Nina is reading a book about endangered natural and cultural destinations（目的地）in the world. The writer wants the book to be a hopeful call to action. Let's visit some of these places.
| The ancient city of , Italy has long been threatened（威胁）by rising sea levels. The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient building are slowly sinking. When the city was founded about 1, 600 years ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost 2 meters lower than it is today. |
Mount Kilimanjaro | in northeastern Tanzania, is the highest point in Africa. The mountain supports 5 plant areas and many kinds of animals. The ice giaciers（冰川）on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. This will have a bad effect on the mountain's ecosystems and on Tanzania's travel industry. |
| In the US, the icy blocks in Glacier National Park may soon completely disappear because of weather change. In 1850, there were about 150 glaciers. There are 26 glaciers remaining today. Scientists say the glaciers will be gone by 2030. |
| The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the largest coral reef（珊瑚礁）system in the world. Rising sea temperatures are greatly harming the reef. In some areas, healthy yellow, brown and green reefs have become white, which is bad for the whole ecosystem of this special underwater area. |
The animated film Ne Zha 2, released on January 29, 2025, has become a huge success in the film industry. Directed by the famous director Jiaozi(Yang Yu), it continues the exciting story of Ne Zha and Ao Bing from the first movie.
After surviving（幸存）a terrible disaster called the"Heavenly Tribulation（天劫）, " Ne Zha and Ao Bing lost their physical bodies. Their souls were in great danger until Taiyi Zhenren, a wise immortal from Chinese mythology（神话）, saved them using a magical seven-colored lotus. However, peace did not last long. Their souls began to disappear again, forcing Taiyi Zhenren to face a difficult task-rebuilding their bodies with limited materials while solving unexpected problems.
The film shows remarkable character growth. Ne Zha, once known for his rebellious nature, learns to care deeply for his friends and understand his true self. His friend Ao Bing, who used to struggle（抗争）with personal troubles, transforms into a brave warrior. In one powerful scene, Ao Bing declares courageously, "If there's no path, I' ll create one!"
Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes. It begins with exciting scenes of flowing lava like wild rivers and terrifying sea monsters jumping out of the water, making viewers feel as if they are part of the action. Beyond the action, Ne Zha 2 teaches important life lessons. It encourages people to stay brave when facing difficulties, fight for what is right. and value friendship: These themes resonate（共鸣）with both young and adult audiences. The film has broken box office records, earning an astonishing amount in its first week. Many people praise its perfect mix of cultural elements, exciting storytelling, and positive messages.
Habits get created in our brains kind of like the way a groove（沟，槽）gets cut into a path.
Suppose you ride your bicycle on a path every day. The repeated pressure of your tires（轮胎）on the path wears a groove into it. In time, it's hard not to ride in that groove. It takes effort to keep your bicycle out of the groove.
Similarly, a habit is cut into your brain. When you do something the same way repeatedly, or for the same reasons, your brain notices. "Oh, this is what we do when we' re avoiding homework? We pick up the phone? Got it. " You get"into the habit" of doing something.
You may even get pleasant feelings from the habit, at least at first. Your brain says, "Ah, fun and relaxation", or, "I feel calmer, I like this!"
Finally, though, it can seem as if you just end up doing the habit without stopping. You may not know how to get the rewards（奖赏）you want without it.
____ One of the ways is just to notice them at first. Think about what rewards they give you, Joy? Activity when you' re bored? What do you get out of a habit, or what does it help you avoid?
Then think about whether you can get the rewards you want in other ways, without the downstairs you want. For example, instead of avoiding homework, you might deal with the challenge and feel the reward of getting it done! Notice how great it feels when you don't have it weighing you down. Next time, remind yourself of that great feeling of the pride you felt--when you broke your habit.
When a habit attracts you, take a deep breath. Remind yourself of your goal. Tell your brain, "You' ve got this. "Because, with effort, and maybe some help and guidance, you do! You can make your bicycle stay out of the groove. You may even decide to ride down a different path.
