I was nine years old when I learnt to ride a bike. The bike was a birthday present from my uncle. You can imagine how  {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(excite)I was when I saw the bike, and I begged my uncle to teach me how  {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(ride)it right away. However, before I got on the bike, I felt  {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(extreme)nervous and I was afraid that I would fall off and hurt {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(me). My uncle held onto the seat and helpedme to get  {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the bike. While I was riding, he wasrunning along beside me, holding the seat so I would not fall over. I was so {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(grate) to him for his help.

As I was practicing, I became more and more confident. Then, Iheard my uncle shouting, "You are riding it by yourself now!" I was bothexcited and scared. I was really riding by myself, but {#blank#}7{#/blank#}if I fell off? Could I use the brakesto stop? As I was wondering about this, my uncle ran after me and got hold ofthe bike. I {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(slow) down and came to a stop. Myheart was still beating fast when I got off the bike. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (late) that day, having learnt how to get onthe bike and get off it, I felt like I was walking on air! I am still thankfulto my uncle for teaching me to ride a bike on my {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (nine) birthday.

    It was a summer afternoon and some boys were playing together in a park. They knew each other well, as they  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (spend) the last three years of school together and tomorrow was the start of a new term, about  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} they were excited and nervous.

    The first day of school came, and all the boys from the park the day before were put in the same class  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} coincidence. They jumped for joy all morning long. After lunch, the teacher came into the classroom with a boy and it was evident {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they had never seen him before.

    All the children were quiet, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (wait) for the teacher to speak. And she said: “Hello everyone, this is Mei Pei from China, our newest class member. Mei Pei knows some English so I hope you will treat him as if he {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) your brother.”

    Then one child said to Mei Pei: “How come you speak {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (different)?” Meipei answered: “In my country, we all talk this way. On {#blank#}8{#/blank#} other hand, we're just the same as you. I wish I {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (speak) English as well as you in three months.”

    The children in the class understood this, and that it also didn't matter what he looked like, or what colour his skin was, or that he didn't speak perfect English.

    So the new {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (add) to the class helped everyone learn how to respect new people. And the boys stayed in the same class for another two years, with Meipei as one of their best friends.

    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.

    A 90-year-old has been awarded“Woman Of The Year”for {#blank#}1{#/blank#} （be）Britain's oldest full-time employee-still working 40 hours a week. Now Irene Astbury works from 9am to 5pm daily at the pet shop in Macclesfield， {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she opened with her late husband Les. Her years of hard work have {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（final）been acknowledged after a customer nominated（提名）her to be Cheshire's Woman Of The Year.

    Picking up her "Lifetime Achievement" award，proud Irene {#blank#}4{#/blank#}（declare） she had no plans {#blank#}5{#/blank#} （retire） from her 36-year-old business. Irene said," I don't see any reason to give up work. I love coming here and seeing my family and all the friends I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}（make） over the years. I work not because I have to, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} because I want to.”

    Granddaughter Gayle Parks，31-who works alongside her in the family business-said it remained unknown as to who nominated Irene for the award. She said，"We don't have any idea who put grandma forward. When we got a call {#blank#}8{#/blank#} （say）she was short-listed，we thought it was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} joke. But then we got an official letter and we were blown away. We are so proud of her. It's {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (wonder）."

    Starting with an orchestra playing {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (tradition) Chinese instruments, the opera brought a completely new sound to my Western ears. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (See) the main characters come on stage, I was surprised! The {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (voice) sounded really unique, some of which were so high {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I was sure they could break glass! Using such techniques, the opera had transformed a small stage into the whole universe.