Adventure is in my blood. And I had been considering how I was going to 1 my high school graduation. I didn't just want a small party in the backyard. I started thinking about doing a solo 2 somewhere out of the ordinary. I took out maps and drew the 1,500-mile route along which I would be 3 from the northernmost point in Norway to the southernmost section of Sweden. When I shared my plans with my dad, he 4 as I thought he would. Because I get my adventurous spirits from him, he was 5 it.

I had only been away from my home three days now, but there was an inner 6 going on inside of me. Part of me was 7 and doubting whether I really could make it. The other part of me was ready to 8 to myself and my family that I could do it by myself.

On the road, I met another bicyclist who was quite a bit older than I was. He had started his journey alone by bike at the southern part of Norway and had just finished. I could tell he had a great sense of 9. It encouraged me not to 10.

As I listened to my 11 artists on my MP4 player, I pedaled (踩踏板) with my feet. There was 12 around me for miles. 13, that wasn't entirely true. There were mosquitoes-millions of them. My arms were so dotted with bites that they looked like a topographical map (地形图).But, however 14 it would be, nothing could stop my advance 15 the destination. As you know, adventure is in my blood.

    American black bears appear in a variety of colors despite their name. In the eastern part of their range(地理分布区), most of these bears have shiny black fur, but in the west they grow brown, red or even yellow coats. To the north, the black bear is actually gray or white. Even in the same litter(窝), both brown and black furred bears may be born.

    Black bears are the smallest of all American bears, ranging in length from 5 to 6 feet, weighing from 300 to 500 pounds. Their eyes and ears are small and their eyesight and hearing are not as good as their sense of smell. Like all bears, the black bear is shy, clumsy(笨拙的) and rarely dangerous. However, if cornered, the black bear can become a fearful enemy.

    Black bears feed on leaves, roots, fruit, insects, fish and even larger animals. One of the most interesting characteristics of bears, including the black bear, is their winter sleep. Unlike many other animals, bears do not actually hibernate(冬眠). Although the bear does not eat during the winter months, its temperature remains almost normal, and it breathes regularly four or five times per minute.

    Most black bears live alone, except during the mating season (交配季节). A litter of one to four cubs is born in January or February and they remain with their mother until they are fully grown or about one and a half years old. Black bears can live as long as thirty years in the wild, and even longer in game preserves set aside for them.

No one will be surprised to hear that the arts are under fire in this day and age. We view the arts as something of a hobby, something that's fun but certainly can't pay the rent. Do we really need art in our lives?

It seems as though the loss of art in daily life is a sad fact of life, but it doesn't have to be.  . For example, art therapy has helped people with a range of illnesses, both mental and physical, cope with their symptoms. Art is found almost anywhere you look in your home. Practical items, such as bedspreads, furniture or clothing, are all art forms in themselves and arouse emotions in the people interacting with them.

 History tells us what happened and when it happened, but it can't tell us how the population at large felt about it, which is where art steps in. We know a lot about how people in the past lived and worked, because their art has given us such a deep insight into their daily lives.

Most of all, we need art in our lives as it gives us a form of self-expression.  You may not think you talk about your feelings, but you may express them in other ways. Some like to cook or bake, some like to work on machinery, and others may like to paint or draw.  

So, do we need art in our lives? Many people would say no, but the art they're thinking of is the art you see in galleries.  It helps those in need, gives people in the future an idea of what life was like, and is a vital form of self-expression.

A. Art also gives us insight into the world.

B. Art doesn't have to be something that everyone understands.

C. There are actually a lot of practical uses for art for many people.

D. Art is much more accessible and is truly needed in everyday life.

E. Being able to talk about our feelings is essential to staying healthy.

F. Art changes and adapts with time and cultural groups.

G. Whatever you like to do in your spare time, you're probably creating art.

As human beings, we have always been attracted to the unknown. This fascination also applies to nature, and there are still countless animal species that remain a mystery. So each new discovery is an eye-opener, and deserves to be shared and celebrated.

This is the case with narwhals（独角鲸）. These mysterious, shy creatures were recently recorded summering in the Arctic during a successful survey. The research was conducted by two scientists from Hokkaido University in Japan.

Narwhals, normally found deep below the Arctic Ocean surface, and one of the most mysterious creatures on the planet, have until now been hardly accessible to scientists on field trips. This is why this discovery is such a milestone（里程碑）.

The most noticeable characteristic of narwhals is probably their unusual appearance. The male narwhal presents a tusk（长牙）, which is in fact a tooth that can grow up to three meters in length! But these horned whales are even more unique than their looks would suggest. A separate study conducted by researchers at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, shows that the genetic diversity（多样性）of these animals is surprisingly low. Despite this disadvantage, which has always been considered a bad sign for the future of a species, narwhals have done pretty well for thousands of years, with no signs of becoming an endangered population.

