A spring morning

Meng Haoran

“Hey, how are you doing? I’m Courtney. What grade are you in? What’s your favourite book? Elephant and Piggy? Yeah, I got it.”

If you think you have walked into a library with a _________ like that, you are exactly wrong. _________, you’ve entered the workplace of Courtney Holmes, known as the Storybook Barber (理发师).

Two years ago, his small town held its first yearly Back to School Party, offering needy families a _________ to learn about free resources in the community. Holmes, a warm-hearted barber agreed to take part. Though he was very busy, he choose to donate his _________ to give free haircuts to needy kids so that they’d look tidy on that first chose to donate his day of school. Suddenly, a(n) _________ went through his mind, “The kids should go on getting their free _________ by having to read a book to me.”

The idea was so _________ that he continued it for the next two years. Kids aged 5-10 would grab a favourite book, sit in the barber chair, and _________ while Holmes snipped (剪). If they stuttered (结结巴巴) over a word, Holmes was there to _________.

After the haircut, they’d __________ the books, from the characters and vocabulary to the themes — just like in school, only more fun. Holmes realized that not every __________ had the time to read with their kids. He had a talk with his neighbour Mr. Smith, “You have four kids, and you are so __________ that sitting down and listening to them read is the last thing you have time to do. Just bring in your kids and let them read to __________.”

Holmes added, “I, too, __________ the free snip-and-reads. Last month, there was a seven-year-old boy, Bob, who tried hard to read through his book, stuttering over words, and then I asked the boy to take the book home and practice. __________ the kid came back a few days later, he read it with no problems. That inspires (鼓舞) me,” said Holmes.

Store Guide

Here’s a list that shows what is on each floor of a department store.

A．

B．

C．

D．

Want to enjoy some exercise at home? Here are some online fitness live courses for you!

	LIU GENGHONG’S SHUTTLECOCK EXERCISE Build strong bodies in a fantastic way! Shuttlecock exercise does not require equipment(装备) and is perfect for people to perform at home. Liu Genghong helps you to keep going until the last minute, and you can burn your fat fast. Time: 7 p.m.—8:30 p.m. on weekdays 9 a.m.—10:30 a.m. at weekends
	LATIN DANCE WITH KAREN Have fun and get fit! Do you love dancing and parties? Well, Latin dance is for you—it mixes great music and dancing with hard exercise (burn 1, 000 calories an hour). Karen is an experienced Latin dance trainer and many people like her classes very much. Time: 2 p.m.—4 p.m. on weekdays 9 a.m.—11 a.m. at weekends
	YOGA WITH SARA Exercise your body and mind! Sara’s yoga classes are perfect for people who want to improve their strength and shape their bodies. Sara has trained in several different styles of yoga. Time:3 p.m.—4 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday for beginners 4 p.m.—5 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday for experienced learners
	JOHN’S SPIN CLASSES Have a lot of fun on a bike! Spin classes are a safe and effective way to work out—it doesn’t matter how old you are or how fit you are. John is an excellent spin trainer who’ll inspire you to do your best in every class. Time: 7 p.m.—8 p.m. every day

Daniel, Sandy and Simon are in the lab.

Simon: Let’s do an experiment. I fill a jar(罐子) with water. I cover the top with a piece of cardboard(纸板) and hold it there. Then I turn the jar upside down and take my hand off the cardboard. Can you guess what will happen?

Daniel: I think the floor will get wet. We should do this experiment outside, Simon.

Sandy: I think the cardboard will hold the water.

Daniel: I don’t think so.

Sandy: You think the water will pour out, Daniel. I think the water will stay in the jar. Let’s do the experiment to test whose opinion is correct.

Simon: Good idea, Sandy. That is called the scientific method.

Sandy: I am so sure of my opinion that Simon can do the experiment over your head and I know you won’t get wet.

Daniel: Well, let’s try.

Simon: Are you ready, Daniel?

Daniel: No! Wait! (He puts on a raincoat and sits down.) Now I think I’m ready.

Sandy: Simon, take your hand off the cardboard.

Daniel: No! (Daniel closes his eyes tightly(紧紧地), and Simon takes his hand off the cardboard. The water stays in the jar.)

Sandy: See, Daniel!

Daniel: How is that possible?

Simon: The force(力) of the air keeps the water in the jar. It is strong enough to hold the water.

Daniel: Wow!

Simon: So what have we discovered?

Sandy: We have discovered the air pressure(压力) helps the cardboard hold the water in the jar.

Simon: Right. What do you conclude, Daniel?

Daniel: I conclude that air is stronger than I thought.

Ancient art doesn’t have to be boring. Technology in the 21st century can help to bring it to life by combining(融合) the best of the old and the new.

Walking into the China Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, people were amazed by seeing a huge digital(数码的) painting. Scientists digitized(数码化) the famous painting Along the River During the Qingming Festisal by Chinese artist Zhang Zeduan.

