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An increase in the number of meteors at a particular time of year is called a meteor shower.
Comets shed the debris that becomes most meteor showers.As comets orbit the Sun，they shed an icy，dusty debris stream along the comet's orbit.If Earth travels through this stream，we will see a meteor shower.Depending on where Earth and the stream meet，meteors appear to fall from a particular place in the sky，maybe within the neighborhood of a constellation.
Meteor showers are named by the constellation from which meteors appear to fall，a spot in the sky astronomers call the radiant.For instance，the radiant for the Leonid meteor shower is located in the constellation Leo.
What are shooting stars？
[A]"Shooting stars"and"falling stars"are both names that people have used for many hundreds of years to describe meteors-intense streaks of light across the night sky caused by small bits of interpIanetary rock and debris called meteoroids crashing and burning high in Earth's upper atmosphere.Traveling at thousands of miles an hour，meteoroids quickly ignite in searing friction of the atmosphere，30 to 80 miles above the ground.[B]Almost all are destroyed in this process；the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.
How can I best view a meteor shower？
If you live near a brightly lit city，drive away from the glow of city lights and toward the constellation from which the meteors will appear to radiate.For example，drive north to view the Leonids.Perseid meteors will appear to'rain"into the atmosphere from the constellation Perseus，which rises in the northeast around 11 p.m.in mid-August.
After you've escaped the city glow，昀 nd a dark，secIuded spot where oncoming car headlights will not periodically ruin your sensitive night vision.Look for state or city parks or other safe，dark sites.
[C]Once you have settled at your observing spot，lie back or position yourself，so the horizon appears at the edge of your peripheraI vision，with the stars and sky filling your field of view.Meteors will instantly grab your attention as they streak by.
难点重点，一目了然！
长难句解析 Sentence Structures
A "Shooting stars"and"falling stars"are both names that people have used for many hundreds of years to describe meteors-intense streaks of Iight across the night sky caused by small bits of interpIanetary rock and debris caIled meteoroids crashing and burning high in Earth's upper atmosphere.
有些小天体或碎片，也就是流星体，闯入地球大气层发生摩擦生热，在天空形成耀眼的光芒，从而变成流星，也可称作陨星。几百年以来人们都是这么称呼流星的。
bits of少量的，小块片的。例如：He wiped the desk clean，throwing away an empty cigarette pack and some bits of paper.他擦干净桌子，扔掉一个空烟盒和一些碎纸。
B AImost all are destroyed in this process；the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.
几乎大部分在这个过程中就已经燃烧殆尽。极为少数还剩余落到地面，变成陨石。
all，few后均省略了meteoroids。
C Once you have settled at your observing spot，Iie back or position yourseIf，so the horizon appears at the edge of your peripheraI vision，with the stars and sky filling your fieId of view.
当你确定了观测点后，平躺或是选择一个合适的姿势，使地平线进入你的外围视线内。星星和天空要尽收眼底。
at the edge of在……的边缘。例如：It was hot summer and at the edge of the desert it was like a furnace.那是一个炎热的夏天，在沙漠的边缘，天热得像火炉一样。
A Faithful Dog 忠实的狗
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朗读指数：★★★☆☆
背诵指数：★★★☆☆
难度指数：★★★☆☆
总词汇量：0376词汇
每个好故事都有灵魂！
今日关键语导读 Today's Key Points
一个关于忠犬救了婴儿却又被误杀的故事，让人感动而又伤心。不管故事的结局如何，我们都应该知道，狗是人类忠实的朋友，它们给我们带来快乐的同时也给我们带来了安全感。我们也要不断地学习如何与狗狗们相处，与它们一同和谐生活。
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障碍词先听为快 Words and Expressions
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There is a large square stone near a river in Northern Wales.Grass and trees surround it.[A]This gray stone marks where someone is buried.One side of the buriaI stone is covered with writing.It tells this story："In the 13th century the son of the king of North Wales had his home here.His name was Prince Llewellyn.One day Prince Llewellyn went out hunting.[B]He went without his faithful dog，Gilbert.When Llewellyn came home，Gilbert joyfully ran and jumped to meet him.But the dog was covered with blood.The Prince was frightened.Quickly，he ran to flnd his son.He found the baby's bed empty.The blankets and floor were covered with blood.Llewellyn felt insane with anger.He thought his dog had killed his baby.He quickly killed Gilbert with his sword.The dog's dying cry was followed by a baby's voice.The Prince searched and discovered his son.The boy was not hurt.But next to the baby lay the dog-like body of a large wolf.Gilbert，the dog had killed this wild and fierce animal.The Prince was full of regret.People say he never smiled again.The prince buried Gilbert here."
The dog Gilbert and the wolf may have looked very similar.But what made Gilbert and the wolf so different？Many years ago，dogs and wolves were the same.But about 14，000 years ago，some wolves began to change.They were no longer as wild.No one knows exactly how this happened.
Today，there are about 400 different kinds of dogs.People can see many of these kinds of dogs at dog shows.At these shows，people bring their dogs to compete for a prize.The dogs run，walk and do tricks for judges.Some of the dogs are as tall as the waist of a person.Others are small enough to be carried in one hand.Some dogs have long hair that reaches to the ground.Others have no hair at all.
Humans are still learning how to live together with dogs.This relationship can be wonderful but dif flcult-like in the story of Prince Llewellyn and his dog Gilbert.[C]But people will continue to share their lives with man's best friend：the dog.
难点重点，一目了然！
长难句解析 Sentence Structures
A This gray stone marks where someone is buried.
石头是有人埋葬于此的标志。
where引导宾语从句，作mark的宾语。
B He went without his faithfuI dog，GiIbert.
他这次没有带他那条忠犬，杰尔伯特。
go without没有也行。例如：If I were you，I wouldn't go without saying Goodbye.如果我是你，我不会不道别就走。