France has the most beautiful castles throughout Europe. Here are some of the best French castles to visit. You'll surely want to visit one of them during your travels in France. Have a look and enjoy!

Chateau de Versailles

The Chateau de Versailles is about 20kms southwest of Paris. When the castle was built, Versailles was a small village. Today, however, it is a famous area in Paris. The castle was built as a small hunting lodge (乡间小屋) for Louis XIII in the 1620s. Years later, he made it bigger. Later, louis XIV also made it larger, making it one of the largest palaces of the world.

Chateau de Chambord

The Chateau de Chambord is one of the largest castles around the world. It sits in the Loire Valley. Being at the heart of Europe's largest enclosed wooded park, Chambord, it was built for King Francis I to serve as a hunting lodge. It is one of the world's most well-known castles in the world because of its French Renaissance (文艺复兴) building.

Chateau de Chenonceau

As one of the most famous castles in the Loire Valley, the castle was built during the 11th century on the River Cher. It was passed through many bands. The castle was not destroyed during the French Revolution because it was the only bridge across the river for many miles.

Chateau de Chantilly

This historic castle sits in the town of Chantilly, France. This beautiful castle is made up of two buildings: the Petit Chateau built around 1560 for Anne de Montmorency, and the Grand Chateau which was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 1870s. There are many interesting pieces of 17th century history about the castle. Every two years a fireworks competition is held in the castle gardens.

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), though my teacher emphasized (强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, "You don't say!" "You don't say!" I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic (适当的话题). "Well, I'd better change the topic." So I said to him. "Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?" "Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent." He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. "The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it." Soon I was interrupted again by his words: "You don't say!" I couldn't help asking, "Why do you ask me not to talk about it?" "Well, I didn't request you to do so," he answered, greatly surprised. I said, "Didn't you say 'you don't say'?" Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, "You don't say' actually means 'really!' It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don't pay attention to English idioms." Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself.

Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

Dear John,

My name is Amber and I want to share my story with you because what you've shared about life and positive energy has changed my life.

This past year has been one of the hardest for me. I felt I was stuck in a position that had nothing to do with what I wanted to do with my life. In January, after two years of being together, my boyfriend left me.

I read your blog every morning as I drink my coffee at work, but it wasn't until this March that I told myself “no more negativity (消极性)” as you taught readers in your blog.

Since then I've got into new habits at work to keep my energy positive. When people walk in the front door, I'm the first face they see, so I smile big when I say “good morning” to them, especially on Monday. Instead of waiting for someone to ask me for help, I offer it with an open mind. The CEO noticed my change and offered me the executive (行政的) assistant position that I wanted.

One of the biggest things I've taken to heart from your blog is changing my opinions on my job. Yes, it was not an important position, but when I was passionate (热情的) about it, I could make my life fulfilling.

All in all, I have to thank you somehow for having the passion to help others because it truly is inspiring to me. So thank you so much, John. My life has changed because your words pointed me in the right direction, Take care!

Sincerely,

Amber

Do you like shopping? Or does the thought of wandering round the shops fill you with terror? For some of us, shopping is an enjoyable way of spending our spare time and money. For me, it's something I would rather avoid. Thanks to the Internet, we can buy goods and services cheaper online. But sometimes the problem is knowing what to buy. This has led to a type of shopping called "showrooming".

Showrooming is something I've done. I will go to a shop to see, touch and try out products but then go home and buy them online at a knock-down price. I'm not alone in doing this. Research by a company called Foolproof, found 24% of people showroomed while Christmas shopping in 2013.

Amy Cashman, head of Technology at TNS UK, says the reasons for this new shopping habit are that "people are lacking time, lacking money and they want security about the products they are buying."

But does this mean technology will kill shops? Certainly shops will change. They will have to offer more competitive prices or encourage people to buy more by giving in-store discounts (折扣) or free gifts.

We mustn't forget that buying in a shop means you can get expert advice from the sales assistant and you can get good aftercare. It's good to speak to a real human rather than look at a faceless computer screen but at least by showrooming, you get the best of both worlds!

