At first look, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore seems familiar to kids. The slowly moving sand, seabirds and miles of greenish-blue water all add up to one thing—the sea. But then, somewhere — maybe on the pile of sand called Dune Run — the kids stop, realize this is Michigan, a landlocked state in the US, and ask, “How did the sea get here?”
It didn't. This is Lake Michigan. It's a lake — a great one — and the water is fresh, not salty, says Lisa Myers, chief of interpretation (讲师) and visitor services at Sleeping Bear.
“When my family comes here from New England in the north-eastern US, they all have to taste the water,” she says. “The area looks like Cape Cod in my home town. You can't believe this isn't the coast.”
“Playing on the Dune Run is like being a huge sandbox,” says Myers. But there's so much more. Help kids see the park through a wider lens (镜片) by walking along the sandy Lake Michigan beach.
“With their feet on the sand and in the water, kids can see there are waves,“ says Myers, “They can watch fish, otters and beavers swimming in the lake.”
July and August are best for water play, but winter is magical for kids, adds Myers. “They can walk the beaches to see all ice formations(形态) and crashing waves,” she says. “We offer snowshoe walks in January and February, where kids can look for marks left by animals. And when it's windy, they can stand on the Dune Run and feel the forces of nature. The kids can run or roll down the hill, too, which is a whole lot of fun.
In my mind, there is a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart.
Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. Being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. Despite his hard training at all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.
This teenager lived alone with his father, and the relationship between the two of them was very special. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him.
The young man loved football and was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a benchwarmer. Besides, his faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk—on”. Everyone firmly believed that he could never make the cut, but he did.
The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but actually he never got the real chance to play in a game.
It was at the end of his senior football season that the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became totally silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?” The coach put his arm gently around his should and said, “Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.”
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines (边线), the coach and his players were surprised to see their faithful teammate back so soon. “Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today,” said the young man.
The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close play—off game. But the young man insisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. “All right,” he said. “You can go in. '' Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before, was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to succeed. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid got a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.
Finally, after the stands had emptied, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, “Kid, you were unbelievably fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?”
He looked at the coach, tears in his eyes, and said “Well, you knew my dad had died, but did you know that my dad was blind?” The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could make it!”
California has lost half its big trees since the 1930s, according to a study to be published Tuesday and climate change seems to be a major factor(因素).
The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.
Many factors contributed to the decline, said Patrick Mclntyre, an ecologist who was the lead author of the study. Woodcutters targeted big trees. Housing development pushed into the woods. Aggressive wildfire control has left California forests crowded with small trees that compete with big trees for resources(资源).
But in comparing a study of California forests done in the 1920s and 1930s with another one between 2001 and 2010, Mclntyre and his colleagues documented a widespread death of big trees that was evident even in wildlands protected from woodcutting or development.
The loss of big trees was greatest in areas where trees had suffered the greatest water shortage. The researchers figured out water stress with a computer model that calculated how much water trees were getting in comparison with how much they needed, taking into account such things as rainfall, air temperature, dampness of soil, and the timing of snowmelt(融雪).
Since the 1930s, Mclntyre said, the biggest factors driving up water stress in the state have been rising temperatures, which cause trees to lose more water to the air, and earlier snowmelt, which reduces the water supply available to trees during the dry season.
为多余选项。
Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, dancing, walking or any of dozens of other activities can help your heart. Whether it is a structured exercise programme or just part of your daily routine, all exercise adds up to having a healthier heart. Here are some tips for exercise success.
Choose activities that are fun and add variety. Develop several activities that you can enjoy.
Wear comfortable, properly fitted shoes and comfortable, loose－fitting clothing appropriate for the weather and the activity.
Find a convenient time and place to do activities. If you miss an exercise opportunity, do it in another way.
Use music to keep yourself entertained.
Decide what kind of support you need. Do you want them to remind you to exercise? Exercise with you regularly or occasionally? Be understanding when you get up early to exercise? Spend time with the children while you exercise? Try not to ask you to change your exercise routine? Share your activity time with others. Ask your family members, friends or co－workers for help.
Don't overdo it, especially at first. You can slowly increase the time and intensity (强度) of your activities as you become more fit.
