English Around the World

    There are more than 3,000 languages {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（speak）in the world. Of all these languages, English is the most {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(wide) used. Recent {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(survey) show that more than 500 million people speak English as their mother tongue.

    From its roots in England, the language was spread around the world {#blank#}4{#/blank#}English traders and English governments in new lands. One of these new lands {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(become) the United States of America. The population of the United States is 309 million,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (make) it the country with the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}large) number of native English speakers.

    About 300 million people speak English as their second language. There are even more people, like some in Europe as well as in China and Japan,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} study English as a foreign language.

    English has become the base language for international business, for the world's airlines and even for the Internet. Whatever language people speak, they need  {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(know) some English if they work in these fields.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} is clear that the English language is becoming more important.

    We usually rely on Hollywood{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (hero) to show up on our screens and defeat the bad guys. Yet Wolf Warrior II has proven that a Chinese moviemaker can{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(entertainment) audiences just as well.

    The man in question is Leng Feng,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (play) by Wu Jing, the film's writer and director. Leng is a{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(fear) former special forces soldier of the People's Liberation Army. During a military rebellion in{#blank#}5{#/blank#}African country, Leng almost single-handedly helps Chinese workers and African locals escape the war-torn nation.

    In both acting and technical terms, the film is similar{#blank#}6{#/blank#}a Hollywood blockbuster. It features quality action scenes and stunts（特技）,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (include) gun fights, car chases and an underwater fight.

    Wolf Warrior II took a record-breaking 3.4 billion yuan in the first 13 days since its release on July （3） But the{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(fight) scenes alone don't explain the movie's{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(succeed)--it's also the patriotism（爱国主义）and spirit of the film projects {#blank#}10{#/blank#} have deeply impressed Chinese audiences.

    In 1955, I got a train ticket to visit my relatives in Cleveland. On my return trip, I met {#blank#}1{#/blank#} handsome soldier. He asked if he could look at the train timetable {#blank#}2{#/blank#} was held in my hand and then if he could sit next to me so that we could chat. I agreed and invited him to share the lunch my aunt {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (pack) for me before leaving. We talked all the way. Finally, we exchanged {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (address) and he said he would contact me.

    After a week, I still didn't receive a letter {#blank#}5{#/blank#} him and began to think he'd forgotten about me. On Saturday, the phone rang and a familiar voice asked if I would like to go out together. We ended up in {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (see) On the Waterfront at the Kallet Theatre. We had a more dates during his Army leave, and then he {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (send) to go overseas. For the next two years, we kept in touch with each other by letter.

    In 1957, we got married. We've been together for more than 60 years, raising three daughters who now have daughters of{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (they) own. Before taking my trip to Cleveland years ago, I was warned never{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (speak) to strangers on a train. I'm {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (certain) glad I didn't listen.

    Anna had a car accident when she was a teenager. She lost her arms because of that. What's worse, when she was twenty years old, she lost her parents. Her elder sister, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is ten years older than her, told her she'd take care of her. However, Anna refused {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (live) with her. Instead, she said she would take care of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (she). She managed to enter college and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (study) very hard. Four {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(year) later, she graduated and offered work. Once she wrote in her diary, "I am quite lucky. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} I lost my arms, I still have my legs." Anna lost her arms, but she chose to face it in a positive way. Instead of {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (feel) sad every day, she decided not to let it hold her back. She has taught us {#blank#}8{#/blank#} good lesson.

    When something bad happens to us, we have two {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (choose). One is to complain, and the other is to face it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (brave). If we choose to escape, it will always follow us wherever we go. If we decided to be strong, new hopes will come. So choose wisely.

    A small town in New Zealand has announced a (n) {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(usual) plan to ban domestic cats in order to protect native wildlife.

    Those {#blank#}2{#/blank#} currently own cats will not be forced to give them away, according to the plan. However, after their cats pass away, they will not be allowed {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(get) another one. The cats will need to have microchips (芯片) {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(put) just below the surface of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} skins so that they can be found at any time.

    Village officials say the plan {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(need) because domestic cats {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (attack) wild animals in the area. Because of this, the area's native wildlife is {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (rapid) disappearing.

    New Zealand has listed 150 animal species as being seriously endangered and in need of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(protect). These animals include a kind of ant that only lives under one kind of rock, and a kind of lizard (蜥蜴) that only lives {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a certain area.