Unit 1#

　　People go to college for various reasons. A closer look at their reasons for studying at university will enable us to classify them roughly into three groups: those who have a passion for learning, those who see it as a necessary step in their future career, and those who attend university without a clear purpose yet.

　　Firstly, there are many students who learn simply because they want to pursue their goal of learning. Some read a wealth of novels because they are very interested in literature. Others sit in front of the computer screen, working on a new program, virtually day and night, because they find computer programming fascinating, and they dream of becoming a computer expert one day.

　　Secondly, there are students who work hard for a better and more prosperous future. It seems that the majority of students fall into this group. After admission to the university, they read widely and take delight in acquiring knowledge from all of the resources which are available to them, hoping that this will help them succeed in the future job market.

　　Thirdly, there are still some students who learn without a clear goal yet. They take courses, finish homework, enjoy life on campus, but they haven’t sampled many courses yet. They are still uncertain what they will do after graduation.

Unit 2#

　　Parents and teenagers have different or even opposite things to worry about. For example, while a mother thinks her teenagers should feel embarrassed about their messy and dirty room, the teenagers are more worried about their next exams and may think it is ridiculous for their mother to insist on keeping a clean room. It is therefore important for you to appreciate the differences and learn to communicate with your teenagers properly. Otherwise, your teenagers may stop talking to you and shut you out of their personal lives. Their refusal to talk with you may even create enormously stress in your life.

　　Learning effective ways to communicate can reverse the situation of a difficult relationship, reduce the stress in your life, and lead to a friendly relationship with your teenagers. First, you should learn to discuss serious problems in daily conversations. Important topics, such as driving a vehicle and building a romantic relationship, could be dealt with through daily conversations.

　　Second, learn to be an active listener. Many parents are so overwhelmed with their work that they hardly spend quality time with their beloved children. Spend your time listening carefully to what your children talk about, and make sure your children feel they are being taken seriously . This will increase the chances of good communication and strengthen the bond between you and your children.

　　Finally, be positive and supportive. Your children will benefit more from your encouragement and support rather than criticism.

Unit 3#

　　On a hot summer day in 1961 when he was inspecting a test field in Hunan, Yuan Longping came across a single rice plant bearing 230 grains. He carefully collected all the grains and planted them the following spring, hoping to find a way to increase rice yields . The resulting new plants showed a variety of useful traits , but to his disappointment, none was as productive as the parent plant.

　　At that time, some people were skeptical about hybridizing rice. However, Yuan Longping, with his knowledge of genetic engineering, was confident about hybrid rice. He believed that crossbreeding was universal and that it would always lead to stronger offspring .

　　Then Yuan Longping focused on developing hybrid rice. The first breakthrough (突破) came in 1970, when his team found a male-sterile wild rice plant in Hainan. Having carefully tended the plant, Yuan Longping successfully developed a good quality hybrid-rice strain in 1973.

　　Thanks to his efforts, about eight million hectares of hybrid rice have since been grown in more than 60 countries. Yuan Longping’s devotion to developing hybrid rice has helped eradicate poverty and solve the problem of food deficiency in both China and the world.

　　He said, “Hybrid rice technology belongs not only to China, but also to the rest of the world. As long as I live, I will never stop pursuing and dreaming about super high-yield rice.”

Unit 4#

　　What do you think of social media? A novelty to enjoy? Or a potential cause of mental problems?

　　Indeed, while many college students try to make full use of social media, they may ignore its risks, especially in terms of mental health. So far, numerous studies have reported a link between social media and students’ mental problems. The common symptoms include anxiety, sleeping problems, emotional difficulties, and worst of all, depression .

　　One of the reasons social media can lead to mental problems is [comparison. Like many other people, college students tend to post on social media their exciting stories, impressive experiences, and attractive images. Comparing themselves with their peers , some students may feel unhappy, for they consider themselves boring and unattractive. The more they compare themselves with others, the more pressure they may feel, contributing to mental problems.

　　However, as every coin has two sides, social media has positives as well as negatives. Social media apps allow students to connect with each other more easily, gain more useful information, and develop social networks. Undoubtedly, social media has the potential to help students, especially those who encounter difficulties, for it is the place where they can get desirable support.

Unit 5#

　　When I was little, I was very shy. I wanted to make friends, but did not know how to begin a friendship. My mother told me to reach out to others who were also shy and talk to them. It worked and I made some truly affectionate friendships in my childhood. Since then, this approach has never ceased to amaze me.

　　So, if you want to make friends with others, be willing to take the initiative . Make the first move and invite them to join you for some activities, such as hiking or cycling. When you show your love and care to others, you receive love and care in return.

　　People like talking about themselves, so show interest and listen conscientiously to them. People also enjoy being around someone who appreciates and is enthusiastic about their success. So, show appreciation and be supportive. Make sure you give them a pat on the back or a round of applause if they have achieved something. Such body language enables you to send an “I care” message.

　　Yet, you must realize that sometimes when you reach out, people may decline your offer of friendship. That’s OK. Don’t give up. Just repeat the process all over again. It’s truly worth it when someone responds and a great friendship is formed! So, just have an open mind and try to make more friends!

Unit 6#

　　For several centuries, cricket (板球) has been a very popular sport in England. It has been enjoyed by both professional and amateur players. This super-popular game is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players. It can provide people with health benefits such as building endurance, balance, and physical fitness. But for a team sport, cricket also places individual players under unusual pressure because every team player is independent of each other.

　　Cricket might have started in early 13th-century England. Written records present evidence of a game known as creag being played by Prince Edward at Newenden, Kent, in the year 1301; and despite no hard evidence, it is possible that this was a form of cricket. By the end of the 18th century, cricket had evolved into a national sport of England. With the growth of the British Empire, cricket attained popularity in other countries and in the mid-19th century, the first international contest was held.

　　Matches in cricket can range from informal weekend afternoon games on village greens to top-level international contests played by professional players in grand stadiums.

　　Cricket has had a remarkable impact on popular culture in England. It has had an influence on the vocabulary of the English language, too. For example, the expression it’s not cricket was coined to describe unfair behavior in general. It’s because the game of cricket, with its traditional regard for courtesy and fair play, has been a metaphor (象征) for these qualities.