B
National Smile Month is the largest and longest mouth health activity in the UK. Starting in 1977, it is celebrating its 42nd birthday from May 14 to June 14 this year.
The British are known for their bad teeth because they have too many sugary (甜的) foods and drinks. It seems that most of them don't often show their feeling. They neither smile nor cry. But this is NOT true. The British like to smile as much as anyone else. They just don't want to show their bad teeth.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day, cut down sugary foods and drinks, and visit the dentist often. With the three messages, the organizers (组织者) hope that a month of smiling will make people all around the UK realize the importance of good teeth and be confident enough to open their mouths to smile.
One interesting activity is for the British to enjoy the fun photos with short stories behind. Seeing the smiling faces and reading the interesting stories, everyone can't help smiling! You're welcome to send yours with big smiles online.
Smiling is not only good for you but also good for those around you, even if you do have a few bad teeth. This makes National Smile Month a great idea!
D
As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” This is the way the charity organization Heifer International (国际小母牛慈善组织) wants to end world hunger.
It began in the 1930s when an American farmer, Dan West, went to Spain to help people in need. He tried to feed the people with milk. But it seemed that there would never be enough milk. It made him think that what they needed was “not a cup, but a cow”.
Dan West returned to America. He worked together with some friends to find ways to end hunger. He believed giving animals and providing training would stop world hunger. With his help, Heifer International was set up.
On Heifer International's website, you will see a list of animals like cows, chickens, pigs and even fish and bees. You can offer help by buying some animals for one certain family. Those animals will have babies get better lives, they will pass on the act of kindness to others. More importantly, you are buying the resources (资源) for programs run by Heifer International to help more families.
The programs also help small-sized farms. As a rule, each farmer must give his animal's first female (雌性) baby to another in need. Heifer International also provides training on animals' health and feeding. And these farmers all agree to teach others what they have learned as another rule.
However, there is still a long way to go. The milk may run out. But if families have their own cows, they can get plenty of milk to feed themselves. The organization wants the farmers to go on working together, helping each other and learning from each other. Maybe hunger can really be stopped.
(①=Para. 1 ②=Para. 2 ③=Para. 3 ④=Para. 4 ⑤=Para. 5 ⑥=Para. 6)
C
Dear Li Hua,
How's everything going? Congratulations on your graduation from junior high school!
I hope you have a great time during the holiday, but you have something important to think about —a plan for your personal growth. Here are some advice for you.
Firstly, study yourself. Understand what you like, what you value and what you want to be. In studying yourself, you check your strength (长处) and weakness. Find out what you need to prepare for your dream job.
Secondly, write down your plan. When writing, you can try using Mind Maps (思维导图). It is a good way to help you to think more clearly. And you may find a proper way to work your plan out.
Thirdly, go over your plan with your teachers, parents or friends. They may give you some advice. Think carefully about their advice and make some changes to your plan if necessary. And then you can go on with it.
Finally, ⑵ . For example, if you want to be an English teacher in the future, you should spend more time reading English books, learning more about English culture and practicing your listening and speaking from now on. You can make your dream come true only through hard work.
You may find it difficult to make the plan now. Don't worry. All you need is just a rough (粗略的) one. Once you enter the senior high school, you'll get a chance to make it better with help of development. So take your time and I believe you will grow into an excellent young man.
Best wishes!
Yours,
Li Fang
A
When I was four, one day I was playing outside our house. I saw my grandfather's truck. It was black and looked better.” I got some paint and a brush which were left in the kitchen by my father. I painted the truck white and blue all over. I was finishing the job when my mum walked up and stopped me. She was worried that my grandfather would be angry. However, when my grandfather looked at my paintings on the truck, he laughed loudly. “Angela, that's the prettiest truck I've ever seen! I love it!”
Sometimes adults (成年人) don't stop to see things through children's eyes. They missed so much beauty in the world. Luckily, my grandfather saw things in another way.
B
Gardening is popular in many parts of the world. It brings us sweet smelling flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables. But you can get more from your garden.
Gardening helps to keep healthy. Today's people sit indoors for too long and don't get much exercise. When you garden, you have to move around. It's a good chance for you to exercise your body by watering flowers or doing some digging. Besides, when you are in your garden, you can feel the warm sunshine. This means you are getting Vitamin D. It helps your bodies use calcium (钙), which is necessary to keep your bones (骨骼) strong.
It gets them off computers, televisions and phones. Gardening can be a great teacher to teach children about nature and healthy eating. It can also help them to understand the meaning of “No pains, no gains.”
Gardening is a great way to meet people and build relationships. When you are gardening, you are outdoors. So it is a perfect time to communicate with your neighbors. Most people love to talk about their hobbies, and so do gardeners. They usually enjoy showing people what they are growing. And most enjoy sharing advice and stories about their gardens.
D
A cup of coffee is a good way for many people to start their day. It can also pass on kindness.
Manyang Kher used to be a Sudanese child refugee (难民). When he was three years old, his village was burnt in the war. He was separated from his parents and never saw them again. He became one of the 20,000 young Sudanese who had to leave their home for Ethiopia's Gambella area. He lived there as a refugee for 13 years.
When he was 16, Kher went to the United States. While he was in college, he started a program to help the refugees. Now, he owns a coffee company (公司) called 734, which is part of his program. The company has helped more than 200,000 refugees living in the Gambella area till now. Kher said, “I know the difficulties and pains they face every day. You see kids die from hunger. You see kids dying of illnesses. You see kids running away from the refugee camp to find a place to be home, but die on the way.”
Eighty percent of the money made by the coffee company is used to send more of the children to school. And, as Kher explains, the money helps refugees to help themselves. For example, a cup of 734 coffee can also buy one fishing net (网) for a refugee. They can fish fir themselves.
Kher sells the coffee online and to coffee stores. Megan Murphy owns a coffee store in Washington, D.C. She serves 734 coffee in her store and people love it. The coffee tastes delicious, so it's a win-win on both sides.
