A sand storm often takes place in the northern China, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is a kind of natural disasters. China usually experiences this kind of weather between February and May, while March and April see the most frequent and the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (strong) sand storms. It becomes a very important environmental problem. It does damage {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the society as well as the environment. Firstly, the strong wind destroys soil and plant cover by {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (bury) fields with sand and dust. Secondly, by leaving too much dust in the air it will {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(serious) pollute the air. Thirdly, a sand storm will have {#blank#}6{#/blank#}bad effect on transportation. The dust in the air makes traffic and aircraft movements more difficult. And when the sand buries the roads, the traffic will{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(block). When plants in the farmland are buried, food supply will lose.

    Sand storms are another {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(punish) nature gives to mankind. We should not only take effective measures {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(stop) them, but also draw some {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(lesson) from them. We should not develop the economy (经济) at the cost of the natural environment.

    Earthquakes are quite common. In fact, thousands of earthquakes {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (happen) almost at every moment. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, most of them are too weak to feel. During a big earthquake, there is often a big noise first. Then the earth shakes {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (terrible) and many houses fall down.

    As one of the most deadly natural disasters in the world, the earthquake often result {#blank#}4{#/blank#}many people being injured or killed. In 2008, a severe earthquake hit China's Sichuan Province, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (kill) more than 80,000 people there.

    Besides the great damage and {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (death) caused by the earthquake, other accidents such {#blank#}7{#/blank#}fires often follow. More buildings may be damaged and more {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (injury) may be caused. For centuries, people have been making studies of earthquakes. About 2,000 years ago, for example, a Chinese scientist {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (name) Zhang Heng invented a machine which could find out the direction{#blank#}10{#/blank#} the earthquake waves came.

    A young man, while traveling through a desert, came across a spring of clear water. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} water was sweet. He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder {#blank#}2{#/blank#} had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, the young man {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (present) the water to the old man. His teacher took a deep drink, smiled {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (warm), and thanked his student very much for the sweet water. The young man went home {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a happy heart.

    After the student left, the teacher let {#blank#}6{#/blank#} student taste the water. He spat（吐）it out, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (say) it was awful. Obviously, it was no longer fresh because of the old leather container. He asked his teacher, "Sir, the water was awful. Why did you pretend to like {#blank#}8{#/blank#}?" The teacher replied, "You tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and love. Nothing could be {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (sweet)." We understand this lesson best {#blank#}10{#/blank#} we receive gifts of love from children. Whether it is a cheap pipe or a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.