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　　Most children, even the youngest of children, are delighted to be around cats and dogs．But these pets carry plenty of germs and allergens(过敏原), prompting researchers to ask：Are cats and dogs really safe for children?

　　A study finds that, contrary to many parents' fears, owning cats or dogs does not increase a child's risk of developing allergies, and in fact, may actually protect them．The study's lead author, Dr．Dennis Ownby of the Medical College of Georgia, said that even he was “very surprised” by the results．Ownby and colleagues followed more than 470 children from birth to age 6 or 7, comparing those exposed to cats and dogs during their first years of life to those who were not．

　　By using skin-prick tests for detecting common allergies, the researchers found that, contrary to what many doctors had been taught for years, children who had lived with a pet were not at greater risk．

　　Even more remarkable, children who had two or more dogs or cats had an even greater reduction, up to 77 percent, in risk of allergies．Researchers suggest this protective effect may be the result of early exposure to lots of bacteria that are carried by dogs and cats．Exposing young children to these bacteria helps “exercise” their immune(免疫的)systems early in life so that they're better able to resist allergic diseases later．

　　“There's something very important in the first years of life when the immune system is developing that we can retrain it away from an allergic response,” said Dr．William Davis．

　　And while researchers are not encouraging parents to buy dogs or cats just to reduce a child's allergy risk, they say if a family already has one or more animals, there's no need to get rid of them．

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　　Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer．I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there's a big difference between “being a writer” and writing．In most cases these individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter．“You've got to want to write,” I say to them, “not want to be a writer．”

　　The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-pay affair．For every writer kissed by fortune there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded．When I left a 20-year career in the U．S．Coast Guard to become a freelance writer, I had no hope at all．What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York apartment building．It didn't even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom．I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a great writer．

　　After a year or so, however, I still hadn't got a break and began to doubt myself．It was so hard to sell a story that hardly made enough to eat．But I knew I wanted to write．I had dreamed about it for years．I wasn't going to be one of those people who die wondering, “What if?” I would keep putting my dream to the test, even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure．This is the Shadowland of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there．

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　　A lot of us lose life's tough battles by starting a frontal(正面的)attack-when a touch of humor might well enable us to win．Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who hit a traffic jam on his way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒)about being late on the job．Although there was a good reason for Sam's a being late-serious illness at home-he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn't work any longer．His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech．

　　Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9∶35．The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work．Sam's supervisor came up to him．Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand．“How do you do!” he said．“I'm Sam Maynard．I'm applying for a job．Which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago．Does the early bird get the worm?”

　　The room exploded in laughter．The supervisor clamped off a smile and walked back to his office．Sam Maynard had saved his job-with the only tool that could win, a laugh．

　　Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected(忽略), means of handling the difficult situations in our lives．It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying “no”, criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face．For some jobs, it's the only tool that can succeed．It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel．For example, many believe that comedians(喜剧演员)on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance(忍受力)than people in any other forum．

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　　When Johnson called again, the manager received him very politely．“That is a most remarkable oil you brought us, Mr Johnson,” he said．Johnson nodded his smooth, dark head．That was something he knew very well．“I've never seen anything like it,” the manager admitted．Johnson nodded again．“No?” he said politely．Then he added, “But I think you will, sir．A very great deal of it．” He appeared to think for a moment．“I think you will find it will be on sale seven, perhaps, eight years from now．” He smiled．

　　The manager thought that was uncertain．He said, “It is better than our fish oils．I admit that．” “So I am told, sir,” agreed Johnson．

　　“Have you any plans to produce it yourself, Mr Johnson?”

　　Johnson smiled again．“Would I be showing it to you if I had?”

　　“We might add some chemicals to one of our own fish oils,” said the manager．

　　“It would be expensive to do that, even if you could．” Johnson said gently．“Besides,” he added, “I am told that this oil will be much cheaper than your best fish oils．Cheaper than any vegetable oil, in fact．”

　　“Perhaps,” said the manager．“Well, I suppose you want to make an arrangement, Mr Johnson, Shall we discuss it?”

　　“Of course,” said Johnson．“There are two ways of dealing with a situation of this sort．The usual one is to prevent it altogether or at least to delay it as long as possible．That is, of course, the best way,” The manager nodded．He knew plenty about all that．

　　“But I am so sorry for you, because, you see, that is not possible this time．” The manager had his doubts, but all he said was an inquiring(asking), “Oh?”

