Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was born at Stevenson, Hampshire, on December 16,1775，and died on July 18,1817. She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously(匿名 )．

But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bathˈs many famous local people and visitors. She paid two long visits here during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806，Bath was her home. Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping in its streets and public buildings the well-ordered world that she described so well in her novels. Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austenˈs Bath can be enhanced by visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian tow house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austenˈs time and the importance of Bath in her life and work.

The Centre has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society. After your visit to the Centre, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts. Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy.

You can also have walking tours of Jane Austenˈs Bath, which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath. The tour lasts about one and a half hours. The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped.

The Two-Dollar Bill

Returning from a trip to Washington D. C., I arrived in Anchorage at about 2: 00 A. M. At 9：00 A.M., I was   (1)   to talk at local high school to students in a   (2)   designed to educate the troubled kids in school.

The school is well   (3)   because most of the kids are troublemakers who become involved with the law. I found it very   (4)   to deliver a speech to the multi-cultural   (5)   and talk about things that could stimulate them for their   (6)  . I wasn’t making any headway   (7)   I started talking about what I do so well, helping people with money.

I   (8)   a stack (堆) of $2 bills and started giving them out. The kids started to   (9)   because it was free money. The   (10)   thing I asked them was to spend it on   (11)   people. Some of them asked me for my signature. I think I   (12)   some of them with my honesty. I started   (13)  a copy of the book I had written for the dollar bills. Then I told them that my grandfather’s care had always   (14)   me to go forward.   (15)   I closed with telling them no matter what happens, someone out there   (16)   cares about them and is pulling for their   (17)  .

This is not the   (18)   of the story. When I left the classroom, I told them to call me   (19)   they ever had problems.

Three days later, I received a thank-you letter with a new $2 bill in it   (20)   by a girl who heard my talk.

It is a blue, cotton shirt. The shirt belonged to my 　(1)　 David. On his birthday before he left college, his mother bought him the shirt. 　(2)　 I gave him free use of my bike, he let me wear the shirt, occasionally. 

We shared the shirt, and as days 　(3)　, we shared more of our 　(4)　. David was in school by scholarships and grants (助学金). He 　(5)　 to keep his scholarships, because without even one of them, he would have to 　(6)　 and back on the farm. And in David's home, there was always only enough money to cover the expense. His father died when he was twelve. 

　(7) David also talked about his father. Usually it was late at night, in the dorm just before bed, and the 　(8)　 always ended with tears that flowed from a river of memories and 　(9)　: memories of a father suffering from 　(10)　 at a time when his son was just a teenager; longings for opportunities to cure his father's disease. Because disease does not understand the 　(11)　 between father and son. Nor does(do) 　(12)　 care. 

Time passed and we had to say 　(13)　 to each other. After lots of hugging, and words of thanks, we eventually 　(14)　. It was on my 　(15)　 trip upstairs to our dorm that I saw a package on my bed. I 　(16)　 the wrapping paper. It was the blue cotton shirt in a box with a card 　(17)　 to it, reading: 

Thomas, I can't thank you enough for your 　(18)　. This has been tough years and you have been 　(19)　 a friend. Thank you for listening. Thanks for everything. 

David

I pushed aside the note, with 　(20)　 tears dropping on the shirt. 

I still have the shirt today, though it has faded and wrinkled with age.

It was at a concert that I happened to find David.He was holding his head at a strange __  (1)  __as if he were staring down at something.Then the truth struck me.He was blind.The last thing he remembers __  (2)  __was his daughter being born.Then the world went __  (3)  __.

Bad luck is no stranger to this 44-year-old man.His mother died of cancer，and his weak father had to __  (4)  __11-year-old David to the care of the state.

Things seemed always to go from bad to __  (5)  __.Two years ago，his beloved guide dog pulled him out of the __  (6)  __of a truck.David was not hurt.The dog __  (7)  __.

But David does not feel sorry for himself.“These are just little obstacles (障碍)you have to __  (8)  __in your life，”he said.

He has to make a daily two-hour trip to his working place—the X-ray department of an__  (9)  __ room.

