The Great Wall of China has a history of over two thousand years. It runs from the east {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the west in North China. It's about 6, 300 kilometers long.

It's often {#blank#}2{#/blank#} （call）"Ten-Thousand-Li Great Wall". It is one of the" Seven Wonders of the Ancient World".

    The Great Wall is wide enough for ten {#blank#}3{#/blank#} （man）to walk side by side. Horses can also run along it, too. The Great Wall was made {#blank#}4{#/blank#} stones and bricks（砖）. There are huge stones on each side and on {#blank#}5{#/blank#} highest part. But now some sections of it are worn out.

    There are tall watchtowers along the Great Wall.  {#blank#}6{#/blank#} （one）upon a time, the soldiers kept {#blank#}7{#/blank#} （watch）the enemies（敌人）in the watchtowers day and night. They made fire on the towers to tell each other when the enemies  {#blank#}8{#/blank#} （come）.

    Nowadays we {#blank#}9{#/blank#} （not）use the Great Wall to keep away the enemies any more. It is a famous place of interest to all the people in the world. Every year thousands of people come to visit {#blank#}10{#/blank#} from all over the world.

    It is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (say) if you do not use your arms or your legs for some time, they become weak. When you start using them again, they {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (slow) become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in {#blank#}3{#/blank#} same way.

    When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice {#blank#}4{#/blank#} using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (become) strong.

    If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (he) own fault. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents should be responsible, and few of us know that it is just his own fault.

    Have you ever found that some people {#blank#}8{#/blank#} can't read or write have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write them down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (story); so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So far a study has {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (show) that if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: practice remembering.

    Once there was a wise king. He had two sons. Every day, many famous teachers taught {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (they) knowledge. One day, the king was {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (bad) ill, so he wanted one of his sons {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) the new king. He wanted to test his sons' {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (ability).

    He called {#blank#}5{#/blank#} of them and gave each of them a room. "You must fill this room completely {#blank#}6{#/blank#} anything you like. But there should be no space left and don't ask anyone for advice!"

    The next day the king visited the elder son's room. The room was completely filled with hay(干草). The king sighed and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (feel) sad. Then he went to the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (young) son's room, but it was kept closed. The king knocked at the door of the room. The younger son asked his father to get in and closed the door again. It was so dark that the king shouted at his son {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (angry). But the younger son lighted a candle and said, "I have filled this room with light!"

    Now the king felt very happy and hugged his son proudly. He understood that the younger son would be the right person to {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (ruler) the kingdom after him.