When you take a walk in any of the cities in the West, you can see a lot of people {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(walk) with dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful and faithful animal in the world, but the reasons why people keep a dog {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(change). In the old days people used to train dogs to protect themselves against attacks by other beasts. And {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(late) they came {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(realize) that a dog was not only useful for protection,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} willing to obey his master. For example, when people used dogs for hunting, the dogs would not eat what was caught without {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(permit). But now people in the city need not protect themselves against attacks of animals. Why do they keep dogs, then? Some people keep dogs to protect themselves from robbery. But the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(important) reason is for companionship. For a child, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For young couples, a dog is {#blank#}9{#/blank#}child when they have no children. For old couples, a dog is also their child when their real children have grown up. So the main reason why people keep dogs has changed from protection {#blank#}10{#/blank#} friendship.

The pickle (泡菜) jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser (梳妆台) in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss (投掷) his coins into the jar. It seemed that he was accustomed{#blank#}1{#/blank#}doing such a thing When the jar was filled, I used to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(go) with him and he would take the coins to the bank. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill (磨坊) all his life like me. If he {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (work) like me in the future, he might not have a bright future. Good education can make a difference to people." He had the coins {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (count) and then he deposited the money in the bank.

    The years passed, and I finished college and took a job. Sometimes the job makes me tired {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(mental) but it is my particular preference. If possible, I will do it permanently in my life. Once, while {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (visit) my parents, I noticed that the pickle jar in my parents' bedroom was gone. My father thought {#blank#}7{#/blank#} very important for me to receive a good high education. He demanded that I {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (try) my best to enter a good university.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we made an {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(appoint) to visit my parents so we spent the holiday with them. Now our big family consists of five people. When Susan came back into the living room, she said softly, "Look". To my amazement, there stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (cover) with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins.

    With the strong emotion choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw Dad who was carrying Jessica. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions as I felt.

    The visit of President Xi Jinping to Britain shows the more frequent communication between China and Britain. The cultural differences between the two countries have caused a heated {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (discuss).

    Table manners are the important process in our daily life. We get used to using chopsticks {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Englishmen use knives and forks. It's impolite{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (laugh) when you are eating in Britain, which suggests you don't respect others{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the contrary, we laugh and talk during a meal. What's more, in Britain, people have to drive along the left side of the road, but traffic in our country{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (keep) to the right. Besides, for Chinese students, what they have experienced in studying is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}organized learning way. Students are asked to follow a clear plan.

    {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (compare) with Chinese education, British education is flexible and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (imagine). Students there are encouraged to discuss the subject they want to learn. Last but not least, in China, “Thank you” is not frequently used between friends and family members. However, “Thank you” is{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(wide) used in Britain.

    There is no sense in debating{#blank#}10{#/blank#}is better. We owe these manners to the different history, but you should do as the Romans do.

    Tomb Sweeping Day-the day on {#blank#}1{#/blank#} people remember their dead {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (relative) and visit their graves, has just gone. But this year, an interesting story happened on that day. Let me share {#blank#}3{#/blank#} with you.

    At that night, after dinner, a boy was taking a walk in the road. When he walked past a convenience store he thought of going in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (buy) something. Then he realized that he didn't have money with him. So, his mother {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (phone) to bring some money to him.

    While {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (wait) for his money, the boy saw an old man burning joss paper by the road. “What are you doing here?” the boy {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (ask) him. “I am sending money to my family.” he said. Then he asked the boy, “What are you doing here?” “I'm waiting for my family to send money to me.”

    {#blank#}8{#/blank#}hearing this, the old man's face turned pale and he ran away {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (immediate). The boy shouted to him, “Hey, don't run! I'm just waiting for my family to send money to me!” Suddenly, all the people {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (burn) joss paper nearby also ran away.

    Many people keep small fish {#blank#}1{#/blank#} pets. They keep them in a tank (鱼缸) of water. The tank {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of glass. People can look through it. They can see inside the tank and watch the fish.

    The fish need room. They mustn't be crowded. They need oxygen {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (breath). There must be enough water for all fish. So the size of the tank is very {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (importance).

    In the tank people put small plants {#blank#}5{#/blank#} are good for fish. They give oxygen to the water. Plants help in other ways, too. They can hide {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the plants and sleep, lay eggs there.

    The fish should {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (keep) in water all the time. Some can jump high. So the tank should be covered. This keeps the fish from {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (jump) out.

    The fish need food and should be fed every day. But if you give them too much food, it is very bad, for the extra food {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (fall) to the bottom and make the water dirty. So the fish should get just enough food and finish {#blank#}10{#/blank#} in ten minutes. Nothing should be left.