In much of Asia, especially the so-called＂rice bowl＂ cultures of China, Japan, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Vietnam,food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

        Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo.They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hard woods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create)special designs.

        The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs(树枝)to removeit. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly.

Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (gradual) turned into chopsticks.

        Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} livedfrom roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

Chopsticks are notused everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    China, which takes pride in four inventions in ancient times, has once again shown its ability {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (change) the world with its “new four great inventions”: high-speed railways, electronic payment, shared bicycles and online shopping.

    Recently, the “new four great inventions”{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (improve) the quality of people's lives. Thanks to online shopping and mobile payment, people can buy what they want{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (simple) with a tap of the phone within doors. High-speed trains have shortened{#blank#}4{#/blank#}journey from Beijing to the coastal city Tianjin to half an hour. As for the bikes, they themselves are not new. It is the operating model of bike-sharing {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (base) on satellite navigation (导航) system, mobile payment as well as big data{#blank#}6{#/blank#}has surprised the world. Shared bicycles are bringing cycling back{#blank#}7{#/blank#} people's lives and they are making public transport more{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (attract).

    It is increasingly clear that China is no longer{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(copy) western ideas and is leading in many new ways. A growing number of foreign {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (company) hope to promote the development in their home country by highlighting the need for technological achievements like that of China.

    In many countries, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is not unusual for families of different backgrounds to live together in the shared space. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, in the United States, this idea may still be considered odd.

       But this type of housing, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(call) co-housing, is gaining {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (popular) in the United States, too. Co-housing complexes are popping up across the country. For many people, this way of life is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} relief to the busy modern lifestyle. There is often a “common house” with a kitchen and dining room, meeting room, and maybe a workshop of library or music room in a co-housing community.  About 25 co-housing communities {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (build) in recent years, and 150 more are planned.

    A co-housing complex is a place {#blank#}7{#/blank#} residents shop, cook, and eat together. Residents of a co-housing complex like its sense of shared community. Children have other kids to play with, which many families like. The feeling of living in a “village” is {#blank#}8{#/blank#} other residents like. Residents also say that they can live in co-housing for {#blank#}9{#/blank#} money than they would pay {#blank#}10{#/blank#} nearby apartments.

    After weeks of rain, a town flooded and the people {#blank#}1{#/blank#} lived there had to move to a safe place. At one house, rescue workers found {#blank#}2{#/blank#} man standing deep in water. "Come on! Get in the boat!" the rescuers shouted. The man shouted back, "No! I have faith {#blank#}3{#/blank#} God, and He will save me!" Soon the floodwaters chased the man to the second floor. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(luck), another boat came by at this point. "Get in the boat!" the rescuers urged. "No way!" the man said, stubborn in his thought {#blank#}5{#/blank#} God would save him. The floodwaters continued to rise, and the man had to climb to the roof of his house. Fortunately, a rescue helicopter came by and {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (drop) a ladder for him. The pilot shouted through a megaphone, "Grab the ladder!" The man refused and shouted the same thing again.

    But the floodwaters {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (rise) above the roof. The man {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (sweep) away and drowned. When {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (arrive) at heaven, he demanded to meet with God. "God, I was certain that you would save me, but you let me die. Why? Why did you abandon me?" God replied with a {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(puzzle) look, "What do you mean? I sent you two boats and a helicopter!"

    According to a recent survey, violence does exist in schools. Students show their fear and parents and teachers also {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (express) their great concern about it. Experts hope {#blank#}2{#/blank#} whole society will pay more attention to the mental health of adolescents.

    Nowadays, school violence is a big issue. I think this is a phenomenon (现象), which {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (call) for our great concern. We should try every effort {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (prevent) school violence happening, for more and more students would drop out of school if their personal {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (safe) could not be guaranteed (保证). In fact, violence can be learned. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (actual), children learn violent behavior from adults or from {#blank#}7{#/blank#} they see on television or the Internet.

    If I meet with school violence, I will not answer violence with violence, for it will result in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (much) fights. I will tell my teachers or parents about it. I think they will help me deal with it well and protect me {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the bad guys.

    All in all, we students should behave {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (we) and keep away from violence.