A

   A beach in Bodrum, a resort city in Turkey, saw the horror of human tragedy on Sept 2. A little boy, dressed in a red shirt and blue shorts, lay face down in the sand. Sadly, 3-year-old Alan Kurdi would never wake up again.

   Alan drowned along with at least 12 Syrians, including his 5-year-old brother and mother. They were on a journey from Turkey to Greece. Trying to make their simple but dangerous dream of a safe home a reality, they paid with their lives.

   The tragic photographs of Alan’s lifeless body shocked the world. “What has drowned in the Mediterranean (地中海) is not only the refugees, but humanity,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

   Refugees, according to the UN, are people escaping war or persecution (迫害). Their situation is often so dangerous that they cross national borders to look for safety in nearby countries. The Kurdis wanted to head for Europe by crossing to the Greek island of Kos from Bodrum by boat.

   Escaping to Europe

   The Kurdis’ tragedy was just one story from over 1,800 people who have died in the first six months of this year while trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, according to statistics released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on July 1. Together with refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia and Nigeria, “migrants who are journeying to Europe from Africa and the Middle East have seen a sharp climb this year”, reported ABC News.

   Migrants, however, are not necessarily refugees. A migrant may leave his or her country for many reasons apart from war, terrorism (恐怖主义), and persecution. They may seek employment, life with their family, or study in another country.

   European countries have taken different approaches to the crisis. Germany and France are opening their doors to more asylum (避难) seekers, those who say they are refugees but the status has not been decided by the UNHCR or a government. On Sept 8, reported the Associated Press, German’s vice-chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said his country could take in 500,000 refugees every year for the next several years. According to Fox News, Germany, the largest economy in Europe, is expecting to take in 800,000 refugees in 2015. And on Sept 7, France said it would take 24,000 refugees over two years. Other countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, have been unwilling to take a large number of refugees for various reasons including economic problems and safety concerns.

   Despite disagreements among EU members, the UN’s Refugee Chief Antonio Guterres said the crisis was “manageable” if member states could agree a joint plan.  

“If there is one thing I’m sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It is not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.

The nature of what is news may change. What basically makes news is what affects our lives — the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic(基因) engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do — as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.

It’s quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted(传送) electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact, I’m pretty sure that how it will happen in the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read — sports and international news, etc.

I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media. They actually feed off each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound lost in the air. And as for the Internet, it’s never really pleasant to read something just on a screen. 

 From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age. We are free from many of the most dangerous disease. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern medicine. It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased greatly. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car. It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.

  It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel (方向盘), his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They say, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish. All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.

The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten.

It is high time a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax (不严格) and even the strictest are not strict enough. A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person's driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Speed limits should be required on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for car factories, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may not sound good enough. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths. After all, the world is for human beings, notmotor-cars.

 C

       As the proverb says,＂no one knows the value of health until he loses it.＂In other words, nothing is more valuable than health.

It is clear that health is the foundation（基础）of one’s future success. If you become sick, it is scarcely pursue (从事) your career effectively, much less make your dreams come true. On the other hand, if you are strong, you can do all out to overcome the obstacles (障碍) that lie ahead of you.

       Health is the resource of our energy. What should we do to maintain our health? First we should exercise every day to strengthen our muscles. Second, we might as well keep good hours. If we get up early, we can breathe fresh air and see the sunrise. This habit can do wonders for our outlook on life. Third, there is a proverb that says, “Prevent is better than cure.” If pay close attention to your health, you can avoid getting sick. Or at least cure yourself of a disease while it is still in its beginning stage.

       In conclusion, health is more important than wealth. Those who are rich but poor in health are no more fortunate than those who are poor and healthy in body. If you want your wish to come true, health is the most important component（组成部分）of your success.

     A popular saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s not really true. Words have the power to build us up or tear us down. It doesn’t matter if the words come from someone else or ourselves—the positive and negative effects are just as lasting.

    We all talk to ourselves sometimes. We’re usually too ashamed to admit it, though. In fact, we really shouldn’t be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves loud is a healthy habit.

