Our ancestors（祖先）made the old saying that friends{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) like wine-the older,the better.Because of that, many people think old friends to be{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(important) than new ones.For example,if two pieces of advice are given to solve a problem,one from a new friend and the other from an old friend,people always prefer to choose the latter one,{#blank#}3{#/blank#}the new friend's advice may be better.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(disagree) with the old saying,I believe that new friends are not{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(necessary) worse than old friends. Why?Because the{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(long) of time cannot tell whether your friendship is better or not.

    Once you call someone friend,he must be a person who is{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(rely) and whose interests are in common with{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(you).Maybe a friend's outside look{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(change) all the time,but the inside characters of him and his interests won't change at all.It is just these unchangeable characters and interests that make him a friend to you.{#blank#}10{#/blank#},there is no difference between old friends and new ones on this point.

—Not really, they are still looking for evidence to see whether Yetis really {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    There's no place in the world like Venice, Italy. Situated in the Adratic Sea ,the city of Water is made up of 118 tiny islands. However, it{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) in danger of sinking now. Because{#blank#}2{#/blank#}city was built on soft soil, it has been sinking under the pressure of its own weight. Scientists say that Venice sinks{#blank#}3{#/blank#} a rate of nearly two inches every 100 years. Mean while, rising sea levels could make Venice go under even faster. Earth's temperature is slowly increasing,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} is causing sea ice to melt and makes the world's waters rise.

    Experts{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(rush) to save Venice now because of its rich culture. ¨Many famous artists and opera singers have come from Venice. Some of the world's greatest{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(paint) can be found on the city's museum walls," explains Melissa Conn.

    {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(keep) the city afloat, experts want to pump about 40 billion gallons of sea water beneath Venice. While scientists work to get their plan  {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(approve), people in Venice live their normal life. When the tide rolls in the locals have ways of keeping everyone dry. Café owners move tables to{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(high) ground, and hotels pass out high boots to guests.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} ( fortune) ,dealing with the rising water does not make the natives discouraged.

    The lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A pair of stone lions, a male and a female, are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (common) seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings.

    The lion {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (regard) as the king in the animal world so it represents power. The stone lions are also used to indicate the ranks of {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(official).

    It is interesting to note that China had no lions originally. The earliest stone lions were sculpted{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) with{#blank#}5{#/blank#}introduction of Buddhism into ancient China. In the Buddhist faith, the lion{#blank#}6{#/blank#}can protect the Truth and keep off evils, is considered a holy animal of nobleness and dignity. In Chinese folk tales, the lion has become a symbol of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(brave), power and good luck.

    It was also popular{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(decorate) bridges with sculpted stone lions for the same reason. The {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(well)known of this is the Lugouqiao (also as Marco Polo Bridge){#blank#}10{#/blank#} (build) from 1189 to 1192. A famous proverb says, “The lions on the Lugouqiao are uncountable.”

    I was a British general for eighteen years, and I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(serve) in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I never really enjoyed it. I just enjoyed the respect that it gave me. The whole time I was just pretending to be a soldier.

    The problem is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}I was good at it, and it's {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(extreme) difficult to walk away from something that you're good at. I guess that was one reason {#blank#}5{#/blank#}I stayed for so long. And ironically (讽刺的是),{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (like) what you think, the military life is actually quite secure. Every one of your needs {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(take) care of finances, medical, housing. I was used to the military life. Even though I always had a dream of {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (become) a great actor, I was {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(terrify) to start the life I really wanted. Anyway, I finally did it. I spent the last two years in {#blank#}10{#/blank#}acting school in California. And you know what? I'm doing quite well. I think I've got the talent. I'm going to be a movie star. Wish me luck, mate.

    Jane was walking round the department store. She remembered how difficult{#blank#}1{#/blank#} was to choose a Christmas present for her father. She wished that he was easy {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(please). Besides, shopping at this time of the year was not {#blank#}3{#/blank#}pleasant experience: people stepped on your feet or {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(push)you with their elbows, hurrying ahead to get to a bargain.

    Jane paused in front of a counter (柜台) {#blank#}5{#/blank#} some attractive ties were on display. But Jane knew from past experience that the {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(choose)of ties hardly ever pleased her father.

    Jane stopped where a small crowd of men had gathered. She found some good quality {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(pipe) on sale. She did not hesitate for long: although her father smoked a pipe only once {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a while, she knew that this was a present which was bound to please him.

    When Jane got home, her parents were already at table having supper. Her mother was {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(excite). "Your father has decided to stop smoking," Jane {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(inform).