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　　Do you have any strong opinion on co-educational or single-sex schools?

　　A supporter of co-educational schools would probably say that schools should be like the societies they belong to．In Hong Kong, men and women mix socially on a day-to-day basis．In many fields men are even likely to have female bosses．It is, therefore, desirable that boys and girls grow up together, go to school together, and prepare themselves for a society that does not value sexual separation．

　　Some would go on to argue further that growing up with members of the opposite sex is important for personal development．Regular contact can remove the strange ideas about the opposite sex and lead to more natural relationships．Single-sex conditions are seen as leading to more extreme opinions, and possibly even as encouraging homosexuality(同性恋), though there is no proof that this is the case．

　　Those who are against co-education often also fix their attention on the sexual side．Some parents fear that close contact with members of the opposite sex is dangerous for teenagers．They want their children to be attentive to their studies．Such parents feel un- comfortable with modern ways and the free mixing of the sexes．

　　A stronger argument comes from research into school results．Girls grow up earlier than boys．tend to be more orderly and are likely to be better at languages．In a mixed class, boys who might do well in a single-sex class become discouraged and take on the role of troublemaker．Certainly in the UK this situation has greatly alarmed(惊动)the government for it to be encouraging co-educational schools to have some single-sex classes．In the UK the best schools are all single-sex, strongly suggesting that co-education is not the best answer．This may, however, not be as simple as it looks．It may simply be that the famous old schools that attract the best students happen to be single-sex, rather than that being single-sex makes them better schools．

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　　When other nine-year-old kids were playing games, she was working at a petrol station．When other teens were studying or going out, she struggled to fred a place to sleep on the street．But she overcame these terrible setbacks to win a highly competitive scholarship(奖学金)and gain entry to Harvard University．And her amazing story has inspired a movie, "Homeless to Harvard：The Liz Murray Story", shown in late April．

　　Liz Murray, a 22, year-old American girl, has been writing a real-life story of willpower and determination．Liz grew up in the shadow of two drug-addicted parents．There was never enough food or warm clothes in the house．Liz was the only member of the family who had a job．Her mother had AIDS and died when Liz was just 15 years old．The effect of that loss became a turning point in her life．Connecting the environment in which she had grown up with how her mother had died, she decided to do something about it．

　　Liz went back to school．She threw herseff into her studies, never telling her teachers that she was homeless．At night, she lived on the streets．"What drove me to live on had something to do with _understanding, by understanding that there was a whole other _way of being．I had only．experienced a_ small part of the society．"She wrote in her book Breaking Night．

　　She admitted that she used envy to drive herself on．She used the benefits that come easily to others, such as a safe riving environment, to encourage herself that"next to nothing could hold me down"．She finished high school in just two years and won a full scholarship to study at Harvard University．But Liz decided to leave her top university a couple of months earlier this year in order to take care of her father, who has also developed AIDS．"I love my parents so much．They are drag addicts．But I never forget that they love me all the time．"

　　Liz wants moviegoers to come away with the idea that changing your life is"as simple as making a decision"．

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　　One of Britain’s bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected (可疑) police killer David Bieber-and was thanked with flowers by the police．It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to ￡30,000 reward money．

　　Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt．Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber’s bedroom and to watch him secretly．Then she waited alone for three hours while armed police prepared to storm the building．She said．“I was very nervous．But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there．”

　　The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious (怀疑)of the guest who checked in at 3 p.m．the day before New Year’s Eve with little luggage, wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over the face．She said, “He didn’t seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact(接触)”．Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her boss Margaret, 64, and husband Stan Smith, 65, who phoned the police at 11 p.m．Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gateshead, at about 11∶30 p.m．to make sure that this was the wanted man．Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes．

　　“It was about ten past two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said ‘Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?’My heart missed a beat．”

　　Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key．“I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch．I could not see into the man’s room, but I could see the passage．The police kept showing．Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed(戴上手铐)”．

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　　Extracts(摘录)from Information Booklet(手册)for car ferry(渡船)passengers．

　　CAR DECKS

　　Car drivers are advised to use the handbrake before leaving their cars, to lock all doors and to take with them all belongings that may be needed during the crossing．

　　CURRENCY EXCHANGE

　　We regret that there are no facilities(设施)aboard for the exchange of cheques of any kind but most European currencies(notes but not coins)together with Eurocards and various types of international credit are accepted for payment in restaurants, shops, cinemas etc．and to carry out other transactions(交易)on board．

　　PASSENGER FACILITIES ON BOARD

　　The following are a small selection of those available．

　　PROMENADE DECK

　　Here you can enjoy a pleasant stroll, go for a jog, or sit or lie back in the sunshine in adaptable reclining seats．We would however advise passengers that decks may be slippery in wet or freezing weather．

