Paul Frederic Simon is a famous musician, singer and songwriter. He was born {#blank#}1{#/blank#}October 13, 1941 in the USA.  It's been more than half a century since he wrote his famous song The Sound of silence with his partner Art Garfunkel. They also adapted the old English folk song Scarborough Fair, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}is still popular all over the world now.

    Recently Paul Simon released his latest album Stranger to Stranger and received excellent reviews. And Wristband, which is one of the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (song) from the album, is often played on college radio.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, Simon is ready to hang up his guitar and stop {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) music. “Show business doesn't hold any interest for me,” said the 74-year-old man.

    Simon is planning {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (begin) a month-long tour of Europe on October 17, shortly after his 75^th birthday. After that, he's going to travel for a year, perhaps with his wife. “It's {#blank#}7{#/blank#} act of courage to let go,” said Simon. “I am going to see{#blank#}8{#/blank#} will happen if I let go. Then I'm going to see who I am.”

    If he does quit music, Simon {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (bring) a great career to a close, which has spanned sixty years. He has won more than a dozen Grammys and produced a lot of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (amaze) songs. Paul Fredric Simon has been named by Time Magazine one of the “100 People Who Shaped the World”.

    No one knows exactly {#blank#}1{#/blank#}the earth began. According to a widely accepted theory, the earth began with a “Big Bang”,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}exploded loudly and produced water vapor and many gases，{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (make) the earth's atmosphere. As the earth cooled down, water appeared and stayed{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the surface. It was the presence of water{#blank#}5{#/blank#}allowed the earth to dissolve harmful gases and acids into the oceans and seas, which made {#blank#}6{#/blank#}possible for life to develop. First, the appearance of small plants encouraged the development of early shellfish and all sorts of fish. Next, green plants began to grow on land. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}were followed by land animals. So reptiles appeared for the first time. Later, dinosaurs developed.{#blank#}8{#/blank#}they suddenly disappeared. After that, mammals came into being. Finally, humans appeared and spread all over the earth. However, they are putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making the earth too hot{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(live) on. So whether life will continue on the earth will depend on {#blank#}10{#/blank#}this problem can be solved.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

    Several countries in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own way. But dragon and lion dances in Chinatowns all over the world have helped to make China's New Year the most famous. These days growing {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(number) of people who are not of Chinese origin are joining in. In Tokyo window cleaners dress up like the animals of the Chinese Shengxiao. America, Canada and New Zealand have published memorial stamps for the year of the rooster. Last year New York City made the Lunar New Year {#blank#}2{#/blank#}school holiday for the first time.

    The spread of the Spring Festival is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(part) due to recent immigration from China: 9.5 million Chinese people {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(move) abroad since 1978, many of {#blank#}5{#/blank#}are far richer than earlier waves of immigrants.

    Aware {#blank#}6{#/blank#}China's growing economic and political influence, foreign leaders have noticed the occasion. Britain's prime minister, Theresa May, has given a video address, a tradition {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(start) in 2014 by her predecessor (前任) . This year's World Economic Forum in Davos was held a week earlier than usual {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(avoid) conflicting with China's New Year.

    China hopes the festival will promote  {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(it) cultural “soft power” abroad. It may give the Chinese people {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(satisfy) to see foreigners enjoy such festivities.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} we know, there are three medalists in Olympic races: the gold, the silver, and the bronze (铜牌).

    Imagine what it's like to be the silver medalist. If you {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) just one second faster, you could have won the gold! So close! You would keep comparing yourself to be the gold winner, full {#blank#}3{#/blank#} envy.

    Now imagine what it's like to be the bronze medalist. One second {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (slow), and you wouldn't have won anything! Whoo-hoo! You would be thrilled that you were {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (official) an Olympic medalist, and got to stand on the winner's podium at all.

    You can {#blank#}6{#/blank#} compare up or compare down and your{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (happy) depends on where you're focusing. This is easy to understand, but hard to remember in everyday life. If you catch yourself {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (bum) with envy of anger, think like the bronze medalist, not the silver. Change your focus.

    For example, if you buy something that is “the best”, you may feel like a gold winner, but when the new “best” {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (come) out next year, you'll feel like the siver. Instead, if you look at what you buy as something “surprisingly good”, it will keep you in the bronze mindset. Since you're not comparing it to best, you'll feel no need {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (keep) up with the newest thing.

    I never believed in lucky coins. But one day as I was mowing the lawn (修剪草坪), I noticed a shiny object some five yards away. I stopped the machine to go and see {#blank#}1{#/blank#} had caught my eye. Just as I bent over to pick up the object, the machine exploded behind me. I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (stand) there, frightened but unhurt. I {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (save) by the shiny object—a coin. I now believe in lucky coins and stop to pick them up whenever I see them.