One day a rich man took his son on a trip to the country so he could have his son see how poor country people were.

    They stayed one day and one night in the farm-house of {#blank#}1{#/blank#} very poor farm. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the way back home at the end of the trip the father asked the son, “{#blank#}3{#/blank#} did you think of the trip?”

    The son  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (reply), “Very nice, Dad.”

    The father then asked, “Did you notice how poor they were?”

    The son said, “Yes, I guess so.”

    The father then added, “What did you learn?”

    To {#blank#}5{#/blank#} question, the son thought for a moment and answered {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (slow), “I learned that we have one dog and they have four. We have a fountain in the garden and they have a small river{#blank#}7{#/blank#} has no end. We have brightly colored {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (lantern) in our garden, while they have the stars. Our garden {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (go) to the edge of our yard, but for their back yard they have the whole horizon.”

    At the son's reply, the rich father was speechless (无语的). His son then said, “Thanks, Dad, for{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (show) me how poor we really are.”

    Years of expectation this time has finally arrived, there were times when I thought we would never get here. I just graduated last week. The dream {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (plant) many years ago. I had always dreamed {#blank#}2{#/blank#} going back to school, but it was too {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (frighten) and too hard.

    Three years ago, I lost a dear friend of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (I) in a car accident. All those  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (think) of “someday” seemed to take on different meanings. Well, I decided  {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (take) a course, and then I took two. Finally, I took 4 classes, and at the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (two) week of school, my family were in a terrible car accident. The three of us were barely passing after that time period. I had a broken arm and could not write. As my password, I {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (call) myself mountain climber. The journey was difficult and every hill seemed higher to climb. I suppose the thing {#blank#}9{#/blank#} pulled me through was when I couldn't do it for myself, I could do it to honor my friend!

    Last week, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} highlight（最精彩的部分）of my life was walking across that platform getting my degree six months before I turn fifty!

    Have you ever tasted or perhaps heard of sugar painting? As fewer people choose to make sugar paintings, the traditional Chinese folk craft might have become a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(distance) memory in some ways. However, a 38-year-old craftsman, Li Jiangzhong, is devoted to{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(keep) the art of sugar painting alive.

    Li worked as a miner for more than ten years. After{#blank#}3{#/blank#}mine closed down, Li turned{#blank#}4{#/blank#}housing decoration until he{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(force) to give that up due to a finger injury. Earlier this year, he discovered sugar painting, something he really had an interest in.

    Since there was no sugar painting craftsman in his village, he studied by{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(he) through large quantities of videos and information on the Internet. Li loved painting when he was young, and he found it easy to learn the skill in sugar painting. He soon mastered the skill and could make{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(vary) of sugar paintings. A sugar painting is made with{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(melt) brown or white sugar. Craftsman{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(basic) paint animals and flowers on a stone board with the syrup(糖浆). When the sugar cools down,{#blank#}10{#/blank#} appears is a piece of sugar art.

    NASA has a new job listing, and it's no joke. The US space agency is looking for a "joker" to join their {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (plan) mission to Mars.

A mission to Mars is no laughing matter. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is known that Mars is 225 million kilometers away from Earth. A trip there would take around eight months in a small spacecraft. "When you're living with others in a confined (封闭的) space for a long period of time, such as on a mission to Mars, problems are likely {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (happen)" Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist at the University of Florida, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (say) to the Guardian. This is probably {#blank#}5{#/blank#} NASA wants an astronaut with a sense of humor. "These are people that have the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (able) to pull everyone together." Johnson said.

    In {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stress) situations, perhaps humor is a way to know we aren't alone. We can share our stress by {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (laugh) together. Then we can focus on our jobs instead of just worrying.

But if you're hoping that your favorite TV comedian will fly to Mars, that {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (possible) won't happen. "Being funny won't be enough to land somebody the job," Johnson said, "They also need to be an excellent scientist and engineer." Besides, it's required that they {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) in top physical condition.

Living in a city can be stressful. But people in Bogota, Colombia have found a place to help ease stress and get a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(peace) break from busy life. The place is a {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(protect) park for hummingbirds(蜂鸟).

The park is at the top of Montserrat Hill. The area{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (contain) a forest which has turned into a quiet place for both people and birds. As the hummingbirds fly from flower to flower, some people take pictures with cameras or phones.

"Sometimes it doesn't seem real because we are close to{#blank#}4{#/blank#} city with the population of 8 million,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} create noise every day," said Camino Carter, a caretaker in the park. His job is{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(mix) water and sugar that is put in bird feeders.

{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(visitor) to the park can see between 25 to 35 different species of birds. But ten years ago, the hill was {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (complete) destroyed, and no trees {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(leave) on it.

Luckily, measures were taken by the government. Workers began to replant local trees and flowers to bring the forest back{#blank#}10{#/blank#} life.

Presently, there are 115 species of birds, including 18 kinds of hummingbirds in the park.