　　VIEWING BRIDGE：This is situated below the Captain’s Bridge and offers a view over the bow of the ship．The viewing bridge is reached from the promenade deck via the foremost stairway．

　　A LA CARTE RESTAURANT：This serves the same breakfast buffet as the main dining-room．Scandinavian and international specialties are available at lunch and dinner times．No reservations(订座)required．

　　DUTY-FREE SHOP：This is a supermarket offering Scandinavian and international goods, spirits, tobacco goods, sweets etc．

　　OPENING TIMES：The opening times of the various shops, restaurants and other facilities are shown on the relevant entrance doors as well as on the boards in the main halls on Decks 4 and 5．

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　　They cannot vote which nations should have a seat on the United Nations’Security Council, but ordinary people have shown their feelings．

　　By Tuesday afternoon, over 11.5 million people in and outside China had signed an online petition saying Japan should not succeed in its bid for an everlasting seat on the Security Council．

　　The loud call is due to the historical facts in World War Ⅱ．Some Japanese politicians said their country is ready to play a more active role in global affairs, and their country’s contribution can no longer be limited to financial aspects．

　　The petition by 11.5 million people tells Japan that money alone cannot buy their hearts．

　　A new history textbook that a right-wing Japanese organization has submitted for official agreement goes so far as to paint Japan as a“victim”in World War Ⅱ．Its authors even say that China started all the wars between the two countries．

　　Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi turned down an invitation to a grand party in Moscow on May 9 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of War World Ⅱ．Koizumi’s absence will do nothing but encourage more probes(追究)into his country’s historical baggage．

　　Japanese politicians continue to visit the Yasukuni Shrine．Wartime leader and war criminal Hideki Xojo, as well as five other hanged war criminals, are buried at the shrine．They talk about peace during the visits and ask their Asian neighbors to understand Japanese culture, which requires them to visit Shinto shrines to mark seasonal celebrations．But they don’t see the pains that the Japanese invasion brought on other Asian countries．How can a nation sleep with such a history on its conscience?The amount of money Japan gives the United Nations does not necessarily give the country the role in international affairs．Neither will an everlasting seat on the Security Council free Japan from its historical baggage．

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　　Nowadays, we hear a lot about the growing threat of globalization, accompanied by those warnings that the rich pattern of local life is being undermined(破坏), and many dialects and traditions are becoming extinct．But stop and think for a moment about the many positive aspects that globalization is bringing．Read on and you are sure to feel comforted, ready to face the global future．

　　Consider the Internet, that good example of our shrinking world．Leaving aside the worries about political extremism, even the most narrow-minded must admit that the net offers a lot of benefits, not just in terms of education, the sector(部分)for which it was originally designed, but more importantly on a global level, the spread of news and comment．It will be increasingly difficult for politicians to misinform the public, as the oppressed(被压迫的)will not only find support and comfort, but also be able to organize themselves more effectively．

　　MTV is another global provider that is often criticized for imposing(强加)popular culture on the unsuspecting millions around the world．Yet the viewers’ judgment on MTV is undoubtedly positive; it is regarded as necessary by most of the global teenage generation who watch it, a vital part of growing up．And in the final analysis, what harm can a few songs and videos cause?

　　Is the world dominance(绝对优势)of brands like Nike and Coca-Cola so bad for us, when all is said and done?Sportswear and soft drinks are harmless products when compared to the many other things that have been globally available for a longer period of time-heroin and cocaine, for example．In any case, just because Nike shoes and Coke cans are for sale, it doesn’t mean you have to buy them-even globalization cannot take away people’s free will．

　　Critics of globalization can stop presenting their doom and gloom statements．Life goes on, and has more to offer for many citizens of the world than it did for their parents’ generation．

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　　Situated in the South West of England, between Exeter and Plymouth, Torquay is one of the most popular holiday resorts(度假胜地)in Britain．It provides sophisticated(精致)entertainment, sports of every kind and cultural facilities, all set in a position of outstanding natural beauty．Visitors can choose between luxury hotels by the sea, with private suites(套房), swimming pools and saunas, and comfortable but less expensive guest houses．There are camping sites, too, and hundreds of houses displaying“B&B”signs．

　　As well as a number of small quiet bays, which are ideal for beach barbecues away from the crowds, Torquay has large sandy beaches where you can buy refreshments(饮料)and hire deck chairs, boats and even beach huts．There are large areas of grassland overlooking the sea, and miles of winding cliff paths for walkers who just want to enjoy the scenery and what is often said to be the healthiest air in the country．For the sportsmen and women there are opportunities not only for golf, tennis, squash and bowls, but also for water-skiing, hang-gliding and deep-sea fishing．

　　After a day in the open air, there’s lots to do in the evenings, too．There are plenty of discos, the occasional opera or ballet, and summer variety shows in the seafront theatres．For the children, there is a beautiful model village with a complicated railway layout which is remarkably realistic-especially when the lights are all on at night．

