Ten Chinese engineers were driving down a road to a National Forest Park. They were {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (sudden) amazed by what they saw. Three tall animals, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (cover) with long black hair, were crossing the road. On {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (see) the animals, the engineers immediately stopped and ran after them. However, when they saw {#blank#}4{#/blank#} move through the forest with great speed and strength, they did not dare to follow any {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (far).

    The men did not take any photographs but scientists were delighted by the{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (discover), because the engineers are all well educated people and scientists feel they can rely {#blank#}7{#/blank#}what they described.

    Scientists returned to the forest, collected some hair and measured footprints, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} are about 20 inches. They appear to be the animals' feet! Chinese scientists have now set up a special group to exchange information and made a study of the forest, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in the meantime, some people refuse to believe that this half-man, half-monkey {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (exist). They will not believe it until one of the animals has been caught.

    A sand storm often takes place in the northern China, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is a kind of natural disasters. China usually experiences this kind of weather between February and May, while March and April see the most frequent and the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (strong) sand storms. It becomes a very important environmental problem. It does damage {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the society as well as the environment. Firstly, the strong wind destroys soil and plant cover by {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (bury) fields with sand and dust. Secondly, by leaving too much dust in the air it will {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(serious) pollute the air. Thirdly, a sand storm will have {#blank#}6{#/blank#}bad effect on transportation. The dust in the air makes traffic and aircraft movements more difficult. And when the sand buries the roads, the traffic will{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(block). When plants in the farmland are buried, food supply will lose.

    Sand storms are another {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(punish) nature gives to mankind. We should not only take effective measures {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(stop) them, but also draw some {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(lesson) from them. We should not develop the economy (经济) at the cost of the natural environment.

    Last October, while tending her garden in Mora, Sweden, Lena Pahlsson pulled out a handful of small{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(carrot) and was about to throw them away. But something made her look closer, and she noticed a{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(shine) object. Yes, there beneath the leafy top of one tiny carrot was her long-lost wedding ring.

    Pahlsson screamed{#blank#}3{#/blank#}loudly that her daughter came running from the house. "She thought I had hurt{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(I)," says Pahlsson.

    Sixteen years {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(early), Pahlsson had removed the diamond ring{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(cook) a meal. When she wanted to put the ring back on later, it was gone. She suspected that one of her three daughters — then ten, eight, and six — had picked it up, but the girls said they hadn't. Pahlsson and her husband {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(search) the kitchen, checking every corner, but turned up nothing. "I gave up hope of finding my ring again," she says. She never replaced it.

    Pahlsson and her husband now think the ring probably got {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(sweep) into a pile of kitchen rubbish and was spread over the garden{#blank#}9{#/blank#}it remained until the carrot's leafy top accidentally sprouted (生长) through it. For Pahlsson, its return was{#blank#}10{#/blank#}wonder.

    In an English lesson, the teacher noticed Xiao Ming busily {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (type)messages on her cellphone. To the teacher's surprise, Xiao Ming wasn't just texting her friends the{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(late) small talk. She was blogging about what she was learning in the classroom, sharing her opinions{#blank#}3{#/blank#} her classmates.

    The case caused {#blank#}4{#/blank#}heated discussion among teachers and students citywide. Miss Li, another English teacher said, “I am {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (amaze) at how creative the students can be when writing on their blogs. To me it's a great way for students to improve their writing skills while writing about personal feelings and experiences.” But {#blank#}6{#/blank#} made other teachers worried was the blog addiction which may disturb the students' study.

    A supporter and classmate of Xiao Ming said, “We love her blog! We all read it each day and can't wait to see what she writes about next. Many of her {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (suggest) on study really help to encourage us. And we can relax{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (we) while reading her blog.” Another student blogger{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (admit) that he often works late into the night, writing his blog. He said, “Sometimes I don't even have time{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(finish) my homework. I can't help myself. I really have a lot to say.”

    Keeping a diary in English is a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(use) way to improve our English writing abilities. Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and take{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we insist on this practice, gradually we'll learn how to expresses {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(we) in English. Keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many difficulties. In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find) proper words and phrases to give{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(express) to our mind. Secondly, there are many idiomatic(惯用的)words in Chinese. And{#blank#}6{#/blank#}is extremely hard for us to put them into English{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(proper).

    As far as I am concerned, my suggestion is{#blank#}8{#/blank#}we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary{#blank#}9{#/blank#}easy reach. Whenever something beats us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also turn to our English teacher for help, if necessary. In short, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for the development of our writing{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(skill).

    The annual Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is Harbin's main tourist highlight. It is the world's biggest winter festival. The {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(bitter) cold winters are just right for this festival.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}sets the Harbin festival apart is the scale and size of the sculptures and the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(beauty) lighting. It is bigger than {#blank#}4{#/blank#} ones in Sapporo, Norway, and Quebec.

    At first, mainly Chinese{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(participate), but in the last decade, it has become an international festival and {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(compete). As the festival grows in international participation, and as China's economy grows, the size of the snow sculptures and ice architecture exhibits keeps {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(grow) The work going into making these exhibits is astounding, and their size and beauty is amazing.

    The lightning {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(effect)on the huge ice sculptures in the Ice and Snow World are technologically complex.

    Officially the festival {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(hold) from the end of December through February. Opening dates keep changing, and ending dates partly depends {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the weather.

    The Sun Island Scenic Area will be opened from Dec. 21 to Feb. 28.