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Let children learn to judge their own work．A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time; if corrected too much, he will stop talking．He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language those around him use．Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people's．In the same way, children learn to do all the other things without being taught to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle…They compare their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes．But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes and correct them for himself．We do it all for him．We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake．If it is a matter in mathematics or science, give him the answer book．Let him correct his own papers．Why should we teachers waste time in such routine(日常的)work?Our job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can't find the way to get the right answer．Let the children learn what all educated persons must some day learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to know what he does not know．

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　　UNICEF is appealing for more than one billion dollars in aid for women and children around the world．The United Nations Children’s Fund has released its“Humanitarian Action Report”for two thousand ten．The report lists twenty-eight countries and territories with some of the world’s most pressing crisis affecting women and children．

　　Haiti was considered to be in crisis long before the earthquake in January．The deputy executive director of UNICEF, Hilde Johnson, says the quake has only made the need for aid more immediate．But she says children all over the world have the right to the same assistance as children everywhere else．

　　The“Humanitarian Action Report”discusses several issues that UNICEF says increasingly threaten the basic rights of women and children．It says climate change has caused droughts and’ food insecurity in many areas．High food prices and the global financial crisis of two thousand eight-two thousand nine have only added to poverty and malnutrition(营养不良)．And armed conflict continues to threaten the lives of millions．

　　Hilde Johnson says children are always the most affected by conflicts and disasters．They face an increased risk of abuse, including sexual violence and other serious rights violations(侵犯)．

　　UNICEF deals with about two hundred emergencies around the world every year．The greatest need last year was in sub-Saharan Africa．The report says drought, food insecurity and civil unrest affected about twenty-four million people．

　　Violence and displacements(驱逐)of people were especially bad in Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic．

　　In Asia, UNICEF expects its financial assistance needs to more than double this year．This is partly the result of adding Pakistan and the Philippines to the latest report．In Pakistan, it says, more than two million people have been forced from their homes by the conflict in the．Swat Valley and other areas of the northwest．And in the Philippines, more than two hundred thousand people are still living in shelters after severe storms last year．

　　This years UNICEF report talks about the value of public and private partnerships in helping children and families in emergencies．

　　And thats the VOA Special English Development Report, written by June Simms．For a link to the UNICEF report listing the twenty-eight countries and territories in crisis, go to www.unsv.com．I’m Steve Ember．

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　　Here’ s an unusual story：a diamond ring was recently found in an egg．The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of millions at CCTV’ s Spring Festival Gala．Liu’ s magic tricks have made the centuries-old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China．

　　As a seasoned young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows．Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK．

　　Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’ s love for magic．

　　Liu is known for his interaction(互动)with his audiences．He has a unique understanding of showmanship(演出技巧)．

　　“It’s actually thinking rather than one’ s manipulation(操作)skills; that is more important to achieving a successful magic show．We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more interesting．”Liu said．

　　Liu Qian’ s success dated back to his childhood．Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old．At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’ s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield．

　　Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician．He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur(业余的)magician in his spare time．However, his failure to find a proper job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career．

　　To refine his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields for passers-by, policemen and farmers．

　　“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians．We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,”Liu said．

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　　In my profession as an educator and health care provider, I have worked with numerous children infected with the virus that causes AIDS．The relationships that I have had with these special kids have been gifts in my life．They have taught me so many things, but I have especially learned that great courage can be found in the smallest of packages．Let me tell you about Tyler．

　　Tyler was born infected with HIV：his mother was also infected．From the very beginning of his life, he was dependent on medications to enable him to survive．When he was five, he had a tube surgically inserted in a vein in his chest．This tube was connected to a pump, which he carried in a small backpack on his back．Medications were hooked up to this pump and were continuously supplied through this tube to his bloodstream．At times, he also needed supplemented oxygen to support his breathing．

　　Tyler wasn’t willing to give up one single moment of his childhood to this deadly disease．It was not unusual to find him playing and racing around his backyard, wearing his medicine-laden backpack and dragging his tank of oxygen behind him in his little wagon．All of us who knew Tyler marveled at his pure joy in being alive and the energy it gave him．Tyler’s mom often teased him by telling him that he moved so fast she needed to dress him in red．That way, when she peered through the window to check on him playing in the yard, she could quickly spot him．

　　This dreaded(可怕的)disease eventually wore down even the likes of a little dynamo like Tyler．He grew quite ill and, unfortunately, so did his HIV-infected mother．When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to survive, Tyler’s mom talked to him about death．She comforted him by telling Tyler that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven．

