If you travel or go abroad, it's necessary to mix with the locals. This allows you {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (put) your language skills to the test and find out more about the local culture. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (live) abroad for a long time, I've put together {#blank#}3{#/blank#} list of tips to help you make friends in a foreign country.

    Firstly, say yes to everything (within reason). Obviously, if you don't feel {#blank#}4{#/blank#}ease, you can choose not to do something. However, don't put off trying something new. The group of students from your class who invite you out for a coffee might end up {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) your friends for life!

    Secondly, find a hobby or try something {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (entire) new. Join a dance class, a walking club, or learn to cook the local food—the possibilities are endless!

    Thirdly, get out of the house! Hours {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (spend) in front of a computer with family and friends back home surely make you even more homesick. Make the most of the new and exciting place you live in.

    Lastly, don't be a wallflower. When surrounded by people speaking an unfamiliar language, you may feel it difficult to be {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (confidence) and involve {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (you) in conversations. Even so try to make your voice heard. It's very likely {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you will find everyone wants to know everything about you.

    The first UN Chinese Language Day {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (observe) on Friday at UN Headquarters in New  York in 2010. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the world's most widely spoken language, it seems appropriate that Mandarin (普通话) has one day every year dedicated (把…专用于) to it. This {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (official) marked day of Mandarin language celebration was set by the United Nations as a way of celebrating the language's history and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (contribute) to the world. It is hoped that having one day every year {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (celebrate) Mandarin will encourage more people around the world to take it up. With China likely to become the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (large) economy in the world, it is important that the wider world becomes interestingly more perfect in this wonderful language. Every year UN Chinese Language Day {#blank#}7{#/blank#} ( fall) on April 20. A great way to get {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (involve) in the celebration is to join a Mandarin class or attend one of the many Confucius Institutes (孔子学院){#blank#}9{#/blank#} are set up in countries around the world. The number of people learning Chinese is on {#blank#}10{#/blank#} increase in China's neighboring countries, such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

    Our world has seen {#blank#}1{#/blank#} increasing number of students pressuring their parents into buying luxuries (奢侈品) just to look good before their peers. Problem is {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is to blame, parents, students or society? Now, some schools have taken action.

    To avoid {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (show) off superiority among wealthy students, Woodchurch High School in northwestern England has recently made an {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (announce) to refuse quality designer coats, including Canada Goose, often worth hundreds of dollars. Such coats make poor students feel bad since these items lead to inequality. "They feel left out and inadequate," {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (say) The Independent in its last issue.

    The ban has aroused nationwide debate. Some argue that we shouldn't take away parents' right to buy anything {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (value) they like for their kids. However, most parents applaud, believing it decreases their worries on lower incomes.

    Just as Libby Purves, a UK reporter, put it, how you feel at school largely affects your whole life. Columnist Michelle Singletary wrote on The Washington Post that now comes the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (big) chance so far to teach students {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (understand) clothing in fact measures nothing.

    Not just this. In May St. Wilfrid's Primary School banned students {#blank#}9{#/blank#} using designer pencils in case poor students would feel {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (look) down upon.