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     When I was at school, our teacher told the class “You are what you eat.” My friends and I would laugh and call each other “hamburger” (汉堡) and “biscuits”. Our teacher was trying to show us the importance of eating the right food to stay healthy.
     This was 30 years ago when there were big movements to make British people healthier. We started to eat boiled potatoes instead of French fries and drink fat-free milk instead of whole milk. At first I felt my potatoes had no taste at all. But after a while I started to prefer healthier food because I felt stronger and I didn't get sick so often.
     So we agree that you become what you eat. Do you know what your friends eat just by looking at them? When you know the effects of different types of food, you can use your knowledge well and eat what you want to become.
     Food has been so important to our health. Everyone has their own advice to give, which they have read about or have been told by older people. However, some of these pieces of advice seem to disagree with each other. For example, some say "Eating chocolate makes you fat" while some say “Chocolate contains the important minerals (矿物质) like iron and magnesium (镁).” In fact, what we need to find out is what type of chocolate to eat and how much of it to eat.

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     A world like no other—perhaps this is the best way to describe the world of the rainforest. No rainforest is the same—yet most rainforests can be found in the small land area 22.5 degrees north and 22.5 degrees south of the Equator (赤道). You can find rainforests in South America and Indonesia. Other rainforests exist further from the Equator, in Thailand and Sri Lanka.
     Rainforests have a great role to play in supporting the world. They are home to a rich variety of plants, birds and animals. Can you believe that 480 varieties of trees may be found in just one hectare (公顷) of rainforest? These forests have around 50％ of all the plants, birds and animals on earth.

     Rainforests have their own perfect way for living. The tall trees make a huge umbrella of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, dry heat from the sun and strong winds. Rainforest trees grow in such a way that their leaves and branches, although close together, never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think this is a way to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf-eating insects (昆虫). To live in the forest, animals must climb, jump, or fly across the branches and trees. The ground floor of the forest is not all leaves and bushes, like in films, but is actually fairly clear. It is where leaves become food for the trees and other forest life.
     Rainforests around the world are disappearing at a high speed. A few thousand years ago, rain forests covered as much as 12％ of the land surface on Earth, but today this has fallen to less than 5.3％. We hope that the world governments work together with scientists to use their power and knowledge to keep the rainforests for our existence.

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     It is widely accepted that English is the global language of modern times.
     About three decades ago, French was recognized as the language of diplomacy (外交), and German was considered the language of science and technology. English now dominates (主导) not only as the language of science but also diplomacy, computing, and tourism. Today, in terms of native speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the world′s largest language.
     Yet there are people who believe that China will become the most powerful country in the world. Some have even fixed the date as early as the year 2020. At present, while English is more widely spoken than any other language, there are more people who speak Chinese than English due to the large population in China alone. If China does become a world power, there is no doubt that this language will spread worldwide.
     As the controversy over which language will become dominant in the world continues, there are many who feel that the dominance of English is unique and irreversible (不可逆的). However, a separate study from David Graddol′s suggests that English′s dominance in the scientific area will continue. There is also an argument that the English language would be changed greatly by 2020 for various reasons. With the possibility of China rising as a world power, Mandarin could definitely challenge the dominance of English as a global language.

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     All but the tiniest of roads have to have names so they can be recognized on a map, and so people can ask directions to them. Americans name a lot of bridges, too.
     Very often these names carry a clear geographical reference—the Pennsylvania Turnpike, for example. Or, like the George Washington Bridge, roads and bridges are named for famous historical figures or powerful officers.
     We make a big deal out of naming things, as when someone decided to name an airport after a U. S. judge. So now we have the Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
     Many, if not most, of our college buildings are named for wealthy people who gave a lot of money to the schools. And our sports centers took this idea a step further. Companies paid a whole lot of money for what′s called the "naming rights" to U. S. Cellular Field in Chicago, for example, and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
     Now the governor (州长) of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, wants to sell naming rights to roads and bridges in the state. He says not just companies, but also wealthy people, would help the Virginia transportation budget (预算) by paying to have their names—or perhaps those of loved ones—placed on roads and bridges, and thus on maps as well.
     People hold different views, however. Supporters say Americans are used to having things sponsored (赞助). Others disagree, considering the idea as the next step in the "companies of America." They wonder how far such an idea might spread, and where it would end: at the Burger King Pacific Ocean, perhaps.

