I've dreamed of becoming a writer since I was a teenager. But {#blank#}1{#/blank#}isn't easy to get a book of mine published.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} I've tried hard, none of my books have been published. This is really {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(upset).

    This morning, I received a call from a publisher and {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(tell) once again that there was no way my book would be published.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} ( feel ) sad, I left home and went to the park near my apartment. At the park, I sat down on the bench near the grass.

    While I was sitting there, I saw a little boy about one and a half years old. He was running on the grass,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} his mother not far behind him. He looked so happy when he enjoyed the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(free) of running on the grass. He then fell on the grass, but he quickly got up and continued {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(run) as fast as he could again even without looking back at his mother. He was still running with a smile on his face, as if nothing {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(happen).

    Seeing that, I was truly inspired. I {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(sudden) realized that I shouldn't get discouraged after experiencing failure. Instead, I should cheer up and keep on trying.

    In 1850, an American lawyer, Bethune, bought a slave to work in his home. The slave, a woman, had a small child{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) Tom, who was blind.

    One day, Bethune {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (walk) around his garden when he heard music coming from the house. He went inside and found young Tom playing on the family piano. Bethune {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(immediate) realized that the boy, who was only four, had special abilities.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} he asked a band of musicians to come to the house and play in front of him. Tom reproduced perfectly the music {#blank#}5{#/blank#} he had heard. Tom was indeed an unusual boy.

    In 1857, “Blind Tom” took part {#blank#}6{#/blank#} his first public performance. The reviews were so good {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Bethune took him on a tour of the US. Three years later, Blind Tom {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (invite) to the White House to perform for the president. Over the next forty years, Tom performed {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(enjoy) shows all over the US and other countries. His concerts were {#blank#}10{#/blank#} mixture of classical music and his own compositions.

    The Battle of Waterloo, which {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) place in Belgium in 1815, marked the final defeat of French military leader and emperor Napoleon, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} conquered much of continental Europe in {#blank#}3{#/blank#} early 19th century. Napoleon rose through the ranks of the French army during the French Revolution, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (seize) control of the French government in 1799 {#blank#}5{#/blank#} became emperor in 1804. Through a series of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (war), he expanded his empire across western and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (center) Europe. However, a disastrous invasion of Russia led {#blank#}8{#/blank#} his abdication (退位) and exile (流放) in 1814. He returned to France in 1815 and briefly resumed power. The Battle of Waterloo, in which Napoleon's forces {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (defeat) by the British and Prussians, signaled the end of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (he) reign (统治) and the end of France's domination in Europe.