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　　Science seems to be getting closer to answering a very old mystery．Homing pigeons can be 　　1　　 hundreds of miles from their homes．When they are let to go to 　　2　　 again, they find their way home．Because of this special ability to 　　3　　, pigeons have been used 　　4　　 messengers for hundreds of years．

　　Today people even breed homing pigeons for 　　5　　 at a sport．The birds are shipped to some chosen 　　6　　 a few hundred miles away．Then all of them are let to go together．The winner is the bird that gets home 　　7　　．A good race can make it home from 500 miles away 　　8　　 a single day．

　　The mystery of the homing pigeons is how they 　　9　　 directions and how they find home．The first part seems to be pretty well 　　10　　, and we know of two ways that pigeons tell directions．First, they use the sun．Experiments show that homing pigeons can tell 　　11　　 by the sun．What happens when the 　　12　　 is darkly overcoat by clouds and no one can 　　13　　 where the sun is? Then the pigeons still find their way home．

　　Naturally, people have wondered whether pigeons might have a built-in compass 　　14　　 that would tell them about the direction of the 　　15　　 magnetic(磁的)field．Many different kinds of experiments were 　　16　　．Here’s what the scientists decided 　　17　　 they had made experiments many times．When pigeons can see the sun, they use it as their 　　18　　 means of direction-finding．When they can’t see the sun, they use some 　　19　　 way to sense direction from the earth’s magnetic field．

　　But how do pigeons know 　　20　　 direction is toward home? What do they use that we would call a map? These are other questions to be answered．

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　　A boy of 14 has become the youngest student to win a place at Cambridge University．Arran Fernandez, who was 　　1　　 at home by his father, Neil, will 　　2　　 a mathematics degree at Fitzwilliam College next month and he hopes to have a career as a research mathematician to 　　3　　 the Riemann hypothesis(黎曼猜想)that has confused the brightest minds．It will make him the youngest Cambridge student 　　4　　 14-year-old William Pitt the Younger studied there in 1773．

　　Last night the child genius said：“I am looking forward to going to the 　　5　　．I have started the first-year books 　　6　　 and it is all right, not too 　　7　　．I can understand it．I am excited about going to Cambridge, 　　8　　 I am used to making records about being the youngest in education．It isn't the youngest moment that is so important to me 　　9　　 I'm more interested in going to Cambridge than comparing 　　10　　 with other people who go there．”

　　But 　　11　　 his age he will not be able to 　　12　　 many of the alcohol-fuelled festivities(庆典)traditionally 　　13　　 to Freshers' Week．“I don't think I'm missing too much fun,” he insisted．“Even if I was 18, I wouldn't want to go out 　　14　　．”

　　Arran, 　　15　　 plans to join the bird-watching society instead and go boating while at university, was five when he 　　16　　 the youngest person to be 　　17　　 a GCSE(General Certificated of Secondary Education), after passing maths．He was offered the 　　18　　 to learn at Cambridge in 2010, when he was 14, on the condition he gained an A-level in physics, which he 　　19　　 with an A＋grade．Arran had already gained an A grade in further maths last year．

　　Cambridge also asked him to attend three GCSEs in subjects which were not related to maths and physics to 　　20　　 his knowledge．He gained A＋s in English literature and French and an A in English language this summer．

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　　I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn't like attention drawn to myself．And 　　1　　 otherwise assigned(指定)a seat by the teacher, I always 　　2　　 to sit at the back of the classroom．

　　All this 　　3　　 after I joined a sports team．It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team．At first I thought it was a crazy 　　4　　 because I didn't have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the 　　5　　 to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me．But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “　　6　　 for　it”, I wouldn't have decided to give a try．

　　Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the 　　7　　 of it! When I first started 　　8　　 the practice sessions, I didn't even know the rules of the game, much 　　9　　 what I was doing．Sometimes I'd get 　　10　　 and take a shot at the wrong direction－which made me feel really stupid．　　11　　 , I wasn't the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to 　　12　　 on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn't 　　13　　“just yet”．

　　I practiced and practiced．Soon I knew the 　　14　　 and the “moves”．Being part of a team was fun and motivating．Very soon the competitive 　　15　　 in me was winning over my lack of confidence．With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the 　　16　　－friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player．I never had so much fun!