The original(原先的) painting shows life during the Northern Song period and it includes many details of ancient Chinese customs, lifestyles and technology.

           Farmers work in the fields, sailors move around their boats and people eat and do business in restaurants. Parts of the background are also animated(做成动画). You can see the wind blowing through the trees and across the water. These animations perfectly combine modern technology and ancient art.

Digital technology allows today’s artists to express their ideas in ways that ancient artists would not believe possible. Techniques such as animation and 3D digital projection(投影) make art come alive.

Dunhuang Caves, which are protected ancient treasures in the Gobi desert in Northwest China, are filled with paintings and sculptures with lasting value. This artwork was created over a period of around 1,000 years.

The good news is for art lovers who cannot travel and for the caves. Scientists have created a 360-degree, 3D digital projection of the caves, which makes the artwork come alive. There is also a function(功能) that lets viewers zoom in and enjoy the paintings and sculptures in greater detail.

Digitising ancient art allows us to explore the ancient practices. It also makes the whole world understand the art while protecting the original artworks for the future.

Flora and her dad are moving to a new house soon. Next week, workers will turn the yard of the old house into a car park. The yard is full of beautiful flowers grown by Flora and Dad.

“My poor flowers,” Flora complains in a low voice, looking at the bright purple blooms(花朵) sadly. She sits outside, selling things she doesn’t want to take to the new house. Beside her hangs a sign that says Yard Sale. Several of her neighbours come to have a look.

Dad comes out, holding some snacks in his hands. “Here’s a snack for everyone,” he says. Flora’s dad loves sharing things.

Occasionally(偶然地), Flora digs her heels(鞋后跟) deep into the grass. Then she feels the soft earth move under her heels, and she knows what she can do.

She whispers her plan to Dad. He nods with a smile. Flora takes out some flowerpots(花盆) happily and finds a tool to dig with. Carefully she digs up the flowers with some earth and puts them into the pots.

She lines up the pots near her sign. Now she is ready to be a generous person, just like her Dad.

“How much is a pot?” asks Ana from next door.

“Zero cents!” she smiles and says, “Pick any pot you like!”

Have you ever compared your handwriting with your friends’ to see how different it is? Like fingerprints, no two people share the same handwriting. Your handwriting can actually say a lot about what kind of person you are. Try writing out a sentence: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Then see what your handwriting says about you.

Size of your handwriting

Did you know that the size of your handwriting can represent the level of your self-respect and self-awareness(自我意识)? Large handwriting may show that you’re easy to get along with and you want to be noticed by others. On the other hand, small handwriting may mean that you’re shy and careful, and always pay attention to details. Medium-sized handwriting shows that you can get used to a new environment easily.

Spacing between words

Do you leave a large space between your words when you write? According to a study, the distance between two words can show how close or how far you feel towards others. If you write with wide spacing between your words, it may mean that you enjoy your freedom. On the other hand, people leaving narrow spacing between words may like staying with others.

Slant(倾斜) of the words

Did you know that the slant in your handwriting can tell how you treat people and things around you? Slanting to the right means you welcome or accept new ideas easily. And you consider your friends and family are more important than anything else. While slanting to the left may show that you think deeply about your own thoughts, feelings or behaviors. And you like to work behind the scenes better. If you write without slanting at all, you may be practical.

Although the handwriting analyses(分析) are not always true, we can read them for fun. What matters most is you should write carefully.

It was a beautiful fall day. I was out riding my bicycle. I guessed I rode over a hole in the road. All of a sudden, WHAM(砰)! I fell off my bicycle. My right side really h
68．!

My head hit the ground h
69．. I lay there for a few minutes. I tried to get up, b
70． I failed! “There must be s
71． wrong with me,” I thought. I felt so t
72． that I had to still lie there. Then I saw b
73． on my shoe. My hand and knee were bleeding.

As I lay there, I took off my helmet. There was a sharp rock sticking out of it. I looked at it in f
74．. Thank goodness I wore my helmet!

I shouted for help. At that time, a truck went by. The driver s
75． his truck and came to help me. He put my bicycle in the back of his truck and drove me to the hospital.

When my mother got to the hospital, she gave me a big hug(拥抱). “I’m so glad you were wearing your helmet. The helmet saved your life,” she said. She knew I was c
76． before and did not always wear my helmet. “Mum, it was not the helmet i
77． that saved my life, but safety awareness did. I’ll ride my bicycle with great care later on!”

我们在变化中成长，成长让我们的人生充满意义。回首三年初中时光，我们在学习、思想、性格、生活等方面发生了很多变化。你所在学校公众号的英语写作栏目正在开展“我的成长”征文活动，请分享你初中三年中的成长故事，具体讲述其中一个变化。