Of the three major drinks of the world—tea, coffee and cocoa—tea is consumed by the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (large) number of people.

    China is the homeland of tea. Human cultivation of tea plants dates back to two thousand years ago. Tea from China, along {#blank#}2{#/blank#}her silk and porcelain, began to be known to the world more than a thousand years ago and since then it{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) an important Chinese export.

    At present more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries，{#blank#}4{#/blank#}  (produce) 90% of the world's total output. All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China. The word for tea leaves or tea as{#blank#}5{#/blank#} drink in many countries are derivatives(衍生物)from the Chinese character “cha”. The Russians call it “cha'i”, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}sounds like “chaye”(tea leaves) as it is pronounced in northern China, and the English word “tea” sounds similar to the pronunciation of{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (it) counterpart（对应物） in Xiamen. The Japanese character for tea is written{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (exact) the same as it is in Chinese, though{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (pronounce) with a slight difference. The habit of tea drinking spread to Japan in the 6th century, but it was not introduced to Europe and America till the 17th and 18th centuries. Now the number of tea{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (drink) in the world is still on the increase.

    The warm weather outside may look perfect for outdoor exercise. But for those who are not that sporty, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} could be nicer than having relaxing afternoon tea with a few good friends and taking {#blank#}2{#/blank#} break?

    But are you familiar with the culture of afternoon tea—its origins, what {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (include), and the proper etiquette (礼仪)? We sum up a few things you need to know about this traditional English custom so that you can enjoy it {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (much).

    While the tradition of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (drink) tea dates back to about 3,000 BC in China, it was not until the mid-17th century {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the concept of “afternoon tea” first appeared in the UK. In 1840, Anna Maria Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, started to ask for a tea tray {#blank#}7{#/blank#} butter, bread and cakes at 4 pm every day, as she found she was hungry at this time every day and the evening meal in her household was served {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (fashion) late at 8 pm. She found this new habit difficult {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (break) and soon invited other ladies in society to join her. This pause for tea quickly became a popular social event. In the 1880s, women of upper class and society would put on gowns, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (glove) and hats for their afternoon tea.

    Although most people believe that formal schooling is required for scientific success, a college degree is not always necessary. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}excellent example of a man who won fame as a scientist {#blank#}2{#/blank#}academic(学术的) training is Vincent J. Schaefer. His formal education ended {#blank#}3{#/blank#} two years of high school when he had to go to work in an untrained job at General Electric. Because {#blank#}4{#/blank#} his inventive mind and his skill as a model maker, he was soon allowed to try his own experiments in the company laboratory. His natural {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(curious) made him wonder about clouds. He developed, after many tries, a method of making clouds rain {#blank#}6{#/blank#}they would not normally do so. This method, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(call) seeding, has been very {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(help) to farmers, and {#blank#}9{#/blank#}made him win much fame.

    Schaefer believes that for people{#blank#}10{#/blank#}, most of all, are interested in the world and everything in it, a college degree is unnecessary.

    A young man and an old man were waiting for a bus. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} sat next to each other. “What's that in your bag?” asked the young man, pointing to a big bag beside the old man. “Gold. There was nothing but gold,” answered the old man. The young man could not believe his own ears and was {#blank#}2{#/blank#} great surprise. Then he began to think about {#blank#}3{#/blank#} to get the money. The old man was very tired and it seemed that he could hardly keep his eyes open. After a while the old man {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lie) down on the chair and fell asleep.

    The young man took {#blank#}5{#/blank#} big bag gently and quietly. But when he was just about to run away, he found a corner of his fur coat was under the old man's body. Several times he tried to pull it out,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} in vain. At last he took off his coat,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (think) that the gold in the bag must cost far more than his fur coat.

    Worried but {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (delight), the young man ran out of the station as quickly as his legs could carry him, until he reached a place {#blank#}9{#/blank#} he thought the old man couldn't find him. He stopped and quickly opened the bag but he just found a great many of small stones in it. Then he ran back to the station {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (hurry) only to find that the old man was gone.

    Earthquakes are a kind of natural disaster. They usually come {#blank#}1{#/blank#} warning. An earthquake is dangerous,{#blank#}2{#/blank#} there are still things you can do to protect {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Slay calm as the earth begins to shake. Your chances of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (survive) in an earthquake go up if you can keep calm.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (stay) calm is not easy, but it can save your life.

    If you are inside when the earthquake starts, get under {#blank#}6{#/blank#} table or a bed. You need to have something {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (strength) around you to protect you from {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (fall) objects. Do not stand near walls or windows and stay out of the kitchen. The kitchen is dangerous because of many glass objects.

Remember to always hope for the best but prepare for the worst.