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     Once a month, just after sunset, trucks fill an outdoor parking lot in Los Angeles, California. Some trucks sell all kinds of food. Others have clothing for sale. These are known as fashion (时尚) trucks.
     It's really fun to go through everything in the truck. The back of the truck is a small store. Clothing hangs on one side. Jewelry (首饰) and purses are on the other. The store looks colorful and is well organized. There is also a very small room for trying on clothes.
     Jordana Fortaleza is one of the truck owners. She says the cost of owning a truck is much lower than paying for a store. And there is another reason to use a truck. You can take your business to your customers. But there are also difficulties.
     The biggest problem is the weather. In winter, it’s cold outside and there’s no one around. Another problem is keeping the truck in good condition. When it breaks down, the repairs can take days. Business stops during the time. It happens at least once a year because her truck is 38 years old.
     Meagan Rogers is a fashion school graduate. She says the job market is so hard now, but with a fashion truck she’s able to start earning money while her classmates are still working without pay.

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     You know what a hotel is, of course. And perhaps, you also know what a condo is—a residential (居住的) building divided into separate units that are owned by different people. What you may not know is that in some U. S. cities, the two have come together into something called a "condo hotel".
     Some condo hotels can now be found in beach and mountain towns and a few small cities. However, none is more famous than the great 105-year-old Plaza Hotel in New York, on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park. The Plaza closed for repair in 2005. When it reopened two years later, more than half of it had been changed into one of these modern condo hotels.
     Here's how it works : You buy what equals to an apartment (公寓). If it’s at The Plaza, it will cost you between $1.5 million and $9 million. So you own a part of the building. But there’s some inconvenience. You may stay there no more than 120 days a year. The rest of the time, the hotel’s workers can book guests into your place, just as they would in the regular hotel’s rooms. So if you' re lucky and rich, you can now live in really special quarters up to almost one third of the year, while others pay off your mortgage (房贷) the rest of the year.
     So far, a great many of the nation's condo hotel units have been purchased not by rich people but by richer companies, including foreign ones. They want a nice place for their bosses to stay when they're in town or working late at the office.

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     When you go on your job interview (面试), be sure to dress well, be on time, do your research and NEVER ask any of the following questions:
     1. "How quickly could I be promoted (晋升) ?" 
     An employer first of all wants an employee to be happy with the position they have. Ambition (抱负) is good, but there is a time and place to discuss promotion, and it's not during an interview.
     2. "Will I be able to work from home?"
     This is basically telling your future boss—before you’ve even started—that you're too lazy to come into the office.
     3. "How much vacation time does this position offer?"
     Although this could be asked, this is the type of information you should get AFTER you’ve been offered a position and not before.
     4. "Will I have to work with a team?"
     Almost all jobs need some kind of teamwork, so any sign that you are not a good team player will leave you with unfavorable points in an employer’s eyes.
     5. "Does this position come with a handsome pay?”
     The pay is usually discussed after a position has been offered. If an employer offers this subject, feel free to discuss it. Otherwise, try not to look like you are interested only in things for your own good. An employer will more readily hire someone interested in bettering themselves AND the company as a whole.

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     Welcome to North Road Medical Centre! We are open 8:30 a. m. until 6 p .m. Monday to Friday. Appointments (预约) with the doctors and nurses are acceptable both morning and afternoon. However, a same-day appointment may not necessarily be with your usual doctor. Patients may be seen by any member of the team.
     If you decide to register (注册) with us, please speak to one of our receptionists (接诊员). You will need to complete a registration form. Each new patient is asked to answer some medical questions. You should also make an appointment to see one of the nurses for a health check soon after registering. There is sometimes a delay in handing over medical records from your earlier doctor, and this appointment gives us valuable information about your health.
     The Out of Hour Service is reachable from 6:30 p. m. until 8 a. m. Monday to Friday; at weekends from 6:30 p. m. Friday to 8 a. m. Monday. Telephone 0845-345-8995 to talk to the Out of Hours Service. They will have a doctor get in touch with you.
     For medical advice, you can call NHS Direct (24 hours) on 0845-4647 or through the Internet at www. nhsdirect. nhs. com. You can always get advice over the telephone.
     If you are too ill to come to the medical centre, you can ask for a home visit over the telephone. Most visits by doctors are made between 12 noon and 3 p. m. If you are able to phone before 11 a. m., this helps us to plan the day.

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     Many schools have their art programs removed in an effort to improve test scores and save money. However, some researchers believe that this is not correct. Students can master some basic skills in art class that they cannot find in a normal classroom. 

