浙江省义乌市稠州中学教育集团2022-2023学年八年级下学...

With a determined(坚定的) look on his face, Chicago's Michael McCarthy held on to the banister(扶手) and climbed to the top of the Willis Tower not long ago. The Tower is 442 meters tall, the1building in the US.

As he got to the last step, McCarthy2fell down, but that didn't stop him. The 14­year­old boy finally finished climbing the 2,109 steps and arrived at the top, where he3cheers from many people.

"I just want to show people that4a kid with no legs can do it, anyone can do it," McCarthy said.

McCarthy, who was born without legs, has to wear prosthetic legs and use a stick to walk. But McCarthy has a strong5. He believes having a disability shouldn't stop anyone6achieving his or her success.

He has been in a special school7he was four. When he decided to climb the Willis Tower, his teacher, Jeff Kohn, was8by his determination and offered to help train him. They9more than ten hours practicing climbing stairs and keeping balance with the prosthetics and sticks on the steps every day. "10seems that he never knows how difficult it is.11I was so tired that I asked him to rest for a day, "said Kohn. "But he said he was still full of energy and wanted more12."

Kohn always walked with McCarthy for the climb. "I13the last 10 floors, he went faster, " said Kohn. "He's the most craven sportsman I've ever trained."

McCarthy said he was14of himself and that the tower now holds special meaning. "When I'm older, I'll15to the building and say 'Look at this building I climbed'," he said.

A common weed (野草) growing around Australia could help send humans to Mars, thanks to the work of South Australian scientists.

Duckweed is a bright green water plant that grows quickly and is rich in nutrients. And it might be the key to producing food for astronauts going on long journeys in space.

Jenny Mortimer works on the duckweed project at the University of Adelaide. She said it was almost impossible to take enough food on a long space journey, such as the one to get to Mars and back.

A trip to Mars with a team of four astronauts will need about 10,000 kilos of food. "You can't take that with you because you don't have enough room and each kilo you take with you to space costs around $20,000," said Mortimer.

"The International Space Station is amazing, but it's only 400 kilometres above the earth, too far to reach from Mars."

Scientists think of flying things to Mars before astronauts are sent up there. The problem is that the food would have to be able to last for long. And it can be really boring if you have to eat the same things day after day.

"Astronauts can go through something called menu fatigue. Even though their food is healthy, they'll lose weight because they just stop eating."

Mortimer believes that duckweed can grow on spaceships and even underground on Mars, using LED lighting. Next, food scientists will work out ways to make duckweed more delicious. "Maybe they can make something that tastes like cheese or yoghurt, but that's a research project for the next five to seven years," she said.

Cold weather has a great effect on how our minds and our bodies work. Maybe that is why there are so many expressions that use the word "cold".

For example, people who show no human emotions or feelings are said to be cold-blooded. Cold can affect other parts of the body. But the expression "get cold feet" has nothing to do with cold or your feet. The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do. For example, you agree to be CEO of a company. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned (辞职), and all the work of the company will be your responsibility. You are likely to get cold feet about being CEO when you understand the situation.

The expression "give someone the cold shoulder" probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face to face. You may give the cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise he made to you, or to someone who has lied about you to others.

"A cold fish" is not a fish. It is a person. But it is a person who is unemotional and shows no love or warmth. A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone. Someone who is a cold fish could be cold-hearted. He or she will never feel sorry for those in bad situation.

"Out in the cold" means not getting something that everybody else got. A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise — he was left out in the cold. And it is not a pleasant place to be.

Several months after I was badly hurt in a car accident, my father sent me to a blind school.

That morning was the new beginning. I went to this school and I heard lots of children. My new teacher took me to the class where we were taught to write and type in Braille. I found it quite difficult.

"Hi, sweetheart, how is school going?" asked my father.

Daddy, I can't do this. I try and try but I just don't get it. I don't know if I am ever going to learn to read Braille. It's too difficult, "I cried.

Daddy just held me in his arms and said, "Do you remember that we went to the temple which is on the top of a mountain? When we were climbing the mountain, your legs started aching. You sat down and said, 'I can't see the temple'. You can't see it because it is covered with fog. Although you can't see it, you know it is there. I will make sure you will climb up to it."

"That day you showed me that although I can't see anything, it does not mean it is not there. Although climbing the mountain was difficult, I knew I would get to the top." I was clear what my dad wanted me to understand.

I went back to school and started with new energy. Very soon I could read.

One of my classmates said," You are lucky, you know. You have at least seen the world. I have just heard it. I have been told there are many colors in this world but I don't understand what colour means."

After listening to her for the first time in two years, I felt lucky. And on that day I learned that although the light in my eyes is gone, I must see the world with the light in my heart.

Everybody expects you to be special or perfect. Today I want to say something about myself. I think it's not easy to be an(宇航员) son. I often wonder how my father ever had a son like me. I mean he's so special and so good at everything he does.

Well, to be honest, I （梦）about being some kind of hero or doing something special before—like saving a child from a burning building or（发现）a new star. I was daydreaming at school. One morning when my teacher said there would be a Father's Day writing （比赛）for the whole school." I hope we have a winner right here in my class. I am sure we will(到达) the aim if we try our best. "

When I got home, I started to think about to write. How did I see my father? Hmm, I saw him（坐）with me in the dark when I had a terrible dream. I remembered how he hugged mehours when my dog Spotty was killed by a car. To me, he wasn't just a world-famous astronaut. He was my dad.

When the teacher told me I won the first prize and asked me to read what I had（写）,"My father's son". When I finished, the people stood up and cheered. I saw tears running down my father's face. Dad put his hand on my shoulder and said," Son, this is the （自豪的）moment of my life.

I'm Ella. My friend is a perfect person. She's good at everything while I'm not. I don't know why she chose (I) as her friend, and I'm tired of being friends her. What should I do?

Dear Ella,

I know how you feel. I sometimes have to sing with some very famous (singer). At first I would feel worried and nervous. But now, I see it (different). I work hard at my skills. If they want to play with me, I must be good at something. I take every chance to watch, listen and learn from them. If this girl wants to be friend of yours, it's because she sees something good in you.

—Gary

Dear Ella,

I also have a "perfect" friend. And in the past, I often worried I was good enough or not. One day I told her about my worries. But she said she always (accept) who I was and that we would be friends forever. We (build) a stronger friendship since then. I suggest you do the same. If she is a true friend, she can help you become a (good) person than before. Just be brave and give it a try!

—Betty

Whether we are going to school or going to work, we are all sad to leave the weekend behind and go back to our Monday morning blues. But with these tips below, you can get over those blues and face Monday mornings with a smile.

*Love what you do. Loving your job will make you look forward to the week ahead. Try to find something positive in your workplace. It could be a friend, a partner, or the work you do.

*Do what gives you feelings of comfort. If the clock rings and you still feel sleepy, stay in bed for a short time. This will help you cheer yourself up. When you get up, you can make a cup of coffee and listen to some music.

*Try to give yourself a little something extra. A good reward for Monday would be a treat you wouldn't have in the rest of the week. Plan a night out for films or dinner on Friday. This way, you will know that even if you're working hard, you will have something good waiting for you at the end of the week.

*Go to bed early on Sunday night. Your mind will react quickly on Monday morning. If you wake up early, you will have more time to get ready for the day.

*Get yourself organised on Friday evening. Before you leave your workplace or school on Friday, you should prepare all the things you need, so you won't be so stressed on Monday morning and start the week right.