On a freezing-cold February morning in Indiana, Jhaqueil Reagan, 18, left home to walk to a job interview — ten miles away, over muddy roads.
Reagan had been looking for work for months. His parents had died two years earlier, and he was the only 1 of his two younger siblings (兄弟姊妹), Cole, 16, and Jazzlyn, seven. He was 2 for a regular paycheck 3 doing many odd jobs (零活).
Three hours later, Reagan had covered only three miles. He paused outside a 4 called Papa Roux to ask for directions from 5Art Bouvier, who was clearing ice and snow from the parking lot.
“I told him to get on the bus.”says Bouvier.“He 6 me and went on his way.”
Fifteen minutes later, Bouvier 7 in his car beside Reagan as he walked along.
“You've 8 got to be on the bus,”he told Reagan.
“I don't have money for the bus,”Reagan replied. Bouvier offered him a 9 . On the way, he asked the boy about his job search.
“I thought, this is the kind of kid I want working for me,”says Bouvier. He got Reagan's 10 number and dropped him off for his 11.
Later that day, Bouvier 12 about Reagan on Facebook. “He doesn't know it yet, but he 13 on Monday,”Bouvier wrote.“It's been a while since I've met someone so 14 !”
A few hours later, Bouvier called to offer Reagan a job. 15 , the teen accepted on the spot. A television reporter caught wind of the 16 and interviewed the pair on camera that night.
Today, Reagan is washing dishes, filling orders, and greeting Papa Roux 17 for ＄8.50 an hour.
The publicity has brought in so many 18 customers that Bouvier plans to open a second restaurant by the end of the year. Reagan has 19enough money to move into a new apartment.
Now, when the weather is 20 , he takes the bus to work.
I was coming back from home late at night in a 'Sharing' mini van(厢式货车). In Hydera- bad, India, it is a cheap and quick form of 1. The van driver picked up as many as 13 people at times in a vehicle which is 2 for the transport of 8. So our van was very3.
Making her way to the 4 of the van, a school girl with a bag 5 the driver to stop. While getting down, she slipped and fell. None of us 6 it, as it was dark outside. The driver was 7 for her to pay. It was then that we saw that the girl was on her 8 by the side of the road. Another passenger and l got down9and held her up.
Even in 10, she held up a note and asked us to pay the driver. The other 11 passenger took the note and paid the driver. My 12 was a few hundred meters away. As a girl, I knew I'd get off and stay with her in the 13. So I paid up the driver for 14 and he drove away with the other passengers.
I neither 15 her nor did I know what to do. But I was there, giving some 16 words to another girl in pain. I asked her to stand 17 for a few while. I then looked for a place for her to sit. Then I 18 her friend and waited there. She was rushed to a nearby clinic later. Before leaving, she thanked me for 19 and we hugged goodbye.
The night breezes were blowing 20 upon my cheek as I walked home，with a feeling of relief.
It's great to be part of a happy family. It is fun to be with people who like you. It is good to feel the1and the love of the ones who care for you. It is fantastic when you can2them when you have problems.
3, it is also true that things are not always easy. Young people want to 4their own personality. Parents5think they know better. They find it6to accept that their son or daughter wants to think differently from how they used to think when they were7themselves. As a result, young people are often unhappy and believe their parents do not8them.
Many of my friends would love to be9of their parents as soon as possible. They would love to have their own place where they can live the life they imagine must be10.They think that not having a11who tells them to tidy up their rooms or get up at a certain time must be paradise(天堂)。
How would I12if I were asked whether I wanted to leave home? First of all, there is the financial(财务的) situation. Having your own flat costs a lot of13. Secondly, being completely14also means a lot of responsibility.15, I admit I like to be reminded of urgent (紧急的) things I have forgotten to do 16I would never admit that to my parents). And thirdly, if members of a family accept that everybody is an individual and needs a certain amount of17, life in a family can be great fun.
18, I would not like to be on my own too soon. I would say that I am19living with my family for now and I can20.
When you eat out in a restaurant, it is not unusual to hear people yelling, “Let me get this one!” Sometimes you can see them1 or arm wrestling to fight for the2 for paying the bill. These fights are often very loud and active. Each person3 shows an honest desire to pick up the bill, and in the end, all the people at the table give the winner praise and 4 .
In fact, figuring out who will get the bill is always a5 for Chinese people at formal meals. Although the people who6 the meal are very likely to pay the check, it is a7 practice to make an effort to pay the bill. But you will8 them if you do end up actually collecting money.
