As they walk down the halls during their years together at Shady Side, our boys and girls —— so soon to become men and women —— are learning to think, to work, to question, to be {#blank#}1{#/blank#} and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, to{#blank#}3{#/blank#}with others, to laugh at their mistakes and to act {#blank#}4{#/blank#} when {#blank#}5{#/blank#} comes their way.

    Sir William Osler, a famous Canadian doctor,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} the value of {#blank#}7{#/blank#} by saying, "No man is really happy {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a hobby, and it makes precious little {#blank#}9{#/blank#} what the outside {#blank#}10{#/blank#} may be."

    Do you have any idea of New Year paintings?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (know) as “paper paintings” and “painted pictures”, New Year paintings are a special art form in Chinese folk culture. Without New Year paintings, our traditional Chinese folk culture would be much less {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(color). The paintings get such a name because they are {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(most) posted during the Chinese New Year holiday for {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(decorate) and they are also accepted as a symbol of New Year's greetings.

    New Year paintings appeared around the Tang dynasty, replacing the previous door pictures believed to be able to protect the residents and drive away ghosts. In the Song dynasty the New Year paintings{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (create) on a large scale(规模){#blank#}6{#/blank#} the printing techniques improving, the content and forms of New Year paintings became various. The development of the paintings matured in the Ming and Qing dynasties,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} the art hit its heyday (全盛期).

    There are many {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(tradition) printing methods of New Year paintings,{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (include) woodblock printing, stone-block printing, offset printing, watercolor painting, etc.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} is reported, woodblock-printed New Year paintings are the most popular and interesting ones, according to a recent survey.

    Friends play an important part in our {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (life). Though we may take friendship for granted, we often don't clearly understand {#blank#}2{#/blank#} we make friends. While we get on {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(good) with many people, we are usually friends with only a few—for example, per student usually {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (have) about 6 friends. In all the cases of friendly relationships, two people like one another and enjoy {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) together. {#blank#}6{#/blank#}fact, as we get to know people, we take into account things like age, race, economic condition, social position, and intelligence. Although these things are not of great {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (important), {#blank#}8{#/blank#} is more difficult to get on with people when there is an obvious difference in age and background. Compared with marriage, there are no friendship ceremonies to {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (strong) the connection between two people. But the mutual（彼此的）understanding that results from common experiences and emotions does seem to create a powerful bond, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} can overcome difference in background, and break down barriers（障碍）of age, class and race.

    Any bird that crossed his path would be eaten by Rex, a German shepherd. Rex{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(rescue) from his previous shelter, where he was going to be put down after a biting incident. Last year, he{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(eventual) arrived at Puriton Horse and Animal Rescue.

    Geraldine was a goose abandoned by owners who could no longer put up {#blank#}3{#/blank#} her. She wasn't exactly the picture of {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(warm), either, when she arrived at the same shelter three months ago. The dog and the goose were individually given labels like cruel and dangerous. Neither seemed particularly harmonious with humans or even members of their own species.

    But when the two {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(annoy) creatures were offered a chance to hang out together, something magical happened. They chased each other when first {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(introduce), but Geraldine stood up for herself and that was that. They just fell in love with each other.

    “I've been doing rescue work since 1997 and seen all {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(kind) of strange animal behavior, but I've never seen anything like this,” said Sheila Brislin, {#blank#}8{#/blank#}is the founder of the shelter. “It's so amusing to see them because they love each other to bits. They are very affectionate. She just{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(run) around alongside him all day long and whenever we take him for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}walk in the woods she has to come, too.”

    The Laba Festival {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (celebrate) on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunar(阴历的) Chinese calendar is a traditional Chinese holiday. "La" is the name of the month and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (pronounce) as "ba" in Chinese.

    There are several stories about the origin of this festival and it's difficult for{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (we) to tell which one is true. But today{#blank#}4{#/blank#} we do know is that this festival began as a way to honour ancestors. It was also a time for the ancient Chinese {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (pray) to heaven and earth that there would be a good harvest.

    The majority of Chinese have long followed the tradition of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (eat) Laba porridge during the Laba Festival. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} general, the porridge contains eight ingredients, including some beans and rice. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(traditional), Laba porridge is the most important part of the festival. Also, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} is important that family members eat the porridge together.

    Another custom is soaking Laba garlic(泡腊八蒜), {#blank#}10{#/blank#}  is the best seasoning（调味品）for the dumpling feast at the Spring Festival.