People have been enjoying the benefits of cycling(骑自行车) in Amsterdam(阿姆斯特丹) for years. It is a good city for cycling because it is flat and there are plenty of places for bicycle parking. Today some people call Amsterdam "City of Bicycles" because of the convenience for bicycles there.
In the 1960s, a group of cycling fans had an idea. They believed that it would be better for everybody if cars weren't allowed in the city centre and only bicycles were. They were hopeful that this would help to save energy, reduce pollution and provide free public transport. The group painted hundreds of bicycles white and placed them in lots of neighbourhoods around Amsterdam for people to use. Then a problem came—thieves took all the bicycles within weeks!
However, more than thirty years later, the "white bike" is back in town—this time with a computer chip(芯片) to record its every move! To take a bicycle, you have to insert(插入) a special card. The new "white bike" is not actually white but is an unusual design with bright colours. The bikes are parked at special parking places and people who want to use them have to take them to another special parking place that has enough room.
There is already less traffic in central Amsterdam, because both locals and tourists have been using the white bikes. Instead, thanks to the good ideas of lots of people, like the cycling fans in the 1960s, many people around the world have been enjoying city centre streets without cars many years.
It is easy to understand the difference between some homophones(同音异形异义词). But other homophones are difficult, even for native English speakers. One set of commonly confusing homophones are the words bear and bare.
Of course, as a noun, a bear is a large, heavy animal with thick hair and sharp claws. But the word bear can also be a verb. It can mean "to accept or get through something," usually something difficult. The verb bear is often used with the modal verb can and a negation(否定). Using this structure, "cannot bear" sometimes means "strongly dislike." If you travel to a very cold place in the middle of winter, you might say, "I cannot bear the cold weather." Bear can also mean "to assume or accept something, such as a cost or responsibility." For example, "The man must bear full responsibility for his actions." Bear can also sometimes mean "to carry." For example, Americans often talk about the "right to bear arms" or the right of citizens to possess a gun. Sometimes, people make jokes about this expression. They replace the meaning of bear in this example with its meaning as a noun. The phrase then means that people have a right to possess a bear's arm.
Bare is mostly used as an adjective. It means "not having a covering" or "not covered by clothing, shoes or something else." If you just moved to a new home, the walls could still be bare. And, if you take your shoes and socks off before entering a room, you will have bare feet. As a verb, bare is similar to its adjectival meaning. To bare means "to remove the covering from something." It can also mean "to show or expose." For example, an angry animal might bare its teeth. The past tense of bare is bared.
Since December, there have been tens of thousands of the COVID-19 cases both in and out of China, caused by a previously unknown virus: novel coronavirus.
What are they? Viruses are considered to be non-living organisms(有机物).They can't reproduce(繁殖) on their own. Instead, they invaded the cells of living organisms to reproduce, spread and take over. But the basic question is, where did viruses first come from? Until now, no clear explanation for their origin exists.
Understanding the origins of viruses means fully understanding the history of their hosts not only humans, but also bacteria, plants and other animals, which is a complicated task. However, there are three main theories to explain the origin of viruses. First, viruses started as independent organisms, then became parasites(寄生者). Second, viruses evolved(进化) from pieces of DNA or RNA that "escaped" from larger organisms. The third one is that viruses co-evolved with their host cells, which means they existed alongside these cells.
For the time being, these are only theories. The technology and proofs we have today cannot be used to test these theories and discover the most plausible explanation. Continuing studies may provide us with clearer answers. Or future studies may find that the answer is even more mysterious than it now appears.
Whenever we see a button, we are eager to press it because we know something will happen. This is true in most cases, for example on a doorbell and on the "on/off" button on the TV. But some buttons are actually fake, like the "close" button on a lift.
Many people are in the habit of pressing the "close" button because they don't have the patience to wait for the lift doors to shut. But lifts' "close" buttons are a complete scam (骗局), at least in the US － the doors will not close any faster no matter how hard you press.
It started in the 1990s when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in the US, making sure that all lifts stayed open long enough so that people with disabilities could enter. Only US firefighters and repairmen can use the buttons to speed up the door-closing process if they have a code or special keys.