In recent years, going Dutch has been embraced by many young people. 9 , older generations who fear “losing10 ” still find it embarrassing and mean to calculate each person's 11 of the bill.
But these days, 12 digital payment apps, splitting (分摊) the bill13 is becoming widely-accepted idea. Even people from14 generations may want to do so. By scanning a code 15 paying their share via WeChat or Alipay on their phones in one easy click, Chinese are 16 it easy to relieve the embarrassment of figuring out each person's payment when they order a meal. This function has made going Dutch less17 and more fun in China. “Many of us are never without our phones 18 they are convenient. And person-to-person mobile payment services are incredibly19 to use and at the same time save the trouble of20 change,” said 18-year-old Han Chen, a student from Senior High School.
A young man and an old man were waiting for a bus. sat next to each other. “What's that in your bag?” asked the young man, pointing to a big bag beside the old man. “Gold. There was nothing but gold,” answered the old man. The young man could not believe his own ears and was great surprise. Then he began to think about to get the money. The old man was very tired and it seemed that he could hardly keep his eyes open. After a while the old man (lie) down on the chair and fell asleep.
The young man took big bag gently and quietly. But when he was just about to run away, he found a corner of his fur coat was under the old man's body. Several times he tried to pull it out, in vain. At last he took off his coat, (think) that the gold in the bag must cost far more than his fur coat.
Worried but (delight), the young man ran out of the station as quickly as his legs could carry him, until he reached a place he thought the old man couldn't find him. He stopped and quickly opened the bag but he just found a great many of small stones in it. Then he ran back to the station (hurry) only to find that the old man was gone.
A security camera recorded a young boy riding his bicycle up to the home of Hollie Mallet in Louisiana.The boy1in the driveway（私人汽车道）next to her house.Then he2the driveway into the garage,where he gave her dog a quick hug.
In late May,Mallet posted a video from the3on her Facebook page with this message:"Attention neighbors! Does anyone know who this4little boy is?"Mallet 5that she had seen the boy a number of times running into her garage to play ball with her dog Dutchess or to6Dutchess.Mallet said,"I'd like to tell him he's7to stay and play;she loves the attention!"
Within two hours of her8the neighbors helped9her mysterious visitor.The boy turned out to be 9-year- old Josh Breaux.He lives nearby and10dogs.
Mallet11Josh Breaux's mother Ginger by phone to12a play date between the boy and Dutchess the dog. When Josh's mother learned that her son had been going into someone's house13to play with a dog,she was not 14happy.But she was glad her son had found a15.
The Breaux had a dog for most of Josh's life,but family dog had recently died.The Breaux family did not get a new dog16they were too busy to take care of a young dog. Ginger Breaux wrote about her son's17on Facebook just the other day.She wrote:"When we are18and decide it's time to get a new dog,we will definitely keep everyone19!I am still beyond amazed at the positive20the video and story has gotten from all over the world."
When I was in middle school, I got mad at my parents because they would never give anything to the homeless that passed by us.
On a family vacation in Washington D.C., there was a 1 man down the street. My family2 with our eyes at our feet. On our final day in the city, when my 3 went for an evening walk, I ran out of our hotel room 4 and ran down the street to the homeless man.
He looked at me with curiosity, surely not5 anything from a middle school girl. I asked him what he would have for 6. He replied he would have hamburgers.
I ran into the grocery store down the block and 7 five hamburgers and many other foods. I ran back with a grin(咧嘴笑) on my face and 8 the grocery bags full of food to him. His 9 has been in my mind ever since.
I ran back to the 10 as soon as possible. When my parents 11, my dad told me he had a 12 for me. He asked if I still 13 the homeless man down the street from our hotel and I shyly 14. He then told me, with a grin on his face, a story of15 as they were returning from their walk the homeless man was 16 grocery bags full of food with other homeless people around and they were all smiling and laughing as they 17. I smiled at my dad but never to this day have told him the 18 story of that homeless man.
I still haven't forgotten that man's smile but I wish I had the 19 to do this more often. One 20fearless act by a middle school girl can begin a series of effect of smiles and dignity(尊严). So please, share a smile and give some dignity to the homeless.
If you have a little child, who hates sitting in a child car seat, then the FreedomRide is the answer to your problem.
Would you want to be1in an unchangeable position every time you're in the car. No.
You Wouldn't!
When a2sits in a car for any length of time, we stretch, we change the position, we move our legs, and shift3. We do this automatically, and without4. But kids in a traditional car seat can't do this. They are stuck in one position, and they5move. We move because the6of blood needs to be restored in our legs as we sit in the7position for any extended length of time.
