I was never very neat, while my roommate Mary was extremely organized. Each of her {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（object）had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签）everything. I always looked for everything. She would push my dirty clothing over and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other. Finally, a war broke out one evening. Mary warned me against {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (put) my shoes under her bed. Suddenly, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

    The room was filled {#blank#}3{#/blank#} anger. We could not have stayed together for {#blank#}4{#/blank#} single minute but for a phone call. Mary answered {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. From her end of the conversation，I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬)under her covers, sobbing. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (obvious), that was something she should not go through alone.

    I realized that I should do something {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (show) my concern. Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't notice Mary was watching .She {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (reach) out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into {#blank#}9{#/blank#}（she）eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

    Mary and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

    The first foreign language I studied was French, and I learnt it at a secondary school between the ages of 11 and 18. It was a compulsory subject for the first three years and I{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (choose) to continue studying it afterwards because I enjoyed it, found it {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (interest) and was quite good at it. Outside class I practiced {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(listen) to the French language radio and reading French books.

    Before going to university, I spent three months working on {#blank#}4{#/blank#}farm in southern France. This helped me become pretty fluent{#blank#}5{#/blank#} French and acquire a rich farming-related vocabulary.

    My French has also been {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(help) on holiday on Morocco and Portugal. French {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (use) as a second language in Morocco and in other countries quite a few people speak French in places {#blank#}8{#/blank#}a lot of tourists visit.

    In September 2009 I joined a couple of French conversation {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(group) in Bangor and I have been going to them ever since. It has resulted in my{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(improve) in my spoken French.

    Now I can still speak French fluently and can also read it well, but my written French is not so good.

    In his book, Intentional Living, author John Maxwell shares that back in 1976, he received a gift from one of his{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(assist). As he unwrapped the gift, he saw that it was a book {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(name) The Greatest Story Ever Told. He couldn't wait{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(read) it.

    But when he opened the book, he was{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(astonish) to see that the pages were blank. Inside the book was{#blank#}5{#/blank#}note that said, “John, your life is before you. Fill these pages with kind acts and good thoughts of your heart. Write a great story about your life.” The intention of writing the story of his life excited him. Then, he {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(begin) to write his book.

    Every day we live out our story through our words, actions and decisions. But we must remember to live with intention to focus on what{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(matter) most in life and to regain that focus when we get changed. Without intention, we can become unfocused in things{#blank#}8{#/blank#}needn't add to a life of significance and difference in our world.

    Life isn't perfect and it's always hard,{#blank#}9{#/blank#}we need reminders in our life from a friend, author, blogger, pastor or our inner spirit to re-focus us on the things that matter and make us live{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(positive).

    Jane was walking round the department store. She remembered how difficult{#blank#}1{#/blank#} was to choose a Christmas present for her father. She wished that he was easy {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(please). Besides, shopping at this time of the year was not {#blank#}3{#/blank#}pleasant experience: people stepped on your feet or {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(push)you with their elbows, hurrying ahead to get to a bargain.

    Jane paused in front of a counter (柜台) {#blank#}5{#/blank#} some attractive ties were on display. But Jane knew from past experience that the {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(choose)of ties hardly ever pleased her father.

    Jane stopped where a small crowd of men had gathered. She found some good quality {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(pipe) on sale. She did not hesitate for long: although her father smoked a pipe only once {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a while, she knew that this was a present which was bound to please him.

    When Jane got home, her parents were already at table having supper. Her mother was {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(excite). "Your father has decided to stop smoking," Jane {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(inform).

    If we are honest with ourselves, most of us have dreamed of {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be)rich and famous. Most musicians form a band because of the same interest {#blank#}2{#/blank#}writing and playing music. They may play anywhere {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (earn)some extra money as well as achieve their dreams. However, the Monkees, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} started differently, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(begin) as a TV show with musicians playing jokes and music in the programme. Only after a year or so {#blank#}6{#/blank#} they become more serious and they {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(produce) their own records and later became even {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(popular) than the Beatles in the USA. The band once {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(break) up and then reunited. In memory {#blank#}10{#/blank#}their former time as a real band, they produced a new record in 1996.

    If you're in a hurricane(飓风)-hit area and plan on riding it out, proper {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (prepare) is key. And there is one thing you should have around at all times: a plastic water bottle. Why? When the weather {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (take) a turn for the worse, a water bottle is one of the most useful things {#blank#}3{#/blank#} you have in your home. It might even save your life. Severe flooding caused by a hurricane can make the local drinking water dirty with some {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (danger) substances. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (avoid) a serious illness, it's best to store plenty of bottled water to drink safely.

    That's pretty obvious, of course. But keep those empty plastic bottles around after you drink, too, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} they have lots of uncommon uses. For example, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} empty water bottle can turn into a water filter(滤水器) if you need to drink from the tap. If your lights go {#blank#}8{#/blank#}, don't go the old-fashioned way with candles; you can rely on your handy plastic water bottles once again. Simply tape a small flashlight to the bottom of the bottle, and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (it) plastic (and the water inside) will amplify the glow(增强光亮). Then the little light can {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (use) to light up a room or send signals to rescue personnel.