　　A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned me over to his hospital bed and whispered,“I might die soon．I’m not scared．When I die, please dress me in red．Mom promised she’s coming to heaven, too．I’ll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me．”

　　his HIV-infected mother．When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to survive, Tyler’s mom talked to him about death．She comforted him by telling Tyler that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven．

　　A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned me over to his hospital bed and whispered,“I might die soon．I’m not scared．When I die, please dress me in red．Mom promised she’s coming to heaven, too．I’ll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me．”

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　　A dog sheltered a newborn baby abandoned by its 14-year-old mother in a field in rural Argentina until the boy was rescued, a doctor said on August 22(Friday)．

　　A resident of a rural area outside La Plata called police late Wednesday night to say that he had heard the baby crying in a field behind his house．

　　The man went outside and found the infant lying beside the dog and its six newborn puppies, Daniel Salcedo, chief of police of the Province of Buenos Aires, told CNN．

　　The temperature was a chilly(寒冷的)37 degrees, Salcedo said．

　　The dog had apparently carried the baby some 50 meters from where his mother had abandoned him to where the puppies were huddled, police said．

　　“She took it like a puppy and rescued it,”Salcedo said．“The doctors told us if she hadn’t done this, he would have died．”

　　“The dog is a hero to us．”

　　Dr．Egidio Melia, director of the Melchor Romero Hospital in La Plata, told CNN that police showed up at the hospital at 11∶30 pm Wednesday with the baby who doctors say was only a few hours old．

　　Though the infant had superficial scratches(抓痕)and bruises(伤痕)and was bleeding from his mouth, he was in good shape, Melia said．

　　The next morning, the child’s mother was driven by a neighbor to the hospital and told authorities the 8-pound, 13-ounce infant is hers, Melia said．

　　The teenager was immediately give psychological treatment and was hospitalized, he said．She has said little about the incident．

　　The child has been transferred to a children’s hospital in La Plata, 37 miles from Buenos Aires．

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　　London ［2009-4-01］－In the first meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama prior to the Group of 20 summit in London, the two leaders pledged that both countries will be working together to help the world resist the financial crisis．

　　China and the US have agreed to prioritize(使……更重要；优化)the two countries’ relations by establishing the new strategic economic dialogue．

　　The two teams will be headed by Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo from the Chinese side and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from the US side．

　　President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama made the announcement to the press before they went into the official meeting, their first, at Winfield House, residence of the US ambassador to the UK．

　　Although it is their first meeting, they have kept a close contact, which Obama said will“set the stage”for both countries“to tackle the challenges in the years to come．”

　　Both presidents highlighted the importance of China-US relations, especially during the current economic crisis．

　　Obama said he hoped their meeting will be constructive and open not only about the whole state of the world economy during the current crisis, but to the efforts to improve peace and security for both countries and the world．

　　Hu said all the positive results the two countries have achieved have not come easily, adding that he hoped to develop good working relationship and personal friendship with Obama．

　　Sino-US relations are of fundamental interests not only to both countries, but to peace, stability and prosperity to Asia and the world．

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　　Does the‘hustle and bustle’of city life make you feel‘stressed out’?Why not leave the stress of modern life behind at weekends, visit the mountains and take part in some‘White Water Rafting‘?This activity can both excite and refresh．

　　Not for the‘feint hearted’, white water rafting is becoming increasingly popular．Here are some great places of enjoying this activity in the north of Guangdong．

　　Huangteng Canyon, “King of White Water Rafting”

　　Huangteng Canyon is praised as “Guangdong’s Little Jiu Zhai Paradise”．The water quality and scenery are first-class．Opened in 2004, Huangteng Canyon has been considered the most attractive and exciting white water rafting location in China．

　　With natural scenery at the riverside, Hungteng canyon was designed by the watercourse experts．You will experience the waterfall and the peculiar stone drifting along river．

　　The river of Huagteng Canyon is 4.8 km long and has 130 different falls．The highest can reach 12 meters．You can begin your journey on the river at various points depending on the level of excitement sought．

　　Location：Dong town, Qingcheng district, Qingyuan

　　Price：Warrior Rafting：138 Yuan/person

　　Joyful Rafting：98 Yuan/person

　　Xuanzhen Ancient Cave, More Than Just Rafting

　　Xuanzhen Ancient Cave has much to offer．The rafting experience is 4.3 km long and includes 130 different falls．All the falls linked together can reach 100 meters in height．The whole voyage will last around 1.5 hours．