　　Of course, there’s no need to spend your whole holidays in Torquay．Only a short drive away is Dartmoor National Park, where you can walk for miles through dramatic, unspoiled countryside, or picnic by beautiful rivers and streams．Or, nearer to home, you can sail across Tor Bay to the lovely old fishing village of Brixham．

　　Torquay seems to have something for everyone．But don’t take my word for it-come and see for yourself．

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　　HOTEL INFORMATION

　　Baymont Inn Ft．Lauderdale

　　3800W．Commercial, Ft．Lauderdale．Fl 33309

　　Lowest Prices 110% Guaranteed(保证)

　　Room Inormation

　　Rooms are equipped with Double, Queen, or King bed(s), smoking or non-smoking based on location and availability．Provided in each spacious guest room is a hair dryer, coffee maker, iron, ironing board, 25’TV and guest voice mail．

　　Check-in Time：7∶00 P．M．

　　Hotel Amenities：Air Conditioned, Free Parking, 24 Hour Front Desk, Pool, Television with Cable, Coffee Maker in Room, Haridryers Available．

　　Beach Plaza Hotel

　　625N．Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Ft．Lauderdale, FL 33304

　　Room Information

　　The oceanfront accommodations at Beach Plaza Hotel are some of the most affordable on Fort Lauderdale Beach．Each room features direct-dial telephone, cable television and daily maid service．The very affordable efficiency studios even include full kitchens! All rooms surround the private poolside garden courtyard．

　　Check-in Time：7∶05 P M．

　　Hotel Amenities：Air Conditioned, Coffee Maker in Room, 24 Hour Front Desk, Parking, Hairdryers Available, Pool, Television with Cable．

　　Fort Lauderdale Plaza Hotel

　　3711N．Ocean Blvd, Ft．Lauderdale, FL 33308

　　Room Information

　　Guest rooms feature TVs, in-room movies, Internet access, in-room safes, alarm clock radios, hairdryers, refrigerators, microwaves, and balconies．

　　Check-in Time：7∶00 A.M．

　　Hotel Amenities：Parking, Heated Pool, Television with Cable, and Coffee Maker in Room．

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　　There was a drugstore in the town of Mufulira which was widely known for its racial discrimination．While Europeans were served at the counter, a long line of Africans queued at the window and often not only were kept waiting but were treated rudely by the shop assistants．One day I was determined to make a public protest against this kind of thing, and many of the schoolboys in my class followed me to the store．

　　I simply went into the shop and asked the manager politely for some medicine．As soon as he saw me standing in the place where only European customers were allowed to stand he shouted at me in a bastard language which is only used by a boss when speaking to his servants．I stood at the counter and politely requested in proper English that I should be served．The manager became angry and said,“Even if you stand there till Christmas, I will never serve you．”

　　I went to the District Commissioner’s office．Fortunately, he was out, for he was one of the old school; however, I saw a young District officer who was a friend of mine．He was very concerned to hear my story．I asked him to accompany me back to the store and to make a protest to the manager．This he did, and I well remember him saying to the manager ,“Here is Mr．Kaunda who is a responsible member of the Urban Advisory Council, and you treat him like a common servant．”The manager of the drugstore apologized and said，“If only he had introduced himself and explained who he was, then, of course I should have given him proper service．”

　　I had to explain once again that he had missed my point．I just want to prove that any man of any color, whatever his position, should have the right to go into any shop and buy what he wanted．

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　　Alzheimer’s disease is a major national health problem．Nearly 2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease．It is a leading cause of death among the elderly．But Alzheimer’s disease is not confined(限于)to the aged．There may be a million or more people under the age of 65 suffering from the disease．

　　At one time, people suffering from the disease were said to be“getting old”．The disease was thought to be a natural part of growing old, but it is now known that Alzheimer’s disease strikes young and old alike．It is an organic(器官的)disease that destroys brain cells．

　　Alzheimer’s disease affects the patient’s memory, speech, and movement．It the beginning stages of the disease, the patient may seem slightly confused．He may have trouble speaking．Then the patient’s memory begins to fail．He may forget dates, telephone numbers, names and plans．

　　As the disease progresses, the patient may not recognize family and friends, These symptoms(症状)often cause terrible anxiety in the patient．He may feel lost and frightened．Sometimes the patient reacts with wild and bad behavior．

　　In the last stages of the disease, the patient may not be able to take care of himself．He may have lost the ability to speak and walk．

　　Scientists don’t know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease．It may be caused by a virus(病毒)It may be caused by a poisonous substance(物质)in the environment．At present, there is no cure for the disease．But there are ways to slow its progress．Exercise and physical treatment can help the patients of this disease．

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