Earthquake can strike without warning. But many injuries and deaths from this kind of natural disaster can be prevented if people follow these safety tips.

If you're inside a building, stay there! One of the most dangerous things to do in an earthquake is to try to leave a building. But do remember: do it carefully.  So do it as follows: Drop to the ground. Get under an object (物体) that is not easily damaged. Hold on to it until the shaking stops. You can also get to a corner formed by two walls with your arms over your hand. If you're in bed when the quake hits, stay there and protect your head with a pillow.

 You can go to the park, playground or fields near your house. Don't take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop as quickly as possible and stay away from overpasses, buildings, bridges or anything else that might fall or collapse beneath you

If you are trapped in ruins, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or a piece of clothing. Use your cell phone to call for help if possible. Don't shout.  Tap (敲) on a pipe or the wall so rescuers can find you.

Be prepared for aftershocks.  However, sometimes they even happen months later. Therefore, if you are not in a safe position (位置) after the first shock, you should move quickly but carefully to a safer place.

A. Don't park your car under a tree or any tall object.

B. Don't move about or kick up dust.

C. They can happen in the first hours after the earthquake.

D. If you're outside, go to an open space.

E. Take a good hold of your cell phone in the building.

F. Most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out.

G. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dust.

I was coming back from home late at night in a "Sharing" minivan (面包车). In Hyderabad, India, it is a 1 and quick way of transport. The van drivers carry as many as 13 people 2 in a vehicle which is built for the 3 of 8 people. Our van was over 4 as well. People were getting off and on at many 5.

One girl signaled the driver to 6. She got out of the van. While getting down, she slipped and fell. None of us noticed it, as it was 7. The driver was waiting for her to pay. It was then that we saw that the girl was on her knees by the side of the road. Another 8 and I got down and help her up.

9 in pain, she held up a note and asked up to 10 the driver. The other passenger took the note and paid the driver. My stop was a few hundred meters away. I decided to 11 her till she was really 12. I paid up the driver for myself and he took off.

I neither knew her nor did I know 13 to do. But I was there, saying some comforting words to a 14 in pain. Some time later, her friend 15 us.

We made her sit in the nearby grass and her friend rushed to get water. In the meantime, she 16 her leg. It looked like a minor sprain (扭伤). Once her friend came back, they 17 a car and rushed to a nearby clinic. She 18 me and said they could manage as it was only a minor sprain.

I do not know if I did 19. But I feel I gave some 20 to her in a small way.

One evening, an elderly lady was driving past a small town when one of her tires suddenly blew out. It  (be) a bad situation for a woman of her age. She was very annoyed, especially with the weather getting  (cold) and colder. At that moment,  man stopped his car in front of hers and asked  she needed help. The old lady became even more nervous because the man looked poor and  (hunger). However, since no one else had stopped to help her during the past two  (hour), she stood back and let him help her. After the man finished changing the tire, the lady was willing  (pay) him some money. To  (she) surprise, the man replied that he just wanted to help her, just as others had helped him in the past. He didn't want the lady to pay him back anything. Instead, he just wanted her to help others in need  well. Later that evening, the lady helped a heavily pregnant woman.  never occurred to her that the woman was the poor man's wife.

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

I go to the Summer Palace last week. At the gate, I happened to meet some American tourists. I greeted them for English and then we began to chat. I got know that they were college students travel in China. Most of them were interesting in Chinese medicine. They were busy taking pictures and were impressed by the changes where had taken place in the past a few years. After that, we went boating and had a good time. We exchanged our email address so that we could write to each other in future. They thanked us again and again. I was real glad to have a chance to practise my oral English.

1）常听英语对话；

2）看CCTV9；

3）听英文歌曲。

注意：1）词数100左右；开头和结尾已经给出，但不计入总词数。

2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3）信件中不能出现真实姓名和地址；

参考词汇：对话dialogue

Dear Zhang Ming,

It's nice to hear from you. I'm sorry to know that you are having trouble in English listening comprehension. ……

Yours truly,

Li Hua