     Allow me to share why you have to take art class.
     First and most important, it stimulates creativity (激发创造力). Art schools encourage you to think outside the box and be creative enough to create something artistic. It can be used not only in art but in life, too.
     Besides, it helps you make the right choice. In art class, you are usually free to do what you want. In every art class, you are required to make decisions that can determine what your painting will turn out to be.
     In addition, students can learn the art of critical (批判性的) thinking as a skill of observation (观察). For example, art students find ways to imagine. That is a skill they need to become better readers and problem settlers.
     What is more, it is noted that the company’s bosses are actively looking for employees who can think creatively. Creative thinking is one of the most important skills that students can learn in art courses.
     Finally, students who are trained in art class have interesting mental habits. They learn how to work on a task for a long time and how to continue to work even if they are discouraged. They are better for creating a link between the classroom and the outside world. In addition, children who do art work are able to look back on their work and make judgments about themselves.

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     Maria Mitchell (1818-1889 ), the first woman astronomer (天文学家) in the United States, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her parents valued education and insisted on giving her the same quality of education that boys received.
     Her father, William Mitchell, was an astronomer and teacher himself. When he built his own school, Maria became a student and also a teaching assistant to him. At home, Maria' s father taught her to watch the stars and other natural objects in space using his personal telescope (望远镜).
     Later she went to work at the library of the Nantucket Atheneum. Over the next twenty years, she further developed her interest in reading as many books as she could. She spent her nights watching the sky closely with her father.
     On October 1,1847, Mafia discovered a comet (彗星) by merely using a two-inch telescope. Some years before, King Frederick VI of Denmark had set up prizes to each discoverer of a "telescopic comet". The prize was to be given to the "first discoverer" of each such comet because comets were often discovered by more than one person.
     There was once a question of who should be the winner. As the story goes, Francesco de Vico had discovered the same comet two days later, but had reported it to the European official organization first. However, after some discussion this was settled in Mitchell’s favor. She won the prize in 1848 and became a big name the world over. The comet was named "Miss Mitchell’s Comet".

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     “Troublemaker” was what was given to my friend Peter by his teachers. They also said that he had no future and no hope! But now I suggest that anyone who said that should say “sorry” to him.
     Peter finished Grade Nine, and then he went to study at a technical college. He became a leader of a group of bad boys. After graduation he had nothing to do, so he just hung around by the market with his friends.
     It looked like nothing could change his life. It was not until the day that his father died. He left the boys and went to help his mother who sold food by the roadside.
     He really pitied his mum and wanted to do something to support her. He loved reading cartoon (漫画) books and had been collecting them for years, so he decided that he should sell them. Soon he realized that his books were very popular. So he made up his mind to set up his own business. He went around buying cartoon books from other people. He bought them for 25% and then sold them for half price.
     These days, he doesn’t have to go around looking for cartoon books because there are always people coming to his shop to sell their old ones. He now has a monthly income of about 55,000 baht (泰铢).
     He was a “troublemaker” to his teachers but he is a hero to me. If you are judged by your teachers as a “bad student”, I suggest you ignore what they say. Just do your best in everything. Don’t give up so easily. Believe me, one day you could be successful, too.

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     Body language is of great importance to humans. We carry many of the meanings through body movements. However, many forms of body language we consider to be fine in our country can get us into trouble in other parts of the world.
     A smile is one of the most common examples in different countries. While Americans smile freely at strangers, in Russia this is considered strange and even impolite. In Asian countries a smile isn’t necessarily an expression of joy but it can be used to express pain.
     The acceptable physical distance is another major difference. In Latin America and the Middle East the acceptable distance is much shorter than what most Europeans and Americans feel comfortable with. Hand and arm movements as a form of body language are also very different among countries. Handshakes are usually acceptable almost everywhere, even between strangers; however, kissing on the cheek and touching on the shoulder or other body parts aren’t. For many people in Asia and other parts of the world, such actions are seen as a violation (侵犯) of one's personal space. This is why you should not touch others easily.
     Eye contact (目光接触) is one of the forms of body language where the differences are most striking. In America and Latin America looking the other person in the eye is a sign of respect. But in Asian countries, prolonged (过长的) eye contact is especially rude, so you should try your best not to do that. 

