Several times each year the Queen gives afternoon tea parties. But she simply sits beside a big silver plate, pouring cups of tea for everyone and {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (skill) avoiding the cakes and sandwiches.

    At cocktail parities the Queen moves from group to group, chatting informally, and manages to make one glass of drink last {#blank#}2{#/blank#} entire evening.

    Tours abroad are difficult because hosts seem to have a {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (believe) that the warmth of their welcome must be shown with wonderful state banquets (宴会). But the Queen has perfected the art of appearing to enjoy her meal without actually {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (eat) much.

    During one visit to the Pacific islands of Tonga, a specially– {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (prepare) dinner was arranged in her honor. The Queen looked uneasily at her plate when she discovered a whole roast pig was her serving.

    Then a turkey, some meat, an apple and bananas {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (carry) in for each guest. But she depended on her old favorite trick of talking with her host, King Tupou IV, and carrying {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a warm conversation.

    Sometimes the Queen will seem so carried away by foreign leader's political chat {#blank#}8{#/blank#} she simply never has time {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (finish) a meal before it is time to get up and make her speech. She will lift her fork to swallow a mouthful, and then put {#blank#}10{#/blank#} down again to make another point, leaving almost all of her meal untouched.

    The giant panda loves bamboo. An adult panda requires 12.5 kilograms of bamboo, which it{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(hungry) pulls out with its powerful paws, to satisfy its daily needs. Wild pandas live only in the high bamboo forests of Central China. These mountain forests are cool and wet--just as pandas like it. In the summer, they may climb as high as 4000 meters to help themselves to bamboo {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（grow) at higher altitudes. Frequently, pandas{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(see) eating in a relaxed sitting position, with their back legs stretched out before them.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} they may appear inactive, they are in fact skilled tree-climbers and efficient swimmers.

    Giant pandas are unsociable. They have a highly developed sense of smell that males use{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(avoid) each other and to find females for mating in the spring. After a five-month pregnancy, a female gives birth {#blank#}6{#/blank#} a cub. The blind baby pandas weigh only 142 grams and cannot crawl(爬行){#blank#}7{#/blank#} they reach three months of age{#blank#}8{#/blank#} are born white, and develop their much loved coloring later.

    There are only about 1000 giant pandas left in {#blank#}9{#/blank#} wild, with perhaps another 100 in zoos. Because they are so rare, much of{#blank#}10{#/blank#} we know about pandas comes from studying these zoo animals.

                         Gift from a stranger

    My local supermarket is always busy. The first parking space I found was convenient, but I'd noticed a woman in a blue car circling for a while.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} I was in a good mood, I let her have it. On the edge of the car park I backed into the next available spot—it was a tight fit.

    Pretty soon I'd made my way through the supermarket and was back in the fresh air. Feeling good, I{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(empty) my purse change into the hands of a homeless man and helped a struggling woman reverse park（倒车）.

    Just as I approached my car, 1 saw the woman I'd let have my car space earlier. She was giving me {#blank#}3{#/blank#} odd look—half puzzled, half intent (热切的). I smiled and wished her a pleasant day. As I squeezed back into my car, I spotted the same lady {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (look) in at me. "Hello," she said, hesitantly. "This {#blank#}5{#/blank#}_ sound crazy but I was on my way to drop some of my mother's things off at the charity bins.” You are just so much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} her.” You helped those people, I noticed, and you seemed so happy.” She looked at me meaningfully and passed a box in through the window. “I think she would like you to have it.”{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (shock), I took it from her automatically. She smiled and walked away.

    After a pause, I opened the box. Inside was a beautiful gold necklace with a large grey pearl. It was {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (nice) gift I'd ever received, and it was from a complete stranger. The necklace was around my neck, a warm reminder of human kindness.

    When I was in the middle school, I founded a student club{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (name) "green planet" inspired by Chai Jing's documentary Under the Dome. At first people knew this club. As a result, we had only 15 members. And I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (laugh) at for being crazy. However, I didn't lose heart and I insisted. Every day, we club y members broadcast weather reports and PM 2.5 levels. We then published articles and pictures of the serious {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (pollute) of the city on the school website. Meanwhile, my club also shares suggestions {#blank#}4{#/blank#} how to live a low carbon life on the school board, for example: take public transportation or car pool to school; do {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (little) shopping and so on.

    {#blank#}6{#/blank#} time went by, more are what students showed great interest in our club. And luckily, I persuaded my headmaster to join us. After what seemed ages of waiting, the club was finally accepted by the majority of students in my school. An increasing number of students supported {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (ours).

    Since then, we're worked together {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (promote) our club. And up to now, 85% of the students {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (join) us and enjoyed the simple but eco-friendly life.

Such is Joy, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} responsible and persistent girl.

    There are several reasons why school uniforms are good idea. First of all, uniforms help the school look smart. The students feel that they belong to a particular group. When every pupil in the school wears the uniform, nobody {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (have) to worry about fashion(时尚). Everybody wears{#blank#}2{#/blank#} same style of clothes. Uniforms can be useful in unexpected ways, A school in Ireland has introduced an interesting new uniform. On the edge of the jacket, there is a piece of cloth {#blank#}3{#/blank#}gives off light in the dark. When the children are walking or {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (cycle) to school on dark mornings, car drivers can {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (easy) see them.

    But can uniforms help improve school standards? The answer {#blank#}6{#/blank#} this question is not clear. One study in America found that students' grades {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (improve) a little after the school introduced uniforms. But some students didn't want {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (wear) the uniform. Other American studies showed no {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(connect) between uniforms and school performance.

    School uniforms are {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (tradition) in Britain, but some schools are starting to get rid of them. Some very good schools don't have a uniform policy. However, uniforms are still popular. Pupils at about 90 percent of British secondary schools wear uniforms.