13．　　Interest is the key to success. A person who is interested in something will devote himself to it. Meanwhile, a big miracle will be made. I have invented robots which improve the work of cars. My love of making things began when I was a kid. I really became excited about inventing after I learned about Thomas Edison.
　　One day in fourth grade, our teacher gave us a (1)       in class. We had to write to a company and learn about the products. I thought and thought. Finally I (2)       the Thomas A. Edison Company. Soon after, the company sent me a book about the life of Thomas Edison. How I enjoyed reading and re-reading about his inventions! I liked the recorded sound and the electric light most. The inventions were clearly (3)       on my brain.
　　My dad noticed my interest in inventing and (4)       me. He showed me how to turn my ideas into plans and then into new things. Once, I surprised my dad with a model plane I made. Later, we found a similar model plane in a store. I learned that different inventors often invent similar things. It is not (5)       for this to happen. I also learned that not all great ideas (6)      . Failure is a common part of the inventing. And failure can make a positive contribution (贡献) to your life once you learn to use it.
　　As my father and I worked together, I began to realize that my dad was quite an inventor himself. He was always looking for a better way to make his job (7)      . His guiding hands, together with my (8)       in inventing, led me to become an engineer and an inventor. It's well known to all that interest plays an important role in one's life. Of course, I also thank Thomas Edison. He is my hero.

15．　　Qian Xuesen was born in Shanghai on December 11th, 1911. He is known as "the father of China's space program" and "the king of the rocket".
　　When he was 24 years old, Qian went to America for further study. After graduation, he worked in America for a few years, where his working conditions were better. In the early 1950s, he heard New China had been founded and decided not to stay in America any longer. He succeeded in coming back to his motherland in 1955 though the American government tried to stop him.
　　In 1956, Qian Xuesen suggested setting up a special organization, which later became the leading organization for China's rocket and air travel programs. In June 1964, China successfully created its first medium rocket. Qian also played an important role in developing China's first man﹣made satellite. On April 24, 1970, "Dongfanghong-1" was successfully sent into the air.
　　In 1964, a young man wrote Qian Xuesen a letter and pointed out a mistake in his published article. Qian immediately answered the letter and encouraged the young man to write an article about the mistake.
　　Zhu Yilin, who was said to be the last student of Qian Xuesen, once said, "I learned a lot of professional knowledge as well as the spirit and attitude that a scientist should have from Mr. Qian, especially his deep love for the motherland. Without that, he couldn't have helped to develop science and technology when new China was badly in need of scientists for its development. Without that, he would not have made the great contribution (贡献) to rocket industry in the late 1950s and nearly 1960s when conditions in China were too hard."
　　Mr. Qian has been dead for eleven years, but he will live in the memory of Chinese people forever.

16．　　Some people think pen is small, needless to say. They think pen isn't useful, especially in the modern life. But what are you holding in your hand while you are taking the examinations in your classroom? Right. A pen.
　　It is through the pen that our messages can be recorded and passed on. That is why we have been able to know our history. The pen has changed the history, improved the trade of countries, recorded events, carried news, and done far more work for human beings than all other tools. The moment our pen scratches on the paper, it seems as if our thoughts are floating like a boat, traveling on an unending journey around a much more colorful world.
　　Progress without it would have been almost impossible. The invention of the wheel, the introduction of steam engine, the use of electricity, all these have changed the lives of millions of people, but the pen has done more. It has taken away mountains, and it has prepared the way for all progress and development of the society.
　　In the past the pen did all the work if people wanted to keep any writing for some time. The lawyers took up their pens and wrote the law of the country from the days when papyrus (纸莎草纸) was first used. The most famous letters in the world were written with a pen. It was with a pen that the greatest thinkers of all time wrote down their thoughts.
　　The pen is very utilitarian. We cannot sign a bill or write a letter or buy a house without our pen. An agreement is worthless till our name is written with a pen. The writers encourage the world with it. The students take their examinations with it as well.
　　Our coming into the world is recorded with a pen. Before we have been at school, our name is written on the name list with a pen. We cannot be married till we have signed. A pen records the important events in our life.
　　Let us remember that we hold in our hand the most powerful instrument which man owns. The pen is a magic tool. While the lazy are trying hard to avoid the trouble of using the pen, the wise can hardly wait to make the best use of it to create a joyful and meaningful life. So whenever you use it, please enjoy it.