But to normal lift riders, the buttons aren't completely useless. According to psychologists, fake buttons can actually make you feel better by offering you a sense of control.
"Perceived (能够感知的) control is very important. It reduces stress and increases well-being," Ellen J. Langer, a psychology professor, said, "having a lack of control is associated with depression (沮丧)."
Experts have revealed that a lot of buttons that don't do anything exist in our lives for this same purpose. For example, many offices in the US have fake thermostats (温度调节器) because people tend to feel better when they think they can control the temperature in their workplace.
Pedestrian (行人) crosswalk buttons don't live up to their names either. Pressing them used to help make the traffic signals change faster, but that was before computer-controlled traffic signals were introduced.
But psychologists found it interesting that even when people are aware of these little "white lies", they still continue to push fake buttons because as long as the doors eventually close, it is considered to be worth the effort.
"That habit is here to stay," John Kounios, a psychology professor, said. "Even though I have real doubts about the traffic light buttons, I always press them. After all, I've got nothing else to do while waiting. So why not press the button in the hope that this one will work?"
The Wandering Earth (2019)
2h 5 min. | Director: Frant Gwo | Country: China | Language: Mandarin
The sun is dying, so people build giant planet engines to move the Earth to a new star system. Yet the 2 500-year journey comes with unexpected dangers and a group of young people come out bravely and fight hard for everyone's survival (幸存).
Dumbo (2019)
1h 52 min. | Director: Tim Burton | Country: USA | Language: English
A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a circus (马戏团). But when the circus plans a new trip, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets under its shiny appearance.
Green Book (2018)
2h 10 min. | Director: Peter Farrelly | County: USA | Language: English
An Italian-American worker becomes the driver of an African-American pianist on a tour in the 1960s. The film is based on a true friendship, which is named after The Negro Motorist Green Book, a mid-20th century guidebook for African-American travelers written by Victor Hugo Green.
Mia and the White Lion (2018)
1h 38 min. | Director: Gilles de Maistre | Country: France | Language: French
Mia develops an unusual friendship with Charlie, a young white lion born on her parents' farm in South Africa. When Charlie reaches three, Mia discovers that her father has decided to sell the lion. Hopeless, Mia has no choice but to escape with. Charlie in order to save him.
A build-it-yourself solar still (蒸馏器) is one of the best ways to obtain drinking water in areas where the liquid is not readily available. Developed by two doctors in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it's an excellent water collector. Unfortunately, you must carry the necessary equipment with you, since it's all but impossible to find natural substitutes. The only components required, though, are a 5'×5' sheet of clear or slightly milky plastic, six feet of plastic tube, and a container— perhaps just a drinking cup — to catch the water. These pieces can be folded into a neat little pack and fastened on your belt.
To construct a working still, use a sharp stick or rock to dig a hole four feet across and three feet deep. Try to make the hole in a damp area to increase the water catcher's productivity. Place your cup in the deepest part of the hole. Then lay the tube in place so that one end rests all the way in the cup and the rest of the line runs up — and out — the side of the hole.
Next, cover the hole with the plastic sheet, securing the edges of the plastic with dirt and weighting the sheet's center down with a rock. The plastic should now form a cone (圆锥体) with 45-degree-angled sides. The low point of the sheet must be centered directly over, and no more than three inches above, the cup.
The solar still works by creating a greenhouse under the plastic. Ground water evaporates (蒸发) and collects on the sheet until small drops of water form, run down the material and fall off into the cup. When the container is full, you can suck the refreshment out through the tube, and won't have to break down the still every time you need a drink.
Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.
According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the "dream job" of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger, or "vlogger" (视频博主). The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.
This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.
In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting with their fans about everyday life.
However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.
Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don't necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It's an online platform for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that's enough for him.
Can ducks help solve the problem of locust (蝗虫)? That is a question being asked in Southern Asia? Like the region of East Africa, the nation of Pakistan is trying to keep masses of locusts from eating the country's crops.
But while the insect invasion in Africa has been blamed on weather, experts say the one in Pakistan is a side effect of a civil war in the Middle Eastern country of Yemen. Because of that war, officials haven't been able to do enough pest control to keep Yemen's locust population from growing, so the insects obviously multiplied and made their way north east eventually landing on Pakistan.