However, since they only live in the Arctic, they are extremely poor in adapting to climate change, making their future in a warmer Artic unclear. What we do know is that research can help us understand these extraordinary animals. It's up to us to contribute and keep narwhal populations safe by protecting their habitat from harmful human activities and global warming. It's the least we can do for these lovely beings that amaze us with their mysterious looks and their unique genetics.

I read somewhere that we spend a full third of our lives waiting. But where are we doing all of this waiting, and what does it mean to an impatient society like ours? To understand the issue, let's take a look at three types of "waits".

The very purest form of waiting is the Watched-Pot Wait. It is without doubt the most annoying of all. Take filling up the kitchen sink (洗碗池) as an example. There is absolutely nothing you can do while this is going on but keep both eyes fixed on the sink until it's full. During these waits, the brain slips away from the body and wanders about until the water runs over the edge of the counter and onto your socks. This kind of wait makes the waiter helpless and mindless.

A cousin to the Watched-Pot Wait is the Forced Wait. This one requires a bit of discipline. Properly preparing packaged noodle soup required a Forced Wait. Directions are very specific. "Bring three cups of water to boil, add mix, simmer three minutes, remove from heat, let stand five minutes." I have my doubts that anyone has actually followed the procedures strictly. After all, Forced Waiting requires patience.

Perhaps the most powerful type of waiting is the Lucky-Break Wait. This type of wait is unusual in that it is for the most part voluntary. Unlike the Forced Wait, which is also voluntary, waiting for your lucky break does not necessarily mean that it will happen.

Turning one's life into a waiting game requires faith and hope, and is strictly for the optimists among us. On the surface it seems as ridiculous as following the directions on soup mixes, but the Lucky-Break Wait well serves those who are willing to do it. As long as one doesn't come to rely on it, wishing for a few good things to happen never hurts anybody.

We certainly do spend a good deal of our time waiting. The next time you're standing at the sink waiting for it to fill while cooking noodle soup that you'll have to eat until a large bag of cash falls out of the sky, don't be desperate. You're probably just as busy as the next guy.

1）如何度过；

2）你的感受。

注意：1）词数100左右；

2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3）开头语已为你写好。

参考词汇：疫情 pandemic situation； 新冠肺炎 COVID-19

Dear Leslie,

I'm glad to receive your email.

……

Yours,

Li Hua

    When looking to meet new people, try to be open to new experiences.Here is something new you can experience and hopefully you will have some fun.

    Volunteer. Volunteering can be a great way to help others while meeting new people

    Take a class or join a club.In those places, you will meet people with common interests. Websites such as Meetup. com can help you find local groups or start your own and connect with others who share similar interests.

Dog owners often stop and chat while their dogs play with each other. If dog ownership isn't right for you, volunteer to walk dogs from a shelter or a local rescue group.

    Unplug(拔掉插头). It's difficult to meet new people in any social situation if you're more interested in your phone than the people around you.Making eye contact and exchanging small talk with strangers is great practice for making connections-and you never know where it may lead!

A. Walk a dog

B. Play with dogs

C. Take a class or join a club such as a book group, dinner club, or sports team

D. Volunteering also gives you the chance to practice and develop your social skills

E. For example, you can share your mobile games when you meet with new people

F. Not everything you try will be successful but you can always learn from the experience.

G. So remove your headphones and put your smartphone away while you're waiting for a bus.

Over the last 15 years, as a doctor, I have had heart-to-heart conversations with countless patients near the end of their lives. The most common emotion they express is1. And that's2I came up with a project to encourage people to write a3to their loved ones. It's a lesson I learned years ago from a memorable4patient.

He was a retired5with a cancer. Every day, his6spent many hours watching him watch television. She explained to me he had never been much of a7in their 50-plus years of marriage. But he seemed quite8to share his ideas with me,9when it became clear his days were10. He spoke of his deep regret for not having spent enough time with his wife, and of his great11in his son, who had joined the Navy in his father's footsteps.

One afternoon, when I mentioned these12to his wife and son, they looked disbelievingly at each other. They thanked me for being so kind but13my patient was unlikely to express such feelings. To make sure his family could hear his14, I took my video camera with me the next morning and with the patients'15, recorded an open letter from him to his family. When I gave them the16letter, both his wife and son were moved to tears.

The experience17my letter project, which can help people complete their life review tasks: remembering to those we may have hurt; 18those who have hurt us and saying "I love you". It may take much courage to write a life review letter. For some people, it19deep and troubling emotions. 20it may be the most important letter you will ever write.

    Ethan Katz enjoys playing with his dogs, McFly and Brooklyn, and often helps his grandma feed and1her five dogs. For his ninth birthday, Ethan2the idea to sell T-shirts for his favorite3, City Dogs Rescue in Washington, D.C.

    The dogs of Ethan's and his grandma's were4from animal shelters. Most shelters have5on the number of animals they can care for. City Dogs Rescue6dogs from over- crowded shelters. Volunteers, called fosters, care for the animals7they're adopted.