17．　　On January 15, 2009, the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 experienced a never-in-a-lifetime event. Less than two minutes after takeoff, some birds found their way into the airplane's two engines and brought them to a sudden stop. Over the next three and a half minutes, the crew managed to identify the problem, decide what to do about it, and make the most successful emergency (突发事件) landing in aviation (航空) history.
　　We all experience similar moments. Earthquakes, medical emergencies — whatever the situation, the first thing you probably do is scare. Everybody does. While many of us think that we're cool in a crisis (危机), science tells us that we seldom are. At the moment we need to be aware (有…意识的) of our surroundings, but our attention goes to the scariest thing on the scene, leaving us unaware of the other sights, sounds, and even smells around us. At the moment, we're anything but at our best.
　　These normal human reactions can be reversed. For example, firefighters are taught how to bring down their blood pressure and heart rates quickly. Box breathing, belly breathing — you can learn these techniques in minutes. Once you calm down, you'll exactly find out what the problem is really about. Lack of practice always causes us to judge problems in wrong ways. Doing the thinking ahead of time also helps you fire off the solution when it's show time. This is why you are advised to find the closest exit before the flight.
　　Performing in a crisis is becoming more important for all of us for two reasons. Back in the good old days, the dependability of most anything we used or did was far less than it is today. Now think about what happens to our preparedness as the probability of something bad happening reduces. Unless we practice what hardly ever happens, our ability to respond when it does happen doesn't seem to work. Also, as our life becomes better, the systems we use today are more complex (复杂的). There are seldom moving parts in clear view that allow us to see when things are about to go wrong. So terrible situations can "come out of nowhere".
　　As technology becomes part of most everything, and as once-large risks break into countless small ones, crisis situations may become standard events. We should all learn to breathe, recognize the situation, and carry out the plan that we are smart enough to prepare well in advance.

18．The Night the Earth didn't Sleep
　　Strange things were happening in the countryside of northeastern Hebei. For several days, the water in the village wells rose and fell, rose and fell. There were deep cracks (裂缝) that appeared in the well walls. Chickens and even pigs were too nervous to eat, and dogs refused to go inside buildings. Mice ran out of the fields looking for places to hide, and fish jumped out of the water. At about 3:00 a. m. , on 28 July 1976, bright lights were seen in the sky outside the city of Tangshan and loud noises were heard. But the city's one million people were asleep as usual that night.
　　At 3:42 a. m. , everything began to shake. It seemed as if the world were coming to an end! Eleven kilometers directly below the city, one of the most deadly earthquakes of the 20th century had begun, a quake that even caused damage (损坏) more than 150 kilometers away in Beijing. Nearly one third of the whole nation felt it! A huge crack, eight kilometers long and 30 meters wide, cut across houses, roads, and waterways. Hard hills of rock became rivers of dirt. In less than one minute, a large city lay in ruins. Two thirds of the people who lived there were dead or injured. Thousands of children were left without parents. The number of people who were killed or badly injured in the quake was more than 400, 000.
　　Everywhere survivors (幸存者) looked, there was nothing but ruins. Nearly everything in the city was destroyed. People were in shock and then, later that afternoon, another big quake shook Tangshan again. Even more buildings fell down. People began to wonder how long the disaster (灾难) would last.
　　But hope was not lost. Soon after the quakes, the army sent 150, 000 soldiers to Tangshan to dig out those who were trapped and to bury the dead. More than 10, 000 doctors and nurses came to provide medical care. Workers built shelters for survivors whose homes had been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people were helped. Water and food were brought into the city by train, truck, and plane. Slowly, the city began to breathe again.
　　Tangshan started to get back up on its feet. With strong support from the government and the tireless efforts of the city's people, a new Tangshan was built upon the earthquake ruins. Tangshan city has proved to the world that in times of disaster, people must unify and show the wisdom to stay positive and rebuild for a brighter future.

1. What does the writer want to tell us in the first paragraph?
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2. On which day did the earthquake happen?
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3. How much was the city destroyed?
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4. Did people lose hope?
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5. What has Tangshan city proved to the world?
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19．假如你是李华，你的英国笔友 Mike 了解了中国全民战胜新型冠状病毒肺炎
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