Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

    In 1969, the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River Cleveland, Ohio. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up. The river was so polluted that it {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (actual) caught fire and burned. Now, years later, this river is one of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} most outstanding examples of environmental cleanup.

    But the river wasn't changed in a few days {#blank#}4{#/blank#} even a few months. It took years of work {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (clean) than ever.

    Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you leave a habit {#blank#}7{#/blank#} is driving your family crazy. Possibly you drink too much or don't know how to control your credit card use. When you face such an impossible situation, don't you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?

    While there are {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (amaze) stories of instant transformation, for most of us the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (change) are gradual and require a lot of effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (patience)

    I lost my last debate in the recent National High School Academic Debate & Speech Tournament held in Shanghai. But instead of focusing on my {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(fail), I stopped to reflect on my experiences in the past few years {#blank#}2{#/blank#}a debater.

    In general, preparing for new debate topics usually {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (include) brainstorming arguments, researching a resolution（解决）, and doing debate practice. So if you spot a debating group, you might see us sitting together after school, or even all day at weekends, discussing arguments and researching evidence. You might also notice us arguing {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(fierce) anywhere we can.

    Not only are they supportive, but my debate friends also have similar passions and interests to mine. As we discuss debate topics, my fellow debaters and I can talk about anything, from {#blank#}5{#/blank#}best way of rehabilitating（改造）criminals to the negative points of free immigration policies. However, our discussions are more than just a way {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (practice) our debating skills. In my mind, they're helping us to become calm and consider {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(win) and solving real problems as well.

    To me, the debating community is a great place{#blank#}8{#/blank#}people help each other not only because they're interested in a higher cause, but because they care about how people from different {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(background) can lead better lives. I'm grateful to each of my debate friends and every single minute we get to spend together. Indeed, my high school life would be incomplete without them. So even though I {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(defeat) in my last debate, I'm still thankful for being part of my wonderful debate family.

    My wife and I like watching plays, so we will go to the theater whenever we have time. But before we buy tickets, we would like to know if the play is good or bad. When a new play comes, we{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (usual) read the newspaper to get information about it. Last week a new play was put on at the theater. The newspaper said it was very{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (interest) so we decided to go on Saturday night. My wife took a long time to make her {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (decide) about what to wear and we left our house a little late. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}the time we got to the theater, the first act had already{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (begin). After the play was over, we met some friends,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} lived next to us several years ago. Then we went dancing. By the time we got home, it was about two o clock in the morning. I'm not used to{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stay) out so late and I was {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (extreme) tired.

    When I was younger, I did not have the money to go out for {#blank#}9{#/blank#}evening like this. Though I can afford it now, I don't have the energy{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (enjoy) it.

    There once was a forest filled with happy animals. One day a raccoon(浣熊) found some socks left behind by picnickers, and {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (decide) to wear them. They fitted so well, and felt so {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (comfort), that he kept them on. He spent his days {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (walk) through the forest in his new socks.

    Other animals became envious of the raccoon's new look and followed his trend. First it was squirrels in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (shirt), then rabbits {#blank#}5{#/blank#} hats on, and finally birds wearing underpants!

    Doctor Bear,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} forest physician, disapproved and tried to warn the clothes-wearers. But no one listened. Instead, they urged him to follow the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (late) trend too.

    Soon, the problems started. The squirrel caught his shirt on a branch and crashed to the ground. The rabbit tried entering his hole while wearing his hat and got stuck. Even the raccoon, thanks to his {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (bright) coloured socks, slipped into the river and almost died.

    When the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (injure) animals came to see Doctor Bear, he told them,“Your clothes are killing you. You don't need them.”

    Those {#blank#}10{#/blank#} listened to the doctor's advice finally understood they didn't need clothes. They'd only started wearing clothes to make others envy them.