Each week New York-based hairstylist Mark Bustos tries to make a small difference in people's lives {#blank#}1{#/blank#} giving haircuts to homeless people.

    During the week,Mark works in his high-class salon,but each Sunday,he walks around the city asking people {#blank#}2{#/blank#} they'd like a haircut.He then gives them a stylish haircut {#blank#}3{#/blank#} same kind he would give to any paying customer, except these are done for free for those who are homeless or cannot afford a haircut {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (them).

    Mark's work began in 2012 when visiting family in the Philippines.Instead of jus {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (take) a typical,relaxing vacation,he decided to give poor local children haircuts."I felt so happy doing it that I've continued since returning," Mark explains.

    Changing someone's appearance can have a huge impact on their life.Remember the homeless retired soldier who received a make-over?He found a job,? {#blank#}6{#/blank#}  (rent)a house and quit drinking alcohol afterwards. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}  (simple) changing how a person looks can give them a huge increase in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (confident).

    Mark Bustos proves that there are many ways {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (give),and that you can easily use your {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (person) abilities to make a difference in somebody's life.

Dear Tom，

    How time flies! You {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (study) in Beijing for nearly a month, during which you must have achieved a lot. Well, how's everything going? It is reported that the weather there is very hot and dry these days, which is very different from{#blank#}2{#/blank#} of your country. Have you adapted to it? In addition, you once complained that the food {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (serve) there was not {#blank#}4{#/blank#} your taste. I hope that should have been improved.

    I am glad to tell you that I will go to Beijing to take part in an English speech contest in July, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} is not only an honor, but also a great opportunity for me to improve {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. And now I try my best to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (prepare) for it. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}, I have some trouble in collecting the materials relevant and using the language. I will appreciate {#blank#}9{#/blank#} if you give me a hand to solve the problems.

    After the contest, I am to drop {#blank#}10{#/blank#} at your school to visit you. Please wait for my phone.

Li Hua

    Sometimes your friends start to talk about a new video game or a new app they have downloaded. It sounds pretty cool, and your friends really seem to like it. You become so {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(interest) in it that you want to buy it too. Has this ever happened to you?

    In the US and in places around the world, there is a similar feeling of wanting the {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(new), greatest tech gadgets (小玩意). There is a big {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(attract) to getting the latest technology even though people may not need it. But why is this?

    As to(关于) these technologies, there's {#blank#}4{#/blank#} initial （最初的） excitement that {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(get) people's attention, according to Richard Larson, a director at MIT, US. If there's a big group of people {#blank#}6{#/blank#} want these things, you want to be a part of the excitement too.

    One of the major US {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(company) that really take advantage of this is Apple. It comes out with a new iPhone with very small changes every year. But people still flock (涌入) to the stores even if they have just bought the previous phone.

    However,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} （buy）these things may not always be the best choice. You could be buying things that you don't really need and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (spend) too much money just for the right to show it off to your friends.

    Not only that, but our need to always be on your phones or playing video games takes {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a lot of time in our lives. So is this excitement over technology a good or a bad thing?

    The other day, I met an old man whose name was Ted, 91 years old. He told me about his{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(believable) unusual story. He had lived through the Great Depression, served in the defence force and worked on{#blank#}2{#/blank#}farm. He was so knowledgeable that he knew a lot in many areas of life. He was building model carts(手推车)that day. His pale hands reached out to a folder on the table, and he{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(take) out some photos. In the photos I saw his collection of model carts. Ted took me through each photo and explained{#blank#}4{#/blank#}was in each photo. He started telling me about how he cut steel{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(build) his model carts. He seemed very{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(enthusiasm). He gave me some valuable life{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(lesson). He repeatedly kept saying that {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(learn) is very important in life.{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(impress) by his love and enthusiasm for life at the age of 91, I realized that there can't be any barriers in life{#blank#}10{#/blank#}we impose (把……强加于) those barriers on ourselves.

Dear professor Gary,

    I'm {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) sorry for using the mobile phone in your lecture last week.  I admit {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) a mistake and I deserve any {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (punish) for being such a rude student. But I didn't use the mobile phone {#blank#}4{#/blank#} design. I was trying to find a part-time job and that day, a company e-mailed me a job offer and I {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (require) to present my further information without any delay. As {#blank#}6{#/blank#} result, I had to try {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (send) them a text message in class. I promise it will never happen {#blank#}8{#/blank#} me again. But I do need my phone with {#blank#}9{#/blank#} I could communicate with others. I would be grateful {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you could give it to me this time.

    Thank you.

Tom