Locusts don't directly attack people. They threaten us by eating our crops. And so many of these insects in such large numbers can destroy regional food supplies. That's why Pakistan declared (宣布) a state of emergency early this month, saying it was dealing with the highest number of locusts in more than 20 years. So what can be done about it? Some experts say pesticides are needed to kill masses of these insects, but there's another idea being considered in China. It may send ducks to Pakistan --as many as 100,000 of them-- to fight the locusts by eating them. An expert interviewed by the Bloomberg media company says one duck can eat more than 200 locusts per day, and China has reportedly used ducks to successfully solve a locust problem in the past. But not everyone is on board with this. A member of China's delegation (代表团) to Pakistan says there's not enough water in Pakistan's hot dry climate to keep the ducks going. Whatever methods are used to control locusts in Asia the situation in Africa is getting more hopeless by the day.
Birthdays often involve surprises. But this year's surprise on the birthday of the great British playwright William Shakespeare is surely one of the most dramatic.
On April 22, one day before his 441st birthday anniversary, experts discovered that one of the most recognizable portraits of William Shakespeare is a fake. This means that we no longer have a good idea of what Shakespeare looked like. "It's very possible that many pictures of Shakespeare might be unreliable because many of them are copies of this one," said an expert from Britain's National Portrait Gallery.
The discovery comes after four months of testing using X-rays, ultraviolet light, microphotography and paint samples. The experts from the gallery say the image —commonly known as the "Flower portrait"— was actually painted in the 1800s, about two centuries after Shakespeare's death. The art experts who work at the gallery say they also used modern chemistry technology to check the paint on the picture. These checks found traces of paint dating from about 1814. Shakespeare died in 1616, and the date that appears on the portrait is 1609.
"We now think the portrait dates back to around 1818 to 1840. This was when there was a renewed interest in Shakespeare's plays," Tarnya Cooper, the gallery's curator (馆长), told the Associated President.
The fake picture has often been used as a cover for collections of his plays. It is called the Flower portrait because one of its owners, Desmond Flower, gave it to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
"There have always been questions about the painting," said David Howells, curator for the Royal Shakespeare Company. "Now we know the truth, we can put the image in its proper place in the history of Shakespearean portraiture."
Two other images of Shakespeare, are also being studied as part of the investigation and the results will come out later this month. ________.
Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has spent much of his time seeking artistic solutions to solve our environmental problems. His past projects include "Bioluminescent(生物发光)Trees" to light streets, a "Smog-Free Tower" to clean Beijing's polluted air and "Gates of Light", which uses the headlamps of passing cars to light up the 60 floodgates of the Afsluitdijk, a major dam in the Netherlands. Now, he is hoping to use his skills to solve a pressing global problem—space junk!
Scientists guess that there are over 500, 000 bits of large rubbish. To deal with the problem, Roosegaarde intends to achieve his goal by educating the public about the need of the situation and coming up with possible solutions. The plan, called the Space Waste Lab, started in October 2018 with a laser(激光)show in the Netherlands. The unique outdoor artwork of LEDs used real-time tracking information to point at pieces of space junk floating at altitudes of 200 to 20, 000 kilometers. The experience was designed to make the public know more about how much space junk there are.
To find a solution, the designer has been thinking with experts. One of the projects being considered is "Shooting Stars", which attempts to reintroduce the trash to the atmosphere in a controlled way. Upon reentry the waste would burn in the atmosphere like a shooting star. Roosegaarde envisages that, if successful, burning space trash could someday replace fireworks at large public events!
In September 2018, the Remove DEBRIS satellite successfully sent a net to catch a target while orbiting at an altitude of about 300 kilometers (190 miles). Sometime this year, the capsule will set free a harpoon that has been designed to remove space trash. At the end of its task, Remove DEBRIS will let go for a sail to bring the satellite itself, and hopefully some trash, back into the atmosphere, where it will burn up.
Dear daughters,
Most parents tell their children," You can be anything you want when you grow up." I feel the same and I say this often. But I also want you to understand that realizing your dreams comes from hard work, some good luck and good timing.
Girls, here are some words of wisdom as you make your way in the world, from an entrepreneur (企业家) and from your mama.
