The Courage to Sacrifice

PROFESSOR LIVIU LIBRESCU

Many years before tragedy struck the campus of Virginia Tech, Professor Librescu had faced the horrors of the Holocaust- and survived. So perhaps when he heard gunshots outside his classroom on the morning of April 16, 2007, memories of violence prompted him to block the classroom door. This gave his students time to jump from the second story windows. But the 76-year-old professor couldn't withatand the gunman's force for long and was shot to death. In the days following the attack, students were full of praise for Professor Librescu and his heroic action.





THE FOUR CHAPLAINS




Not long after midnight on Februrary 3, 1943, a German submarine fired three torpedoes at the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, a transport vessel, and scored a direct hit. The four U.S. Army chaplains on board, George Fox, Alexander Goode, John Washington and Clark Poling, immediately began assisting frantic soldiers by distributing life jackets. After giving their own life jackets away, the chaplains locked arms with one another as the ship began to sink. They continued to encourage the soldiers floating nearby, even as they themselves faced certain death in Arctic wayers. Thanks to the four chaplains' bravery and sacrifice,230 men survuved the attack.

summary

The Four Chaplains

When the ship sank, the four chaplains sended the life jackets to every soldiers. They even take their ones to the soliders who have no life jackets.

The Professor Liviu Librescu

When it broke up, the professor protect their students from getting injured. The professor was seventy six years old but he is so brave and can't withstand the ball. So he sacrifice unfountunally.

words

1. chaplain 2. torpedo 3.holocaust

useful words

1.withstand 2.sacrifice 3.courage

thinking

I deeply admired. They are brave men. They have the heart of kindness. It needs to have much courage to rescued other people even sacrifice themselves. When I read the two short stories. I'm so moved that I make a decision to help people with simple ways. We should take a respect for them. They were so great.

A Taste of Mexico

Few foods are more festive than Mexican cuisine. The bright colors-including reds, greens, yellow-are a fiesta for the eyes. The food's varied textures are a delight for the mouth. And the many finger foods make it possible to eat a whole meal without ever picking up a fork.

What more could you ask for?

I recently made my way to a local restaurant in search of some festive Mexican fare. Right away, the restaurant's colorful Mexican decor made me smile. I knew I had come to the right place.

I started my mouthwatering Mexican meal with a popular appetizer-quesadilla. This dish is made with a fried tortilla-or flatbread-folded over a cheese center. I ate my quesadilla with my hands. And before I knew it, that tasty finger food had me in a happy mood.

Next, I wrapped my fingers around another delicious appetizer-chicken flautitas. These small, flute-shaped snacks are filled with shredded chicken and fried until golden brown. The moist chicken center and crunchy tortilla shell made my taste buds dance.

Tortilla chips also make a great Mexican meal-starter. Whole tortillas are cut into triangle-shaped pieces and deep-fried to make these tasty chips. They can be dipped in either a spice saisa(a tomato-based dip) or a cool guacamole(made from avocados). I tried each dip, and both were simple delectable.

But by then, I was ready for something a little more filling. So I ordered two main dishes: a chicken chimichange and a beaf enchilada.

The enchilada, on the other hand, was a Mexican bandito that set my taste buds on fire. Covered with a spicy tomato sauce and topped with cheese, this enchilada completely satisfied.

After devouring my enchilada, it was time to cool down. So I ordered a scoop of fried ice cream. As I took a bite of this scrumptious frozen treat, I pondered a very important question: Just how do they deep-fry ice cream without melting it? It made for a fun ending to my very festive meal.

summary

Mexican cuisine makes the author joys. There are some bright colors including reds, greens, yellows in the food so that we can't wait to taste it.The Mexican food let the author feel satisifed. It make for a fun ending to my very festival meal.

words

1.decor 2.moist 3.delectable 4.fare

useful words

1.delight 2.ponder 3.mouthwatering 4.appetizer

thinking

I like to taste food so I choose about food's article Mexico's food also let me happy because it is different Taiwan's food. For example, a quesadilla looks delicious and we can eat them with our hands. Finding them, we can also eat them with special sauce. Oh, Mexico is my heaven. I also like the Fried ice cream. I can't imagine what the favor is. I really want to try it.

Out of the Desert

Burj Dubai is rising at the rate of a floor a week in Dubai, a city-state in the United Arab Emirates. It aims to beat skyscrapers being built in Shanghai and New York to become the world's tallest building in 2009. Additionally, Burj Dubai's design would allow it to be extended should a new, taller skyscraper be proposed. This way, at that time of its opening, its position as the world's tallest building will be guaranteed. Dubai already boasts the world's tallest hotel, richest horse race and largest man-made island. Burj Dubai is only the latest-and tallest-of the city's many claims to fame.

Big dreams

If there's one word that can describe Dubai, it's ambitious. Less than 50 years ago, Dubai was a small fishing village. In 1959, Sheikh Rashid, ruler of Dubai until 1990, borrowed millions of dollers with the dream of building a great city. His son, Sheikh Mohammed, has continued that vision. In the past decade, he's run Dubai much like a CEO, transforming it into the amazing city it is today.

Burj AI Arab, the tallest, most luxurious hotel in the world, is a symbol of Dubai and its accomplishments. The hotel's sail-shaped strucyure rises 54 stories from its own man-made island in the Persian Gulf. Stepping onto the island costs US$50; spending a night can cost up to US$7000.

The world's largest man-made island-Palm Jumeirah-was completed last year with 4000 residences, 30+ hotels, marinas and more. Shaped like a palm tree, its "branches" fan out into the Persian Gulf. Two even larger islands like this one are currently being planned or built.

Despite these accomplishments, Sheikh Mohammed says he's only achieved 10 percent of his vision for the city. Ultimately, he hopes to his transform Dubai into a center for trade and tourism in the Middle East.

Dubai already draws 7 million tourists a year. Many come to shop at large malls like the Mall of the Emirates, which features an indoor ski slope. In the future, they'll be able to visit Dubailand, a theme park currently under construction. It will be twice as large as Disney World.

The people

But perhaps the most intersting aspect of Dubai is its mix of people. Over 80 percent of the population isn't native-born. People from over 150 nations have come to Dubai to live and work. Sixty percent of the foreigners come from South Asia. They provide much of the labor that makes the building projects possible.

Others come from Europe, America or India and work in white-coller industries. They, along with many native Arabs, benefit from the prosperity that oil and development have brought to Dubai.

The wealthy upper class enjoys world-class events like the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race.

Horses and jockeys from around the world compete for its US$6 million grand prize. Meanwhile, spectators can compete in fashion contests. Prizes are awarded for "Best Dressed Couple" and "Best Hat."

Indeed, to many, Dubai is a paradise where dreams come true. It's hard to believe the city was once almost all desert. As Burj Dubai reaches higher into the sky, people's dreams for Dubai only grow bigger.

summary

The article talk about the change of Dubai. There are a rich and a big hotel. We can even know the building in the highest all around the world in the future. According to the article, we can read about the desert's place. It not only has the oil but there is a big city where is prospertity.

words

1.city-state 2.marinas

useful words

1.guarantee 2.ambitious 3.structure 4.residence 5.prospertity 6.feature

thinking

There are the desert, the camles and the oil there. But now, we can see different Dubai. We can even go travel to live the the rich hotel and to shop the mall. Many different people gather to the place where can let me know the new city will develope. Because the article, I can know the changes of Dubai. It is a new power joining the propertity city.