Why do plants grow in some places and not in the others? Why does some land have so much growing on it, while other land has almost no plants growing on it at all?

    To grow, plants need several things. One is warmth. In very cold places almost nothing grows. Plants also need water. In very dry parts of the Earth only a few unusual plants can grow. That's why dry deserts everywhere are almost not covered by trees or grass.

    Plants must also have a place in which to put down their roots and grow. They find it difficult to grow on hard land. The town is built on hard land. The plants here have only the soil found between the cracks of the stones to grow in.

    Another thing plants must have before they can grow is food.

What will happen if we try to make things grow on the sandy beach? A few plants, such as beach grass, will grow in sand, but most plants won't. Even if the weather is warm enough and we water the plants each day, many of them will die because the sand on this beach has almost no food for plants.

    I like travelling very much.____They are wonderful adventures filled with new sights and experiences. And my wife and I have another trip in the planning stages．

    We're home now and have settled back into our daily routine of life.____ I find that when I am at home, particularly for a while when we have just returned from a trip, I feel very comfortable. Perhaps it is because everything around me is familiar and the daily routine is so much the same and I can move through it almost without thinking.____Perhaps it is because we can have meals at home instead of always being in restaurants, although it's nice to let someone else do the cooking, and because I can sleep in my own bed. There are times I think it would be nice to simply stop travelling and stay home．____

    Yet I guess I am probably a restless soul because I know that after I have been home for a while I will start to think about other places we might go and other things we want to see.____ We will travel again and we feel fortunate to be able to do so. Still, one of the best things about travelling for me is coming home. I'm very comfortable here at home even if it is difficult to say exactly why．

A. I enjoy local food while travelling．

B. I like being home，for whatever reason．

C. Perhaps it is because our friends are here．

D. And I enjoy my daily life at home so much．

E. It's lucky that my wife and I both love travelling.

F. The world is filled with people who are travelholic．

G. I have been fortunate enough to make trips to many countries.

伟大的抗战精神，是一种伟大的民族精神，是中华民族源远流长的爱国主义在抗日战争中的锤炼和升华。抗战精神（    ）

①贯穿于中华民族精神的各个方面

②源自于中华民族抗日战争的实践

③奠定了中华民族坚不可摧的立业根基

④是以爱国主义为核心的民族精神的体现

   Eileen Collins is the first woman ever chosen to be a spaceship pilot. She is also the first woman to command(指挥) a spaceship. Today she has flown more than 5, 000 hours in more than 30 kinds of airplanes.
   Talking about high school, she said, “I began reading all kinds of books about famous women pilots. These women went and flew into dangerous places. Their stories encouraged me.” In 1977 Eileen got a pilot’s license and the following year she graduated from university. She went into space in 1999 at the age of 43. She took with her the hopes and dreams of a nation of young people on the earth.
   Eileen is not only an astronaut but also a wife and the mother of a young daughter. She has short curly hair and friendly brown eyes. She met her husband, Pat, while they were together in the air force(空军).
   When she was named as the First Woman Spaceship Commander in 1998, Eileen smiled and said, “When I was a child, I dreamed about space. It was only a dream that I would be one of the astronauts someday. I hope all children will be encouraged to reach for their dreams, when they see I go into space. I believe dreams do come true!”  
____ How many hours has Eileen flown?
                                                                             
____ When did Eileen go into space?
                                                                             
____ What does Eileen look like?
                                                                             
____ Who did Eileen meet in the air force?
                                                                             
____ Did Eileen believe that her dream would come true?