There are over one million superstitions(迷信),and most people believe at least one or two of them. Many people are superstitious about numbers. They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers. The number 13 is often considered unlucky.

        In some parts of the world, buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13. In Japan,“4”is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word“four”is pronounced the same as the word“death”. The Japanese never give gifts of four knives, four napkins, or four of anything.

        What are the lucky numbers? Seven is a lucky number in many places, and“8”is considered a lucky number in Japan and China. In China, businesses often open on August 8,and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8. Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people—called numerologists—make a living giving advice about numbers. In 1937,when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company, they asked a numerologist if“Toyoda”would be a good name for the company. The numerologist said it would not be. He explained that“Toyota”would be a better name for the company. The family took his advice. As a result, millions of people drive“Toyotas”and not“Toyodas. ”

        There are many other kinds of superstitions. There are superstitions about eating, sleeping, sneezing and itching. There are superstitions about animals and holidays and horseshoes.

        There are even superstitions about superstitions. Those superstitions tell people how toreverse bad luck. When the Japanese bump heads, they immediately bump heads again. According to a Japanese superstition, the first bump means their parents will die, but the second bump“erases”the first bump. To reverse bad luck in general, people turn around three times, turn their pockets inside out, or put their hats on backwards.

      In my mind. Lance Armstrong is a real hero.He has 1 so many things and inspired so many people.

        He2 a life－threatening disease, and has lived a very complete life, 3 giving so much toothers.

Heis a great teammate and leader.He 4 his winnings from races to his5. Armstrong knew he could win only with their help.Even though hehas retired, he still helps direct the6.Many people admire him 7what he has achieved. Lance Armstrong was 8 with cancer at 25 and didn't just survive but went on to again win the 9cycling race inthe world, the Tour de France.He has raised money for cancer patients.He also10 the Lance Armstrong Foundation and has helped the Make－A－WishFoundation.

       He has won the Tour de France seven times, 11 is a great accomplishment for anyone. 12 one who survived cancer.It is said to be the longestand must 13 race in all of cycling.He 14 as a helpful teammate and then became a leader.He has also15 the Tour ofGeorgia.

        The Lance Armstrong Foundation has 16 $14.4 million for cancer research and started a center for cancer survivors.His contributions may help find a 17I know what's what he is 18for.

Asyou can see, Lance Armstrong has many 19 that make him a hero.He isa good leader with goals. He is an inspiration to kids and adults.I 20that he will try his hardest to find a way to beat cancer and help itssurvivors.

        Anyone who is afraid of failure and afraid to face challenges will never taste success, so said our professor in marketing. I laughed it off at that time, but got frightened when it actually happened in my life.

        I landed in a small city in the Middle East to set up a firm, a world－class car rental firm. Having decided on the project, I earnestly settled in preparation. With a positive mind, I told myself nothing should stop me now, and was more than keen to make it a success.

        However, the least expected thing happened. Iraq invaded Kuwait. Tension ran high in the region. Eventually the war broke out, and many people fled the country, leaving my firm in deep trouble.

       As usual, “things become difficult, and every effort seems to bring disappointment, it can be tempting to lower your expectations or even water_down your goals and ambitions.” I was no exception. I thought of running away. I remembered the words of Thomas Edison, “Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to succeed when they gave up.”

       I decided to hang on, telling myself, “I am not afraid of challenges and obstacles.” I stayed on through months of uncertainty and insecurity. Finances ran low, and banks could not wait to get their dues. To add to all this, the banks even threatened to take all my vehicles. I felt I made a wrong decision to move there. I was now ready to face failure.

      I was living against all hopes, believing that something good would happen. After 2 months the war ended. My persistence paid off: people started flooding back and the car bookings picked up, five times over.

      Success comes to the one who dares, even after failure, to think positively and look forward confidently. After all, it is only the experience that makes a man tough. Failure does not mean you will never make it. It means that it will take a little longer. It provides us with a learning experience.

        Carrots are easy to raise and easy to harvest. They taste good. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

        When people think of carrots, they usually picture in their mind a vegetable that islong, thin and orange.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} And not all carrots are orange. For example, Paris Market carrots are about five centimeters around. Rome carrots are thin andabout twenty－five centimeters long. And Belgian White carrots are, as their name suggests, white.

        For the best results, carrots should be grown in sandy soil that does not hold water for a long time. The soil also should have no rocks. To prepare your garden for carrots, dig up the soil, loosen it and turn it over. Then, mix insome plant material or animal fertilizer (肥料)．

{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Experts say warm days, cool nights and a medium soil temperature are the best conditions for growing carrots that taste great.

Carrots need time to develop their full sugar content. This gives them their sweetness if you wait too long to pull them from the ground.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Usually, the brighter the color, the better the taste.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}If the winter is not cold enough to freeze the ground, you can grow and harvest carrots the same way as during the summer months. If the ground does freeze,simply cover your carrot garden with a thick layer of leaves or straw. Thiswill prevent the ground from freezing.

a．But carrots come in many differentsizes and shapes.

b．They are economic crops.

c．The best time for planting carrots isduring the winter months.

d．Weather, soil conditions and age willaffect the way carrots taste.

e．The best way to judge if a carrot isready to be harvested is by its color.

f．And they contain a lot of carotene (胡萝卜素), which the body make into vitamin A.

g．Many people do not know that carrotscan be grown during the winter months.