　　Besides rafting, Xuanzhen Ancient Cave Ecology Resort also provides activities including swimming, exploration, fishing and war games．

　　Location：Xuangzhen Ancient Cave Ecology Resort, Qingxin County, Qingyuan

　　Price：138 Yuan/person(adult); 68 Yuan/person(child)

　　Bi Jia Mountain, Rafting All Year Round

　　Located in Bi Jia Mountain Resort in Qingyuan, Bi Jia River has a dam to control the water flow．Travelers can enjoy rafting throughout the year．

　　Location：Bi Jia Mountain Resort, Qingxin County, Qingyuan

　　Price：Warrior Rafting：238 Yuan/person

　　Joyful Rafting：138 Yuan/person

　　All the three includes life jacket, helmet, and 100,000 Yuan travel insurance．

阅读专项练习

　　Please do not buy any Parrot with unknown origin．Facing a pity parrot with bad living condition (or maybe even sick), a kindhearted person may have to deal with a big dilemma．Should I buy the bird, take it to the vet．And then leasrreze the bird? Or keep the bird at home? The person may decide to buy the bird．This gesture may save that particular parrot but at the same time encourage the poachers to catch more, naturally killing many more．

　　Members of the public are encouraged to provide information on illegal import, export, selling and possession of endangered species to ACFD(香港渔农自然护理署)．Person who provides true information leading to successful seizure(没收)of endangered species will be rewarded with cash．Please call the 24-hour report hotline 2150-6978．

　　Not only in Hong Kong, buying a wild-caught Parrot in mainland China is also unacceptable．Hope everyone will become the ambassador of wild Parrots．Let us catch the poachers, not parrots．Please cherish our natural environment．There is only one planet called the earth．Let us work together to keep the nature’s biodiversity(生物多样性)．

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Dear Dr．Bamford,

　　I know you are a famous scientist who has done great work on cloning animals．Please excuse me for writing to you, but I need your help．Let me explain．

　　I am a 58-year-old man．I’m very rich．I live in a large house．My wife died three years ago; we didn’t have children．

　　So, am I lonely? No, because Cindy is with me．Every night we eat dinner together and watch TV．Cindy sits beside me and I feel very happy．I’m coaxed with her beautiful green eyes．She’s also very smart．Sometimes she thinks only about herself．But that’s what I like about her．She is quite a beautiful Siamese cat．There is no other cat like her in the whole world．

　　These days I worry about losing Cindy．She is getting older and older．Cats don’t live so long as humans, of course, so she will die before I do．I cannot imagine my life without Cindy．

　　Well, why not get another cat after Cindy dies? Impossible!No other cats ever replace her．

　　I have been thinking about this：Clone Cindy．Scientists are able to clone sheep and mice and other animals．They should be able to clone cats without much difficulty．Luckily, I am a rich man．I don’t care how much money I will spend cloning Cindy．I think it’s ok to clone pets．It’s not cloning humans．

　　What do you think? Could you clone Cindy?

Sincerely,

A rich man

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　　Formula One(一级方程式赛车)Hero opened in the local movie theater yesterday．This is the latest movie starring Ryan Devlin．

　　Devlin began his remarkable career seven years ago in Top Speed, a movie that broke box office records at the time, and since then he has made at least one movie every year．Devlin’s exciting driving and tough talk make him a favorite with teenage boys, while his good looks and charming habits appeal to the girls．

　　The story is this movie continues the battle between Devlin’s character, Rory Hunter, and the evil Rick Hinkler．Hinkler again tries to cheat his way to victory, this time making use of the fact that his initials(首字母)are identical to those of the hero．Devlin’s fans will not be disappointed with the exciting surprises of the movie’s plot．

　　The action shots in this movie have been well directed by James Warner and will keep the audience on the edge of their seats．Warner makes better race sequences(次序)than any other director．Once again, Devlin performs all his own stunts．

　　The heroine, Wendy White, is played by Jill Halliday．Halliday does well in her first movie, playing her character with enthusiasm and intelligence．She has already signed a contract for another movie in which she will act in a more challenging role．

　　Devlin’s fans will have to wait a while before they see another Rory Hunter racing movie．According to the latest Ryan Devlin Fan Club newsletter, Devlin has told his producers that he needs a rest．In fact, this may be the last Rory Hunter movie since Devlin wants to try a different character in his next movie．

　　If this is the last Rory Hunter movie, you’d better get out and see it．It’s worth your time whether you’re a fan not．