Do you often hear birdsong outside the window? How do you feel when you hear it? In fact, it is shown that birdsong can influence people's life.
Birdsong sounds especially nice in winter because it reminds people of spring. A study found that listening to birdsong for six minutes can help reduce people's stress. It's hard to feel sad when you hear birds singing or talking, as the energy in their songs make people feel like walking in the garden. Unlike music, which can sometimes make you produce strong feelings, birdsong is usually seen as positive or neutral（中性的）. If you live in a noisy city, birdsong can be a welcome relief from the stress caused by outside noise.
Another benefit is that birdsong has also been found to improve focus and concentration. It can help people focus on their tasks and be more productive. That's because when people play birdsong in the background at work, it seems that a"wall" is built to help them stay away from the unpleasant noise outside. In this way, birdsong can be a powerful tool to improve productivity at work.
Carrie Torn, a doctor in North Carolina has also found that birdsong makes it easier to help people enter a deep sleep. Birdsong, as a kind of white noise, can slow down people's heartbeats and breath. After listening to birdsong for a long time, a conditioned response（条件反射）is developed in their brains. Therefore, birdsong becomes a signal of entering sleep, which helps them fall asleep faster than before and improve their sleep quality.
Birdsong, a gift from nature, connects people with calmer, more natural settings and makes people feel happier and healthier. So, next time you hear a bird sınging, take a moment to enjoy its beautiful melody and let it bring a little joy to your day!
If you' re lost in the wild without a compass（指南针）to guide you, don't worry! ___
◆Shadow-stick method
First, find a stick. Plant it upright in the ground. Then put a rock on the ground to mark the tip（尖端）of the stick's shadow（影子）. And wait for about 15-20 minutes. Take another rock and mark the new location of the tip of the stick's shadow. Draw a straight line between the rocks. Since the sun is moving west across the sky, the shadow's new position will be further east. So mark a"W" on the first position and an"E" on the new one. Put your left foot on the"W" and your right one on the"E". ___In this way, you can find your way easily.
◆Secret language of trees
___ To us, the sun is usually in the southern part of the sky. That means that leaves will be thicker on the southern side of a tree. If you happen to see a stump（树桩）, check its ring pattern. The tree rings will be thicker on the northern side but thinner on the southern side.
◆Finding the North Star
The North Star can show you where true north is in the Northern Hemisphere（北半球）. First you need to find the Big Dipper. ___ Its outer edge（外边缘）, which looks like the end of a spoon, is made up of 2 stars. Draw a line outward from them. This line should extend（延伸）throer gh the top of the spoon until you reach a star of similar brightness. The North Star sits at the end of it. When you' re facing the North Star, you' re facing true north.
A. It is quite useful when it's windy. B. Here are some easy ways to help you. C. When you' re in this position, your front will be facing north. D. It looks like a large spoon and is made up of seven stars. E. Sometimes plants can also give you a basic idea of directions. |
Will you use these methods when you are lost in the wild? Why or why not?（不超过15词）___
Recycling is not only good for the environment, but also gives something that seems not so valuable a change to be something else. Mateo Lange, a 15-year-old from Michigan, US, is bringing1 to the environment and his community through his weekend recycling efforts.
At 11 years old, while playing baseball, Lange2 his team needed money for competitions. He soon came up with a plan. In Michigan, cans and bottles can be3 and redeemed（兑换）for money. The amount is 10 cents per item and is added as an extra fee at the time of buying to4 litter and protect the environment.
With the help of his5 , Lange started a recycling program, raising $7, 500 in just a few weeks. "We' ve raised so much money,6 why not continue as long as we can?" he said. This success made him7 and encouraged to continue the project with his father
In 2019, Michigan stopped its recycling program, leading to bottles and cans8 accumulating（堆积） in people's homes.
Lange's recycling9 offered a solution. With his father's help, they helped people get rid of their recyclables and10 did pickups from people's homes. "I' d just run out, knock on the door and say, "I'm here to11 litter. I'd catch the bags and pull them to the truck, "Lange said.