Keep a record of your activities. Reward yourself at times. Nothing will inspire you more than success!
A. Try to make it a habit, but be flexible.
B. They all cause you to feel warm and breathe heavily without being out of breath.
C. Be an active role model for your children.
D. That way, exercise will never seem boring.
E. If you are overweight or have a high risk of heart disease, see your doctor for medical advice before exercising.
F. Surround yourself with supportive people.
G. Gradually, work up to exercising on most days of the week for 30－60 minutes.
In November 2018, the town of Paradise was nearly destroyed by the deadliest wildfire in history.
Shane Grammer, who grew up there, followed the 1 of the deadly fire from Los Angeles. When his childhood friend Edwards posted pictures of his chimney —the 2 part of his house to survive, the 47-year-old artist felt 3. And then he had a(n) 4.
“I've got to 5that chimney,” he said, “I'm not trying to say anything. It's just that I'm an artist. And it's a chance for me to6 myself as an artist.”
On December 31, Grammer made a 7 to Paradise. He spent three hours painting a portrait of a woman on his friend's chimney — a reminder, perhaps, of the beauty of life.
Grammer 8 a photo of the painting online. It received lots of 9. People were sharing the post. The victims of the fire, were especially 10. “Beautiful,” one said. Another posted, “You 11 beauty and hope.”
12, Grammer realized that what he had thought was an artistic expression had developed into something 13. “Art does move and 14 people. I know I have to come back,” Grammer said. Then he 15 eight times, painting 17 portraits of victims on chimneys, cars, and wall.
Outside one house, he16 a photo of an eight-year-old girl. Then he painted a mural (壁画) of her on what was left of her house. It was, Grammer said, “a stamp that life was here and that life can17 to be here.”
Grammer's work in Paradise has now become a 18. He's traveled the world painting murals in dark places that needed some 19. ”I want to do something 20 and create art that moves people,” he says.
Mr. Johnson lived in the woods with his wife and children. He owned farm, which looked almost abandoned. (lucky), he also had a cow which produced milk every day. He sold or exchanged some of the milk in the towns nearby other food and made cheese and butter for the family with what (leave). The cow was their only means of support, in fact. One day, the cow was eating it began to rain heavily. While making great efforts to run away, she (fall) over the hill and died. Then the Johnsons had to make a living the cow. In order to support his family, Mr. Johnson began to plant herbs and vegetables. Since the plants took a while to grow, he started cutting trees (sell) the wood. Thinking about his children's clothes, he started growing cotton too. When harvest come around, he was already selling herbs, vegetables and cottons in the market people from the towns met regularly. Now it occurred to that his farm had much potential and that the death of the cow was a bit of luck.
续写的词数应为150左右。
James shook his money box again. Nothing! He carefully counted the coins that lay on the bed. $ 24.52 was all that he had. The bicycle he wanted was $ 90! How on earth was he going to get the rest of the money？He knew that his friends all had bicycles. It was hard to hang around with people when you were the only one without wheels. He thought about what he could do. There was no need to ask his parents for he knew they had no money to spare.
There was only one way to get money，and that was to earn it. He would have to find a job. But who would hire him and what could he do? He decided to ask Mr. Clay for advice，who usually had opinions in most things. “Well，you can start right here，” said Mr Clay. “My windows need cleaning and my car needs washing.” That was the beginning of James's oddjob(零工)business. For three months he worked every day after finishing his homework. He was surprised by the various jobs that people found for him to do. He took dogs and babies for walks，cleared out cupboards，and mended books. He forgot the number of cars he washed and windows he cleaned，but the money increased and he knew that he would soon have enough for the bicycle he was dying for. The day finally came when James counted his money and found $ 94.32.He wasted no time and went down to the shop to pick up the bicycle he wanted.
It had been hard work for the money，but James knew that he valued his bicycle far more since he had bought it with his own money. He had achieved what he thought was impossible，and that was worth even more than the bicycle.
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2）应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4）续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1：
He rode proudly home, looking forward to showing his new bicycle to his friends. ……
Paragraph 2：
Many years later, James succeeded in ……
