When I was young, my parents and I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(move) to New York from China. Although we now live in the US, we follow the customs and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (tradition) of China. I have learned to speak several languages, English {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (include). I eat all kinds of foods and celebrate different holidays {#blank#}4{#/blank#} have something to do with culture.

    However, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) many disadvantages of being part of two cultures. Sometimes, speaking a language at home {#blank#}6{#/blank#} speaking another language in school can get confusing. Sometimes, I have trouble {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (express) my thoughts in English because they don't understand me well. Sometimes, my culture does make me feel far away from others because I feel too {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (difference).

    I am closer to the culture of China than that of the US. I don't listen to English music as {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(frequent) as I listen to Chinese music. Therefore, I feel very far away {#blank#}10{#/blank#} my friends when I don't know what song they talking about.

    The First World War postcard has{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(final) been sent after many years. It is a very old postcard. This postcard was from a 19-year old soldier, Alfred, during the First World War. He{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(write) this postcard and sent it to his lovely sister Nell{#blank#}3{#/blank#}January 1916. The postcard is dated 1916 and{#blank#}4{#/blank#}is a cartoon picture of a new solider on the front.

    Alfred has written to his sister, “Dear Nell, just{#blank#}5{#/blank#}postcard to let you know I have not forgotten you. On the other side you will see our orders for next week. I will need your pity. Write to me, your brother Alfred.” Sadly, Alfred{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(kill) in a flight in 1918 before the card arrived.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (year) later, his sister died in 1964.

    The postcard is marked 1916 and again September 2010 when it was stamped to arrive. But the postman couldn't find the{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(receive) any more. The post office said it was out of the question that the card was with{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(they) all the time. They regularly cleaned out their offices and post boxes. The{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(postcard) history for the last 94 years is still a mystery.

    He is the man who for many people has been a role model. Now your biggest hero deserves a special day when you can express your thanks and let him know{#blank#}1{#/blank#} important he is to you. The third Sunday of June—which {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (fall) on June 19 this year is Father's Day. The idea of Father's Day came from {#blank#}3{#/blank#} American woman called Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (honor) her father. He raised six children by {#blank#}5{#/blank#} after his wife died. Dodd thought there needed to be a day to honor loving dads.

    The first Father's Day {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (celebrate) on June 19, 1910. In 1924, US President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a  {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (nation) Father's Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June {#blank#}8{#/blank#} Father's Day.

    Here are some ways to show your love and respect:

    Send him a greeting card. Fathers prefer cards {#blank#}9{#/blank#} are not too emotional. So choose one that will make him laugh. If he has a computer, cover his desktop {#blank#}10{#/blank#} words like “I love you Dad”. A small present, such as a framed photo of your family, can make him feel like a king.

Lesson 36 NCE Book 3

    We are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} than we used to be. In the nineteenth century, a novelist would bring his story to a conclusion by presenting his readers with {#blank#}2{#/blank#} —most of them wildly improbable. Readers happily {#blank#}3{#/blank#} that an obscure maidservant was really the hero's mother . A long-lost brother, who {#blank#}4{#/blank#} , was really alive all the time and wickedly plotting to bring about the hero's downfall. And so on. Modern readers would find {#blank#}5{#/blank#} totally unacceptable. …

    The task of being accepted by a university begins early for some students.Long before {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(graduate) from high school,these students take special courses to prepare for advanced study.They may also take one or more examinations to test how well prepared they are for the university.In the final year of high school,they complete {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(apply) and send them to the universities {#blank#}3{#/blank#}interest them most.Some high school students may be required to have {#blank#}4{#/blank#}interview with people from the university.Neatly {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(dress) and a little bit frightened,they are determined {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(show) that they have a good attitude and the ability to succeed.

    If the new students {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(accept),many universities will offer an instruction programme for them to get to know the procedures for students advising,university rules,the use of the library and all the other major services of the university.

    Beginning a new life in a new place can be very {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(confuse).The more knowledge students have about the school,the {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(easy) it will be for them to adapt to the new environment.However, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} takes time to get used to college life.

    Happiness means different things to different people. For Mary, who has {#blank#}1{#/blank#} severe sleeping problem, happiness is as simple as having a good night's sleep.

    Bed was once a place {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Mary went to rest after a long, hard day. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, she has not had a full night's sleep in almost six months. Her doctor said that{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(count) sheep might help her fall asleep. She tried this, but soon got tired of it after it failed to work. She finds the nights without sleep almost {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(bear) . She is always sleepy and lacks energy during the day.

    Mary is not alone. Studies show that more than one in three people worldwide struggle with getting enough sleep. It often takes on different {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(form) : some people can get to sleep, but wake up much too early; some get a full night's sleep, but are {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(disappoint)  to find that they still feel tired when they wake up; others, like Mary, find {#blank#}8{#/blank#} difficult to fall asleep in the first place.

    Specialists say that people should not worry too much about this problem. In most cases, a lack of sleep {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(cause) by anxiety and pressure. It is important to keep yourself {#blank#}10{#/blank#} good spirits and to be positive.