Edison had quick mind about inventions, but not always about other things.

    One day he received a notice. It said he must pay some money to the government by the next day. If he was late, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Edison went to the city office. Many people were waiting there in line to pay. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, his mind was busy with ideas about a new invention. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, the man behind it said to Edison “Young man, what's your name?”

    Edison looked at the man in surprise. “ I don't know,” he said.

    “Then I can't help you,” the man said, and told him to leave.

    Other people paid the money, but Edison stood there, and tried to remember his name. The day ended, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    In the street, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. He had to ask the friend what his name was.

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Chinese Culture

    While China is almost the same size as the US in area, it is home to about 1.3 billion people. It has a special culture with a very long history.

    Chinese Food

    Food plays an important role for Chinese families. Different foods have special meanings. The most obvious(明显的) difference is that Chinese people eat their meals with chopsticks. One of the main foods in Chinese culture is rice. Tea is a favorite drink and it is popular in the market.

    Chinese New Year

    The Chinese calendar(日历) is called a lunar(阴历的) calendar. It is not the same as the one used in the US. New Year's Day is in late winter. It is also called the Spring Festival. It has a big celebration of letting go of the old and bringing in the new. It has special foods and traditions. For example, sweeping the floor before New Year's Day sweeps away all the old year's bad luck.

Chinese Zodiac(生肖)

    The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, follows a twelve-year cycle(循环). Each year is named for an animal. These animal signs are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. For example, the year that begins in 2016 is the Year of the Monkey.

    Chinese Language

    Chinese is a complex(复杂的) language. Chinese writing developed almost 4,000 years ago and may even be older. Chinese writing has thousands of characters. A character represents(代表) a word and also a meaning. Unlike English, there are no spaces in Chinese writing. Besides Standard Chinese, or Putonghua, Chinese people speak six other forms of the language, and there are many kinds of dialects(方言).

    Tears come out of my eyes when I talk to my parents on the phone. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} This is what I want to know most. I have supper at 5 o'clock in the dining room. Now it is the busiest time for my parents. Dad works from seven o'clock in the morning to nine o'clock in the evening, so all the housework is left to my mum. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Every day she gets up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and then works till dark.

    I promise her to study hard in the university because I am her hope. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I just want her to promise me that she can take care of herself and my dad because they are just like the blood in my body.

    In my family, everyone is equal. We are very happy to have meals together. Mum says that the happiest time for Dad and her is to see my sister and me come back home. We play cards in the room, watch TV and do anything we like, with Dad and Mum preparing delicious food in the kitchen. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I forget all the difficulties and unhappiness at that time. The only thing I would like to do is to enjoy the time with my parents.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Love your parents as they love us. Give them a call, telling them you love them and miss them.

    Most of us think the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}In fact, an Italian named Antonio Meucci was officially recognised(认定)as the inventor a few years ago. Who is Meucci and why wasn't he known for his invention at the time?

    Antonio Meucci was born in Italy in 1808. He studied engineering and drawing. During his studies, Meucci started to experiment with electricity. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}When two places were connected with wire, people in those places could hear each other talk.

    In 1850, Meucci and his wife. Ester, moved to New York. Meucci was worried about his wife, because she had become very ill. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}To solve this problem, he connected metal cables between his home and his workshop. This way, they could talk to each other conveniently.

    Meucci invited a group of people to see his new invention. They listened in amazement as the voice of a singer was heard through the wires.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Even worse, Meucci never applied for a patent (专利) on his invention. Meanwhile, Alexander Graham Bell was working on the same idea and in 1876 the patent for the telephone was given to him.

    In 2002, more than a century after Meucci's death, his work was finally recognised by the government. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The world is an interesting place. Different people like different things.

    Some people like loud music. Other people don't. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Many people like sports, but they don't all like the same sports. In some countries, cricket（板球运动）is a very popular sport. In others it is not popular at all. No one plays it or watches it on TV. However, most people like soccer. The World Cup is very popular. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Different people like different foods. Some people don't like meat,  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Some people don't like potatoes or bread. They prefer rice.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Most people have their favourite colours. Some people like bright colours. Others prefer pale colours.

    Many people like travelling. Different people like different places. Some people like to go to the country.

    They like the fresh air. Some people like to go to the cities. Because they like shopping. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}