A Brave Maid

                      A wooden vase from the Ming Dynasty at the entrance of thereception hall {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(amaze)everyone. The artists designed it in a rare style and selected {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(value) jewels to decorate it. Peoplethought highly {#blank#}3{#/blank#} its fancy colour of honey and the beautiful {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (paint ) on it.

The vase used to belong to a former castle. But when the countrywas at war, the enemy troops exploded the castle. Debates on how the vasesurvived went on and on. In order {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (remove) people's doubt, a team of no lessthan 20 people carried out{#blank#}6{#/blank#}informalinvestigation. The evidences they found {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(show) a maid took the vase apart andasked a sailor to sink it in a local well.{#blank#}8{#/blank#}never gave away the secret even underthe cruel trial of the enemies {#blank#}9{#/blank#}werein search of treasures.

It is worth {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(give)this brave maid a fortune in return.

    Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability.

    Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in this practice, gradually we'll learn how {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（express）ourselves in English. In keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(difficult). In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble in {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find) appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(proper).

    As far as I am {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(concern), my suggestion is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also ask our English teacher {#blank#}9{#/blank#}help, if necessary. In short, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}development of our writing skills.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (expose) to smoking for a long time, you may find it hard to give it up. And the effects it has {#blank#}2{#/blank#} you may die hard. But do you know {#blank#}3{#/blank#}it is that results in such a situation? First, quantities of nicotine you get into your body{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (be) the source of your physical addiction. Second, your habit is to blame and you just can't accustom{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (you) to the absence of nicotine in your body. Third, most{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(probable), you can be mentally addicted and believe smoking makes you feel good. However, demanding as it is, you do not need to put up with the situation. Every time you feel{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(anxiety), just remember under no circumstances should you reach for a cigarette. It's also suggested that help{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(need) if the situation is desperate. Of course, the most important is to{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (strong) your resolve whenever you want to quit. And you can depend on it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you can completely get rid of it as long as you keep trying.

    Spring is coming. Everything is waking from its winter sleep. The fields {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(dress) in a fresh robe of green. The wild flowers begin to peep forth(隐隐露出). Birds sing among the trees, and begin to get their nests ready {#blank#}2{#/blank#} summer. Men are now sowing seeds in the fields. The days are {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(warm), for brighter sunshine has come again. Everything is full of life and joy.

    Last Friday a storm swept through two villages in the New Territories, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (destroy) fourteen homes. Seven others were so badly damaged {#blank#}2{#/blank#} their owners had to leave them, and fifteen others had broken windows or roofs. One person was killed, several were {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (serious) hurt and taken to hospital, and a number of other people received smaller hurt. Altogether over two hundred people were home-less after the storm.

    A farmer, Mr. Tan, said that the storm began early {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the morning and lasted for over an hour.

    "I {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(eat) with my wife and children," he said, "when we heard a loud noise. A few minutes later our house fell down on top of us. We tried our best {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(climb) out but then I saw that one of my children was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (miss). I went back inside and found him, safe {#blank#}8{#/blank#}very frightened."

    Mrs. Woo Mei Fong said that her husband had just left for work when she {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (feel) that her house was moving. She ran outside at once with her children.

    Soldiers helped to take people out of the flooded area and the welfare department brought {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (they) food, clothes and shelter.