An earthquake is a shaking of the ground{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(cause) by the sudden breaking and shifting of large sections of Earth's rocky outer shell. Earthquakes are among the most{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(power) events on earth, and their results can be terrifying. Rock movements during an earthquake can make rivers{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(change) their course. Earthquakes can cause great damage and loss of{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(live). Large earthquakes beneath the ocean can create a series{#blank#}5{#/blank#}huge and destructive waves called tsunamis{#blank#}6{#/blank#}flood coasts for many miles. Earthquakes almost never kill people{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(direct). Instead, many deaths and injuries in earthquakes result from {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(fall) objects and the collapse（倒塌）of buildings, bridges, and other structures. Fire caused from broken gas or power lines is another major danger during{#blank#}9{#/blank#}quake. Spills（溢出）of {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(harm) chemicals are also a concern during an earthquake.

    I can well remember that I was once asked to give a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) shy I was the moment I thought of that—with so many eyes {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (look) at me. I had no{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft(草拟) the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory, for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (wait) patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(give) my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding—I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before a big audience disappeared. Actually, with my {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way {#blank#}9{#/blank#} success is our fear. Overcome(克服) it , and we will be able to achieve our {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(goal).

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised a group of middle school students for their efforts in satellite design. He said he was pleased with their curiosity and bravery in {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(science) exploration. The president also wished the teachers and students in Bayi School {#blank#}2{#/blank#}happy new year.

    Xi made the praise in a letter {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(write) to the students in Beijing's Bayi School on Saturday. A small satellite designed and developed by them {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(send) into space last Wednesday at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center {#blank#}5{#/blank#} it was designed to operate in orbit (轨道) for 180 days.

    Three months ago, Xi returned to his high school, to visit a laboratory and talk to teachers and students {#blank#}6{#/blank#}were designing the small satellite. The president said he was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (extreme) glad to know that the satellite designed by the students would be launched and called on them to become {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(build) of the country. Xi warmly encouraged the students {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(study) science and contribute to the development of China. He hoped that the students would keep hungry for knowledge and develop {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(they) national spirit.

    Apart from working hard in sports, Kobe Bryant also challenges himself in other areas. Now he hopes to become famous for a completely d{#blank#}1{#/blank#} thing: writing. His book The Wizenard Series: Training Camp came out in March.

    The story is a {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the West Bottom Badgers, a youth basketball team. It's made up of five books, with each focused on the story of one character: Rain, Twig, Cash, Peno and Lab. All of the kids on this team come from a poor neighborhood. No one {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (have) faith (信心) in the kids to succeed, but things {#blank#}4{#/blank#} after a new coach joins the team.

    After r {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the book, we got to interview Bryant. He said he didn't think he was going to be an author, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} that he often tells stories to his daughters. This is one of the reasons {#blank#}7{#/blank#} he wrote his own book. The book is based on parts of Bryant's real-life experience, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (especial) when he played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

    Bryant had two different jersey (秋衣) numbers — 8 and 24 — during his career. The number 24 m{#blank#}9{#/blank#} you need to work hard 24 hours a day to succeed.

    People Magazine noted that "Bryant is always breaking his limits both {#blank#}10{#/blank#} and off the basket court."

    Looking out of the window of his Ford truck, Bob Fitzgerald sees large, undesirable plants growing in the fields.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (visitor) to his neighborhood in Princess Anne, Maryland {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(main) see dying forests and empty farmland.

    Fitzgerald says the land{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) in his family for over 3 centuries. "I'd say in the next 20 years. You're going to lose{#blank#}4{#/blank#}very high percentage of that land."

    The land around the Chesapeake Bay has been sinking for hundreds of years. But climate change is making things{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(bad). As sea level rises, salt water is entering rivers and other waterways. As a result, the ground is becoming too salty for crops{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(grow) on.

    Maryland's Eastern Shore is home to some of the oldest farms in North America.

    Fitzgerald says he has seen big changes during his life.

    "You just can't believe{#blank#}7{#/blank#}it's been taking things over in the last 15 or 20 years. I can show you land around here that people raised tomatoes on when I was a little boy. And now it's gone."

    Around the world, scientists warn that coastal farms are under{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(threaten) from rising seas and salt water. A World Bank report estimates rice production in coastal areas of Bangladesh may fall{#blank#}9{#/blank#}15 percent by the year 2050. Another study found hundreds of millions of people will{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(force) to move inland because of rising waters.