1. Be open-minded to changing your path (even several times) along the way. In high school, I wanted to be a politician. I left my hometown and went off to college in Washington, DC. There, I discovered that I loved to support women. It taught me that I'm creative, a strong leader and great at marketing. As a result, I moved on to be the head of a national health care nonprofit. Becoming a mother while in that job opened my mind to launching a breast pump bag (储奶袋) business. Now I run a highly successful company that I started up on my own.
Figure out what you are good at and what you are passionate about. Keep an open mind; the initial (最初的) path you choose may lead you into other areas.
Don't waste your money or time, but constantly change what you are doing professionally based on what you are learning about yourself.
2. Failure is critical to your success
I won't tell you to feel good about failure. Failure can be heartbreaking. But I will tell you that every failure I've had along the way has absolutely made me better.
Failing the big math exam in high school and going to summer school was embarrassing. I eventually passed, and I've never failed an exam again. I learned from that experience to ask for help. Now, I ask for help in business all the time.
Being passed over for a significant job opportunity that I was more than qualified for because of unfair assumptions (being too young for the role) hurt me. I had a three-month pity party. And then I went out and got a big job at a national organization at age 27. It's okay to get angry! Take that and turn it into positive action.
I'm proud to be a role model to you as a mom and an entrepreneur. I hope I inspire you to believe that you can be anything you want and you can have everything on your list. It will be my pleasure to watch your lives unfold before my eyes.
Love,
Your mom
In the middle of the 19th century, a fever dream of riches beyond measure drew countless explorers west to the mountains of central California. Although the gold rush ended up being a bust_for many who sought a fortune, some of those explorers discovered a natural treasure that would draw permanent settlers to Yosemite Valley in the following decade.
Vast wilderness, beautiful mountains, countless waterfalls, and abundant wildlife drew Native Americans to Yosemite roughly 10, 000 years ago. The first nonnative tourists arrived in the mid1850s after reports from gold seekers told of an area of breathtaking beauty that no words were able to describe.
Fortunately, some of Yosemite's earliest settlers recognized that Yosemite's natural beauty and resources needed to be preserved for future generations. In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a grant to protect Yosemite permanently, thus making it the nation's first land to be dedicated to recreation and setting the stage for what would become the national park system.
One of Yosemite's earliest ambassadors was ScottishAmerican naturalist and writer John Muir. After living in Yosemite for a few years, he helped define its proposed boundaries. He also wrote articles that helped lead to its official title as a National Park in 1890. He later cofounded the Sierra Club in 1892 to advocate for its continued preservation and protection.
Located on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central California, Yosemite National Park runs across nearly 748, 000 acres, almost 95%of which is wilderness. Around four million visitors come to Yosemite each year to camp, hike its miles of trails, climb its rock formations, and photograph its impressive sights. Are you ready to visit Yosemite National Park? Which of Yosemite's sights would you most like to experience?
There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favourite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.
I had always travelled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.
It was not long before the train was across the causeway and in Malaysia. Johor Bahru was just another city like the city of Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.
From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 p. m. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.
I looked forward to the return journey.
Student Tutoring Program: Stutor-Gram
The Student Tutoring Program (Stutor-Gram) is designed to help you succeed in your classes. Research has shown that students who actively participate in student-led tutoring can improve their grades by up to one full letter-grade over the course of a semester. Stutor-Gram can help you to earn your best possible grade.
All tutors in Stutor-Gram have earned A's in the courses they tutor and have received special training approved by the National Tutoring Association (NTA). Stutor-Gram offers both individual and group tutoring.
Please Note: Tutoring works only if you work at it! To gain the full benefits from tutoring, you must attend your weekly tutoring session. Consider your schedule before requesting a tutor. You must commit to weekly tutoring sessions for the entire semester.
To Obtain a Tutor:
1. Report to the Tutoring Center, located in the administrative center.
2. Fill out a Request for Tutoring form for each course for which you desire a tutor. Fill out this form as completely as possible so your request can be handled quickly.
3. Tutors are appointed on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE basis. Come early to ensure that you will get the tutor you need.