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     Recently, more than 2,000 high school teachers have been asked about the effect of the Internet on their students. Teachers say the Internet has had a good influence(影响) and a not-so-good influence on this generation.
     Three quarters of the teachers say the Internet and search tools have had a great effect on their students' research habits and skills. But 87 percent agree that this young generation don't know about hard work and can't stay attentive(注意力集中的) for long. And 64 percent say the Internet does more to distract (使分心) students than to help them in their studies. Many students think "doing research" just means doing a quick search on Google.
     According to the teachers, one problem is that students trust too much of the information on the Internet. These students have not developed skills to judge the quality of the information. It’s something that really has to be taught and paid attention to. It’s like everything else. In a world where things can happen quickly, you really need to have a way to step back, think and make judgment about the information you have. And teachers can do a lot to teach that.
     Another problem is that being able to quickly find information keeps the students from working hard. They become dependent on search tools and do not make enough use of printed books. Many teachers are also afraid that the Internet makes it easy for students to copy work done by others. 

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     It′s that time of the year—graduation. The end of school year is nearly in sight, and it′s an especially big deal if you′re finishing high school or college.
     One amazing (令人惊叹的) 16-year-old Florida girl, Grace Bush, graduated from both high school and college this week! She actually got her college diploma (毕业证书) before her high school diploma. How′d she do that?
     "Hard work and dedication (专心致志)," she told a local TV news station, "have made me succeed in doing high school and college at the same time". She started taking college courses when she was just 13. She would often get up at 5:30 a. m. and not finish until after 11 p. m.
     Doing both at once is a huge achievement, but it has also helped her family save money. She′s one of the 9 children, all home-schooled until the age of 13. Her father is a math professor while her mother is a part-time history teacher in a high school. Grace Bush has earned her college degree in law, with a near perfect GPA of 3.8 and she hopes to become a lawyer one day, although her parents expect her to teach at university. By the way, she also plays basketball in her college team in her spare time.

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     Magic (魔法) often forces us not to believe our own eyes or even appears to be breaking the laws of physics or nature! The word “magic” has many different meanings. When a bird appears in a hat or when someone declares that he could see into the future—both can be called magic. When a sick person suddenly becomes well or a well person (or even animal) becomes ill, magic is the cause. The British author Terry Pratchett uses magic a great deal in his popular Discworld series of books. 

     Magic has always been used for fun. People enjoy working out in which cup the little ball is or how he knows which card I was thinking of. Harry Houdini was one of the first world—famous magicians—famous for escaping from deadly situations. Recently David Copperfield, or David Blane, has become very popular for his “unbelievable abilities”, such as making the Statue of Liberty disappear or rise.
     Magical rings and three—headed dogs may not be real, but does this mean nothing magical really exists? Can you always explain how the magician has done the card trick? Maybe it is better not to explain, but to leave a little magic in our lives. Pick a card, any card…

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     Ron was an engineer. He planned a change and tried the new job of teaching kids how to swim. Ron′s easy manner soon made him a full-time employee at the swim school.
     Now, the 40 hours he works a week takes in weekends, early mornings and late afternoons. He earns around 25% less than he did in engineering. But, at 49, he says he has never been happier. "I′ve had a drop in pay, but I′ve cut back on spending, too. I seldom drive to work so don′t have to pay as much for petrol (汽油). I don′t drink as much. I go walking in my lunch break and I′ve lost 20 kilos. I love going to work. The whole family is a lot happier."
     When one of his brothers called, offering to help him find "a real job", he answered, "I don′t care. I know what I′m doing is good."
     He admits it was fearful making such a big change when there was the mortgage (分期付款) to pay and kids to clothe and feed, but in the end he feels it is a simple choice. "If you′re in a job you don′t like, get out. Money′s not everything. If you don′t like it, change—find something you′re going to be happy with."

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     ​I am watching my son and hundreds of his classmates, marching in perfect order into the university football stadium (体育场). Holding back my tears, I search for my son in the sea of people. Suddenly, there he is. I jump to my feet and start waving. Arms flying back and forth above my head, I look like a windmill (风车), or maybe an airport worker guiding a plane. I see him smile, then laugh as he pulls his camera out of his pocket. He takes a picture of me as he waves back, and then goes to find his seat. 