    This “self-talk” helps us encourage ourselves, remember things, solve problems, and calm ourselves down. Be aware, though, that as much as 77% of self-talk tends to be negative. So in order to stay positive, we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves. We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back. The next time you finish a project, do well in a test, or finally clean your room, join me in saying “Good job!”

    Often, words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have. But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others. For example, when returning an item to a store, we might use warm, friendly language during the exchange. And the clerk will probably answer in a similar manner. Harsh (刻薄的) and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive.

     Words have power because of their lasting effects. Many of us regret something we once said. And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking, we should always ask ourselves: Is it true? Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn’t pass this test, then it’s better left unsaid.

       Words have power: both positive and negative. Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively. We can offer hope, build self-esteem (自尊) and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things. Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours.

B

If you live in a big city, there are many things to drive you crazy on your daily route, and it’s not just overcrowded subway trains.

Vicky Zhao is a mainlander working in Hong Kong. For her, one thing she can’t put up with is people standing on the wrong side of the escalator(自动扶梯) in subway stations. “Escalators help us move faster and save time. It isn’t a place to rest,” the 24-year-old says. “I often see tourists block the way with their suitcases or chatting on the escalators during rush hours. It annoys me to no end.”

Admitting she is not the patient type, Zhao says things are much better in Hong Kong than in cities on the mainland where “stand right, walk left” signs are often ignored.

The logic behind the “stand right, walk left” escalator etiquette(礼仪) seems obvious. Even though you may want to catch your breath while you’re transported up or down, you should still consider others and leave enough space for people in a hurry, so that they can run and catch the train.

Many cities’ escalators, including London’s and Beijing’s, use the “stand right, walk left” system to speed up the flow of people. (Australia is an exception and you should stand on the left side instead.) But some cities discourage people from moving on escalators out of safety reasons. In Hong Kong’s subway stations there are regular announcements asking people to “stand still” on escalators. Even so, most people in this fast-paced city observe the “stand right, walk left” etiquette.

But the people who stand on escalators defend themselves by telling the walkers not to be so impatient. The BBC quotes one stander as saying: “If the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and there’s nowhere to move, I see these same people complaining about not being able to pass.”

Whatever the escalator etiquette is in the place you live or visit, do what most people are doing and always be mindful of others: leave enough space between each other, don’t stay at the end of the escalator, and if someone is blocking your way, a simple “excuse me” is enough.

Some parents of elementary school students in America are receiving letters about their children’s weight. If a child is found to have a weight problem, his parents will get a letter from the school informing them that their child could be overweight.

And what do students call these notes? “Fat letters.”

Kids already have to put up with being frightened or hurt by other kids at school. Now they also have to protect themselves from insults from the adults who work in those schools?

     Don’t they think that parents know whether their children are overweight? Do we really want to encourage a trend we already see: children going on diets? According to a study by Duke University, more than 40% of 9-and 10-year-old girls have gone on a diet.

     In Massachusetts, state lawmakers are considering a bill that bans schools from collecting students’ weight information:

     Many public school educators actually consider themselves to be more enlightened (开明的)than the rest of us. That’s why they have spent so much time insisting that we must not label children over their academic performance. They had a point. Schools have been putting labels on students since before the invention of blackboards. Students who might have once been labeled “lazy” simply became “uninterested.” Immigrant students who were once considered “limited English proficient(熟练的)”became “English learners.”

     My wife is a former teacher. She works with students who have difficulty in reading and spelling. The kinds of students she helps were once said to have a “learning disability.” We don’t say that anymore. Today, acknowledging that human beings process information in a variety of ways, we say that these kids have a “learning difference.”

There you go. Academically, the enlightened view nowadays is that all students are different, that their brains are all wired in unique ways, and that is it’s wrong to try to assess them with a one-size-fits-all standard to determine who is intelligent and who isn’t. it is agreed that children’s brains come in all shapes and sizes.

So why not be really enlightened and learn to think the same way about children’s bodies?

“Did you hear what happened to Adam last Friday?” Lindsey whispers to Tori.

