Paul Frederic Simon is a famous musician, singer and songwriter. He was born {#blank#}1{#/blank#}October 13, 1941 in the USA.  It's been more than half a century since he wrote his famous song The Sound of silence with his partner Art Garfunkel. They also adapted the old English folk song Scarborough Fair, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}is still popular all over the world now.

    Recently Paul Simon released his latest album Stranger to Stranger and received excellent reviews. And Wristband, which is one of the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (song) from the album, is often played on college radio.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, Simon is ready to hang up his guitar and stop {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) music. “Show business doesn't hold any interest for me,” said the 74-year-old man.

    Simon is planning {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (begin) a month-long tour of Europe on October 17, shortly after his 75^th birthday. After that, he's going to travel for a year, perhaps with his wife. “It's {#blank#}7{#/blank#} act of courage to let go,” said Simon. “I am going to see{#blank#}8{#/blank#} will happen if I let go. Then I'm going to see who I am.”

    If he does quit music, Simon {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (bring) a great career to a close, which has spanned sixty years. He has won more than a dozen Grammys and produced a lot of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (amaze) songs. Paul Fredric Simon has been named by Time Magazine one of the “100 People Who Shaped the World”.

    My most {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (embarrass) moment occurred last month. I was invited to attend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} interview for a job as a hotel receptionist. I arrived on time and was shown into the manager's office by m an {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (assist). I was {#blank#}4{#/blank#} nervous that I didn't catch the manager's name.

    The interview began, “Do you have any previous experience in hotels?” asked the manager. “No sir,” I said. The manager frowned (皱眉). “Are you good {#blank#}5{#/blank#} using computers?” “Yes, Sir, I am {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (family) with most popular kinds of software. The manager frowned again. He didn't look a friendly person- The interview continued. Every answer I gave {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (receive) by a frown from the manager, even though I told him about my communication skills, my knowledge of French and so on.{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (obvious), I was doing very badly. At last, the interview came to a close. “One final question,” said the manager. “How good is your eyesight?” “Excellent, sir,'' I replied. “Very well,'' said the manager, “Thank you for coming.” I stood up {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (shake) hands with him. When the manager stood up as well, I realized {#blank#}10{#/blank#} I had been doing wrong. The gentleman I had been calling “sir” during the whole interview was wearing a skirt! The manager was a woman! I didn't get the job.

    There is much discussion about the necessity of daily homework for students. Some say homework is necessary since only practice{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (make) perfect, while others disagree. In my opinion, daily homework is necessary for students.

    However, this might be misleading that one may believe all forms of homework are necessary{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(actual), only proper amount of homework in proper form is{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(accept); some homework may not only fail{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (help) the students, but on{#blank#}5{#/blank#}contrary bore them so much that they may lose their interest in studying. “Proper”homework, in my opinion{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (vary) in its forms{#blank#}7{#/blank#}might be some extensive reading, a paper, or even just a game, as well as other ordinary exercise. And it should leave enough{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (free) to the students so that they could do things they really like to do with self-motivation, rather than unwillingness. We should always remember that homework is something for us to guide the students, rather than drive them. Only if a teacher {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(keep) this {#blank#}10{#/blank#}his/her mind, the homework could be of most help to the students.

    Valentine's Day is known as a day of love and romance on February 14th every year.

    There are a few different versions of its origin and history, one of which dates back {#blank#}1{#/blank#} an ancient Roman festival, Lupercalia, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (celebrate) on February 15th. On this day, young single women would place {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (they) names in a huge container and young bachelors of the town would come and draw a name from it. The young man and the woman, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} name was picked would become partners for the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (follow) years. Many of these couples would eventually get {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(marry). It {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (believe) that the month of February is perfect for romance.

    Valentine's Day was originally celebrated in Europe, but in recent years it is also celebrated in China, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (especial) among young people. Interestingly, China has its own Valentine's Day, Qixi Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th month of our lunar calendar. It is in memory of a day on which the legendary cow-herder and weaving-maid {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (allow) to be together, after being separated by the Milky Way for a whole year. What {#blank#}10{#/blank#} interesting story!

    In the past a gentleman would offer his seat {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a lady on a crowded bus.  But now, he will probably look out of the window or hide behind his newspaper, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(leave) the lady standing {#blank#}3{#/blank#} someone else gets off.  You can't entirely blame men for this change in manners. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(go) are the days when women could be referred to the weak. A whole generation has grown up demanding {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(equal) with men in jobs, in education and in social life.  Hold a door for some women {#blank#}6{#/blank#} you are likely to get {#blank#}7{#/blank#} angry lecture on treating women {#blank#}8{#/blank#} weaklings.  Take a girl out for a meal and she'll probably insist on paying {#blank#}9{#/blank#} share of the bill.  All these, according to some sociologists, will change men's attitude towards women and the conventional active politeness is perhaps slowly being {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(replace) by true consideration for the needs and feeling of women, so that men can see women as equal human beings.