It was a hard job to __  (10)  __.Before he got it，David was determined to escape the workshop run by the Lighthouse，an organization __  (11)  __ to help blind people.He wanted a job of developing X-ray film，something __  (12)  __，not just he，must do in the dark，including people with __  (13)  __eyesight.The Lighthouse called many hospitals，with no result，__  (14)  __they offered to pay his first three monthsˈ salary.

David works alone in a dark room that __  (15)  __ of chemicals.He cannot wear gloves.__  (16)  __，he could not feel.Since this is an emergency room，lives can be put __  (17)  __or out of danger.His directress says she trusts him 100 percent.

He makes $ 20,000 a year.But his motivation(动机)goes __  (18)  __money.“By working，I can actualize my own __  (19)  __.Thatˈs the most important！”he said.

What a shining example for us to __  (20)  __！

All of my childhood and early adult life my mom weighed over 220 pounds. She never came to any school events. I have no memory of my mother attending anything with me at all. I often wondered if she maybe didnˈt love me enough to support me.

I would hear stories about when my mother was younger. She used to be the familyˈs number one dancer，dancing all night. I had never seen this dancing woman，though; the woman I grew up with had traded in her dancing shoes for house slippers.

As I became an adult，I began to understand people better. I soon realized that my mom loved me. After a while，I understood that my mom was in pain; however，I didnˈt know how to help her.

Fortunately，from somewhere，she found the strength to help herself. After more than twenty years of fighting against obesity(肥胖症)，my mother completed an eighteen-month diet that left her ninety pounds lighter than before. A new woman was born！At age twenty-eight，I got a new mom！It wasnˈt so much her new body that was the surprise，but rather her new spirit.

To celebrate her new size，my mother joined a “Mrs. Forty-Plus” competition，where she would have to model，give a speech and provide a dance performance. She told our family that she didnˈt care if she won－she simply had always wanted to perform on stage.

The competition was intense(激烈)！Her speech brought tears to everyoneˈs eyes，and her performance copying Janet Jackson stopped the show. That night，at age forty-three，my mother was crowned “Mrs. Forty-Plus”．She was the first person in our family to ever win such a title. With this new woman，my mother was born again. She gave herself a new chance in life－as a model，a dancer，a mother and a friend. At age twenty-eight，I met my “hero”．

I wanted to have tea with Nirad in a tea break during a retreat (静养). I was holding the cup so he could sip (小口喝) tea. I was being careful and poured a small quantity in his mouth. I enjoyed concentrating on each moment and listening deeply to do a good job with serving tea.

We were immediately connected and befriended each other during this time. Two other retreat participants joined and then there were four people talking about varieties of topics which ranged from how Nirad progressed in his education to cool ones like how he maintains his weight, etc. These conversations brought smiles and it seemed that we all knew each other from long time ago. In subtle (巧妙的) ways, we quietly felt the connection.

When we finished tea, I felt like tying a wristband for Nirad. The wristband had the letters that read “WE” on one side and “ME” on the other if read upside down. This beautiful gift was received from the Moved By Love team (a non-profit volunteer organization in India). I told Nirad that my youngest brother is about his age, and he gave me a sweet, calm smile.

I felt deep content during this teatime. I had actually lived those moments, being sympathetic and friendly. It was an experience of joy. Later, during the retreat, each time myself and Nirad happened to greet or talk, we smiled naturally and felt connected.

It's sad that we don't connect deeply, even with our family or friends. We are just too busy running after things, going nowhere. We don't seem to concentrate or care enough for people during our conversations. I had these valuable realizations later.

On the last day of the retreat, I told Nirad, “This was the best teatime I ever had in my life.” He gave me a warm, unforgettable smile.

It was evening when my parents and I ventured across Nemeiben Lake，in Northern Saskatchewan.This vast lake had a unique reputation as being the best fishing and tourist resort in the province.

With the boat undocked and the gear and luggage stored beneath the security of the seats，we set off into the setting sun at 8：30.

Unlike my parents，I had never been on a fishing boat before and was captivated (被迷住)by the speed and grace in which it traveled through the waves.The lake was deserted as the sky began to darken and looked more threatening by the minute.