4. The tutor will contact you to arrange mutually (相互的) agreeable tutoring time.
5. All tutoring will take place at the Tutoring Center.
Stutor- Gram will offer tutors for the following courses this semester:
SCI 101 Biology
SCI 102 Chemistry
SCI 103 Physics
MATH A Concepts in Mathematics
MATH 101 Algebra
MATH 102 Geometry
ENGLISH 101 Writing Persuasive Essays
ENGLISH 102 Writing College Application Essay
We look forward to helping you make the grade!
We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash in the street. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the store to get some soft drinks. It seemed that this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck. At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I enjoyed having it, but I said: "Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won't last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won't last." After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted: "Dad! Dad, Holly crashed your truck."
The accident had happened in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle. In her inexperience, she had confused the brakes and the gas pedal. Holly was unhurt physically but when we reached her, she was crying and saying: "Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I know how much you love this truck." I held her in my arms as she cried.
Later that week a friend stopped by and asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened and she said: "That happened to me when I was a girl. I borrowed my dad's car and ran into a tree that had fallen across the road. I ruined the car. When I got home, my Dad knocked me to the ground and began to kick me." Over 40 years later, she still felt the pain of the night.
I remember how sad Holly was on the night she crashed our truck, and how I comforted her. One day, when Holly thinks back on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times more than any piece of property.
Every year, countless individuals are impacted by cancer. Our goal is to walk away from cancer as we give strength to those fighting this lifethreatening disease. Walk Cancer Away invites everyone to participate in our annual familyfriendly walk event and join together to share the strong willpower found inside each of us with those around us. With each step we take, with each story shared, and with each donation made, we are one step closer to finding a cure. To date, we have raised over $ 700,000 for Dr. Nancy Kemeny's Colorectal (结肠直肠的) Research Fund at Memorial Slogan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), together with thousands of people supporting this cause over the last 12 years we are committed to.
Walk Cancer Away began as a walk in honor of James N. Rentas. Deeply influenced by his loss due to colorectal cancer, the Rentas family came together 12 years ago to help others who are suffering the disease. Dr. Nancy Kemeny at Memorial Slogan Kettering Cancer Center, who was the doctor treating James N. Rentas, mirrors that same goal. Her efforts and that of her team at MSKCC are focused on researching to overcome the disease and find a cure.
Together, they have made great achievements over the years and have provided years of life for those who face adversity. In many cases, their continued efforts have led to full remission of the cancer in patients. With the deepest gratitude we are thankful to all those who support and participate in the event each year, because without you this would not be possible.
Although Walk Cancer Away started just 12 years ago, we are forever honored to be able to join in this event that so many of us find so close to our hearts. We ask you, your family, and your friends to join in this year's Walk Cancer Away Event.
Sitting on the peaceful coast of Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, watching the sun move quietly into the sea, you shouldn't forget that Charles Darwin (1809-1882) arrived here in 1835. He stayed on the islands for five weeks, observing various animals. This finally inspired his famous work, On the Origin of Species. You can certainly fallow Darwin's footsteps and enjoy a trip from four to seven days to the islands.
The islands are certainly a paradise for wildlife, as there are no natural killers on the islands and the number of boats and visitors is under government control. Though you cannot walk freely as Darwin did about 200 years ago, each day is a8 impressive as it could be.
The most well-known animal of the Galapagos is the giant tortoise, which can be seen moving slowly around the highlands of Sana Cruz, the second largest island there. Some of these creatures are so old that they might have been seen in their youth by Darwin himself.
Despite strict control over activities and timing, your stay on the Galapagos will be remembered as a chain of incomparable pictures: diving with sea lions that swim and play within inches of you; feeling small sharks touch your feet as you swim; and, most magically, seeing a whale and her baby surface with a great breath of air.
Travelling between the islands and observing the wildlife that s0 inspired Darwin, you will feel as though you are getting a special view of an untouched world. At night you will sleep on board the ship, leaving the wildlife in complete occupation of the islands, which are as undisturbed now as they have been since the beginning of time.
