2. Did you ever hear of "singing sand" This is the kind of sand that makes bizarre sounds when it is walked on or driven over, or when the wind blows across its surface. The sound such sand makes often has a musical tone (音调). In the United States, singing sand has been found along the seashore in Massachusetts and in the sands north of Alamosa, Colorado. People in different parts of the world have given these musical sands different names. In South Africa they are called "crying sands" In Hawaii they are called "barking sands." And in Afghanistan(阿富汗) they are called "drumming sands."But no matter what the sands may be called, scientists have not yet agreed on what causes them to make such strange sounds. The main idea of this passage is that ____.

18. authorities | possibility | captions | cliff | headfirst Here＇re a few funny road signs found from various parts of the world — they＇re all real road signs. I hope you enjoy them and please feel free to add your own ____1____ to the pictures. It seems that this is a real ____2____ around Ireland＇s Dingle Peninsula. After all, the ____3___ put up a warning sign, picturing a car flying ___4____ into the sea. And that sign, pictured against an actual ___5____ in the background, makes a great travel photo.

17. pastime | straightforward | souvenir | unintentionally | gems Most road signs you come across are____1____. They tell you what to do, which direction to go in, where you are, etC, but occasionally (and usually ____2____), road signs can be funny! Taking pictures of funny road signs while traveling is a favorite ____3___ for many travelers. We＇ve all come across these ___4____: a miswritten translation; an unusual warning; or an illustration that just doesn＇t seem right. It might be an official highway sign or something written on a shop window. All are perfect for adding to your travel photo album and sharing with friends. And oftentimes, photographic evidence of such a sign not only makes a great ___5____, but also serves as proof for doubtful folks back home.

16. assure | give up | forgiveness | meaningless | proper ____1____ doesn＇t mean forgetting. That is something that few people can truly do. It means, “I ____2____ my right to hurt you back or hold this over you in the future”. ____3___ them that you will make the ___4____ changes in the future and that you should keep this problem from happening again. Words with no action are pretty___5____. If you promise to change, and the other person sees you change, you can repair your relationship and rebuild trust.

15. learn from | as well as | acknowledge | at this point | be specific The second important step is to ____1____ the injury you have caused the other person(s). Have you hurt their feelings, damaged property, and caused them some difficulty? ____2____ and tell them that you know what you did to them.Accept complete responsibility for what you did ____3___ the consequences. The consequences could be personal, it could be financial, or it could be something else. Take your part and ___4____ it. Don＇t try to turn it around ___5____ and look for their part in the problem (if any) or try to get them to say they＇re sorry. This is about YOU and YOUR actions, not theirs.

14. heartfelt | injured | wrong | empty | enough Too often we just say the words “I＇m sorry” and expect that to be good ____1____. It＇s not. There are some very important steps to take for a truly ____2____ apology to be effective. Here＇s how... ADMIT YOU WERE WRONG — The first and most important step is to admit that you have done something ____3____. To say you are sorry and not admit wrongdoing is ___4____ and the ___5____ party will not believe you.

13. onto | simply | at | inexpensive | on Pat on the Back Here＇s a very ____1____ idea that should work for any type of organization. I ____2____ draw around my hand on a piece of paper, print “Here＇s a pat on the back for You, Mr. / Ms. _________ for all the hard work and effort you＇ve made here”, then copy it ____3____ colored paper. The teens___4____ our church help me cut them out. (Posted ___5____ 25 May, 2000 by Karol Haynes)

12. received | followed | recognized | posted | waiting Afternoon at the Movies During National Volunteer Week we ____1___ our volunteers by taking them to the movies. We had our recognition awards program before the movie started, ____2____ by a 15-minute coffee break. The volunteers had a bag of popcorn and a drink ____3____ for them. They also had their choice of 2 movies. It was very well___4____ and we will do it again next year.(___5____ on 2 April, 2005 by Linda Bacon)

11. boxes | appreciate | off | baskets | tippedHats ____1____ to Volunteers Our library volunteers received various ____2____ of goodies, ____3____ of chocolates, flowers and plants, etc. The staff wore hats all week and ___4____ them toward the volunteers as we saw them. The volunteers here seemed to ___5____ the silent effort to recognize them.(Posted on 25 April, 2005 by Aimee Hepler)

10. sent out | staff | grateful | hold | part of Potlucks for ____1____ and Volunteers I like to ____2____ potlucks at the office and invite volunteers to make them feel like____3____ the team. The volunteers are asked to bring a big appetite. (Posted on 29 March, 2010 by Nazia Hossain) Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving This year I ___4____ Thanksgiving cards to the volunteers. It＇s a great way to show our thanks toward the end of the year, and this makes our volunteers know we＇re ___5____ to them for what they＇ve done in the busy year. (Posted on 14 February, 2008 by Traci Lato)

9. show | Thanksgiving | posted | offer | think of November in the United States brings the holiday of ____1____, and therefore it＇s in November that we tend to ____2____ a way in which we could ____3____ our thanks to volunteers. Here are some of the ways ___4____ online to thank volunteers who come to ___5____ help.