The Present
It was the old lady\'s birthday.
She got up early to be ready for the post.From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.
Today she was sure the would be something.Myra wouldn\'t forget her mother\'s birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times.Of course Myra was busy.Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work the aged.
The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved.Enid had never married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school round the corner.
One evening, however, Enid said, \"I\'ve arranged for Mrs.Morrison to look after you for a few days, Mother.Tomorrow I have to go into hospital——just a minor operation, I\'ll soon be home.\"
In the morning she went, but never came back——she died on the operating table.Myra came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs.Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.
Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never.
The old lady was eight today.She had put on her best dre.Perhaps——perhaps Myra might come.After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lined or endured just as you chose to look at it.
Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present.The old lady was sure of that.Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks.She was excited——like a child.She would enjoy her day.
Yesterday Mrs.Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast.Mrs.Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea.The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn\'t go out to play until the post had come.
\"I gue you\'ll get lots and lots of presents,\" he said, \"I did last were when I was six.\"
What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps.Or a new cardigan.A cardigan would be lovely.Blue\'s such a pretty colour.Jim had always liked her in blue.Or a table lamp.Or a book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black numbers.So many lovely things.
She stood by the window, watching.The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle.Her heart beat fast.Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.
Then clatter, clatter up the stairs.Johnnie knocked at her door.
\"Granny, granny,\" he shouted, \"I\'ve got your post.\"
He gave her four envelopes.Three were unsealed cards from old friends.The fourth was sealed, in Myra\'s writing.The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.
\"No parcel, Johnnie?\"
\"No, granny.\"
Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post.That was it.It would come later by parcel post.She must be patient.
Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open.Folded in the card was a piece of paper.Written on the card was a meage under the printed Happy Birthday —— Buy yourself something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harold.
The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing.Slowly the old lady stooped to pick it up.Her present, her lovely present.With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits.
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El Nino El Nino means \"little boy\" in Spanish; when capitalized, it refers to the Christ child.This innocent-sounding name originated in the 19th century, when Peruvian sailors noticed that every few years around Christmastime, waters near the coasts warmed up and the current shifted southward.But this \"little boy\" plays havoc around the globe.El Nino occurs when weather patterns in the tropical Pacific shift violently.Normally, strong westward-blowing trade winds off South America push surface water toward Asia.Just as blowing on hot coffee pushes the liquid up against the opposite side of the cup, the trade winds pile warm water against the coastlines of Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.Above the warm water, moist air rises, lowering atmospheric preure and triggering the tropical showers that nourish the rain forests of Asia.Meanwhile high-altitude winds travel back toward South America.There, the cooled air sinks, raising atmospheric preure and suppreing rain along most of the Pacific coast, making it one of the driest regions in the world.But with El Nino, the pattern reverses.Atmospheric preure in the Western Pacific rises, setting the stage for drought from Australia to India.The trade winds decrease, or in extreme years reverse to blow eastward.As a result, a huge ma of warm water flows back toward South America, causing storms from Chile to California.Meanwhile, over the Pacific, ten-mile-high storm clouds further heat the atmosphere, fueling a stronger-than-normal jet stream, which often splits in two.One branch moves north, warming the Pacific Northwest, central Canada and Alaska.Another branch surges south, producing heavy rains in the U.S.Gulf States and Southwest.El Nino\'s vast impact on humans has often been catastrophic.The El Nino of 1982-83 inflicted $13 billion in damage and claimed some 2,000 lives.In Australia day turned to night when a dust storm blanketed Melbourne; brush fires raged in its wake.In place of its normal monsoon, Southern India got dried-up crops and the threat of ma starvation.At the same time, violent rainstorms devastated the Western Hemisphere: Peru\'s fishing industry — once one of the richest in the world — was wiped out, and seaside towns were washed into the Pacific.Is there a good side to El Nino? There can be.Zebiak notes that the number of tropical hurricanes in the Atlantic is reduced during an El Nino year.One theory is that winds created by El Nino shear off the tops of Atlantic hurricanes, aborting them before they reach full force.And a team of scientists in Israel who study tree rings and satellite cloud pictures concluded that El Nino may bring precious moisture to the thirsty Middle East.A new study even shows the EI Nino deserves credit for encouraging plant growth and helping to control pollutant to global warming.
