Rumors (谣言): we've all heard some and we've all spread some. In more traditional times they shook entire families. Today, they travel differently because the way we share information has also changed.

    The fact is that rumors have great potential to upset things, whether socially or personally. We don't enjoy being on the receiving end of one, since they usually don't have good intentions. They are somewhat veiled (掩饰的) messages.

    Normally rumors are oral messages: word of mouth. The paradox (自相矛盾) is that there is no evidence to support rumors, but the more people share it, the more they see it as true. To finish explaining rumors, we think that they follow certain very clear laws. Secrecy: The source is unknown. There is also a proven phenomenon that human beings usually forget the source of a message before they forget its content. Certainty: We hardly question rumors simply because of the mental effort involved. On the other hand, no one likes to doubt a person who convinces us that the information they spread is true. Change: It acts like a tree. New rumors branch out to fill in the gaps left by the first rumor.

    Another property (属性) of rumors is that they tend to become viral. Each receiver is at the same time a potential transmitter (传输者) of the information. The receiver often adds their own opinion. Their manner and tone of transmitting it also changes it.

    How can we end rumors? The answer is as simple as it is impossible: preventing people from communicating. A more realistic response is equally difficult, although less than the first one. It is that we should be critical of the information we receive. We should ask ourselves if the source is reliable. Ask (if possible) the person you heard it from whether they also trust the information. We should also think about if the rumor benefits someone, and if that someone started the rumor.

    One rumor to be especially cautious of is a rumor about groups relatively unable to defend themselves. That's why we say, "History is always told by the winners." The first payment the defeated must make is to accept the victor's version of the story.

Best musicals and shows in London's West End

Thriller-Live

    See Thriller-Live, a musical in memory of Michael Jackson and the Jacksons. The show joined London's West End after three UK tours and popularity across Europe. Celebrate the career of the King of Pop during non-stop hits at this top London theatre show.

Prices from £32.72

The Phantom of the Opera

    Andrew Lloyd Webber's famous musical, The Phantom of the Opera, tells the tale of a shadowy character who attempts to make Christina the leading lady of the Paris Opera. With a fantastic plot and breathtaking scene, this long- running show is one of the must-see musicals in London.

Prices: from £30.75

The Book of Mormon

    This comedy musical follows the plight of a pair of teenage Mormon missionaries sent to convert a village in a dangerous part of Uganda. The brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon has won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Prices: from £24.60

Matilda The Musical

    Be wowed by the Royal Shakespeare Company's multi-award-winning production of Matilda The Musical. Roald Dahl's celebrated story bursts into life in this West End musical by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin. Children and adults alike will be delighted by the little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Prices: from £24.00

    Spring will soon be upon us and a new term is here. All over the world spring is the season of new life: flowers bloom，baby animals are born, and the weather becomes warmer. During this time of year, people usually walk around with a spring in their steps and a feeling of fresh beginnings. However, for a fresh beginning it takes more than the bright colors and fresh air of spring. We need to look at ourselves, set new goals, and decide how to improve ourselves.

    In England, people usually do this on the first day of the year. We look at the past year and think about what we'd like to change or improve in our lives, and we call this a New Year's resolution (决心). These can be anything from improving one's health through exercise or giving up bad habits, to studying harder for better grades or trying to find a good work or life balance.

    Luckily, we don't have to wait for the beginning of a new year to try and become better people. We can do this whenever we like. The milestone of a new term is just a good place to start.

    Sometimes it's difficult to take the first step in achieving newly set goals, but an old saying is "to begin is to be half-way there." I agree with this because taking on a new task or changing habits can seem daunting at first, but once we begin, they get easier.

    The trick with deciding on a resolution for a new term is not to set unrealistic goals. If we do this, it's easy to lose heart, because the final goal seems so far away. Try to make many small goals that you want to reach on the way to your final goal. This way, you can see your progress easily.

The ex-wife murder

    "Who shot her?" cried Mr. Rogers as he rushed into the hospital three minutes after his ex-wife died from a gunshot through her head.

    "Just a minute, Mr. Rogers," said Detective Timo. "We'll have to ask you a few questions first. Although you have been divorced for the past six months, you still live in the same house with your ex-wife, Mary Ann, right?"

    "That's right," replied Mr. Rogers.

    "Did you have trouble recently?"

    "Well… yesterday, when I told her I was going on a business trip, she threatened to kill herself. I had to take a bottle of iodine (碘酒) quickly from her hands because she was about to drink it. When I left last night at seven, I told her I was spending the night with friends in Sewickley. She didn't argue. And I got back to town this afternoon," continued Mr. Rogers. "I called home and the maid answered."