     What is it about graduations that makes them so moving? Why do most of us women cry as we watch our sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews march in dark robes (长袍)? We cry partly because, no matter how old our children are, and no matter how much they have achieved, in our eyes they are still the little babies we carry around the house to comfort.
     And, of course, we cry also because something wonderful is ending, and we miss it already. Whatever is on its way to take its place will not be the same. It has been such a gift to have my son go to college close to home. We never have to worry about whether he will be able to make the trip home for a holiday. But this was a time-limited gift. My son will attend graduate school in California. We will talk and text like crazy, and visit as often as we can. But it will not be the same. 

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     When you are little, the whole world feels like a big playground. I was living in Conyers, Georgia the summer it all happened. I was a second grader, but my best friend Stephanie was only in the first grade. Both of our parents were at work and most of the time they let us go our own way.
     It was a hot afternoon and we decided to have an adventure in Stephanie's basement. As I opened the basement door, before us lay the biggest room, full of amazing things like guns, dolls, and old clothes. I ran downstairs, and spotted a red steel can. It was paint. I looked beyond it and there lay even more paint in bright colors like purple, orange, blue and green.
     "Stephanie, I just found us a project for the day. Get some paintbrushes. We are fixing to paint." She screamed with excitement as I told her of my secret plans and immediately we got to work. We gathered all the brushes we could find and moved all of our materials to my yard. There on the road in front of my house, we painted big stripes (条纹) of colors across the pavement (人行道). Stripe by stripe, our colors turned into a beautiful rainbow. It was fantastic! 

     The sun was starting to sink. I saw a car in the distance and jumped up as I recognized the car. It was my mother. I couldn't wait to show her my masterpiece. The car pulled slowly into the driveway and from the look on my mother's face, I could tell that I was in deep trouble.
     My mother shut the car door and walked towards me. Her eyes glaring, she shouted, "What in the world were you thinking? I understood when you made castles out of leaves, and climbed the neighbors' trees, but this! Come inside right now!" I stood there glaring back at her for a minute, angry because she had insulted (侮辱) my art. 

     "Now go clean it up!" Mother and I began cleaning the road. Tears ran down my cheeks as I saw my beautiful rainbow turn into black cement.
     Though years have now passed, I still wonder where my rainbow has gone. I wonder if, maybe when I get older, I can find my rainbow and never have to brush it away. I guess we all need some sort of rainbow to brighten our lives from time to time and to keep our hopes and dreams colorful.

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     Maria Mitchell (1818-1889 ), the first woman astronomer (天文学家) in the United States, was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her parents valued education and insisted on giving her the same quality of education that boys received.
     Her father, William Mitchell, was an astronomer and teacher himself. When he built his own school, Maria became a student and also a teaching assistant to him. At home, Maria' s father taught her to watch the stars and other natural objects in space using his personal telescope (望远镜).
     Later she went to work at the library of the Nantucket Atheneum. Over the next twenty years, she further developed her interest in reading as many books as she could. She spent her nights watching the sky closely with her father.
     On October 1,1847, Mafia discovered a comet (彗星) by merely using a two-inch telescope. Some years before, King Frederick VI of Denmark had set up prizes to each discoverer of a "telescopic comet". The prize was to be given to the "first discoverer" of each such comet because comets were often discovered by more than one person.
     There was once a question of who should be the winner. As the story goes, Francesco de Vico had discovered the same comet two days later, but had reported it to the European official organization first. However, after some discussion this was settled in Mitchell’s favor. She won the prize in 1848 and became a big name the world over. The comet was named "Miss Mitchell’s Comet".

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     In 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wanted to know if all the school lunches served to students were healthy. The answer was a big, fat NO!
     The USDA found that most American schools served lunches with too much fat and salt. They also found that most of the fruits and vegetables in the lunches came from cans (罐头). Canned fruits and vegetables are not as good as fresh ones.
     The USDA gives schools food and money to make lunches. But schools make up their own menus. Some make healthy lunches. Most do not. Now the USDA wants all schools to serve more healthy lunches. They want schools to follow the USDA’s guidelines for balanced (均衡) meals.
     Mike Sanders, in charge of the USDA in 2008, said the USDA should teach school workers how to make healthier lunches. “A good school lunch is just as important a good textbook,” Sanders said. He said that children also need to learn about healthy foods.
     The USDA is working on a new program—Fresh Start. It will give schools more fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh Start will also help schools change their lunches to make them healthier. To find the best way to change lunches, the USDA held meetings with parents, school leaders, doctors, and cooks.
     Children already eat healthy lunches at Chief Joseph School in North Saratoga, Oregon. They have whole-wheat bread with low-fat cheese, and low-fat milk.