I once had a friend who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the news that he might only live up to six months was a great shock to him, his family, and his friends. However, in spite of the serious illness, he was initially determined to look into all available treatments that might cure or extend his life. I think that when you find yourself in such situations, you tend to look up every possible way for hope of saving your life.

    As months went on and his health grew worse, I noticed an unexpected change in attitude that came over him. He had also been a happy person with a cheerful personality, but rather than give in to discouragement and self－pity, he took comfort in God and humanity. His talks focused on others rather than himself, and he spoke of the afterlife as something he was prepared for, believing that his concerned ancestors, including his mother and father, were there waiting for him.

    During the last few months, weeks, and days of his life, he was kindly cared for by family, friends, his loving wife, who looked after both his physical and emotional needs, and workers from a local hospice (安养院) came to the home to regulate his medication and provide any other needed support. He didn't complain about his fate, and he willingly allowed others to serve him.

    Indeed, one might think why God allows death and suffering in our world, but for me, such experiences taught me to value family more and kindness for others. You often can't learn these important attributes in the lap of luxury, and perhaps, such an experience is the greatest and final gift the illness can give those left behind.

     Isaac Stern was  more  than a great violin player.He was one of the most honored musicians in the world.He was an international  cultural ambassador.He was a major supporter of the arts in America and in other countries.He was a teacher and activist.

     Isaac Stern was born in 1920 in what is now Ukraine.His parents moved  to  San Francisco，California the following year.His mother began teaching Isaac the piano when he was six. He began taking violin lessons after hearing a friend play the instrument.Later，he began studying music at the San Francisco Conservatory(音乐学院)．He progressed quickly.When he was 16，he played with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.The next year，he performed in New York City and was praised by music critics.

     During World War II ，Mr.Stern played for thousands of American soldiers.It was the first time many of them had heard classical music.After the war，he was the first American violinist to perform in a concert in the Soviet union.He also supported young musicians and cultural organizations in Israel.

    In 1979，Isaac Stern visited China.He met with Chinese musicians and students.He taught them about classical Western music.His visit was made into a film，which is called From Mao to Mozart：Isaac Stern in China.It won an Academy Award for best documentary film.

     In 1984，Isaac Stern received the Kennedy Center Honors Award for his gifts to American culture through music.He expressed his thoughts about the part that music plays in life.He said he believed that music makes life better for everyone，especially children.

     Mr.Stern supported and guided younger classical musicians.They include violinists Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman，cellist Yo­Yo Ma，and pianist Yefim Bronfman.

     Isaac Stern died in 2001 at the age of 81.He was a major influence on music in the 20th century.He leaves the world richer with his many recordings.

信件要点包括：1）陈述写信原因；

2）简要描述该行李；

3）说明该行李的重要性；

4）期待回复并表示感谢。

注意：1）词数100左右；

2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3）开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。

Dear Sir/Madam,

……

    Yours truly,

    Li Hua

增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在其下面写上该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写上修改后的词。

注意：1）每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2）只允许修改10处，多者（从11处起）不计分。

    The book I'm reading of talks about afternoon tea in Britain. It is said to have started in the early 1800's. Have tea in the late afternoon provides a bridge between lunch and dinner, that might not be served until 8 o'clock at night. This custom soon becomes another meal of day. Interesting, it had a connection by the British porcelain (瓷器) industry. Tea in China was traditionally drank from cups without handles. When tea got popular in Britain, there was a crying need for good cup with handles to suit British habits. This led to the grow in the porcelain industry.

    Get a Thorough Understanding of Oneself

    In all one's life time it is oneself that one spends the most time being with or dealing with.

    When you are going upwards in life you tend to overestimate (高估) yourself. It seems that everything you seek for is within your reach. It's likely that you think it wise for yourself to stay away from the outer world. Actually, you may keep the following tips in mind.

    Gain a correct view of oneself.

    You may look forward hopefully to the future but be sure not to expect too much, for dreams can never be fully realized. You may be brave to meet challenges but it should be clear to you where to direct your efforts.

Self-appreciate.

    Whether you compare yourself to a tall tree or a piece of grass, a high mountain or a small stone, you represent a state of nature. If you sincerely admire yourself you'll have a real sense of self-appreciation.

    In time of anger, do yourself a favor by releasing it in a quiet place; in time of sadness, do yourself a favor by sharing it with your friends; in time of tiredness, do yourself a favor by getting a good sleep.

A. It has its own value.

B. Do oneself a favor when it's needed.

C. Do yourself a favor when you meet with the attack of illness.

D. But it is precisely oneself that one has the least understanding of.

E. Especially if it is well within your reach, you are just too blind to see it.

F. When you are going downhill you tend to underestimate yourself for not being qualified.

G. So long as you have a perfect knowledge of yourself, there won't be difficulties you can't overcome.

    Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms, which can cause deaths and destroy a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a funnel-shaped (漏斗状) cloud from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling (飞快移动) winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be over one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this disaster.

    Some tornadoes can be seen clearly, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds obscure others. At many times, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible.

    Before a tornado hits, the air may become very still. A cloud of debris (散片) can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel can not be seen. Tornadoes generally occur near the edge of a thunderstorm, when the strong wind may die down. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado.

The following are facts about tornadoes:

    The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may also vary from still to 70 MPH. Debris is picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.

    The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. Tornadoes are most often reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.

    Tornadoes can happen together with tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.

    The tornado season in the southern states of America is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.

    Last year I was put into a lower­level math class at school. The reason I was in this class had nothing to do with my intellect (智力) or maths skills. I am blind.

The only problem with being in this class was that I was surrounded by “at­risk” students. These were kids who did not do well in school and they were constantly in trouble with the school and the law.

    One Tuesday morning, I went to a Christian Student Union meeting before school. There was a guest speaker there that day talking to us about praying (祈祷) for our enemies. I began to think about this. As I considered the idea, I prayed and asked God how I could pray for the kids in my class. I had forgotten that they weren't bad kids; they were just lost.

    At first, the prayers were mechanical. When I would hear their voices in class, I would pray, “Dear God, please bless so­and­so...” But as I continued, I began to think of the kids more often, and in my quiet time at home I would ask God to bless (保佑) the rest of my classmates.

    As time went on, my classmates became more than just annoying kids to me. There was something growing inside my heart for them, something that wasn't there before. They began to feel like family, and I was learning to love them in a way I never thought possible.

    I now see that praying is such a powerful act. Prayer is the most powerful tool a Christian has. When I pray for those around me, it also blesses my life, and it changes my opinion of others. I realized I needed God's blessings to see the world through loving eyes. The prayers I said for others turned out to help me the most.