English fiction 8

Travel
Taipei 101, Taipei's tallest building, has thousands of visitors every year. People love the view from the top of the massive skyscraper. People came from all the nearby towns to see the musician's concert. The variety of acts, colorful costumes and great music made the show a real extravaganza. The amusement park has plenty of entertainment for all ages.

That building is one of this city's most famous landmarks. Flocks of people went to the mall on the day of the big sale. Carrie bought a necklace as a keepsake when she went to Taipei. My to-do list when I'm in Taipei includes shopping! The dazzle of the big city was attractive to Carrie. She never wanted to leave.

Tourists go to Taiwan partly to enjoy the beautiful scenery. The dynamic changes in today's weather surprised us. Rain  is prevalent in our part of the country during the spring months.  But it was a magical night as the stars shone in the sky. Carrie breathed in the salty air as he walked by the ocean. When Carrie went diving, she saw many types of coral.

Carrie studied Japanese because he didn't want to be viewed as a foreigner in Japan. She feels free and easy, while she was traveling in Japan. All people shopping in Asia have a story or two about bargaining at markets. He also gambled in Japan. He always said, "Make the most of your trip to Japan. You don't know if you'll go again."

Living here definitely will give us the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of all four seasons. There are colorful flowers in spring and sunshine in summer. In autumn are red, orange and yellow leaves, and snow falls in winter.

She always read informed sources before deciding where to go on vacation. The example, everyone should have a passport. It is something no traveler anywhere should be without. But She is feeling a little anxious and worried that I might miss my flight tomorrow morning.

There is her experience.

A taste for travel. You can watch your health and still eat like a local!
I love street food. Wherever I go, I'm always looking for chances to eat like a local. In many places, some of the best ethnic food is served from a cart! But there's a dark side to all this good food - food poisoning. I once had a bad case of it in Nepal. I was in bed for two days and unable to eat much for weeks after. I was in a rural area, so I had no access to clean water or food. I couldn't help getting sick.

Most travelers have a horror story or two about food poisoning. It's a risk we all take when we eat strange foods. But there are ways to enjoy good local food and avoid an upset stomach. A few precautions might save you a lot of pain. The following tips will help keep you safe and healthy.

Drink clean water. In many places, tap water isn't safe to drink. In these places, avoid ordering drinks made with water or served with ice. Drink bottled water or soda instead. Skip the fresh fruit. It might look and taste delicious. but if it's been washed in dirty water, it may make you sick. You can't tell by looking at it, so it's better to be safe than sorry. Choose meat that has been cooked recently and well. Meat and seafood that have been left out for a long time are dangerous to eat. If it doesn't look or smell OK, move on.
Watch the locals. They will avoid a food cart that has made them sick before.

Be prepared. Take medicines that can ease your symptoms. These won't cure whatever bug you've picked up. But they will help with the pain when there's no place to rest and recover.

With these tips in mind, you're ready to dig in! Street food is part of the travel adventure: don't be afraid to try something different. You never know - you might discover a new favorite dish!
Our trip was quite an adventure - we got lost in a very scary part of town!

Beyond Bali, explore the land of Komodo dragons.
When thinking of an Asian vacation, many consider Bali, Indonesia, the beautiful island paradise. However, why stop there? An hour's flight southeast will land you on Flores - Bali before the tourists. Last fall, my husband and I went!

After landing, we sailed to Komodo National Park. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, the park consists of three major islands - Komodo, Rinca and Padar - and various smaller ones.
As we explored, we came across many Komodo dragons and even tracked one as it lumbered along. Again, we came across lots of wildlife - dragons, deer and water buffalo. And in one valley, many cockatoos flew about, filling the air with raucous calls.

Komodo National Park is home to many world-class dive sites, so these waters are excellent for diving and snorkeling. As we sailed, we passed a giant sea turtle as well as numerous giant black morph manta rays. We began our journey inland. We drove up and down through the mountainous terrain, snaking our way to Cancar. Here we gazed down at the spectacular spiderweb rice fields fields of the Manggarai people.
We continued southeastward. Around every turn in the road, photo opportunities abounded from the dramatic landscape to children playing along the roadside. After a night in the town of Bajawa, we headed to Bena, the oldest and largest traditional village of the Ngada people. Sitting at the base of the impressive volcano Mount Inerie, this village consists of around 40 thatched-roof houses. Macadamia nuts, vanilla, cloves and coffee grow on the nearby slopes of the volcano.

We continued to Moni for a short sleep before arising at 4:00 a.m. to hike up Mount Kelimutu, Flores' three-colored wonder. The volcano erupted in 1886, leaving three lakes at its peak.