    Ethan went on a website for T-shirt designing and fund-raising. He typed a（ n）8about his project, designed a T-shirt, and9each shirt at $20. Every time someone bought one, part of that10went to City Dogs Rescue.

    As word spread, many people bought shirts. "My11goal was to sell 75 shirts, and I went12that in three days," said Ethan. By the end of his 30-day fund-raising13, he had sold 179 shirts and raised $2,640. That money helped City Dogs Rescue save 10 dogs from overcrowded shelters.

    But Ethan wasn't finished. People continued to14City Dogs Rescue about buying shirts. So Ethan decided to15the fund-raising event for another month. Through T-shirt sales and other16, he finally raised more than $ 14,500 in all. Dogs in D.C.  are17to have him as their friend!

    Kids often feel as if they had no say in things, and Ethan18them that they could have a real19. His love for his own dogs20Ethan Katz to help others.

    Now, please allow me to (introduce) Lhasa to you. Lhasa is capital city of Tibet, which is (locate) in the Southeast of Tibet. It is a city with a history of more than 1300 years. It is famous for the Potola Palace. Besides, it's also an (attract) city, attracting tens of millions of visitors from home and abroad each year. There are many (place) of interest and people  are very (friend). With the (develop) of modern transportation, traveling becomes (easy). It takes only 2 hours to fly Chengdu to Lhasa. If you have a chance to come to Tibet, welcome Lhasa.

    We're reading a book or opening an envelope when, all of a sudden, there's a sharp pain on our finger. You see a little bit of blood and realize you've just gotten a paper cut.

    Dr. Hayley Goldbach, a resident dermatologist at UCLA Health, spoke about why paper cuts are so jagged, how the element of surprise leaves us in more pain and how to make sure they heal quickly.

    Dr. Goldbach explained that one reason paper cuts hurt so much is where they occur: primarily on the finger. We have nerve endings all over the body," she said. "In places where there is refined movement and sensation--like the lips or tips of the fingers-they have a high density of nerve endings." These nerve endings are known as nociceptors and they send signals to the brain about things that could cause a break in the skin, such as extreme hot or cold temperatures and chemicals.

    Another reason why paper cuts hurt so much is that you're using your hands throughout the day meaning that the wound is constantly getting opened. "You often get paper cuts on the pad or the tip of the finger, different from where you'd get a knife cut," said Dr. Goldbach. "It's hard not to use your hands, so there's constant pressure on the wound without u chanee for it to heal."

    "The paper itself is another reason why these superficial cuts leave us in so much pain. Paper might look and seem smooth but, if you study it under a microscope, the edge is actually jagged." Paper is quite sharp jagged-it's a bit of serrated edge," said Dr. Goldbach."It cuts you pretty quickly before you have the chance to realize it."

    Additionally, paper cuts are quite shallow, which makes them even more annoying to deal with.

    Dr. Goldbach added that there are mental and emotional elements that cause paper cuts to hurt more than other cuts. "There's the psychological element of surprise, and it happens so quickly that you don't have time to withdraw your hand "she said" With some other injuries, you feel pressure so you have time to react."

    She also added that because we don't expect to hurt ourselves while working with paper, the surprise of cuts leaves us in further pain. "We tend to be careful with a knife-you're being careful on purpose: because you know there: s a danger, "said Dr Goldbach. While we are careful with knives, we are not so careful with paper.

Scientists have proved the idea wrong that women are underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics （STEM） industries because of biological differences which affect their math skills. Girls and boys have similar brains and are equally able when it comes to understanding math, according to the study.

The research involved 104 children aged between 3 to 10 years old, 55 of whom were girls. The kids watched an educational video featuring math concepts such as counting and addition, while the scientists recorded their brain activity using an MRI scanner. The team then compared all the scan results. According to the data, there was no difference between the children's brain functions or development. And the boys and girls appeared to be equally tuned into the videos. The team also looked at the results of a math ability test taken by 97 children aged between 3 and 8 years old, 50 of whom were girls. Both genders performed equally well, regardless of age.

Between 2015 and 2016, women made up only 35. 5 percent of STEM students in the US, 32. 6 percent of masters courses, and 33. 7 percent at PhD level. Jessica Cantlon, professor of developmental neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University and senior author of the paper, commented in a statement:  "Science doesn't folk beliefs. We see that children's brains function similarly regardless of their gender so hopefully we can redefine expectations of what children can achieve in mathematics. "

Cantlon said: "Typical socialization can enlarge small differences between boys and girls that can snowball into how we treat them in science and math. We need to be aware of these origins to ensure we aren't the ones causing the gender unfairness. "

Alyssa Kersey, postdoctoral scholar at the University of Chicago and first author on the paper, said in a statement:  "I's not just that boys and girls are using the math network in the same ways but that similarities are evident across the entire brain. This is an important reminder that humans are more similar to each other than we are different. "