　　“The other way,” continued Johnson, “is to produce yourself before the trouble starts．”

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　　One of the best-known American writers of children's books is Alfred Strong, or Doctor Strong, as he is better known to readers everywhere．Now, an art show called “Doctor Strong From Then to Now” is travelling around the United States．The pictures and drawings show the history of Doctor Strong．

　　Doctor Strong first became famous almost fifty years ago when his first children's book was published．Since then, he has written forty-five books that have sold more than one hundred million copies around the world．

　　Doctor Strong's books are known for their easy use of words and colorful, hand-drawn pictures．These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures．The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and hundreds of others．

　　The San Diego Museum, in California, organized the art show．It included about three hundred Doctor Strong's original(最早的)drawings and some of his writings．

　　Most of Doctor Strong's books, although written in a funny way, have serious messages．For example, in Mc Elligot's Pool, he describes the danger of pollution．He discusses the arms race in The Butter Battle Book, written in nineteen eighty-four．

　　Doctor Strong is almost eighty-four years old now．He says he never planned to write stories just for children．He says he writes stories that interest people of all ages．He says he uses easy words so that everyone, even a child, can understand．

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　　A Frenchman went to a small Italian town and was staying with his wife at the best hotel there．One night, he went out for a walk alone．It was late and the small street was dark and quiet．Suddenly he felt someone behind him．He turned his head and saw an Italian young man who quickly walked past him．The man was nearly out of sight when the Frenchman suddenly found that his watch was gone．He thought that it must be the Italian who had taken his watch．He decided to follow him and get back the watch．

　　Soon the Frenchman caught up with the Italian．Neither of them understood the other's language．The Frenchman frightened the Italian with his fist(拳头)and pointed at the Italian's watch．In the end the Italian gave up his watch to the Frenchman．

　　When he returned to the hotel, the Frenchman told his wife what had happened．He was greatly surprised when his wife pointed to the watch on the table．Now he realized that by mistake he had robbed the watch and it was the Italian's．

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　　Dear Sir or Madam,

　　With so many students going or having gone to study abroad in our school, Weiwei Tang is among the few for whom writing a letter of recommendation is really a pleasure．

　　I first saw her when I worked as a tutor teacher(班主任)of a class in the third year of its senior high school．That day, I was on the playground supervising the morning exercises of my class．Next to mine were the classes of the freshmen．Among them was a girl, to whom the morning excises of our school seemed totally alien(陌生的)．She didn't seem to be worried or embarrassed, but she exercised to the music, copying the moves of her classmates．Her confidence impressed me．

　　Later, when I was watching an English talent show in our school, I saw the girl again．She was hosting the program．That time, her beautiful spoken English struck me．Later on, I learnt from other teachers of English that she often did such jobs on similar occasions．

　　In 2006, when they became grade three students, I was in charge of English teaching of two classes, one of which was Class 11, and the girl became one of my students．Facing the College Entrance Exam, they were going to pass one of the hardest years of their life．Though Weiwei Tang didn't top the class in academic performance, two of her individualities contributed to my pleasure of writing this very letter．For one thing, she was definitely among the students who were often around the teachers, communicating ideas and asking questions; for another, her confidence wasn't lessened by the pressure from going to an idea college．

　　Her active participation in various campus activities may have contributed a lot to her being so friendly to others and so communicative．

　　When she told me of her plan to study abroad and her TOFEL grade, I didn't feel it unexpected, because I believe that is what she should do-facing more challenges and creating more chances．Her confident smiles deserve more．

Sincerely yours,

Kane Shaw

　　English teacher of her senior year of high school

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　　If you have ever been rock climbing, then you will know that it is not a very easy sport．In fact you probably felt quite defeated when you first tried to do any serious climbing．Indoor and outdoor rock climbing are both extremely demanding and, like anything else, require practice, to get good at．What most people don't know is that the sport of rock climbing is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports there is．

　　There are three basic types of rock climbing．Top roping is probably one of the most common types and is basically climbing with a partner．The second type, which is very similar to top roping, is called lead climbing．In both of these types of rock climbing the climber can sit off the wall and rest on the rope．

　　The third type of rock climbing is called bouldering．Bouldering is a type of free climbing without any ropes．This is the most demanding of all climbing types．The climber must be able to complete the climbing without taking a rest on the rope．