Originally, red, blue and white in color, the lakes have changed to turquoise, blue/green and black. The view not only of the crater lakes but also of the surrounding countryside can only be described as stunning. We hated to leave but had to begin our drive north, so we grudgingly made our way down the mountain.
As we headed back to where our journey had begun, we were so glad we had gone beyond Bali!

While driving through the mountainous region, we kept stopping to take pictures of the scenery. That area has many hot springs because there is a volcano nearby.

Santa Claus, Indiana
Every year my family gets together to decorate our Christmas tree. Welcome to the town where every day is christmas Day. People don't usually hear this popular holiday song until the Christmas season arrives. But in Santa Claus, Indiana, Christmas lights twinkle, and Christmas music plays all year.

"The World's Friendliest and Cleanest" theme park has had over a million first-time visitors. America's Hometown Christmas Tree is must-see with decorations from all 50 states.

Its most popular show - the Radio City Christmas Spectacular - is part of New York's Christmas tradition. The show regularly sells out as more than one million people enjoy it each reason.

Tanzania
Off the coast of Tanzania lies the exotic island in Zanzibar. This amazing place is home to beautiful old houses, leafy forests and white sandy beaches. Some friends and I had the adventure of a lifetime there last year. We snorkeled, played Frisbee and ate fresh seafood on the beach! We swam, read and danced to African music.

There we met a fisherman, who, when he saw us, said, "Are you ready to swim with dolphins?" Dolphins! He told us the dolphins came every morning to eat and play. So we rode out and waited in the boat until we saw a dolphin fin. The dolphins were shy, but we could hear them talking to each other. Eventually they swam closer. One came so close I could have touched it!

Stone Town is a magical place for picture taking. Old doors with ornate designs still mark the entryways to all of the houses. The narrow streets are filled with shops selling paintings, jewelry, spices, etc.
We saw many beautiful fish when we snorkeled around the island.

Christ Church is located on the former site on Zanzibar's biggest slave market. Built to celebrate the end of slavery, the church's altar is said to be located where the slave market's whipping post once stood. Outside the church sits a well-known slavery monument.

Amazing bridges bringing cultures and people closer together.
People admire their beauty. The Sydney Harbor Bridge, Tower Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge draw countless tourists each year. Bridges are an important part of our transportation system, too. Imagine trying to get to work or school without any bridges!

The Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany is a wonderful example and looks a lot like an optical illusion. As strange as it sounds, the bridge connects two canals and allows their water to pass over the Elbe River. The bridge works like a "concrete bathtub" and helps boats avoid a long and difficult journey down the river.

Was your last trip to the movies a memorable experience? Maybe not. But years ago, people could have as much fun at the movies as they did watching the film.

Chuuk
Today Micronesia is a top choice for adventurous travelers and a mecca for wreck divers. Four states make up Micronesia - Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap and Chuuk - and each has its own flavor Kosrae is a lesser-developed tropical paradise. Pohnpei is home to the ruins of the stone city of Nan Madol, a must-see for visitors. Yap offers true island tradition, complete with village chiefs and thatched-roof huts. But Micronesia's main draw is Chuuk. Hundreds of World War II-era wrecks lie beneath the surface of its lagoon, the result of a huge battle. For scuba divers wanting a unique glimpse of history, this is Micronesia's real treasure.
Sunken History

During World War II, Chunk, then called Truk, hosted a large portion of Japanese forces on Truk. More than 300 ships and aircraft were destroyed, creating what would become a wreck diver's paradise.
"The ghost fleet of Truk Lagoon"

More than 100 ships, submarines and aircraft lie at the bottom of Chuuk Lagoon. For 25 years these wrecks were ignored. Divers have flocked here ever since.
It is nearly whole and has a tank and several weapons on its deck. It was an aircraft ferry that carried planes and extra parts.

The wrecks are an exciting attraction not only for their history but also for their natural beauty. In the warm, calm waters of the lagoon, reefs have formed on and around these sunken vessels.

Chuuk offers options for drivers of all skill levels and all interests, from history to marine life to underwater photography. For non-divers, there are more than 15 sunken wrecks and planes that can be seen without putting on dive gear. The water is quite clear, so exploring is fun even at the surface with a snorkel.
There's plenty to do on land as well. Tours take visitors to the old Japanese command center, a lighthouse and caves that still hold cannons from the war.

With its stunning marine life, variety of wrecks and dramatic history, Chuuk is a fascinating destination waiting to be explored.