The good news is that more people bought electric vehicles (EVs) in 2020. The bad news is that sport utility vehicles (SUVs) continued to grow in popularity, too. "The fall in oil consumption due to the first trend was completely canceled out by the second, " said Laura Cozzi, an officer at the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Between 2010 and 2020, global carbon dioxide emissions from conventional cars fell by nearly 35 billion tons, due to reasons such as fuel efficiency improvements as well as the switch to electric cars. Emissions from SUVs rose by more than 50 billion tons. "While the growth in EVs is encouraging, the boom in SUVs is heart-breaking, "says Peters at the Cicero Climate Research Centre in Norway.
There are many reasons for the growing popularity of SUVs. For example, rising economic boom in many countries means more people are able to afford them. Some people see them as status symbols. Also, SUVs are heavily advertised by car-makers, whose profit is higher on these vehicles. Some countries, including France, have introduced plans under which more taxes are paid on heavier cars. But Peters thinks that people who are rich enough to afford SUVs won't be deterred by slightly higher taxes. "There are now some electric SUVs available, but 1 hope one day you will see more electric vehicles brought to the SUV market, "says Peters.
Even if it happens, switching to electric SUVs isn't a good solution. Due to their size and bigger batteries, it takes more resources to build electric SUVs, and they consume around 15 percent more electricity. That means higher emissions unless the electricity comes entirely from renewable sources, and higher electricity demand makes it harder to green the electricity supply.
He Made It!
One Sunday, Gavin, a teenager, went skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine. In the early afternoon, when he was planning to go home, a fierce snowstorm swept into the area. Unable to see far, he accidentally turned off the path. Before he knew it, Gavin was lost, all alone! He didn't have food, water, a phone, or other supplies. He was getting colder by the minute.
Gavin had no idea where he was. He tried not to panic. He thought about all of the survival shows he had watched on TV. It was time to put the tips he had learned to use.
He decided to stop skiing. There was a better chance of someone finding him if he stayed put. The first thing he did was to find shelter from the freezing wind and snow. If he didn't, his body temperature would get very low, which could quickly kill him.
Using his skis, Gavin built a snow cave. He gathered a huge mass of snow and dug out a hole in the middle. Then he piled branches on top of himself, like a blanket, to stay as warm as he could.
By that evening, Gavin was really hungry. He ate snow and drank water from a nearby stream so that his body wouldn't lose too much water. Not knowing how much longer he could last, Gavin did the only thing he could — he huddled (蜷缩) in his cave and slept.
The next day, Gavin went out to look for help, but he couldn't find anyone. He followed his tracks and returned to the snow cave, because without shelter, he could die that night. On Tuesday, Gavin went out again to find help. He had walked for about a mile when a volunteer searcher found him. After two days stuck in the snow, Gavin was saved.
Gavin might not have survived this snowstorm had it not been for TV. He had often watched Grylls'survival show Man vs. Wild. That's where he learned the tips that saved his life. In each episode (一期节目) of Man vs. Wild, Grylls is abandoned in a wild area and has to find his way out.
When Grylls heard about Gavin's amazing deeds, he was super impressed that Gavin had made it since he knew better than anyone how hard Gavin had to work to stay alive.
When Millet was a boy he worked on his needy father's farm. At the rest hour in the fields the other workers would all take naps, but young Millet would spend time drawing. Finally the village where he lived gave him a little money to Paris to study art.
When Millet reached Paris, he had a tough time. Fortunately, when he was almost starving, someone bought one of his peasant paintings, which enabled his family to leave for Barbizon.
Millet's pictures of peasants at work were painted in a unique way. The painter would go out on the farms and watch them carefully--digging, spreading manure, sawing wood, or sowing grain. Then he would come home and paint what he had seen. So astonishingly accurate was his memory that he could paint at home without models and get all the movements of his figures right. When he did need a figure to go by he would ask his wife to pose for him.
One of his noted artworks is called "The Sower", which shows a man seeding. He reaches into his bag for seed and then swings backward to scatter the seed, and with each swing of his hand the sower moves forward. In Millet's picture the sower has been working hard, but his swinging step and arm still move smoothly, like a machine. Only the man's head reveals his great tiredness.
Another masterpiece is called "The Gleaners". A gleaner is someone picking up the leftover in the field after the wheat harvest. When farmers near Barbizon are extremely badly-off, even the little the gleaners can find is a help. You can see from Millet's picture what back-breaking work gleaning must be.