　　Believe it or not, climbing is said to be about 75％ legs and only 25％ arms．To climb efficiently and successfully, a person needs to have a wonderful technique．One of the major rules of rock climbing is to always have three points touching the wall, whether it is both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands, as it is much easier to have your weight rest on three points than on two．Another important idea to grasp is that your arms in most cases will do the climbing; they only hold you into the wall so that your legs are actually pushing you upward．Also, the closer you are to the wall, the easier it is to climb．

　　Rock climbing may sound a bit too extreme for the everyday person but it really is an amazing workout．Once you get into the sport, and learn how to position your body and rest your weight, then you can begin to deal with some difficult problems．The great thing about rock climbing is that it is mentally challenging as well．You are constantly analyzing the way your body moves and how to do certain moves on the wall．For anyone who wants to get into shape, rock climbing is a fun and effective way to exercise muscles．

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　　The manager and staff are happy to welcome you and will do all they can to make your stay an enjoyable one．

　　Our overnight charge includes a continental-type breakfast．

　　Breakfast：7∶30－9∶30 a. m．

　　Lunch：12∶00－2∶00 p. m．

　　Afternoon tea：4∶00－5∶30 p. m．

　　Dinner：7∶00－9∶15 p. m．

　　Meals can be served in rooms at a small extra charge．We regret that meals can not be served outside these times．

　　Light refreshments(茶点)including tea, coffee, biscuits and sandwiches can be served in rooms between 10∶00 a. m. and 11∶00 p. m. except during the meal times listed above．Cold drinks are available in the room refrigerator．

　　Please hang the sign on your door handle if you do not wish to be disturbed．It will be easier for the maids if you can leave the room temporarily(暂时地)at any time between 9∶00 a. m. and 4∶00 p. m．

　　We are not responsible for the loss of money, jewels, or other valuables unless they are kept in the safe and signed for by the manager．

　　Please inform receptionists(接待员)of your intended leaving before 9∶30 a. m. of the day concerned and leave the room by noon to allow for its preparation for incoming guests．If necessary, luggage can be left in the charge of the hall porter(搬运工人)．

　　We would respectfully suggest that in consideration of the comfort of other guests, the volume of radios and televisions should be turned down after 11∶00 p. m．

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　　2009-12-27 08∶24 A short ceremony has taken place at the newly built Wuhan Railway Station, to launch the official start of China's first high-speed passenger railway．The service links Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province and Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, cutting travel time between the two cities from ten to three hours．

　　Hu Li, Reporter of Wuhan TV, said, "Right now, I am standing on the No.1 platform of the newly built Wuhan Railway Station．In 3 minutes, I will get on the train with 1,200 other passengers and head for Guangzhou city, 1,068 kilometers away．It's a three hour journey, so let's experience China's first High-speed Railway together．"

　　The carriage is crowded with passengers who came to experience the very first High-speed railway in China．Liang Ningyang is a railway fan and a member of a website-railway-online．com．He and his friends met in Wuhan from various parts of China to experience the Express Train．

　　Liang Ningyang, a passenger, said, "I am a pilot, but for now, I'm a railway fan．I'm from Beijing, they are from Yunnan, Guangdong and Guangxi．We came here specially for this historical trip．It's comfortable, quiet and stable．The train attendants' smile is beautiful．"

　　Mr．Zhang Yousong, the Party chief of the Wuhan Railway Bureau, described the trip as a milestone for China's railway history．

　　Zhang Yousong, Party Committee Secretary of Wuhan Railway Bureau, said, "The operation of the Wuhan-Guangzhou Express Railway will realize the separate transit of passengers and cargo, which will unleash the transportation capacity of the existing Beijing-Guangzhou Railway．Therefore, it will alleviate the transport capacity shortage and the “bottleneck” restriction on transporting key goods and materials during the peak travel time．"

　　Hu Li, Reporter of Wuhan TV, said, "It's 11∶50 Beijing Time, and we have arrived at the Guangzhou North Railway Station．We passed through 20 cities, over 600 bridges and went through 200 tunnels, which feels like 'flying with my feet on the ground'．It was a pleasant journey, and it unveiled(揭开)a new page of China's railway history．Not only because its technology, fast speed or longest mileage, but because of the significant improvements it has made to China's railway network．"