Komodo dragons
Meet the world's largest living lizard.
Dangerous and deadly aptly describe the largest existing lizard species alive on Earth - the Komodo dragon. Listed as vulnerable (to extinction) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, they number less than 6,000. They mostly inhabit the islands of Indonesia's Komodo National Park as well as some areas of Flores.

These formidable predators devour deer, wild pigs, smaller dragons, water buffalo - and humans if given a chance. Their clay-colored, scaly skin provides them with perfect camouflage as they lie on the brown earth among dead leaves waiting for unsuspecting prey. To seize their prey, the lizard's powerful legs spring into action, and their deadly bites leave little hope for the victim unless treated immediately. The dragons will follow a bitten water buffalo about a month, waiting for it to succumb to the venomous bite. Their keen sense of smell enables the dragons to detect the scent of blood up to 10 kilometers.

The females lay from 15 to 30 eggs in ground nests that they have overtaken from wild turkey-like birds. The mothers then lie near their nests, protecting the eggs until hatched. According to the park ranger, only three to five newborns survive due to predators, including their own cannibal mothers! Upon hatching, the babies climb trees, build nests and survive on birds and insects until they are big enough to survive in the dragon world below.

Temperature rise, flowers fill gardens, skies are sunny, and people head off to the beach in the Northern Hemisphere!  Spring ends as summer begins on June 21 with the longest day of the year. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, winter begins, bringing cold, rainy weather.

In Asia, people celebrate Dragon Boat Festival with dragon boat races and by eating the traditional Chinese rice dumpling zongzi. Both commemorate the death of patriot Qu Yuan.

The rose, June's traditional flower, symbolizes love and appreciations. The birthstone for June is the pearls, a symbol of purity. This gem is the only one that comes from a living creature.

Those who like candy can go ahead and satisfy their sweet tooth as June is Candy Month! But it is also Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, so balance the sweets with those!

An amazing world of animal and plant life hides just under the water's surface.
They are called the "rain forests of the sea" - beautiful underwater worlds that form entire ecosystems. Coral itself is actually a small living animal. These animals live together in colonies. Only the outside layer of the coral is alive, though. The rest of it is made up of the bodies of earlier generations of coral. Coral gets its food from tiny creatures, called "plankton," that flow by and also from algae.

Cactus plants appear both beautiful and strange looking, prompting some people to photograph them and decorate with them.

The nopal cactus has been the subject of many tests and offers a variety of health-related uses. The plant is said to be the most frequent used treatment for lowering blood sugar among Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, it is also used effectively as a treatment for obesity and high cholesterol.

The stems and fruits of the Nopal cactus are rich in antioxidants and hold great promise as anti-cancer agents. According to researcher, their juice may fight cancer by suppressing cancer cell growth, but more study is needed to confirm this benefit.

Along with their health benefits, edible cacti can be used to make candy, perfume, food coloring, marmalade, wine and more. That's a long list of achievements for these strange-looking desert plants.

Police

Each ICPO(International Criminal Police Organization) member sets up a central bureau that acts as a window for joint operations and exchanging information on criminal activities. Interpol acts as a local contact to help police from different countries overcome those problems.

My job was basically to investigate criminal cases that involved a second country. Since criminal cases are usually urgent, I spent a lot of time communicating with agencies from other countries. When we received information on a crime, we took the necessary actions. We made a search or made an arrest or referred the case to the prosecutor's office. It was very challenging work, but it gave me lots of opportunities to travel and study abroad. Oh, and I was once responsible for escorting two dangerous criminals back from Japan!
The police will escort you and keep you safe.

Blaise's attacks were rolling off Mr. Golden like water off a duck's back. The guardians watched all the children closely and said, "Killing all those children was an evil act."
Iris called, "Blow him out of the water, Harry," and ran to help Blaise.
"Go jump in a lake!" shouted Harry.
Sirens announced that the police were coming. The police have found a lot of evidence for the suspect's guilt. Officer Brooks noticed Iris.

They all knew Iris had lied, but still she was unrepentant.

"Don't muddy the waters," Officer Brooks said. "You can't fool me."
"You're all wet," protested Iris. "Mr. Golden is trying to destroy the lab."
Iris called her father so he could intercept Mr. Golden and throw cold water on his plans. Since Officer Brooks couldn't prove Iris's guilt, she let her go.

Gift
Then they walked into the room. To their amazement, they found him playing music on his toy piano! Before this, Ethan had begged his parents for piano lessons. But their answer had always been, "Of course not! You're still in diapers." The 3-year-old didn't let that stop him, though. Instead, he listened to a song once and then played it perfectly, note for note. Ethan was a piano prodigy and needed someone who understood his special gifts and abilities.

