4 . “They tell me that you’d like to make a statue of me — is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?”

The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have dared to ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner.”

President Lincoln smiled.“Painters, sculptors — they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust (半身像)?”

Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice. “Of course — I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size.”

Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay (黏土) figure would not exhaust my strength — and that is what I intend to do!”

The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”

But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”

Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”

The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”

The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.

6 . Henry Stanley is perhaps best known for his expedition into Africa to find Dr. David Livingstone, but that’s not the only rescue mission he undertook. In December 1886, Stanley set off into Africa on what would be his last journey: an attempt to find and bring home a German zoologist named Eduard Schnitzer.

Schnitzer had taken the name “Emin Pasha,” in an attempt to be better received by those he was living among. Pasha was cataloging a host of recently-discovered plant and animal lifeforms when fighting broke out in the Sudan. Pasha withdrew to Equatoria, at about the same time the Emin Pasha Relief Committee was formed. In addition to the chief goal of bringing Pasha home, Stanley was also under orders from the King of Belgium to open up some new trade routes in the area.

The roundabout route the Committee ended up taking meant that by the time they finally found Pasha many members of the expedition were dead. Those that did survive were worn, ill, and starving by the time they found Pasha who, in comparison, was well-dressed, clean, and—by some accounts—smoking a three-year-old cigar when they finally found him. He was in need of some support and supplies, but he had neither intent nor desire to leave the area. Arguments arose, causing a firm hatred between Stanley and Pasha.

Stanley finally convinced Pasha to leave with the remains of the expedition, setting off on a demanding trip back through Africa. They finally met up with some German explorers, and made it back to the port town of Bagamoyo in 1889.

During the party they threw to celebrate their return to civilization, Pasha fell off a balcony and broke his skull. Stanley returned to Europe to receive commendations and congratulations, while Pasha slowly recovered from his unwanted rescue.

7 . The love story between John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, was far from perfect and was tragically cut short in 1963 by a sniper’s(狙击手) bullet.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was seated beside his smartly dressed wife, who was wearing a pink Chanel-like suit and matching pillbox hat and holding an armful of red roses that had been presented to her by fans. They were seated in the back seat of a dark blue 1961 Lincoln with John Connally, the Governor of Texas and his wife, Nellie.

And then came the dark moment. As the motorcade(车队) passed the Texas School Book Depository on Elm Street, a loud noise—like the sound of a firecracker—cracked the air. President Kennedy slumped(耷拉) forward, Jackie putting her arms around him.

The look on her husband’s face after he was shot would haunt Jackie for the rest of her life. The last words she ever got to say to him were, “I love you, Jack. I love you,” according to Anderson, although Jackie herself recalled it slightly differently in a 1963 interview. All the way to Parkland Hospital, where President Kennedy would eventually be pronounced dead, as she recalled it, she was bent over him, asking “Jack, Jack, can you hear me? I love you.”

Jack Kennedy’s final words to his wife of 10 years were far more mundane, of course. He had no way of knowing what was about to happen. It’s been reported that Jack’s final words were, “My God, I’ve been hit,” but physicians have said this was impossible given Jack’s injuries. Well, historians have now clarified that the last words Jack spoke before the fatal shot were, “No, you certainly can’t.”

No, you certainly can’t?

He was making small talk in the car. “You certainly can’t say that the people of Dallas haven’t given you a nice welcome,” the Texas Governor’s wife had just remarked to Jack, referring to the huge, adoring crowd. “No, you certainly can’t,” Jack replied, milliseconds before the bullet from Lee Harvey Oswald gun struck.

John F. Kennedy never spoke another word after that fateful day, but many things he said during his lifetime are incredibly inspiring.

8 . Can we humans avoid war? Can war be prevented ?

    1    . Throughout the ages, from the Stone Age to the Atomic Age, men     have been fighting, first with swords and shields, then with pins and cannous, and now,hydrogen bombs and missiles are used for military purpose. But, in spite of all these. it is still belief that war can prevented and prace can be won, but it requires the effort of every one of us.

    2    If it ever happens, two - thirds of the world and much of the civilization which men have gained   through time,patience and effort will be destroyed.Will then the remaining one - third of the world be able to   survive on its own?

Our task now is not to blame the past，but to plan for the future.

If there is peace in the world, men can use their rockets to explore the mystery of space,their submarines to explore the depth of the sea,their missiles to deliver to mails and their fine equipment to penetrate(穿透）jungles of Africa ,instead of using them military.

Governments can use their money to build more schools,so that more children can be educated to be useful citizens.    3    , They can also design new machines to increase the production of goods and thus improve the way of the people.

    4    It requires,in my opinion,the understanding and friendship be-tween all people from all nations.Let no one suffer discrimination by reason of color,race,reli-gion,or national origin.Let the rich support the poor and the strong help the weak.

We know that neither peace nor such a dream world can come true in a day or month.    5    .But let us plan and begin now.

Cholera was a deadly disease of its day. Neither its cause nor its cure     1     (understand). So thousands of     2     (terrify) people died when there was an outbreak. John Snow wanted to solve     3     problem. He knew that cholera would not be controlled     4     its cause was found.

He became interested in two theories     5     possibly explained how cholera killed people. The first suggested that cholera     6     (multiply) in the air. The second suggested that people absorbed this disease     7     their bodies with their meals.

John Snow suspected that the second theory was correct but he needed evidence. So when another outbreak hit London in 1854, he was ready    8     (begin) his enquiry. With all the evidence he gathered, John Snow was able to announce with     9     (certain) that polluted water carried the virus.     10     (final) “King Cholera” was defeated.

10 . On 10 April 1912, an amazing, imposing new ocean liner steamed out of Southampton Harbour.     1     She was the largest ship in the world at that time, and the most luxurious. Her passengers included some of the wealthiest people in the world. Everyone agreed this beautiful new ship was the best liner in existence – in fact, she was said to be unsinkable.

The ship’s crew had absolute confidence in her. When, four days later, Captain Edward Smith gave his radio-men the order to transmit the international distress signal, SOS, they thought he was joking. He wasn’t. At 2.20 a.m. on 15 April 1912, the Titanic sank beneath the freezing waters of the Atlantic.     2    

On 14 April 2012, a passenger ship stopped in the North Atlantic.     3     It was cold and dark. 1,300 passengers stood on deck as a memorial service was held for the people who died there. After hymns and prayers, two wreaths of flowers were thrown into the freezing water.

The story of the Titanic has touched and fascinated people for over a century. Mistakes were made that added up to disaster.     4     There are records of generosity and courage that saved lives when so many others were lost. Millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim was offered one of the few places in a lifeboat, but said it should be given to a woman or a child, and chose instead to dress for dinner. Someone overheard him say ‘We’ve dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen!’     5    The pure drama of the scene means that the legend of the Titanic will never be forgotten.