Since 2020, Lange's recycling plan has raised $350, 000 and helped over 50 local youth groups. Besides, it has prevented more than 2 million bottles and cans 12 polluting Michigan's roadsides, lakes and rivers. "It has kept our community a lot13 , " Lange said.
In 2023, Lange received the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, recognizing14 environmental efforts and community impact. He believed the world would become a much better place.
Lange always said, "Be15 . Have an idea and build on it, " Whenever he was asked about his cleanup achievements.
Tanghulu is made of wild fruits strung together on bamboo sticks. The fruit is apped in maltose（麦芽糖）, which quickly hardens, and it tastes both sweet and sour. It's ___ very common snack in Northern China in winter. Nowadays, it is getting increasingly popular in European countries. And it has also stolen the food ___(lover) hearts in South Korea. Surprisingly, the number of tanghulu which ___(sell) irs some stores can even reach more than 200 skewers（串）every day.
The reason for ___(it) popularity is that it tastes really good and it can be made with many different ingredients. In China, people say that"Anything can be made into tanghulu". The Internet ___(help) make tanghulu famous in South Korea. Many teenagers and young ___(adult)have seen tanghulu online and want to try it. This shows that food can become popular very quickly when it is shared ___ the Internet.
The popularity of tanghulu in South Korea gives us some inspiration No matter how delicious the food is, it has to be adapted（适应）to the local customs, especially ___ going abroad. The eating habits of consumers（消费者）in other countries should be thought abon, tanghulu has ___(actual) experienced a"localization" process in South Korea.
Integrating（使融合）___(tradition) Chinese food with South Korean eating nabits, tanghulu brings not only a mixture of taste, but also culture.
model, become, be proud of, different, simple |
DeepSeek is a really cool and powerful Chinese AI tool. It has got noticed all around the world recently because it works excellently and doesn't cost much. DeepSeek-V3 is one of its advanced ___ . It shows how strong China is in making AI. DeepSeek helps people in lots of ___ ways. It makes our work and study much ___A lot of people in China___ JeepSeek. We all believe it ___a lot better in the future. It will bring much more good things to the whole world.
In a small town, there lived a young boy named Alex. From as far back as he could remember, Alex had dreamed of becoming an astronaut. His room was full of posters of rocket ships, and he spent his nights looking up at the stars, imagining himself ___（在其中）them.
Yet, as he grew older, people around him began to ___（怀疑）his dream. They told him that becoming an astronaut was impossible for a boy from a small towи. But Alex remained brave and ___耐心的), for he believed in the power of dreams
He worked hard at his studies, excelling in math and science. He read every book about space he could find and built model rockets in his spare time. His determination was unwavering, and he spent hours ___（准备）for his dream.
When he reactred high school, an astronaut visited to make a ___（演讲）. Alex jumped at the ___（机会）to speak with him and learn more about the path to becoming an astronaut. The astronaut was mpressed by Alex's passion and gave him advice on how to be successful.
After that, Alex set his sights on a top university to study aerospace engineering. He knew it wouldn't be an___（容易）job, but he was ready to face every challenge.
Years passed, and Alex's hard work ___（最后）paid off. He graduated with honors and was accepted into an astronaut training program.
With a strong heart and a mind focused on learning, he had reached for the stars and ___（甚至）touched them. We are sure there is a bright future ___（在前面）waiting for him.
| I'm interested in Chinese culture, and I like to learn . . . |
Chinese fairy tales ☆have excellent teachers ☆watch movies about these tales ☆perform on the stage … | Arts and crafts（手工艺） ☆visit some local museums ☆enjoy the stories behind them ☆experience the making process … |
注意：1. 邮件需包含所选拓展课程的相关信息，可适当发挥；
2. 文中不得出现真实姓名，学校等信息；
3. 词数80词左右，邮件的开头已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Frank,
I'm excited to know that you are coming to our school soon.
Yours,
Li Hua
Venice
Glacier National Park
Great Barrier Reef
Frank