In a traditional car seat, the child can't move to8the pain, so it9them in a bad mood.
The Freedom Ride lets them have a little10, and still be safe. The 5-point Harness gives them additional safety11a traditional child car seat.
I am the Webmaster for islandbreeze.com, and12Joey Safe asked us to redo their web site, I was13by this system. That is because I have two small children, and we obviously14car seats. I live in Southern California, and every15of months, my wife, the girls and I, go to see grandma who lives in Nevada. It's a 5-hour drive, so the Freedom Ride16well. Our trips are so much better now, especially, since there is17room in the car without the car seats.
The Freedom Ride really did18it easier to go on trips. The only thing you need when you use the Joey Safe19 your old child seat is a pillow.20, my kids want to take a pillow anyway! As a dad, I feel safe driving with the kids in the Freedom Ride.
Anger is a feeling that many of us know all too well. Some of us experience it daily,1 others hold on to it for years at a time. As you likely know, anger is not a healthy 2. Over time it can become self-destructive,3 relationships and even your health.
This is not to say that anger is always a 4 thing—anger is a natural part of living；it is a 5 that something is wrong. If anger is not a 6 normal and natural human emotion, it is 7 important to learn and understand how to 8 anger the right way.
You can release anger the right or the wrong way.9 whether you have an anger problem yourself or not, it is 10 for everyone to understand what the right 11 of releasing anger are. Transforming anger is a powerful 12to take that will create positive changes in our relationships. One of the best ways to13 anger is to give yourself the 14to express anger. In fact, it is quite healthy to express your anger as long as you do it 15Remember that anger management 16 both on mental and physical effort. Although mental therapy alone will help you tremendously for releasing your anger, it can only take you so far. The same 17for exercise too. However, if you 18 both mental therapy and exercising, you will then have 19 to an unbelievable positive solution. Do a particular physical activity 20 the mental intention of releasing your anger.
James sat outside the office waiting for the interview.He felt so1that he didn't know what to do with himself. The person who had gone in2him had been in there for nearly an hour.And she looked so3when she went in. Not like James,he felt he was4.But the5 was that he wanted this job so much.It6 everything to him.He had thought about it such a lot before the day of the7He had8himself performing brilliantly at the interview and being offered the job9.
But now here he was feeling10.He couldn't11all those things he had planed to say.At that moment,he almost12to get up and leave.But no13he had to do this.He had spent so much time considering it that he couldn't14like that.His hands were hot and sticky and his mouth felt15.At last the door of the office16.The woman who had gone in an hour earlier came out looking very pleased with herself.It seemed17she had got the job.She smiled sympathetically（同情地）at James.At the moment,James18her.The managing director then appeared at the office door."Would you like to19now,Mr.Davis?I'm sorry to have kept you 20.”James suddenly wished that he had gone home after all.He got up,legs shaking and forehead sweating and wondered whether he looked as he felt.
A high school history teacher once told us. “If you make one close friend in school, you will be most fortunate. A true friend is someone who stays with you for life.”1teaches that he was right. Good friendship is just not easily2.
It is possible that we simply do not stay in one place long enough for3friendship to4. However, there can be5disagreement on the need for each of us to think carefully about the kind of friendship we want.
To most of us, friendships are considered very important, but we need to have it clear in our6what kinds of friendship we want. Are they to be close or7at arm's length? Do we want to 8ourselves or do we want to walk on the surface? For some people, many friendships on the surface are 9enough—and that' s all right. But at some point we need to10that our expectations are the same as our friends' expectations. The sharing of11experience 12 our tears as well as our dark dreams is the surest way to deepen friendships. But it 13be undertaken(进行) slowly and carried on only if there are14of interest and action in return.
What are some of the15of friendship? The greatest is the attraction to expect too much too soon. Deep relationships16time. Another “major difficulty" is the selfishness to think one “possesses" the other, including his time and attention. Similarly, friendships17actions in return. In18words, you must give as much as you take. Finally there is a question of taking care of. Unless you spend19time together, talking on the phone, writing letters, doing things together, friendships will die 20
During the Nov. 11 shopping event, many people tend to buy more than they need because of sales promotions or just plain urge. But what normally 1the shopping spree (疯狂购物) is not2but regret. That's because many people just buy things to fill the 3in their hearts, but accumulating things actually 4the burden in their minds.
