After eight months' delicate preparations, an evening gala（聚会）Sail to the Future for leaders and representatives attending the 9th BRICS Summit was held at the Banlam Grand Theater in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province{#blank#}1{#/blank#}It consists of five chapters including Wind from the Sea, Sky and the Sea, Rhythm of the Sea, Tide and the Sea as well as the Dream from the Sea, highlighting the unique Fujian culture while introducing the strongest features of Xiamen.

    Taking advantage of “sea” element to promote cooperation. Sea was the central idea that ran through the whole gala{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It is a city with three sides facing the sea.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In the second part, the popular Chinese song The Sea, My Sweet Home featured the life of the people living in this area, and their proud Fujian, or Minnan culture.

    “The unique geographic advantages of the costal city and the local lifestyle gave us much inspiration of the evening gala,” said Xie Nan, general director of the evening gala.

    “Many Minnan culture elements, including Fujian opera, fishing culture and Fujian Nanyin, are honored as a 'living fossil' of ancient Chinese music.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}”

    “A good performance requires close relationship between composing and dance rhythm. At first, we asked the composer and dancer to create their works on their own{#blank#}5{#/blank#} It was not a simple progress. They needed not just perfect time but inspiration and team work,” Zhang Dongxin, executive director of the evening gala, said.

A. The gala is based on the theme of “sea”

B. And they were taken into the stage performance

C. The gala is meant to be held beside the sea

D. That is the end of the whole wonderful performance

E. “Billowing waves” was performed as the opening dance

F. It is also one of the most distinctive characteristics of Xiamen

G. Then they had to discuss with each other again and again to find the balance

    When your friends suddenly stop talking to you, it can leave you confused on what to do next.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, basically, your friends are either really upset with you, or it has nothing to do with you at all. But how can you tell? What's more, what should you do?

    Find out if they have shut all their friends out or just you. It's important to figure out if your friends have moved on from everyone, or just you. If it's just you, then you probably did something at some point{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They try to get their forgiveness.

    Reflect on yourself. Have your friends been upset with you for a while? Would you get it if they were? Not all people yell or scream when they're upset.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you fail to hear exactly what they're saying, or you keep doing the same thing over and over again, they may move on and completely shut you out.

    Communicate in a different way. There's always the possibility that your friends haven't shut you out completely, but they are bored with a certain form of communication, like texting or chatting online.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If so, trying a different method to reach your friends could make things better.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you can't get responses from your friends, consider reconciling (和解) with them at some point in the future. Send them a note—Let them know you care about them and leave the door open for them.

A. Give them a helping hand.

B. So sometimes they take a break from it.

C. If you feel it was something bad, apologize for it.

D. Let your friends know you're open to friendships.

E. There are many reasons why your friends might shut you out.

F. Your friends may not answer your calls or emails suddenly.

G. Some people will talk to you calmly about something you did.

The Value of Tears

    Tears can ruin make-up, bring conversation to a stop, and give you a runny nose. Tears leave you embarrassed and without energy. Still, crying is a fact of life, and your tears are very useful. Even when you're not crying, they make a film over the eye's surface.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    When tears fall, they reduce stress. But we tend to fight them for all sorts of reasons. “People worry about showing their emotions (情绪), afraid that once they lose control they'll never get it back.”{#blank#}2{#/blank#}After we cry, the feelings that caused the tears often disappear.

    Sometimes people become much stressed and can't cry. Whatever emotion they are feeling — shock, anger, fear, or sadness— is being held back.

    But everyone has the need to cry. Psychologist Vera Diamond explains that her treatment often consists of giving people permission to cry{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Patients practice crying just to become used to expressing emotions. She suggests safe, private places to cry, like under the bedcovers or in the car. Crying is a way of ease tension, but people don't like it when others cry because it makes them tense{#blank#}4{#/blank#} And they'll do just about anything to make you stop.

    In certain situations, such as at work, tears are not appropriate. It's good not to cry during a tense business discussion{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You should also act out the whole situation again and be as noisy and angry as you like. It will help you feel better. “And,” she adds, “Once your tears have taken away the stress, you can begin to think calmly of ways to deal with the problem.”

    Tears are a sign of our ability to feel. If you find yourself near someone crying, deal with it. And never be afraid to cry yourself.

A. They too may be holding back a need to cry.

B. They cry for different reasons.

C. She gives crying exercises.

D. It contains a chemical against infection (炎症).

E. The fact is no emotion lasts forever.

F. It forms in response to the stress on the surface of the eye.

G. But once you're safely behind closed doors, don't just cry.

How to improve vocabulary fast

    Your vocabulary refers to the words in a language you are familiar with. We should learn some ways to expand it.