　　With my 　　17　　 self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates．I have gone from 　　18　　 in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, 　　19　　 raising my hand－even when I sometimes wasn't and not 100 percent 　　20　　 I had the right answer．Now I have more self-confidence in myself．

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　　I've been in the taxicab business for thirty-five years, and I know there is a lot about it that is not so good．Taxicab drivers have to be tough fellows to be able to work in New York．You've got to 　　1　　 the New York 　　2　　 eight hours a day these days, so people get the wrong 　　3　　 that they are bad．

　　Actually, taxi drivers are just like other people．Most of them will 　　4　　 as honest fellows．You read in the 　　5　　 almost every week where a taxi driver turns in money or jewels or bonds that people 　　6　　 in their cabs．If they weren't honest, you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers．

　　One time in Brooklyn, I found a diamond ring in my cab．I 　　7　　 helping a lady with a lot of packages that day, so I went back to where I had 　　8　　 her．It took me almost two days to trace her down in order to return her ring to her．I didn't 　　9　　 as much as “thank you”．Still I felt good 　　10　　 I had done what was right．I think I felt better than she did．

　　I was born and 　　11　　 in Ireland and lived there until I was nineteen years old．Then I came to this 　　12　　 in 1913 where I held several jobs to earn a few dollars before enlisting(参军)in World War I．After being discharged(退役), I had a family and bought my own cab．Life hasn't been too 　　13　　 at times, but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit 　　14　　 for a rainy day．

　　When I 　　15　　 driving a cab, ParkAvenue was mostly a bunch of coal yards．Hoofer's Brewery was right next to where the Waldorf-Astoria is now．I did pretty well, 　　16　　 in those days．

　　In all my years of driving a taxicab, I have 　　17　　 had any trouble with the public, not even with drunks．

　　I believe 　　18　　 is one of the greatest gifts there is．I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days, like integrity(正直), etc．But it doesn't make any 　　19　　 what they call it; it's still what makes a man a good 　　20　　．This is my code, and I try to live by．

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　　Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already．And, 　　1　　 he might try, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's 　　2　　 gift．

　　His father passed away three years ago．His mother worked hard, but her small income could only make ends meet．

　　Bobby walked down the street from shop to shop．Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of touch．It was getting dark and Bobby unwillingly turned to walk home　　3　　 suddenly he saw a dime on the ground．

　　Never before has anyone felt as 　　4　　 as Bobby felt．However, his excitement quickly turned cold when salesperson after salesperson told him that he could buy 　　5　　 with only a dime．

　　Bobby saw a flower shop and went inside．He 　　6　　 the dime and asked if he could buy one gift for his mother at Christmas．The shop owner put his hand on his shoulder and said, “You just wait here and see what I can do for you．” Soon the owner came out．There, before Bobby's eyes were twelve red roses, with green leaves．“I just 　　7　　 to have some roses 　　8　　 for ten cents a dozen．Would you like them?” Bobby could hardly believe all this, and only when the man placed the long box into his hands did he know it was 　　9　　．

　　When Bobby left away, the shop keeper said to his 　　10　　 wife, “When I looked at him, I 　　11　　 myself many years ago．I was also a poor boy．It was a generous man whom I never knew 　　12　　 stopped me on the street and gave me ten dollars to buy my mother a Christmas gift．”

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　　Russ was a lovable kid with a variety of communication challenges－a speech impediment(语言障碍), dyslexia(诵读困难), and auditory(听觉的)problems．　　1　　 today he is walking confidently, standing tall to make an acceptance 　　2　　 for having been chosen one of the “Outstanding Young Citizens” in Ocean County, New Jersey 　　3　　 his remarkable volunteer service in the town of Toms River．

　　As I listened, I closed my eyes．I found myself 　　4　　 those memorable moments．My mind was full of warm images of Russ as a loving, caring youth, a gentle soul, 　　5　　 his challenges．And now, as he stood at the platform, I knew his heart 　　6　　 be racing．As Russ continued to speak, I thought about the fateful day when he was diagnosed with all those impairments(损伤)and how 　　7　　 his tutors would be if they could see him today．Here he was at twenty-nine, being honored for ten years of service as a volunteer 　　8　　．Russ was 　　9　　 for organizing clothing for the homeless, teaching preschool children about fire safety, and for playing Santa Claus for very sick children by driving up in a fire truck．

　　Russ thanked his parents for providing him with dignity and for teaching him about morals．Then, pausing for a few seconds, he 　　10　　 us by surprise by touching lovingly on the 　　11　　 of his nephew, Austin．Austin was just three years old when he died from an incurable disease．At that moment, I had to close my eyes again 　　12　　 a different set of tears ran down my cheeks．A silence 　　13　　 the room as Russ owed his volunteer award to Austin．He 　　14　　 his address by lifting the audience up with these words, “Austin taught me how to love．”

　　I have never thought of this day．　　15　　, no one had ever thought that Russ would make 　　16　　 as the star of the football team, and he had never been voted “most likely to succeed,” but he 　　17　　 to be a true “star” in his community．Russ became a man of strong character 　　18　　 his unselfish service to others．With so many impairments, Russ now sees and acts 　　19　　 with his heart．His words and deeds inspire everyone who knows him．It is Russ, our son, who has shown us what 　　20　　 is．

