eat solid food. The only way for him to consume food was to sip (吸) soup from a straw. He ended up losing more than 70 pounds.
James, a husband and a father of one kid, often questioned the entire situation. “I got pretty down and went through the whole ‘Why me?’ I broke down, and I cried,” James said.
But then James and his family received a little hope. They learned about the possibility of a face and eye transplant (移植). James met with the professional doctors. They did a thorough examination about James’s situation and considered about the potential risks. Fortunately, James was judged to be a perfect patient for the transplant.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
So the surgery was ready.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Days later, he was allowed to look into the mirror．
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Picture this: you’re out to dinner with a friend who you know makes a lot more money than you do. When you open the menu, your heart sinks. There’s not a dish in sight that is less than $35, and even a soup is going to run you $18. You probably vow (发誓) to stick to dollar pizza slices the rest of the month to balance out this dinner. However, this time, what if you just turned to your friend, closed the menu, and said, “Sorry, I have to be honest. I can’t afford this. Let’s go somewhere else?” That’s the idea behind “loud budgeting”, a trend that could not only relieve you of the financial burden, but help you deal with these sorts of stressful situations both mentally and emotionally.
The term was first introduced by TikTok (抖音) comedian Lukas Battle. Battle explained his concept in an interview: simply put, loud budgeting is being honest about what you do and don’t want to spend money on.
It’s not just a TikTok thing though. Even those in the financial services industry are on board with the trend. Nikolina Cuca, a financial advisor, says that she’s seen social media add pressure to her clients, causing them to spend beyond their means on luxury items. “There should be no shame about trying to match your spending to your means. This trend helps young people moderate spending by normalizing the idea of living within budgets.”
Beyond just saving money, loud budgeting is also bringing people closer. Honest money talks lead to greater respect among friends and family. By openly discussing money goals, people are creating stronger bonds based on mutual understanding for each other’s financial situations.
As more people adopt this approach, it is likely to stay a big part of how we handle money in the future.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.软件使用情况描述；
2.分析该现象的原因；
3.简要谈谈你的看法。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.短文开头已为你写好，不计入总词数。
As is shown in the survey conducted by our school’s English newspaper,
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