The concept of Danshari may provide a(n)5 to the problem. Danshari was based on three Chinese characters, duan she li,6 refusal, disposal (清除) and separation. It promotes the idea of getting rid of 7 things and separating oneself from the drive to own 8possessions. There are two basic rules that9whether you should keep something—the relationship between you and the item under10 as well as the timing. So before you 11 your payment password for something, ask yourself two questions: Do I 12 it now? Does it suit me?
Danshari encourages you not only to 13 yourself things, but to give up the unreasonable desire associated with owning them. Nowadays, people need to learn to14 their daily lives. Buy only the necessities and 15 items, regularly16 things you don't need any more, then you'll get freedom in your heart.
However, it doesn't mean that you should 17 your desire and live a less interesting life. Instead, you should 18 yourself rather than material goods. Through 19 what to buy and what to get rid of, you can see a deeper reflection of yourself20 learning to make wise decisions about more important things.
Have you ever flown on an airplane? Before you left, you1everything you would need for your 2 in a suitcase. Most suitcases that travel on an airplane have to be 3 in special areas away from the passengers. It helps keep the plane 4. This also frees up more room for passengers and makes them more5.
While you were flying in the airplane, you might have had 6looking out of the window or listening to music. Your suitcases, though, didn't get the same7. Where had they gone? Most airports have baggage handling(处理) systems that8your baggage during your trip.
The systems differ from airport to airport, but baggage handlers have three9jobs. First, they move your baggage from the check-in area to the 10 you'll be catching. Then your baggage 11 sit with all the other passengers' baggage in certain areas of your airplane. Second, if you have to 12 airplanes somewhere during your trip, your baggage will be moved to the new airplane you are going to 13 . Finally, they will move your baggage from the airplane to a14 area at your final destination.
Of course, the systems must make sure baggage travels to the 15 airplanes. Even so, mistakes happen every day. Sometimes, baggage may 16 their airplane. When this happens, they may be found 17 and sent on the next available airplane. Some baggage, though, gets 18 for longer periods of time and may end up in off-site storage facilities(异地仓储设施点). Baggage that can never be 19 to their owners may be given away to charity 20 they can be sold at special auctions(拍卖会).
Direction: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
The concept of solitude(独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be 1. Solitude can be hard to discover once it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have 2 our culture.
The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) 3 as we've known it. People have become so 4 in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted even if they'd rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog, not only from our5, but from our mobile phones as well.
Most developed nations have become 6 on digital technology simply because they've grown accustomed to it, and at this point not 7 it would make them an outsider. 8, many jobs and careers require people to be 9. From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a 10 to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times. I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who really wants it. Computers can be 11 and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected” and “on” has many 12. Travelers have ended up 13 on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. However, they can also make people feel 14 and forced to answer unwanted calls or turn to unwanted texts.
Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society 15 across generations. Some find today's technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone's view on the subject, it's hard to imagine what life would be like without daily advancements in technology.
Hello, Mr. Wi-Fi. Life without you is next to impossible. We're happy to sing your name from morning till evening, sometimes till dawn. 1 I know you help me, sometimes you're making me do things with 2 attention. Many times I promise myself that I'll 3 my feelings towards you, but you're 4 me closer and closer… You've entered both my home and my 5. You're just a window for our 6 and information. But we people aren't 7 only with the window. So we open all our 8 for you. Is this a(n) 9 or some kind of attachment? If this is an illness, is it curable? And if this is an attachment will you 10 me to the lifelong togetherness?
We want you all days. Can't you take a few days off so that both you and I can 11? You're a poison—not a slow one but a super 12 poison which holds our mind and makes us dance 13 its tune. Nowadays you're so 14 that anyone can buy and make you our 15 . You'll never be bothered about our health but we'll 16 be concerned about your “health”. Because you accompany us everywhere and never let us be alone.
If you were a 17 person made of flesh and blood (血肉之躯) would we love you the same? You 18 us with your numerous talents and we even can't get rid of you. We're all your 19. Sometimes I wonder how people in the previous generations 20, but if they did why can't we?
Residents of urban areas often make use of public transportation on their way to school or the office. But when their final 1 isn't near a bus stop or subway station, those folks have a problem. Transportation experts often 2 to this as the "last mile" problem — finding a way to close the gap between public transportation stops and one's destination.
With the last mile problem in mind, the makers of the URB-E 3 a compact electric vehicle that weighs around 13 kilograms. Unlike bikes, which often don't fit on crowded buses or trains, the URB-E collapses into a form 4 to carry-on luggage. And since the URB-E can be carried 5 anywhere, it's not as vulnerable to thieves as bikes are.
