Researchers from the University of Michigan have found that astronauts' brains change shape during spaceflight. It is the first study {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (look) into how the brain changes in space. Researchers looked at high-tech MRI(磁共振成像)pictures of the brains of 26 astronauts who spent time in space. Twelve of the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (astronaut) spent two weeks on the Space Shuttle, and 14 spent six months on the International Space Station. All of them {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (experience) increases and decreases in the size of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (differ) parts of the brain. The longer an astronaut spent in space ,the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (big) the size differences were.

    The research produced some {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (interest) findings. One was that on gravity means fluids do not drop in the body, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} there is a shift in the brain's position inside the skull. The brain becomes either smaller or bigger. The findings could help doctors to treat problems that affect the brain's function. They could treat people with problems {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (cause)by long-term bed rest. They could also help those who have a build-up of fluid in the brain, which can lead {#blank#}9{#/blank#} brain damage. We will understand more about {#blank#}10{#/blank#} neurons(神经元)in the brain connect. The findings will also help future trips to Mars.

    I felt {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(luck) to have won a place to go on a cultural tour to sites of lost civilizations. We visited Pompeii in Italy and Loulan in China. Pompei {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(found) in the 8^th century BC, then taken{#blank#}3{#/blank#}by the Romans in 89 BC. Later, Pompei was destroyed by a volcano. It erupted and covered Pompei with ash.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (fortunate), many people were buried alive. The city was forgotten for many years until the 18^th century when a stone with writing on it was discovered by a farmer. People started to dig in the area {#blank#}5{#/blank#}treasure and caused much damage. Thus, in 1860, the area was governed by the government so {#blank#}6{#/blank#}could be preserved and studied.

    Differently, Loulan disappeared under the sand. There were just a few {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(ruin) left. There was {#blank#}8{#/blank#}ancient water system {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (run) through the middle of the city. The desert was once a green with huge trees, but they were cut down,{#blank#}10{#/blank#}resulted in the city being buried by sand.

    They were both important commercial cities about 2,000 years ago. It was a pity that they disappeared for ever.

    English is a language {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (speak) all around the world. There are more than 42 countries {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the majority (大多数) of the people speak English. Most native speakers of English {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (find) in the UK, the US, Canada, and many other countries. In total, for more than 375 million people English is their mother tongue. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} equal number of people learn English as a second language. However, the number of people who learn English as a foreign language {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) more than 750 million.

    In only fifty years, English has developed into the language most {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (wide) spoken and used in the world.  Foreign staff in China are not requested {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (learn) Chinese. Chinese businessmen, taxi drivers and students can talk with them {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (use) English. You can listen to English songs {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the radio or use English to communicate with people around the world through the Internet. With so many people communicating in English every day, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} will become more and more important to have a good knowledge of English.

    Imagine life today if the printing press had never been invented. We would not have books, posters, magazines or newspapers. The printing press {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (allow) us to share large amounts of information {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (convenient). In fact, the printing press is so significant {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it has come to be known as one of the most important inventions of our time.

    Before the printing press {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (invent), any writings and drawings had to be completed painstakingly by hand. Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid-1400s, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} led to a huge social and cultural revolution. Long before the Gutenberg press, Chinese {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (improvement) in ink, block printing and movable clay type were made. This expanded the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (write) word's range of influence.

    Modern print technology has made printing more affordable than ever, whether you're printing thousands of booklets {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a single poster. The industry has even embraced the Digital Age, which has given rise to online printing companies that make it easy for anyone {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (design), print, and mail printed materials by {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (use) their computers.

Hollywood filmmakers visit Mulan's roots

    Hollywood filmmakers, including creators of the 1998 Disney film Mulan, will start {#blank#}1{#/blank#}"discovery trip" to Mulan's birthplace —Huangpi District in Hubei Province this week.

    During the two-day visit, they will see a number of Mulan-themed{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (perform), such as the horse lighting show and the local opera. They will also visit places of historical interest, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the Mulan Mountain and the General's Temple.

    In the 20 years since the Disney film came out, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (it) director Tony Bancroft hasn't been to the land of Mulan's roots. "For me, it's a full circle tour of where my favorite character was born. I'm also doing my homework for the next film," he said.

    "China used to be closed off to Westerners, thus {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (create) a mystery, but in the last few years, U. S. films {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (explore) the Chinese culture and environment, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} has opened audiences to a whole new world. I believe the tale of Mulan appeals to Westerners mainly {#blank#}8{#/blank#}  it's about a daughter's respect for her family, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(especial) her father," Bancroft added.

    A live-action remake of the 1998 film is expected to hit theaters in 2019. The Walt Disney Studios has announced that Chinese actress Liu Yifei, also{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (know) as Crystal Liu, is going to star in the classic Chinese tale.