第一单元When I think of people in this world who have really made a difference, I think of my parents. They were truly saints among ordinary people. I was one of the ten children my parents adopted. They rescued each of us from a life of poverty and loneliness. They were hardly able to restrain themselves from bringing home more children to care for. If they had had the resources they certainly would have. Most people do not realize how much they appreciated someone until they pass away. My sisters and brothers and I did not want this to happen before we uttered the words "Thank you" to our parents. Although we have all grown up and scattered about the country, we got back together to thank our parents. My brother Tom undertook the task of organizing the event. Every Friday night, Mom and Dad have had the ham dinner special at the same restaurant for the last twenty years. That is where we waited without their knowing. When we first caught a glimpse of them coming across the street, we all hid underneath a big table. When they entered, we leapt out and shouted, "Thank you, Mom and Dad. " My brother Tom presented them with a card and we all hugged. My Dad pretended that he had known we were under the table all along.
第二单元Women who exercise regularly need to be careful with what they eat. Researchers have found evidence that even moderate exercise can result in losing iron. They said that women who exercise regularly, especially in endurance activities, typically lose iron. In order to prevent this from becoming a problem, it is important that those women consume more meat or take supplements to replace the iron lost. Those who do not bother to get plentiful amounts of iron may begin to feel weak and tired. "If you can get the recommended daily allowance of iron in your diet, you will probably perform better," said one diet specialist. "One shortcoming of taking iron pills is that the pill form is not well absorbed and can sometimes make you sick. It is preferable that you try to remedy the deficiency by getting more iron-rich meats in your diet." There are ways to help your body store away the iron it takes in. By getting plenty of Vitamin C, your body is able to process, or use, the iron better. Researchers acknowledge that everyone's body is different and the problem will be less serious for some. Because it is impossible to decide whether or not this could be a problem for you, health specialists say it is advisable to check your iron levels. Even when you can't feel it, you may still have a problem.
第三单元While many private schools are focusing more on values, public schools are moving toward testing standards. The national government demands academic success and tests are taken as a key measurement for a school's performance. Schools with low test scores face penalties such as a reduction in money to run their schools. And, even individual teachers are being graded on how they're preparing their students for these tests. "We have concentrated too much on teaching the kids how to take these tests," commented one elementary school teacher. "We should be providing a more comprehensive curriculum to these kids We should be cultivating leadership and curiosity. Unfortunately, there is never time." One school principal remarked, "It's true that it would be beneficial to our kids if they were getting better scores on the subjects being tested. The trouble is that in poorer areas of the city like ours, kids start school less equipped to perform well. We have many obstacles to overcome before we can teach them basic subjects. All schools are not alike , so they shouldn't be tested that way." "The goal is to improve performance in schools that are not providing their students with tools for success," said one government official. He admits, however, that he is having a hard time convincing faculty and teachers this plan will work
glamour
第四单元For many, beauty and fashion are permanently linked. With regard to fashion, the Barbie doll has been consistently in style. From the first Barbie dolls, Mattel took care to dress them in detailed, fashionable clothes. Some observers note that the fashions of the Barbie doll trace fashion trends perfectly since 1959. While critics complain that the models do not represent "average" female bodies, they also complain about the Barbie doll's size. Some have criticized the dimensions of the Barbie doll as an unattainable ideal of the female shape. Charlotte Johnson, the Barbie doll's first dress designer, explained that the doll was not
intended to reflect a female figure realistically, but rather to portray a(n) exaggerated shape underneath fashionable clothes. However, the unrealistic dimensions of the doll have brought the strongest criticism regarding the doll's encouragement of an obsession with weight and looks. Convinced of the negative effects of the Barbie doll on children, Cathy Meredig of High Self Esteem Toys developed a more realistically proportioned doll in 1991. Her doll did not sell well, however. Throughout the years, the Barbie doll has had several competitors, but none have been able to compete with the glamour offered by the
Barbie doll.
第五单元As a surgeon, I have seen a lot of deaths. I am rarely astonished by anything. The other day, however, one humorous and slightly odd story I heard touched me. A doctor told me that a very old woman he was treating was lying motionless on her pillow face down. He thought she was dead, but when he approached, he noticed she was breathing. Her hospital gown exposed her back bare, so he put a cover over her. Just then she sat up slowly, startling the doctor. She seemed quite alive. "I thought you were nearly gone," the doctor said. "Your breathing was so shallow and you seemed lifeless." "Never mind that, doctor, I've been waiting for you," the old woman said quite confidently, as if she were his mother. She had been a good mother to four, but she had survived them all. She gracefully handed the doctor a jar of strawberry jam. "Take the lid off and try some," she said. He sampled a little and told her it was delicious. "Good," she said, handing him a piece of paper with writing. "This is how to make it. " He understood what a(n) privilege she had given him and took it with thanks and then left. The old woman lay back down and died soon after his departure.

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