Depending on usage, the URB-E can travel for 32 kilometers on a single 6, reaching a top speed of 24 kilometers per hour. Although there are other vehicles attempting to 7 the last mile issue, the URB-E 8 for its ease of use, portability and affordable price. For the price of a nice laptop, you could have an URB-E to drive to the office.
The URB-E is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and comes in two basic models: the URB-E Commuter and the URB-E GP. The main 9 between the two is that the Commuter model has two rear wheels while the GP has only one. That means the Commuter offers greater stability, as 10 to the GP's ability to make sharper turns like a bicycle.
Both models come with accessories 11 LED front and rear lights and a shock-absorbing seat. They also 12 a smartphone holder and USB charging port right on the steering column. In fact, smartphones play a big role in the URB-E app to do things like monitor battery charge or control the lights. 13 accessories include a cup holder and a folding luggage shelf.
At this year's international Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, tech website The Verge awarded the URB-E with its "Best Personal Transportation" award. Singing the URB-E's 14, Verge editor Ben Popper said, "The URB-E felt like the kind of vehicle an enlightened citizen of 2030 would own." So why wait that long, when the URB-E is 15 for order now?
I log onto a computer at the doctor's office to say I have arrived and then wait until a voice calls me into the examination room. There, a robotic nurse 1 me onto the scales and then takes my blood pressure. Some time later, in steps the 2, who is also a robot. He notes down my 3 and gives me a prescription (处方). I pay for my visit using a credit card and return home without having met another human being. This is my terrible vision of the future, which hasn't happened 4 yet.
I should say I really do like many aspects of 5. I am a big fan of air conditioning in summer and heaters in winter. But I am writing this because I don't want machines to 6.
When I call my dentist's office and actually get a human being on the line, I am 7. But when I see the introduction of yet more self-service checkout stations at the grocery store, I feel like 8 "When it comes to cashiers (收银员), make mine a(n) 9, please!"
After all, human cashiers sometimes 10 you a store coupon (优惠券) for items you are buying.
Even more than that real-life cashiers often take an interest in particularly cute children, which can 11 young mothers' day. A cashier may also show pity on an elderly person 12 to get that last penny out of his purse.
Machines can be 13 and cost-effective and they often got the job done just fine. 14 they lack an element so important to everyday life.
Call it the spirit, the soul or the heart. It is 15 no machine will ever have. It is human being that encourages us to smile at others, which nay be what they need at that moment.
"What a curvy figure she has! God, I hate my1tire!" "Look at their life! Beaches, sunshine…And I'm living a2life. " "Do I like this picture? Does he/she really need a3?" These are4 inner monologues of social media users. We5these monologues every day, but we never notice or even are completely6of them. In fact, today's social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Wechat, etc, which7a significant portion of our daily lives, can have a lasting8on our mental health.
Years ago, a study was carried out, finding that social media can do harm to a person's9if used in improper ways. The study suggested that Wechat users who10a great deal of time only11 information without communicating with others felt worse afterward while those who had12 experiences reported having better feelings.
Another survey by the University of California San Diego suggested that social media users who13at least three times as many links as average ones or who"14" twice as many posts reported worse mental feelings. They become upset and even depressed15viewing others' online profiles and posts and making comparisons16to themselves. On the other hand, social media has become a (an)17to people, which made them stay online day and night to receive "likes" or comments from others to bring them good feelings. 18, this can affect an individual's concentration, thus reducing the possibility of education and career success.
19there is no easy solutions to these harmful influences of social media, the author still believes that social media is not a bad thing. As long as we use them20, they are sure to bring positive effects to ourselves.
My bed is the best part of my home, where I go to find 1 after a long stressful day. However, lately, I get 2 just looking at it. I can't fall asleep. I'm a 3 of insomnia(失眠).
I'm not 4: studies show more than one in three people worldwide 5 insomnia. Some people can get to sleep on time, but 6 much too early; others get a full-night sleep but still feel very 7 when they wake up. And then there are people like me, ordinary insomniacs who toss and turn all night.
Insomnia is a side effect of 8. To find the cure, doctors first find out the 9 by keeping a "sleep diary", in which you 10 your sleep habits. The 11 may indicate lifestyle patterns, which are causing your problem. A specialist in sleep disorders writes, "a good sleep diary can 12 allow the patients to 'cure themselves'."
A good night's sleep is created during the day. 13 in the beginning of the day, and stay away from caffeine in the afternoon. After dark, dim the lights and try to 14 stress. Our bodies like 15 patterns. If you can't fall asleep, try listening to soft music. You'll most likely be asleep.