Before long, he was being asked to perform for many events. When one performance was posted on Youtube, Ethan became famous. Today, at the age of 13, it seems there is nothing Ethan cannot do. He plays piano, sings, composes songs and acts. Then in 2013, the performer starred in and wrote music for the movie Anything is Possible.

Their son is also very generous and compassionate. The young musician's little brother had three heart operations when Ethan was only 5 years old. He remembers seeing a lot of sick children, including some who couldn't afford surgery. This experience made him want to use his talent to help those kids and many others. Many call him "the world's youngest philanthropist." Believe in yourself. Anything is possible.

History
Millions of people around the world enjoyed the musical stage play Les Miserables. Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, the film tells the story of Prisoner 24601. He is newly released from prison but struggles to survive. The kind action of a bishop saves him form a return to prison. He then resolves to show kindness to others.

Emotion
Polishing your manners can improve relationship. It never hurts to be polite at home and in public.
Did you know that most tension in any relationship is caused by someone using a negative tone of voice? And in most instances, a tense conversation can cause friction with your in-laws or coworkers indefinitely.
Good manners work magic in a different way. Behaving nicely includes speaking thoughtfully and using a pleasing voice tone that denotes respect.

Married people, especially, know how hurtful behavior erodes a relationship. For example, can you identify with the following conversation?

"Honey, I need you to pick up the kids from school today," Says Mom.
"No way, I told you I'm staying late at work all week," Dad retorts. "The boss is breathing down my neck. What do you expect me to do - clone myself?"

Using manners would ratchet up this conversation to a different level of respect if it went something along these lines:

"Honey, I need you to pick up the kids from school today," says Mom.
"I would like to," Dad assures her. "but, don't you remember that I have to stay late at work all this week?"

Good manners make you more desirable in circles that include people of power.If you have poor manners that include judging others harshly, you may get passed over for promotions at work. No one is going to invite you along to an event whereby your behavior becomes an embarrassment to the one who invited you. People with poor manners are becoming more prevalent in our society, and they'll pay the price by getting ostracized from polite circles.

It pays to practice excellent manners within your own family on a daily basis. Otherwise, you'll swing back and forth between smooth manners and your casual self. You'll get tripped up at the worst possible time.
"I'm absolutely giving up swear words and bad manners," laughs a friend of ours we'll call Jason. "I was crabbing at my wife during a parent-teacher function a couple of weeks ago. I didn't know the microphone near me was on."

"There I was, like a fool, using foul language to tell my wife to hurry up and get her fill-in-the-bank laptop turned off so the program could begin. Almost everyone in the room heard me." Jason told us he assigned himself to the doghouse. His wife, Jill, didn't have to do it.

"Honey, if I'm crazy or profane, I want you to slap my dumb head off," Jason told Jill. "I've learned my lesson, and I will clean up my act from now on."

It is difficult to be around people who use foul language. It makes me uncomfortable.

Player
This amazing young basketball player is taking the game and her life to new level. But life hasn't been a bed of roses for her. The path to success required a lot of hard work and sacrifice.  Maya dreamed that she, too, could one day compete in the Olympics. Sadly, in under two months the company downsized, and Kathryn lost her job. She remembers, "It was a bad, bad time."

In high school she had the opportunity to play basketball against some of the nation's best players. The competition improved her skills. While in high school, Maya worked hard and was an honor student. She also spent much of her free time mentoring kids who needed help. She spent her days off taking children to amusement parks or feeding the hungry.

"Surround yourself with winners. Surround yourself with people who have good character. And just work your hardest." Those are wise words to live and win by!

Bad hobby
Their daughter, Tara, asks them to care for their three grandchildren. But their old-school parenting methods clash with the grandchildren's over-scheduled way of life.  They have much homework. They need to use smartphone to do homework. By the advance society of technology, every students who are in schools must to read the a lot of articles. They have many books in their school bags. These little students trundle in carrying heavy book bags

The teacher want their students read much books. About the life of Pi follows Pi Patel as he travels from a zoo in India across the Pacific. He survives a ship wreck and ends up in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for a companion. Tara had much interests about this book. She didn't think it is bare by the homework.

When Tara readed the story about Fleas. Then she laughed loudly.These insects can jump up to 200 times their height. That's like a man jumping the height of the Empire State Building.

She also like to study the articles of animals.
Dolphins travel regularly between the water's surface and the depths of the ocean. They have keen vision both in and out of the water. But when they dive deeper than light can penetrate, they must rely on a different sense - hearing. In the other tests, he recognized the difference between objects whose widths differed by less than the width of a human hair. When they decrease their sensitivity to protect their ears from loud noises.