    Read every day.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Choose reading material that is slightly above your level and keep a dictionary with you to look up words you do not know.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.If you do not meet with an unfamiliar word in your daily reading, use your dictionary to search for one.

    Learn the correct definition and pronunciation for each new word. Pronunciation is as important as definition because in order to add a word to your active vocabulary, you must be able to use it in speech.

    Elaborate (详尽阐述) on the meaning of the word. If you have just learned the word “stubborn”, think about the neighbour who will not lend you his car.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Use your new word in speech and in writing. E-mail your sister about how your cat is stubborn about sleeping on your pillow. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.But the more you use it, the more fluent you will become in its use. Soon it will be a regular part of your active vocabulary.

    Tell everyone you are trying to increase your vocabulary. Encourage them to ask you what your latest word is.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

    The more you explain the meaning of a word to someone, the more likely you are to remember it.

A. Find a new word every day.

B. The vocabulary can be increased.

C. Your vocabulary contains the words you understand.

D. The more often you read, the faster your vocabulary can grow.

E. Or let them ask for the definition of a new word you have used.

F. Imagine him shaking his head, and think of him as 'stubborn in his refusal.”

G. The first time you use a new word in speech it may seem strange.

How to keep a Relationship Healthy and Strong

    Are you new to experiencing relationships? Well，let me give you advice on how to have a healthy relationship with your partners.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Don't hide things from them，and don't lie. Don't be afraid to say things that aren't very flattering about yourself. Getting them to trust you is the most important element in any relationship. If there's no trust，there's nothing there. So please be honest and they will learn to open up to you.

    Make sure you give them respect. Now，respect isn't just simply treating them nicely. There is a lot more to it. You have to learn to adjust to their liking. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Don't just think about yourself，but think about what your partners need out of it as well.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Always be willing to help them and give them honesty and positive at the time. Make them feel you are someone they can really count on and build a future with. This is an important step in a relationship. Your partner needs out of it as well.

Make sure you' have a good sense of humor with them. Laughter is the key to happiness. Laugh a lot with them，and joke with them. Laughter may seem silly，but it's the secret to a lot in life. It will keep the sparks alive. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Make sure the communication is good. This goes along with trust，but always communicate how you feel even if it's something that upsets you. Instead of screaming, talk to them.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} It's important to communicate this to them，not to keep it bottled up.

A. Show them your personality.

B. Be an honest person with them.

C. Make sure you are reliable to your partners.

D. Laughter keeps the relationship strong and lasting.

E. Don't start to neglect them and make them feel unwanted.

F. Bascially, learn to study your partners' moods, wants and needs.

G. If they did something that made you happy, tell them about it in a respectful manner.

    To an outsider, any culture can seem confusing. And the UK's got a thing or two that raises a few eyebrows. However, understand the why and things might be less puzzling. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    In a world where 61％of nations drive on the right, Brits drive on the left. Why? Most people think it goes back to Medieval, maybe even Roman times. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} when you remember that right-handed people wear a sword on their left hip. Travelling on the left allowed you to keep your weapon arm toward your opponent, who would be on your right. This practice continued until the 18th century when a law was passed requiring all traffic crossing London Bridge to keep to the left.

    Visitors to the UK that have just washed their hands in an old-fashioned sink might be wondering why one tap is only for hot water, the other cold. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. So, why this oddity? It relates to a time when hot and cold water were kept separate to prevent pollution. Drinkable cold water came from a mains supply, but hot water came from attic tanks and was not considered suitable for consumption. So they were kept apart.

    Millions of people drink tea worldwide, but the odd Brits put milk in theirs. Why? This mysterious practice relates to the quality of china cup used in the 18th century when tea was first imposed. For the majority of Brits, the cups available couldn't stand the heat of the boiling water and would break, so milk was added first. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. And this practical tweak soon became a national habit.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. As you can see, these odd Brits have perfectly clear reasons for left-hand driving, two-tap sinks and tea with milk. Even if they still seem strange, at least now you're in the know.

A. This makes it difficult to improve

B. There is a method to the madness

C. This unusual behavior makes sense

D. You can know the origins of the practices

E. Either can make washing very uncomfortable

F. This cooled the cup enough to resist the boiling water

G. Here are the reasons for three of Britain's more puzzling practices