2
Forms of Transportation People traveling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air.Despite the fact most of people choose to travel by train or bus, the most popular forms of transport in China, I like to go by air.(点出要比较的交通工具，表明自己的选择是飞机) Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than 10 hours.（主题句）Though the price is reasonable, I can’t bear the notorious condition that train compartments often get cramped and stuffy.Reading or talking to your seatmates are only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rail soon lulls you to sleep.（首先讨论乘火车：其优点是廉价，但缺点是不舒服，时间长）
Long bus journeys are even le pleasant, for it is quite impoible even to read.（主题句） Though you can travel fairly safely at high speeds since highways are built, the greater part of the journey is still spent on the narrow, bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic.Like the train journey, you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.（其次讨论乘长途汽车：其缺点同样是不舒服，耗时间）
Nothing can match airplanes for speed and comfort though they have the reputation of being dangerous (in fact, the accident rate is much lower than traveling by train and bus).For a couple of hours you sit in a deep armchair to enjoy an exhilarating experience: the extraordinary sight of mountains and deep valleys bellow, of unbroken clouds with the sun shining brilliantly above.The journey is so smooth and fast that you arrive at the destination before you know
3 where you are.（最后讨论飞机，其优点是速度快有舒服）
True, airplanes have the grave disadvantages of being the most expensive form of transport.But nothing is precious than time.Not only does the flight take you only a few hours, but you arrive fresh and uncrumpled.You won’t have to spend the next day recovering from a long and arduous journey like traveling by train and bus.（承认飞机出游的缺点是价格昂贵，但通过对时间的看法，进一步说明乘飞机的好处）
4 Chinese Children and American Children All young children, whatever their culture, are alike in their charm and innocence — in being a clean slate on which the wonders and ways of the world are yet to be written.But during the years I study in a college near Chicago, I learned that American and Chinese children are different in several ways.（引出要比较的主题：美国小孩和中国小孩）
First, young American children tend to be active, enthusiastic and direct.They expre themselves openly whatever they want to say.Chinese children, on the other hand, tend to be paive, quiet and to beat around the bush when voicing their demand.They usually wait to be asked and are lacking in initiative spirit.（美国孩子主动，直率；中国孩子被动，婉转）
Second, American children show their independence.They pride themselves on making their own decision and being responsible for it.Their Chinese counterparts, however, are still looking to their parents and grandparents to tell them what to do in terms of which school they should select and which job they should accept.（美国孩子独立性强；中国孩子依赖性强）
Third, American children tend to more self-reliant.They are taught to believe that money is earned not given.They buy things with their own money.Every piece of housework — be it washing the dishes or mowing the lawn — has a price.But their Chinese counterparts don’t have any knowledge of earning money through housework.They take it for granted that their parents will pay for anything they fancy.（美国孩子做家务为了钱；中国孩子没有做家务挣钱的观念）
5 Children who grow up in a particular culture share certain values and aumptions.It is not surprising that in a society where individualism and self-reliance are streed, children behave more confidently and independently, while in a culture which places the value on respectfulne and moderation, children are more quiet and paive.（归纳：中美两国孩子多方面的不同反映了两国价值观念的不同）
Modes of Traveling With the increased standard of living and the declining working weeks, more and more city-dwellers are taking their holidays in scenic spots and places of interest.Most of them like to join package tours as this mode of travel is said to be most convenient.But I prefer to travel individually for freedom.(倾向于自助旅游) It is true that joining a package tour can bring great convenience.You don’t have to worry about room and board during the travel, nor about your transportation.The guide will take care of everything.What you do is to follow the guide and enjoy the scenery.But you lose your freedom for this.At the sight of his/her flag waving, you have to take yourself away from the scenes you are marveling at and follow the guide whose sole interest is to cover all spots according to his schedule, regardle of the weather or your health condition.（先肯定旅行社优点，马上分析其缺点）
Individual travel, however, gives you a great degree of freedom.In climbing mountains, you can choose to drive up in cable cars, or take pleasure in the proce of climbing.You can decide when to start your way, where to linger a little longer and which spot to be skipped over to save time for another spot.You can always adjust your plan.（转到自助旅游，详细阐述其优点）
Traveling alone, you may encounter inconvenience such as getting accommodation for the night and a place for meals.But you can choose the hotel and restaurant to your liking, and avoid the embarrament of being forced to share a table or a room with a stranger.（用一句话承认自助旅游有食
7 宿困难，但在这一点上继续分析其优点）
To have a holiday tour is to enjoy and relax yourself, and to relax thoroughly, freedom is of eence.If you lose the freedom of action, it is no longer a holiday in anything but name.For this reason I like traveling alone with several friends.（归纳自助旅游优点，结论）
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Studying Abroad With the improved living standard and China more open to the world, more and more young people choose to pursue their higher education in foreign countries, such as America, Britain or Australia.Generally speaking, the advantages of studying overseas outweigh its disadvantages.(利弊兼具，作者并无明显的赞成或反对态度) The main benefit of studying abroad is academic one.Obviously in western colleges and universities, the laboratories are more sophisticated, and book resources more up-to-date.More importantly, they have first-rate profeors who are aware of all the latest developments in their respective fields.Hence the standard of teaching is much higher.
