Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often inaccurately {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) “Lunar New Year”, because—as part of the lunisolar Chinese calendar (农历)-the date is partially determined based on lunar phase (月相). The festival traditionally {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (begin) on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival{#blank#}3{#/blank#} is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day when Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as chú xī. It literally means “Year-pass Eve”.

    According to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (tale) and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against {#blank#}5{#/blank#} mythical beast (神兽) called Nien (年). Nien would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock (牲畜), crops, and even villagers,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (especial) children. To protect {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nien{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (eat) the food they prepared, it wouldn't attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nien was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nien was afraid {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the colour red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used fireworks {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (frighten) away the Nien. From then on, Nien never came to the village again.

    Mary will ever forget the first time she saw him. He suddenly appeared in class one day, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (wear) sun glasses. He walked in as if he had bought the school , And the word quickly got around that he was from New York City .  For some reason he sat beside Mary. Mary felt {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(please), because there were many empty seats in the room. But she quickly realized that it wasn't her, it was probably the fact that she sat in {#blank#}3{#/blank#}last row. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}he thought he could escape attention by sitting at the back, he was wrong. It might have made it a little {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(hard) for everybody because it meant they had to turn around, but that didn't stop the kids in the class. Of course whenever they turned to look at him, they had to look at Mary, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} made her feel like a star. Do you need those glasses for medical reasons?” the teacher asked .The new boy shook his head.” Then I'd appreciate {#blank#}7{#/blank#} if you didn't wear them in class. I like tolook at your eyes when I'm speaking to you.” The new boy looked at the teacher{#blank#}8{#/blank#}a few seconds and all the other students wondered {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the boy woulddo . Then he took {#blank#}10{#/blank#}off, gave a big smile and said, “That's cool.”

    A visit to Sydney had long been my dream. So I was {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (excite) when offered the opportunity to go. I arrived {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Sydney around 9:00 a.m. After {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(check) in a lovely apartment, I headed to the seaside and couldn't resist {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (enjoy) the beauty of Sydney. Sydney is famous for its many beautiful {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (beach). Among them, Manly, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} is located on the north part of Sydney, is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (probable) the biggest one. If you go there, you can not only see the Manly Ferry from the Circular Quay {#blank#}8{#/blank#} also enjoy very beautiful scenery of the Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge along the way. If you like surfing, Bondi Beach is a perfect place to go, although it is actually{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(small) than Manly. Apart from the beaches, you can take a visit to the Royal Botanic Garden to admire the view of the harbor or visit the Art Galley to appreciate the works. You will find your interesting tourist attractions here. Definitely, Sydney is so {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (fascinate) that it is worth going.

    The Battle of Chancellorsville, one of the most famous battles of the Civil War, took place in Virginia in the spring of 1863. For months, the two armies had been staying on opposite banks of a narrow river. The Confederate(南方联盟) troops were led by perhaps {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (honored) military tactician(战略家) in American history, General Robert E. Lee. The Union (北方联盟)soldiers were led by “Fighting” Joe Hooker.

    In appearance, personality, and lifestyle, these men were nearly perfect opposites. Lee, an older man in poor health with a gray beard, had a solemn, measured character. Hooker was a blond, broad-shouldered young man {#blank#}2{#/blank#} pride over his appearance was but one aspect of his self-centeredness. Whereas Lee was loyal and principled, Hooker was known for his rollicking enjoyment of both women and whiskey.

    Despite the fact that the Confederacy {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (win) the last four major battles and the Union soldiers were starving, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (exhaust), and demoralized, Hooker proclaimed, “My plans are perfect. And when I start to carry them out, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} God have mercy on Bobby Lee, for I shall have none.” Why was Hooker so confident?

    Hooker had used spies, analysts, and even hot air balloons to compile a vast amount of intelligence about Lee's army. He had already been aware, for example, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} Lee had only 61,000 men to Hooker's own 134,000. Supported by his superior numbers, Hooker secretly moved 70,000 of his men fifteen miles up and across the river, and then ordered them to sneak back down to position themselves {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Lee's army. In effect, Hooker had cut off the Confederate soldiers in front and behind. They were trapped. Satisfied with his advantage, Hooker became convinced that Lee's only option was to retreat to Richmond, thus {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (assure) a Union victory.

    Yet Lee, despite his disadvantages of both numbers and position, did not retreat. Instead, he moved his troops into position to attack. Union soldiers who tried to warn Hooker that Lee was on the offensive {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (dismiss) as cowards. Having become convinced that Lee had no choice but {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (retreat), Hooker began to ignore reality. When Lee's army attacked the Union soldiers at 5:00 p.m., they were eating supper, completely unprepared for battle. They abandoned their rifles and fled as Lee's troops came shrieking out of the brush, bayonets drawn. Against all odds, Lee won the Battle of Chancellorsville, and Hooker's forces withdrew in defeat.

    I am now on my year abroad in Germany as part of my university course. At the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (begin) of my time here, I had the chance to meet so many new people and make lots of new friends. It is almost like {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (start) a new life and can make you feel nervous and lonely at first. But I knew that when I moved to Germany I had to be open and friendly. This is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (certain) what I have done since moving here and I have made some great friends along the way.

    Next week a friend of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (I) is moving to Spain for the next part of her year abroad. She will be living near a beach and have a lot of fun. But I am also {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (concern) about her as she will have to start a new life in another new country. She said that she {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (want) to go back in time very much.

    In order {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (say) goodbye to her, a group of friends and I had a surprise party. We made her a scrapbook (剪贴簿) with photos and memories of her time here so {#blank#}8{#/blank#} she could take it along! We hope that she has {#blank#}9{#/blank#} wonderful time in Spain and that she will get along well {#blank#}10{#/blank#} her new classmates and settle into her new home.