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　　“Hi! John．” Mary ran towards me with a rare bright smile on her face, saying, “I’m going to have a 　　1　　 performance tonight．I hope you’ll come．Here is the 　　2　　．” She left in a hurry, disappearing in the crowds of people 　　3　　．

　　“Is that true?” I asked myself．She was a quite 　　4　　 girl．I had never seen her making up or wearing attractive clothes, for she did not know how to 　　5　　 indeed．

　　I arrived at the 　　6　　 with the ticket, and found my seat．Her performance was the seventh one．I knew I would 　　7　　 from a hard time before her turn, for I had no 　　8　　 of art, but her performance was 　　9　　 watching, no matter how long I would wait．Time went slowly．I 　　10　　 with myself not to fall asleep．

　　“Let’ s welcome the next exciting dance－Latin”　　11　　 filled the hall at once．

　　I opened my eyes as large as possible, 　　12　　 to lose anything．Wearing a golden and shining skirt, Mary appeared on the stage．Dancing with a charming smile, she was fully 　　13　　 in the Latin music．At this moment, she looked like a pretty butterfly 　　14　　 on the splendid stage．

　　After all the performance 　　15　　, I waited for her at the gate．

　　“Hi!” She stood in front of me with a bag and her crystal(水晶)high-heeled shoes in her hands, and 　　16　　 as she used to be, but the making-up still could be seen．

　　“How do you feel?” There was not a little bit tired 　　17　　 on her face．

　　“　　18　　!” I answered．

　　“Thank you! I knew it would be．” She could not 　　19　　 her excitement, laughing like a child．Looking at the shining crystal high-heeled shoes in the wonderful starry night, I 　　20　　 that every girl has a pair of special shoes which are like the crystal shoes of Cinderella．

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　　It was a cold winter’s night when I stopped for gas on my way home from work．I was tired and had a slight 　　1　　．

　　I worked in a 　　2　　 doctor’s office and this was one of those days when the unexpected happened, making the schedule run 　　3　　 than usual．It seemed I was going to be late 　　4　　 home and my husband, being the 　　5　　 person, would be ready to pronounce me late once again．Maybe 　　6　　 I hurried, I could still make it home．

　　I was heading inside to 　　7　　 for my gas when I noticed an older couple at the counter．I heard them asking for 　　8　　 to the local hospital．It was the same hospital that I had just 　　9　　 a few minutes ago．

　　The young man at the counter was trying to be 　　10　　 in explaining how to get there, with two other people making 　　11　　．One of them was 　　12　　 trying to give them a whole different route back．It was then that I walked over to the couple and said, “Would you like to follow me to the 　　13　　?”

　　A look of 　　14　　 crossed the woman’s face．

　　“I’m going right by there,” I said, which wasn’t a(an)　　15　　 since I had just made up my mind to do 　　16　　 that．

　　I got in my car and began the journey back．I was trying to watch to be sure they were right 　　17　　 me．It took only fifteen minutes to get there as rush hour traffic was beginning to 　　18　　．I felt better than I had all day and my headache was nearly gone．

　　Later, as I arrived home, my husband 　　19　　, “So you aren’t ever late any more．”

　　I said, “Sometimes it’s 　　20　　 to be late．”

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　　A couple of years ago, I went to a lady’s drugstore to buy some vitamins．Upon entering the store, I 　　1　　 that there was an electronic keyboard on a stand leaning against the wall．Being a piano music lover and 　　2　　, I asked if the woman played．She nodded and 　　3　　 that she had been 　　4　　 lessons－at age 54! I told her that it was very 　　5　　 that she was pursuing(追求)her 　　6　　 to play the piano．

　　Then she asked me the same question．

　　“I have been playing for 8 years now,” I answered．

　　“Then you must play a song for me before you leave,” she requested．

　　I 　　7　　 she was kidding and I simply smiled．At the end of the 　　8　　 of the vitamins, she 　　9　　 me of our musical “　　10　　”．She then showed me to an old upright piano in the living room and asked me to play a song for her．I thought 　　11　　 and decided to play David Lanz’s “Return to the Heart”, since she had so much enthusiasm for 　　12　　, and it was my soul-searching song．

　　I played the song to the best of my 　　13　　, and with my emotions pouring into it as much as possible．She loved it．　　14　　 I was about to step out of the door, I heard a weak voice calling out, “Young man!”

　　I turned around．And there was an old lady 　　15　　 one little step at a time with the help of another woman．“I wanted to come out to 　　16　　 you for the beautiful song that you played．I have been very sick, and it’s very hard for me to 　　17　　 my bed, but I really wanted to thank you for the song．It made me feel good…” she said．With that, she turned around and walked 　　18　　 back to her room．

　　I was deeply touched by her 　　19　　 and felt a deeper understanding for the song．It served its purpose beautifully, returning to one’s 　　20　　 for peace and joy, just as the song goes．