In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(usual) way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

    In June that year, a baby girl became {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(serious) ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(confident), so she was sent to big hospital in London {#blank#}4{#/blank#}specialist help was available. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(discover) that they, too, were confused by the very unusual disease. Just then, a nurse asked to speak to them.

     "Excuse me," said the nurse, "{#blank#}6{#/blank#} I think the baby is suffering from thallium(铊) poisoning. "

    "What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"I read a detective novel {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Agatha Christie a few days ago,” the nurse explained, "and in the book, somebody suffers from thallium poisoning, and all the symptoms {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(describe). They're exactly {#blank#}9{#/blank#} same as the baby's."

    The tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (use) in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back home.

    Many of my friends like fall and take it as their favorite season. Last weekend, I went outdoors and soon {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(find) a deeper appreciation for this season.

    The change of leaf colors is a common reason given {#blank#}2{#/blank#}the love of fall. Each tree reacts{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(different) to the change of the season. Some shed their leaves in hopes of reproducing; however, other {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(tree) remain green for as long as possible to gain additional energy from the sun to survive the winter. This effect {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(call) the flight-or-fight response.

    Fall is a time of{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(reflect) and preparation for the year ahead. I have found a meaning of fall for me. I'm {#blank#}7{#/blank#}18-year-old boy in the final year of high school and my life is a work in progress. There are times I want to give up, but then I look around me and realize life keeps {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(move).The natural cycle of life is beautiful and doesn't stop growing so I have to learn to keep up.

The meaning of fall is different for each person. I encourage you {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(go) out to follow some path or sidewalk and discover {#blank#}10{#/blank#}fall means to you.

    As people often say, ＂No one knows the value of health{#blank#}1{#/blank#}he loses it.＂ In other words (换句话说), nothing is more important {#blank#}2{#/blank#}health. Good health is beneficial{#blank#}3{#/blank#}your work and study. But how to keep healthy? Here I want to give you some advice.

    First, you should go to bed early and get up early. Second, keep a healthy and {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(balance) diet — eat more vegetables and fruits and other food full of energy and fibre; eat sugar and rich food as little as possible. Don't eat food {#blank#}5{#/blank#}has gone bad. Third, get rid of the bad habits such as {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(smoke), drinking or staying{#blank#}7{#/blank#} too late. Physical exercise can make your body strong, {#blank#}8{#/blank#}we should exercise every day. In {#blank#}9{#/blank#}word, health is more valuable than anything else. We should do everything we can to keep us {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(health).

China's Tea Villages

    In most Chinese tea villages, March is the time of year in which locals start to pick and process tea. The{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (usual) quiet villages suddenly become busy centers of activity, as people take out special tools and prepare{#blank#}2{#/blank#}tea processing. In some villages, local residents hold traditional ceremonies,{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(thank) heaven for its blessing. The price of tea{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(pick) in March is extremely high because{#blank#}5{#/blank#}is fresh, tender and contains multiple trace elements.

    China{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) famous for tea production since ancient times. Of the goods transported and traded along {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Old Silk Road linking China to the Middle East and Europe, the importance of tea was matched only by silk. China produces Oolong, black, green, white, yellow{#blank#}8{#/blank#} dark (post-fermented) tea. The Oolong, green and black{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (vary) are most notable for their high quality.

Most of China s tea villages are found in remote mountainous areas in the country's south and southwest,{#blank#}10{#/blank#}the beautiful scenery is often hidden under clouds.

    Many elephants can paint. In fact, elephants in zoos sometimes draw on the ground{#blank#}1{#/blank#}a stick. Seeing this, some trainers teach the elephants{#blank#}2{#/blank#}they can hold paintbrushes, and encourage them to choose colors and paint. Of course, not every painting is good. Just like humans, only some elephants are very creative. Now, an online gallery sells paintings by these elephant artists. By doing this, the gallery hopes to earn money{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(protect) elephants.

Linqing City is connected to Beijing, over 400 kilometers away, through its tribute(贡品) bricks. Linqing tribute bricks, or Gong Bricks, were transported to the country's capital through the Grand Canal for the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (construct) of historical buildings like the Forbidden City. Local people call the type of brick a legend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} flows from the Grand Canal. This "legend" {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(list) as an example of national cultural heritage on June 14, 2008.

Linqing sits at the confluence (交汇处) of the Weihe River and the Grand Canal, making transportation very {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(convenience) .

During the Ming and Qing (1368-1912) dynasties, Linqing was a large important city {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a population of over one million. Linging tribute bricks earned their reputation during the Ming Dynasty, when they were {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(wide) used for imperial buildings. Apart from the transport links, the quality of the brick is one factor to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#}famous.

The "Lianhua" soil in Linging is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}ideal raw material for bricks. The city is located in the plain of the Yellow River. So when the Yellow River floods, there will always be a layer of fine sandy soil {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(cover) the local soil. Over time, a layer of sandy soil and a layer of clay will form an overlapping structure, known as "Lianhua". Linging tribute bricks {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(make) of this soil will not be out of shape easily.