Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion（输血）{#blank#}2{#/blank#} her 5-year-old brother, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to fight the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (ill).

    The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for a moment before{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (take) a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I'll do it {#blank#}6{#/blank#} it can save Liz.”

    {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (see) the color returning to her cheeks, he smiled. Then {#blank#}9{#/blank#} face grew pale and his smile disappeared. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right now?”

    Being young, the boy had{#blank#}10{#/blank#}  (understand) the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood.

    In much of Asia, especially the so-called “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

    Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hardwoods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create) special designs.

    The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs（树枝）to remove it. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(gradual) turned into chopsticks.

    Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

    Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    China's educational and health authorities have banned convenience stores in all kindergartens, primary, middle and high schools across the country. The regulation took effect on April 1.

    The campus convenience store is a place {#blank#}1{#/blank#}many students enjoy a snack and a chat. But it will soon become {#blank#}2{#/blank#}thing of the past. It requires that administrators (管理人员) should keep record of each meal and solve any food problems as soon as possible. Parents can also eat with students at school canteens and give{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(suggest) to the school on food safety and nutrition. The regulation raised heated debates.

    Many students were sad about the ban. They said the campus life would be less interesting {#blank#}4{#/blank#}convenience stores, and they wouldn't be able to have different flavored drinks or desserts.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, many parents expressed support for the regulation. The father surnamed Fang said, "cheap, low-quality snacks sold at these stores are{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(harm) to children's health, and students rush to shops to buy snacks as soon as a class is over, which affects the normal teaching order".

    The move comes among food health concerns at public schools and{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(design)to meet the nutritional needs of students. The regulation also requires schools{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(monitor) students who may be obese, and intervene (干预) to make sure they follow a healthy diet. And in fact many foreign countries have their own ways to make students eat {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(healthy). For example, many parents in Australia volunteer in schools, sometimes in canteens, do their best to see that {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(they) children are served nutritious food. In Japan, there is "food and nutrition education". This helps children acquire "a sense of gratitude (感恩)" and "appreciate foods and social manners."

    Letters as a way of communication have long given way to phone calls and WeChat messages. But a TV show, LettersAlive, is helping bring this old way to keep in touch back {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the present.

    LettersAlive took {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (it) idea from a UK program, LettersLive, released in 2013. Both {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (show) feature famous actors and actresses, but there {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (be) no eye-catching visual effects or any regular showbiz(娱乐圈) activities. Instead, it's just a live event {#blank#}5{#/blank#} remarkable letters selected from a wide time span and a diverse range of subjects are read. There is, for example, a passionate letter from Huang Yongyu to playwright Cao Yu 30 years ago to criticize his lack of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (create).

    Every letter is like a small piece of history. By hearing them being read, it's as if we are being sent back in time {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (experience) a moment that we would otherwise never have had the chance to.

    Compared to{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (publish) texts, letters also {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (natural) come with a personal touch. As well as celebrating the pain, joy, wisdom and humor, LettersAlive{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (commit) to promoting Chinese literature since first run.