Inspirations from the sea for clothes that change colors.
The amazing cuttlefish - now you see it; now you don't! The ocean's master of disguise is known for its ability to appear and disappear right before your eyes. This eight-armed creature can quickly change its color and texture to match its surrounding. Cuttlefish go through this process in order to surprise prey, protect themselves or attract other cuttlefish.

For years scientists have tried to figure out this complex system and how it could be beneficial to people. Now they are taking a cue from this "chameleon of the sea" om am effort to develop "smart clothing."
Using cuttlefish technology, the two men have developed a soft material that contains something similar to the cuttlefish's color cells. But instead of color, these cells hold a tiny, thin piece of black rubber. A process that squeezes the rubber pieces causes them to appear flatter and wider.

Military groups may find the material useful for camouflage. Hikers and bikers, though, will appreciate the ability to become suddenly bright, making themselves stand out for safety purposes.

Finally She understands the history of key.
You can't get in unless you have the key! Key designs became more artistic in the 14th century European locksmiths became famous for making beautiful keys. Kings invited them to design their castle keys. Today, office workers and hotel guests open doors using electronic key cards, cards that are used as keys. There are even smartphone apps for gaining entry to one's home without a key.

Tara also likes to sing with app. For example:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now an found, was blind, but now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear. And grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I fist believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares. I have already come; 'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home. The lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace. When we've been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun.

A smartphone can be a powerful tool to organize your life - if it contains the right applications. Are you a visual thinker? MindMeister gives you a great way to organize your ideas by creating useful mind maps. The habit of looking down at your smartphone or tablet could be hurting you.

The next time you're riding a subway or bus, pay attention to your fellow passengers. Chances are you'll see plenty of them with their heads down, tapping the screens of their tablets or texting on their smartphones. While these folks may be making good use of their time by staying  connected, their bodies are paying a heavy price for such convenience.

As hand-held devices such devices such as smartphones and tablets are becoming more common, users are reporting some new physical problems. Doctor began noticing an increased number of his patients complaining of neck and shoulder pain.

For those who simply can't take their eyes off of their devices, there is an ironic twist - downloading a special app could help. the Text Neck Indicator App.

So go ahead and stay connected, but don't let your body - or your neck - stay in one position for too long!

The more time kids spend with screens, the more likely they are to get fat or have behavior problems. But believe it or not, most kids his age spend more than seven hours a day with screens. I bet he's playing some violent video games, too. Too much exposure to those cause kids to become aggressive.

Tara and her friends always like to play in the playground. They only need to care about their hairpieces. The hairpieces attach to the wearer's head with a tight seal. No one except the children who wear the hairpieces can remove them. This lets the children run, play and swim without worrying about the hairpiece falling off. And other children won't be able to pull the hairpiece off either.

Comedies, talk shows, children's plays and stage dramas are performed throughout the day.A Midsummer Night's Dream is a big production as well. In addition, magic shows, sword fights and more attract audiences in every corner of the "village."

At drive-in, the entertainment began before the movie started. Playgrounds, pony rides and more provided lots of fun for the kids. Halfway through the movie, dancing drinks and singing hot dogs appeared on the screen. Hungry people would then flock to the concession stand for a small snack or a full meal. The drive-in provided a whole evening of inexpensive entertainment.

In the 1980s, however, VCRs, cable TV and rising property prices almost caused the death of drive-ins. People didn't go to them as before. But some drive-ins survived, and new generations of moviegoers are now enjoying the experience.

Language
I will be the first to admit that my English skills are quite poor.

For some reason I really liked the language, but I was not particularly good at learning it. The grammar and word order confused me. Prepositions made no sense. After two  years of studies, I resigned myself to communicating in broken English and signed up to study in US to complete my degree. It was the hardest semester I would ever have.

Once in US, I felt like I was starting from scratch. The US I'd learned in university wasn't practical for everyday conversation. My book knowledge fell by the wayside as I figured out the basics of getting around, reading menus and chatting with my classmates. I was constantly on edge at school, worried about whether the professors would call on me in class and whether I'd understand their questions. I only relaxed a little around my eight roommates, who were willing to speak English slowly to  me and didn't seem to mind my mistakes.

The professor spoke fast; almost everything he said flew right over my head. I sat in the front, took notes and even recorded the lectures, but nothing helped. I had no idea what the class was about. The professor told all the foreign students who wanted this form to meet at his office at a certain time. I was sure I was the only one in the class at such a low level. So I flaked and skipped the meeting.

Years have passed, but I still remember how it felt to struggle so hard at learning another language.