What started off as a race of 680 women in a London park in 1994 to raise money for a cancer charity has now turned into a massive nationwide event, with thousands of women up and down the UK taking part every year.

　　Known for dressing head to toe in pink, participants raise money for breast cancer research by being sponsored to take part in marathons, which are organized all year round. Since it began, more than 8 million women have taken part, raising over £547 million for Cancer Research UK.

40-Hour Famine（饥饿）, Australia

　　Normally taking place in mid-August, this program encourages young Australians to give something up for 40 hours in order to raise awareness of less fortunate youths around the world.

　　Participants raise money, which is donated to good causes worldwide, by giving something up for the weekend, including the use of technology（TVs, computers, smartphones and so on）, or even food. Since it began in 1975, World Vision Australia, the event's organizer, has raised over A$200 million.

AIDS / LifeCycle, US

　　Each year, thousands of people ride the 545-mile route from San Francisco to Los Angeles in order to raise money and awareness for HIV/AIDS-related causes. Cyclists make the trip over seven days, stopping each night at designated camps to shower, eat and relax. The mainly male riders are known for their colorful riding sportswear, with some dressing as nuns（修女）, cowboys or even in bikinis. The event has raised around $100 million since it began in 2001.

21．In what way is "Race for life" special?

A. The participants are all women. B. It's a yearly marathon held in London.

C. All the athletes are cancer patients. D. It attracts about 8 million people every year.

22．What do the cyclists mainly do in the AIDS / LifeCycle trip?

　　A. Advertise for a brand sports suit. B. Research into the causes of AIDS.

C. Talk with local cowboys in camps.D. Cycle in the daytime and rest at night.

23．What do the three events have in common?

　　A. All the participants give something away to the poor.

　　B. They are all held to raise money for people in need.

　　C. All the participants donate what they have to charity.

　　D. They have all drawn people's attention to cancer and AIDS.

　　One cold January evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, America, I went with my father on an oil burner(燃油炉) service call. My father was in his forties at that time and I was about twelve years old. He was always working hard trying to support us seven kids. I enjoyed hanging out with him whenever I could - he taught me so much.

We arrived at the call and after walking over snow and ice, we knocked on the customer's door. A senior citizen opened the door and let us into her very cold home. She was wearing an old, worn-out brown coat that went down to her knees. On her head, covering her gray hair, was an old