With her eyes shining, Tori says proudly, “I did. Sean told me two days ago.”

Who are Lindsey and Tori talking about? It just happens to be yours truly, Adam Freedman. I can tell you that what they are saying is not nice and not even true. Still, Lindsey and Tori aren’t very different from most students here at Linton High School, including me. Many of our conversations are gossip(闲话). I have noticed three effects of gossip: it can hurt people, it can give gossipers a strange kind of satisfaction, and it can cause social pressures in a group.

An important negative effect of gossip is that it can hurt the person being talked about. Usually, gossip spreads information about a topic —breakups, trouble at home, even dropping out —that a person would rather keep secret. They didn’t want it exposed to others. The more embarrassing or shameful the secret is, the more attention the gossip attracts.

If we know that gossip can be harmful, then why do so many of us do it? The answer lies in another effect of gossip: the satisfaction it gives us. Sharing the latest rumor (传言) can make a person feel important because he or she knows something that others don’t. Similarly, hearing the latest rumor can make a person feel like part of the “in group.” In other words, gossip is satisfying because it gives people a sense of belonging or even superiority (优越感).

Gossip also can have a third effect: it strengthens unwritten, unspoken rules about how people should act. Professor David Wilson explains that gossip is important in policing behaviors in a group. Translated into high school terms, this means that if everybody you hang around with is laughing at what John wore or what Jane said, then you can know that wearing or saying something similar will get negative effects. But the rule of gossip will never show up in any student handbook.

The effects of gossip vary depending on the situation. The next time you feel the urge to spread the latest news, think about why you want to gossip and what effects the gossip might have.

C

A student is learning speak British English．He wonders：Can I communicate with Americans?Can they understand me?Learners of English often ask：What are the differences between British and American English?How important are these differences?

    Certainly!There are some differences between British and American English．There are a few differences in grammar．For example，speakers of British English say“in hospital”and“Have you a pen?”Americans say“in the hospital”and“Do you have a pen?”．Pronunciation is sometimes different．Americans usually sound theirs in words like“bird”and“hurt”．Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words．There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary．For example，“colour”and“honour”are British，“color”and“honor”are American．

    These differences in grammar，pronunciation，spelling and vocabulary are not important．However，for the most part，British and American English are the same language．

Education is one of the key words of our time. A man without education, many of us believe, is an unfortunate victim of unfortunate circumstances deprived of one of the greatest twenty-first century opportunities. Convinced of the importance of education, modern states ‘invest’ in institutions of learning to get back ‘interest’ in the form of a large group of enlightened young men and women who are potential leaders. Education, with its cycles of instruction so carefully worked out, punctuated by text-books—those purchasable wells of wisdom—what would civilization be like without its benefits ?

So much is certain: that we would have doctors and preachers, lawyers and defendants, marriages and births--but our spiritual outlook would be different. We would lay less stress on ‘facts and figures’ and more on a good memory, on applied psychology, and on the capacity of a man to get along with his fellow-citizens. If our educational system were fashioned after its bookless past we would have the most democratic form of ‘college’ imaginable. Among the people whom we like to call savages all knowledge inherited by tradition is shared by all；it is taught to every member of the tribe so that in this respect everybody is, equally equipped for life.

It is the ideal condition of the ‘equal start’ which only our most progressive forms of modern education try to regain. In primitive cultures the obligation to seek and to receive the traditional instruction is binding to all. There are no ‘illiterates’—if the term can be applied to peoples without a script—while our own compulsory school attendance became law in Germany in 1642, in France in 1806, and in England in 1967, and is still non-existent in a number of ‘civilized’ nations. This shows how long it was before we deemed (认为) it necessary to make sure that all our children could share in the knowledge accumulated by the ‘happy few’ during the past centuries.

Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means. All are entitled to an equal start. There is none of the hurry which, in our society, often hampers（阻碍）the full development of a growing personality. There, a child grows up under the ever-present attention of his parents, therefore the jungles and the savannahs know of no ‘juvenile delinquency’(少年犯罪). No necessity of making a living away from home results in neglect of children, and no father is confronted with his inability to ‘buy’ an education for his child.