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A Different Kind of Spring Break
For many American university students, the weeklong spring break holiday means an endless party on a sunny beach. In Panama City Beach, Florida more than half a million university students arrive during the month of March to play and party, making it the number one spring break place in the United States.
A weeklong party is not for everyone, however, and a growing number of American university students have found a way to make spring break matter. For them, joining or leading a group of volunteers to help solve problems such as homelessness or environmental damage makes spring break a special learning experience that university students can feel good about.
During one spring break week, students from James Madison University in Virginia took part in 15 “spring break” trips to nearby states, three others to more distant parts of the United States, and five international trips. One group of JMU students traveled to Bogalusa, Louisiana, to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane (飓风) Katrina. Another group traveled to Mississippi to organize creative activities for children living in a homeless shelter. One group of students did go to Florida, but not to lie on the sand. They did some work to help protect the native Florida plants.
Students who take part in spring break projects find them very rewarding (值得的). While most university students have to get their degrees before they can start helping people, student volunteers are able to help people right now without degrees. On the other hand, the buildings or rooms they live or stay are far from attractive. Students often sleep on the floor of a school or church. But they only pay around $250 for meals and transportation, which is much less than some of their friends spend traveling to more traditional spring break hot spots.
Spring break projects appear to be growing in popularity at universities across the United States. Some students take the opportunity to meet new friends. Others want to exercise their beliefs to make the world a better place. Whatever their reasons, these students have discovered something that give them rich rewards along with a break from school work.
1.What's the number one spring break place in the United States?
2.What is the way to make spring break matter for some students?
3.How did the students help in Bogalusa, Louisiana?
4.Where do the student volunteers often sleep?
5.What makes the spring break projects more rewarding?
No One’s Words but My Own
The classroom was full of those of us who wanted to work on the school newspaper. I didn’t write a lot, but working on the paper sounded like fun. I liked the idea of being a reporter, interviewing my friends, and covering middle school events.
To be chosen, we had to turn in an example of our _______. I wrote an article about the joys of summer, and showed it to my father, a talented poet. He read it and frowned(皱眉).
“It’s okay,” my father said, taking out a pencil. “But how about changing this sentence to …” And as a result, he rewrote the whole piece─without me, for I never said anything to _______ him.
No surprise─his version (版本) was wonderful. He had a gift for language. It was so much better than my piece that I turned in his version instead of mine.
“Welcome to the Dundee School News,” my teacher said to me. But before I could be _______ about the news, he added, “based on that excellent article you wrote about summer, I expect you to write a personal opinion article every week for the second page of the paper.”
I was so surprised. I was unable to write at that level, but I couldn’t tell the _______ to the teacher, and I couldn’t ask my father for help, either.
That term working on the paper was really painful. And my teacher expressed _______, “Can’t you write something more like that first piece you wrote?” he said, each time I turned in my article.
I couldn’t, because at that age, I didn’t have my father’s ability and experience as a writer. Week after week, I tried hard, but my writing never _______ the level of the first article.
At last, to my total shame, another student took my place. I _______ that my father rewrote my first article himself, instead of trying to help me to improve it. But in my heart I knew it was my fault (错误) because I allowed him to do it.
Later, I did become a successful writer on my own. Looking back, I realized that the pain and shame of that school experience had a _______ side. It taught me to depend on myself and be myself. So every day, I try to use my own words, find my own style and be my own best self. It feels great.
1.A.report B.newspaper C.writing D.homework
2.A.help B.stop C.allow D.praise
3.A.excited B.worried C.nervous D.confident
4.A.truth B.excuse C.feeling D.answer
5.A.honestly B.patiently C.hopefully D.disappointedly
6.A.set B.reached C.raised D.changed
7.A.agreed B.realized C.remembered D.complained
8.A.magic B.serious C.bright D.strange
--- Judy, could you tell me_______the schoolbag?
--- Oh, yes. I bought it in a store on the Internet.
A.where did you buy B.where will you buy
C.where you bought D.where you will buy
Today, computers are really helpful. They ______ everywhere.
A.use B.are used C.used D.were used
My mother _____ some washing when the telephone rang yesterday evening.
A.does B.did C.will do D.was doing
It’s nice to see you again. We ______ each other for a long time.
A.didn’t see B.haven’t seen C.won’t see D.don’t see