Besides academic benefits, there are other advantages.For example, exposure to foreign culture and contact with students from different countries and different backgrounds will broaden their mind and make them more tolerant.Living alone in the foreign land will also offer greater opportunity to develop their independence, their personalities and many other interpersonal skills.Despite these obvious advantages, we should not overlook negative effects.For example, the overseas students may experience loneline and homesickne, an experience so overwhelming that many could not endure it.Though overseas study has its drawbacks, the advantages are obvious.Provided that it is financially feasible, an oversea education may do a person more good than harm.（谨慎的肯定态度）
9 Will Phones Kill Letter Writing?
According to a recent survey made by the China Daily, about 200 million Chinese are using phones as their daily communications means instead of writing letters.So some people say that phones will kill letter writing.But I don’t think so.
My argument that phones will not kill letter writing lies in at least three aspects.First, letter writing as a traditional way of communication still has some advantages over phones.For example, if people want to expre something confidential to their close friends, they will turn to letter writing.Another example is that rural workers who are working far away from their hometown are more likely to write letters to their families than to make phone calls for the purpose of saving money.Second, letter writing is more authoritative and formal in some way.For instance, people who are doing busine will write formal busine letters to do a deal; people who want to recommend or introduce someone to someone else will write letter of recommendation or letter of introduction, etc.Last but not least, letter writing is still regarded as a token of friendship among friends.People always write letters to show their everlasting love and affection.All in all, letter writing is still very popular among people.It is still a good way for people to communicate with each other and it is impoible to be killed by phones.
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Easy Ways to Avoid an Argument
It\'s natural to take offense if someone is rude.You may think, what a jerk! But blurting out how you feel will only make matters worse.Dealing with difficult people is a part of everyday life, and there are ways you can stand up for yourself without starting an argument.I call these techniques \" Tongue Fu!\" Handle arguments with humor.All of us tend to lose our temper.If you find yourself in a difficult situation, try having fun with it.As an IRS worker explained to me, \" Almost everyone who comes in here is hostile.Instead of taking offense, we\'ve posted bulletin boards with comic strips that poke fun at the IRS, which we jokingly call the Income Removal Service.When taxpayers see these, their attitudes change for the better.\" When people complain, don\'t explain.The phone rings at work.You pick up and the caller launches into a complaint: \"I asked for a catalogue three weeks ago and I still don\'t have it! What kind of busine are you running, anyway?\" Don\'t bother explaining that half the staff is out with the flu.Well-intentioned though they may be, such explanations usually add to the complainer\'s anger because they come acro as excuses.Avoid explaining in detail what went wrong.Instead, agree, apologize and then move on to what can be done about it.Simply say: \"You\'re right.I\'m sorry you haven\'t received it yet.If I can have your name and addre again, I\'ll personally put it in the mail to you today.\" Agree to disagree.A man I know said he and his wife went to her parents\' house for dinner one night.\"While we were eating,\" he recalled, \"I mentioned
11 that the highway construction was stalled again.My father-in-law said he was glad.\'That highway never should\'ve been built! It\'s destroying an important historical valley.\' \"Well, I spend over an hour each way commuting to work.I told him I thought the highway was a neceary evil because there are four times as many cars as there were ten years ago, on the same number of road.My wife\'s dad grumbled that it was typical of my selfish generation to think more about our commuting time than a significant archeological site.
\"I lost my patience and said, \'You can\'t stop progre.\' That did it.My father-in-law stood up and walked away, saying, \'I don\'t have to sit here and listen to this at my own dinner table.\' \"I wish the whole thing had never happened.If I had been alert to his feelings about the matter, I could have prevented the whole unfortunate incident by saying, \'Let\'s agree to disagree about this,\' and politely directing the conversation to something else.\" One effective way to avoid an argument is to say, \"We\'re both right!\" and move on to a safer topic.For example, you and your wife disagree about how to discipline your teenager, and your discuion is turning into an argument.Just because you aren\'t seeing eye to eye doesn\'t mean you\'re enemies.Saying \"Hey, we both want the same thing\" can get you out of the quarrelsome mode and get you working together again.No matter what the situation, augments are a waste or, at best, a misuse of time.By avoiding meaningle arguments, everybody wins.
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