    "Just what did she say?" asked Detective Timo.

    "She said,' Oh, Mr. Rogers, they took the poor mistress to St. Ann's Hospital about half an hour ago. Please hurry to her.' She was crying, so I couldn't get anything else out of her. Then I hurried here. Where is she?"

    "The nurse will show you," said Detective Timo with a nod.

    "A strange case," said the police. "This couple is a little too much for me! A man and a woman living together after being divorced six months!"

    "Did anyone tell Mr. Rogers that Mary Ann died from a gunshot before he arrived?" asked Detective Timo, deep in thought.

    "Nobody did. I ordered everyone who knows the details of the case not to discuss it."

    "That's the point. You'd better detain (拘留) Mr. Rogers. If he didn't shoot her himself, I'm sure he knows who did."

To stamp out bush meat, teach kids first.

    "The meat of masked civets can be eaten and has long been considered a rare precious meat from the mountain," says a science book for kids.

    But following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which has been linked to the consumption of bush meat, a reader complained online that the description was improper.

    The action is welcomed, as some research shows the virus came from dead bats, while others suspect it might have been transmitted from bats to pangolins (穿山甲) and from them to humans. Whichever animal was the host, researchers are in agreement that bush meat is not safe for consumption.

    The law prohibits consumption of protected species, but those not on the protected list become sitting ducks for those who love eating wild animals. Without a law in place, one cannot stop restaurants from serving wild animal meat.

    The first step toward legislation prohibiting bush meat is to build consensus. Only when everyone realizes the dangers of eating bush meat will they give up the habit and push for legislation.

    Teaching children from a young age not to consume wild animals will make it easier to ensure they refrain from doing so when they grow up.

    The science book has been withdrawn from shops. And it is hoped that other press houses across the country browse through their published books and make similar corrections.

A. Kids are so crazy.

B. Education is essential.

C. Improving our diets can benefit a lot.

D. The awareness should begin early.

E. However a public outcry alone cannot help.

F. The press withdrew the book from all shops.

G. Striking out consumption of bush meat in children's reading material is a good way to begin.

    A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), 1 my teacher said again and again that it was important.

    One day, I 2 to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about 3 I was studying English, the foreigner shook his head, saying, "You don't say! You don't say!" I was 4. I thought, perhaps this was not a (n) 5 topic. Well, I'd6 change the topic. So I said to him, "Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? 7 the way, have you ever 8 there?"

    "Certainly. Everyone back home will9 me if I leave China without seeing it. It is great!"

    I said, "The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. It is a place of 10." But soon I was 11 again by his words, "12!" I couldn't help but 13, "Why did you ask me not to talk about it?"

    "Well, I 14 ask you to do so," he answered, gently surprised.

    I said, "Didn't you say 'You don't say'?"

    Hearing this, the Englishman 15 to tears. He began to 16," 'You don't say!' actually means 'Really?' It is an 17 of surprise. Perhaps you don't pay attention to English18.

    Then I knew I had made a fool of 19. Since then I have been more20 with idioms.

    If you can dream it, you can do it. American Dream is the idea that anyone can become successful. There are lots of (story) about American Dream—Here is one of them.

    Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland, UK, in 1835. He moved to America at the age of 13 with a few dollars. But by 1900, he (own) millions of dollars. It seemed that he was a man was born with the ability to do business.

    When he arrived there, he started working in a small factory, (make) just $ 1.20 a week. But he behaved (excellent) and impressed his boss deeply. So he got lots of chances in the factory. Then, he (offer) a job in a railways station. While there, he was promoted for (he) good work.

    , it was during the 1870s that Carnegie really began to make his luck. Then he built his fast steel company in 1892. In 1901, it became one of the (big) company in the world.

    After Carnegie became a millionaire, he was known for giving away a large number of money (help) the poor. He also wrote a number of books to make people know more about the history of America.

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号 (∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线 (\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：

1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。

2．只允许修改10处，多者 (从第11处起) 不计分。

    In Britain and American, people were feeling depressed because the bad economic situation. Charlie understand their problems. His character "the little tramp", knowing throughout the world, was poor but homeless. However, everybody loved he for his kind heart and a way he dealt with his difficult situation. Charlie Chaplin made people laugh at some of these terribly situations like being without food or money. He wrote to and directed some his own film and received an Oscar for his outstanding work.

注意：

1）词数100左右;

2）可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。