The Grass Cutting Days

    Every time we headed out to cut grass,Dad was there to watch. I used to1why he came with us. He stood watching us in the sticky Florida heat when he could have been inside2with air conditioning and an icy drink.

    One day we were cutting our next-door neighbor's yard She always waited until the grass was knee-high to call us over. To make matters worse,we had an old lawn mower that kept breaking down as we tried to cut through her backyard jungle. This particular afternoon,I was finishing up and was3and sweaty. I4the tall glass of cold juice I would drink in a minute to cool down.

    I was just about to turn off the lawn mower5I saw Dad pointing to one single blade of grass（一片草）. I thought about the small amount of money I was getting6for cutting grass so high that it almost broke the mower. I ignored him and kept walking. Dad called me out and yelled, "You missed a blade." I frowned（皱眉）,hoping he would let me go home. He kept pointing. Though tired and7,I still went back to cut that blade of grass. I thought to myself,"That one blade isn't8anyone. Why won't he just let it go?"

    But when I reached adulthood,I understood his9: When you're running a business,the work you do says a great deal about you. If you want to be seen as an honest businessman,you must deliver a quality product. That single blade of grass10the job was not done.

    Other neighbors took11of the good work we did and we soon gained more12.

    The lesson my dad taught me stayed with me:Be13. If you say you are going to perform a job at a certain time,14your word. Give your customers the kind of15you would like to receive. It shows how sincere you are and how much pride you take in your work.

Amazing Movies

    Are you looking for some movies?You've landed on the right place. Let's take a look at the list I've collected.

    How often do you use your car? Can you use your car less often? Do you know the following facts in the Uk?

    About 50% of all car journeys are just for fun.

    Over 80% people go to work by car.

    25% car journeys are under two miles.

    70% car journeys are under five miles.

    WALKING&CYCLING

    Instead of using the car for short journeys, why not walk or ride a bicycle? Walking is a most popular form of exercise—it's healthy and it can save you money. If you work nearby,  try walking or cycling instead of driving. Walking your children to school gives them valuable road experience.

    BUSES

    Bus companies are using new buses:some run on new fuels which produce less pollution; some have easier access for disabled and old people. There are special traffic lanes（行车道）to make bus journeys easier and more reliable. So do something to help solve the pollution problem let the bus take you to work and your children to school.

    TRAINS

    All car journeys, long or short, can be hard work. For some trips it is wiser to take the train. Leave your car at home and walk, cycle or take a bus to and from the station. Train travel is fast, safe and comfortable. Train tickets are not always expensive; some are quite cheap at discount.

    Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has good heart, but always feared applying for a new job.

    One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to be interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, "Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It's the least I could do. Please. I insist." Jimmy agreed.

    Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applications waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease (油腻物) on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer's office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, "Do you really need to be interviewed?" Jimmy's heart sank. "With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?" he thought to himself.

    Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy's surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company.

    "Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you'd be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!" Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job.

    If you ever have the desire to break out into song—in the shower, in the car, maybe at your neighbor's karaoke night—you should embrace it whole—heartedly. This ancient art not only makes you feel good, it can also improve your well-being, reduce your feelings of pain, and even extend your life.

    Using your voice to sing, rather than simply carryout a conversation, offers unique benefits because singing affects our bodies. Also, studies link singing with a lower heart rate, decreased blood pressure and reduced stress according to Patricia Preston-Roberts, a music therapist（治疗专家）.   （1）  

    Singing, particularly in a group, seems to benefit the elderly particulartly well. As part of a three一year study examining how singing affects the health of those fifty-five and older, a Senior Singers Chorus was formed by the Levine School of Music in Washington.D.C. The seniors involved in the chorus, as well as seniors in two separate arts groups about writing and painting, showed significant health improvements compared to those in the control groups（对照组）. Obviously, the arts groups reported thirty fewer doctors' visit, fewer eyesight problems, less depression, and less need for medication.   （2）  

    Even lead researcher Dr.Gene D.Coben, director of the Center on Aging at George Washington University, was surprised at how big an effect the seniors' arts participation had on their health. Coben said, "The average age of all the subjects was eighty. This is higher than life expectancy. So, if an effect were to be achieved, one would ordinarily expect to see less decline（下降）compared to the control group. The fact that there was so much improvement in many areas was the surprising factor."   （3）   The seniors also noticed health improvements and they reported feeling better both in daily life and while singing.

The part of the brain that works with spech is different from the part that processes music."People seem to enjoy doing something jointly with other people. There are a lot of facts that being socially involved is good for people with dementia（老年痴呆）." Ballard said.

    The arts are showing up as a treatment tool in hospitals across the country.   （4）    If you are thinking of volunteering, singing at a hospital may be a good choice—not only for the patients, but also for yourself.

    Patrick and Rachel Hugens have biked around the world. The Hugenses, who live in Boise when not on their bikes, are 25 months into their latest round-the-world adventure, scheduled to end in March. They've visited 36 countries on this tour, touching Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. "Traveling by bike is the greatest freedom," Rachel said via email. "You can see people's daily lives and can communicate with them."

    Rachel warns, "Cycle touring can become addictive." Bike tourism is on the rise in the United States and around the world, according to the Adventure Cycling Association. The U. S. Bicycle Route System has grown 66 percent in the past two years and now has a presence in 24 states, including Idaho, and the District of Columbia.

    Dennis Swift，secretary of the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association, rode across the U.S. last year- from Seattle to Salem, Mass. Six people started the tour and three finished, riding 52 out of 56 days. They averaged about 60 miles per riding day. Swift also rode through the Basque Country with a group of Boise cyclists last year. He's planning to participate in a Virginia bike tour this year. "When you get older, your health is most important," he said. "My mom had Alzheimer's disease. They say what's good for health is good for the brain, so riding is one thing to be first in my life."

    This is the third time that the couple have quit their jobs to tour. Rachel is a nurse; Patrick is an architect. Both regained their former jobs when they returned home in 2000 and 2007. They're uncertain what will happen this time. They've given themselves a chance to save extra money by going to work by bike and avoiding some bills that are basic for most ( cell phones, cable TV)."Traveling changes your view of money and what it can do for you," Rachel said. "We've met some cyclists traveling long term. They have many reasons to spend wisely."

    "The fellow cyclists we meet mostly come from Britain, Germany, Spain, Holland, Australia or New Zealand," Rachel said, "It is so nice to see that people all over the world are friendly and welcoming."

假如你是李华，你校学生会将在本周末为留学生举办联欢会。请你给Peter写一封邮件，内容包括:

⒈活动的时间和地点；

⒉活动的内容:唱中文歌；品尝北京小吃；学习包饺子；……

⒊邀请其参加。

开头和结尾已为你写好，不计入总词数。

Dear Peter，

Sincerely，

Li Hua