I am so tired of winter. First it was all the snow and now it's just rain, rain, rain. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (seem) like the cold and rain have been here so long that I can {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (hard) remember what the sun looks. It has been wet and miserable for weeks and weeks.

    All I want to do is climb into bed, crawl under the covers, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} hide from the world until spring is really here. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}official first day of spring is in less than a week, but you wouldn't know it at all from the weather.

    I have been feeling so bad lately and think it has a lot to do with the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (depress) weather this month. March is just the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (bad) month in my opinion.

    Today I got thoroughly wet{#blank#}7{#/blank#} my way home from work. It started to pour when I was walking to my car, which {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (park) at the end of the lot. Why do I always forget {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (bring) an umbrella with me?

    I had a hard time {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (drive) home. I was wet and the traffic was terrible. But I am home now and happy that the day is over.

    Today I went to a conference, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} two students had a debate about the strengths and weaknesses of the Internet.

    The first speaker talked about the positive {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (effect) of the Internet on our lives. The first is its value for people who {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (look) for information. For example, with the touch of a button {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the click of a mouse, a student will find abundant information at his or her command. The second is our ability {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (relate) to others through the Internet and it is especially important for disabled people {#blank#}6{#/blank#} can't leave their homes.

    The {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (two) speaker talked about the negative effects of the Internet on our lives. For example, some experts think that the outcome of spending too much time on the Internet ii difficulty in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (form) social bonds. They were also quite explicit about how heavy Internet users spend {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (much) time with their Internet friends than their real-life friends from school and work.

    Both sides presented lots of statistics to support their arguments. My own judgment is that though the Internet is. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (benefit), we should use our intelligence and not be a slave to it!

    Communicating with the old can be challenging, especially when considering the fact {#blank#}1{#/blank#} their abilities are failing.

    First of all, you are {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (suppose) to respect the old's thoughts, backgrounds and life experience. Do not correct their opinions even when you can't reach any {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(agree). And when old people are talking, listen {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(careful). Let them finish because letting them express their thoughts and emotions {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) important.

    When you're together with them, try to know if they would like {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(chat) or be quiet. And when you feel they want to be quiet, just be there, because{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(spend) time with them is as important as talking to them or cheering them up.

    As communication with old people can be difficult, it is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(importance) to be always patient. When you are explaining something {#blank#}9{#/blank#} them, you should remain patient when they ask you to repeat yourself. Try using gestures while you talk with them, or write down what you want to say when {#blank#}10{#/blank#}is necessary.

Sun Yang wins men's 400m freestyle in FINA Champions Swim Series on January 15 in Shenzhen. "My 400m free remains smooth all the time, showing that my training is{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(effect). My goal this year is{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (win) at the Olympic Games," said Sun, who lost to Rapsys {#blank#}3{#/blank#}0.03 in 200m freestyle on Tuesday. The world top-class athlete {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(perfect) showed his dominant power in the 400m freestyle event in front of all his home fans, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (suggest) that he is aiming high for the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.

Liu Xiang bagged her second gold medal in the 50m freestyle in 24. 04. "I got{#blank#}6{#/blank#} cold after I arrived here three days ago, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} I did not expect to win with a time equaling my personal best," said Liu. So far, China {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (collect) 9 gold medals as the biggest winner.

According to FINA official website, the brand-new "FINA Champions Swim Series" is since 2019 a circuit {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (gather) the top athletes of the sport, and it has an original {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(compete) format including finals with only four swimmers.