A"Gap Year" is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university. It is often spent travelling or working. It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills. It's very popular in foreign countries.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

 Although you don't have to go abroad to experience gap years, most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad. You are able to work out who you are and what you are for. The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons. You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation, but also a time to face challenges. Gap year students usually work, volunteer or take service projects. You have to learn how to get along in the real world. This process isn't always easy, but it is an important part of growing up. Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

 There's a common thought that gap years are only for rich students, but it's not true. Actually, taking a gap year can save your money. Gap year students often take a part-time job. Besides, at the end of a gap year, students are much more likely to know what to study in college. Clear learning goals can keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} 

 Imagine an admission officer trying to admit(录取) only one between two students. Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However, one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation. Who do you think the admission officer will choose?{#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

FAJTHFUL（忠诚的）TO DEATH

    Some time ago, a fire broke out(爆发) in a building late at night. Nearly all the families were s{#blank#}1{#/blank#} inside the house. After the firemen came, they rushed into the burning building and saved the people to the safe p{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    The crowds thought a{#blank#}3{#/blank#} the people were safe. But it was not so. Two little orphan （孤儿) girls were still asleep alone at the very top of the building, in a small room. N{#blank#}4{#/blank#} thought of them. Luckily, they lived with a dog.

    The dog tried to wake them up, but f{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. He ran to the window and barked(吠叫) loudly for help. B{#blank#}6{#/blank#} no one noticed him. Then he climbed down the ladder (梯子) and tried to pull a fireman to the ladder. The fireman kicked him away, thinking he was mad. Then the dog ran to a{#blank#}7{#/blank#} fireman, jumped on him, ran to the ladder, barking all the time and looking back as if he was asking the fireman to follow him.

    This fireman realized there must be someone in the little room, as the dog was acting so strangely. So he followed the dog u{#blank#}8{#/blank#} the ladder, there he saw the two girls and saved them.

    Where was the d{#blank#}9{#/blank#}? A brave fireman rushed into the room to look for him and found him lying near the window, choked (窒息) with smoke. He brought him down with care, but he was already d{#blank#}10{#/blank#}. He had given his life for his friends. What a faithful friend!

    Do you have a dog, a cat or a bird at home? Do you watch them carefully?

    Scientists have found that cats, dogs, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} and even goldfish are left-handed or right-handed. These scientists work in Queen's Belfast University. They said that pets are left-handed or right-handed {#blank#}2{#/blank#} people. As we all know, it is important for animals to be good at getting food. Some like to get food with their right hands, but some like to get food with the left hands. That's {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the animals are left-handed or right-handed.

    The scientists have {#blank#}4{#/blank#} that male cats and dogs are almost left-handed, and female cats and dogs are right-handed, because their work in everyday life is different.

People {#blank#}5{#/blank#} think that left-handed people are better at languages; some even think that left-handed people are smarter. When it goes to animals, it makes animals act more quickly.

    English people are famous for their humour (幽默). {#blank#}1{#/blank#} it is often difficult for foreigners to understand their jokes. The main thing to {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is that English people often use understatement.

    Understatement means saying less{#blank#}3{#/blank#}you think or feel. For example, if {#blank#}4{#/blank#}gets very wet in a shower of rain, he might say, "It's a little damp (潮湿的) {#blank#}5{#/blank#}" Or, if someone is very impolite and shouts at another person {#blank#}6{#/blank#} people might say, "He isn't exactly friendly." People often use understatement in unpleasant (使人不愉快的) {#blank#}7{#/blank#} or to make another person look silly.

    Also, English people like to make fun of themselves as well as others. The comedy (喜剧) 'Mr Bean' is a(n) {#blank#}8{#/blank#}example of this kind of humour. Mr Bean always speaks as little as {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in the comedy. He always {#blank#}10{#/blank#} to use his body to make people happy. Maybe what makes Mr Bean so funny is that he does things that people in the real world will never do.