Have you ever heard someone use the phrase "once in a blue moon"? People use this expression to describe something that they do not do very often. For example, someone might say that he tries to keep away from sweets because they are unhealthy, but will eat chocolate once in a blue moon. Or someone who does not like to. Go to the beach might say, "I visit the shore(岸边) once in a blue moon." While many people use this phrase, not everyone knows the meaning behind it.

    The first thing to know is that the moon itself is never actually blue.  This is just an expression. The phrase "blue moon" actually has to do with the shape of the moon, not the color.

    As the moon travels around the earth, it appears to change shape. We have certain names for certain shapes of the moon. For example, when we can see a small part of the moon, it is called a crescent moon. A crescent is a shape that looks like the tip of a fingernail(指甲). When we can see the moon appear in the sky as a thin crescent, it is called a new moon. When we can see the whole moon, it is called a full moon. Usually, there is only one full moon every month. Sometimes, however, there will be two full moons in one month. When this happens, the second full moon is called a "blue moon".

    It's predicted(预言) that there will only be 15 blue moons over the next 20 years. As you can see, a blue moon is a very unusual event. This fact has led people to use the expression "once in blue moon" to describe other" very unusual events in their lives.

Do You Want to Be a Writer?

Here are some tips on becoming a writer.

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Most writers read whatever books they can find because they love to lose themselves in them. They like the sounds of language and the way that reading a good description can feel as satisfying as a baseball game or eating a banana split.

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It's easy to forget a good idea if you do not write it down immediately. If you get in the habit of carrying a notebook with you everywhere you go, you can write down anything you want to remember. When you are talking to friends in the cafe or waiting for the bus, something might spark an idea for a character or scene in a story.

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Nearly all writers agree that writers must write. It doesn't matter if you feel like you have nothing to say; the important thing is that you write every single day. Sometimes, you need to give yourself permission to write things which won't be your best work.

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Do you have any friends who enjoy writing? Think about starting a writing group with other people who have similar interests. It helps to have the support of other writers. You will also receive valuable feedback, or suggestions, about how to make you work better.

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If you decide that you would like to send your work for publication, make sure to do your research. If you are sending your writing to a magazine, look through old ones. Does it seem like your writing fits in with the other stories or articles? That's the homework for you after writing.

There is a zoo in our city. My parents often take me there on {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. I like animals. I have a lot of {#blank#}2{#/blank#} animals in my room. In the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I can see tigers, elephants, monkeys, pandas, bears, snakes and many other {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Some animals are friendly but some are not. Tigers, bears, lions are {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. That is why they have to stay in {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. But I do not think it is good for animals to stay in cages. They should be free. The animals in cages can't be {#blank#}7{#/blank#}.

I think the most interesting animals in the zoo are the dolphins. I like {#blank#}8{#/blank#} them swim and jump. They swim so fast and jump so high. They can play with a ball. They can stand up and walk {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the water! They are very {#blank#}10{#/blank#} to people. If you fall into the water and can't swim, they may come to help you.

Weeks before Tomb-Sweeping Day on April 4 this year, hundreds of qingtuan were sold each day. The snack was still a must-have for many people. 

In the southern part of China, eating qingtuan at the beginning of spring is a kind of tradition. Chinese people started to eat it more than 2, 000 years ago. It is made of sticky rice(糯米) and red bean paste(红豆沙), and is famous for its softness, freshness and sweetness. The secret behind its mouth-watering taste is one of its materials—mugwort leaves (艾蒿叶). The plant is mainly found in the Yangtze RiverDelta(长江三角洲) where it has perfect conditions to grow. 

People in this area usually put qingtuan on the tombs(墓) of their dead family members to cherish the past memory. Making qingtuan is also a chance for family members to get together at home. It really takes time and effort to make the snack. 

Now, qingtuan has already spread its special taste to the northern part of China. Li Yuan, a 30-year-old engineer who grew up in Zhejiang Province, brought qingtuan back to Beijing where he works. "It tastes different in and out of my hometown, "he said. "There's no place like home. "

Qingtuan has many different tastes inside it, such as apples and bean milk, to meet customers' tastes. The difference of the taste shows that it's getting more and more popular across the whole country. 

Even though there is warm weather and green leaves in spring, the season wouldn't be complete without a taste of qingtuan. 

Paul is my good friend. This is his 1 . It's small, but it's always 2 . His bed is in the middle of the room. And a yellow quilt is 3 the bed. Paul loves yellow. Look! The bookcase is 4 , too. In it, you can see some books. A black computer is on the table, 5 it's not Paul's. It's his father's. 6 is that next to the computer? It's a photo of his family. There are 7 people in it, his parents, his sister and him. Where is 8 phone? Oh, he lost it. Do you 9 it? If(如果) you do, pleasee-mai lhim10 PAUL3456@126.com.Thanksalot.