Suddenly the boat hit something with such a force that we all fell over in our seats.The whole boat shook for a moment，before water started to trickle slowly over the stern.My father went to the back and after many attempts to start the engine，he began to look very worried.The water was now rushing in at a much faster rate，tipping the boat at an awkward angle.

We tried our best to hold on to something.The worst was yet to come.With our life jackets secured and fastened，we waited as the boat sank deeper into the water.We were soon immersed (浸入，沉入)in the chilly depths.The biting cold was more terrifying than anyone could have imagined.

My parents，who were dressed in floater jackets，clung desperately to each other，trying to keep their heads above water.I，on the other hand，wasnˈt so fortunate.A strong gust of wind blew briskly across the lake，bringing with it，torrential rain and threatening thunderstorms.The strong waves carried me on into the night.The waves continued to pound violently，forcing me underwater.

The following morning a fisherman found us.By that time，our body temperatures were twenty-four degrees，which meant we were nearly dead.Later investigation showed that we had been in the water for fifteen hours.

Whatˈs the main idea of this passage?

Unlike the other lakes in Northern Saskatchewan，the Nemeiben Lake ________.

What is the reason which caused the accident?

April 23,2016 marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. Organizations in Britain have planned numerous events to honour him.

In Stratford-upon-Avon, his birthplace, the tourism organization has a great number of free events, including performances of Shakespeare's plays, and a dazzling fireworks display. And the BBC is broadcasting a live show from Stratford-upon-Avon, celebrating Shakespeare's widespread influence on the world. In England's capital, the London Shakespeare Centre and King's College London are holding a series of public performances, exhibitions and activities. It isn't just England that honours the anniversary of the death of this extraordinary writer. In Washington,D.C., the Folger Shakespeare Library, which houses the world's largest collection of documents relating to William Shakespeare, is displaying a series of exhibitions.

Shakespeare is probably the most famous author and is considered a genius by most. He wrote around 38 plays and 154 sonnets(十四行诗), and his work has been translated into over one hundred languages! He penned beautiful metaphors(暗喻), serious dramas and amusing tales.

Shakespeare also invented many new terms and phrases. If someone's behaviour suggested he/she was not being honest and should not be trusted, Shakespeare called his/her actions suspicious. If someone was being silly and perhaps looking like a fool, Shakespeare found his/her actions laughable. And Shakespeare called people who offered their opinions on the quality of something critics. Today, for instance, food critics and film critics give audiences their opinions of food and films. The familiar phrase “break the ice” comes from Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew. The “ice is broken” when a difficult conversation or meeting is calmed by some basic introduction, such as a simple game. More common words coined by Shakespeare include road, gossip, lonely, bump and hurry.

Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare surely lives on, in everyday speech, as the most famous writer of all time!

Given the tradition of students bringing apples to their teachers, it somehow seems fitting that an old apple barn(谷仓) will find a new life as a one-room schoolhouse.And it is just as fitting that a retired schoolteacher will become the caretaker of that historic treasure.

My friend Velma, a teacher for more than 30 years, has been retired for some time now, but that doesn't stop her giving history lessons at the old Englewood School, located on her family's California farm.The lovingly restored building was constructed around 1850 as a home for a woodsman and later was used as an apple barn.Then, in 1870 it began a new life as a schoolhouse.

Originally located in the nearby Englewood meadow, it was now moved to its current site in 1978 by Velma's late husband and his brother, Robert and Richard, who thought it would help keep Velma busy in retirement.No nails had been used in the original construction, so each piece of wood had to be carefully marked and the building was reassembled(重装) on its new site.The brothers worked with much care and hard work to ensure a perfect fit of mitred(斜接的) corners.After the relocation, Velma and her family furnished the school with some of its original desks.They also added a collection of schoolbooks, the oldest dating back to 1845.

Nowadays Velma gives tours to local schoolchildren and other groups, who learn what it was like to attend school back in the good old days.She has kids ring the school bell, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing Good Morning to You as they might have done in days gone by.Then, with twinkling eyes and much enthusiasm, she tells the history of the school, and gives a short sample lesson.