According to a recent study, plants are able to make intelligent decisions. They are a lot{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(smart) than we thought. Scientists have discovered that the pea plant can make decisions on how{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (survive) best, even though it does not have a brain. Researchers grew several pea plants that had their roots {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (separate) between two pots. Each pot contained different amount of nutrients. One pot always had the same amount{#blank#}4{#/blank#}the other pot varied between a lot and a little. The plants turned out to be{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (amaze) consistent（一致的）at turning their roots to the pot with the most nutrients.

    Researcher Alex Kacelnik says the experiment raises a question, not about plants{#blank#}6{#/blank#} about animals and humans. He wonders whether the pea plant is more efficient in using its limited resources about {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(make) decisions than humans. He says, “We have a very wonderful brain, but maybe most of the time we're not using {#blank#}8{#/blank#}” Professor Kacelnik does not think that pea plants are intelligent in the human sense, but that they exhibit complex{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (behave) to efficiently take advantage of natural opportunities. It will be interesting to see how our lives would be different if we{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (adopt) similar strategies.

    What {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) English for? Some people seem to think it's for practicing grammar rules and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(learn) lists of words—the {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(long) the lists, the better. That's wrong. Many students know hundreds of grammar rules, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they can't speak correctly or {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(fluent). They are afraid of making mistakes. English is the working language. It is widely {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(speak) and used in the world. Businessmen and tourists often come to China without being able to speak Chinese. Chinese businessmen, taxi drivers and students talk with them using English. English is also the language of global culture. You can listen to English songs {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the radio {#blank#}8{#/blank#} use English to communicate with people around the world through the Item. With so many people {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(communicate) in English every day, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} will become more and more important to have a good knowledge of English.

    I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes fixed upon me. I had no choice but {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(prepare) for it, though. First of all, I was to write the speech,{#blank#}3{#/blank#}was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory— for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began when I stood in the classroom with my legs {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(tremble) and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found myself back, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (deliver) my speech with difficulty. After{#blank#}7{#/blank#}seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience satisfied — I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way{#blank#}9{#/blank#} success is our fear. Overcome it and we {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(achieve)our goals.

    Have you found that much of your online communication has been replaced by emojis(表情符号) ? Has "Happy Birthday" become a cake with {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(light) candles? Since they were invented in the 1990s in Japan, emojis, meaning "picture characters", {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(occupy) the world. According to a UK-based mobile technology company, 6 million emojis used in text messages are sent around the world every day through smartphones.

    That's why for the first time Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year is emoji-- a face {#blank#}3{#/blank#}tears of joy. Emijis are regarded as a new kind of {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(express). Behind the popularity of emojis {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) the rise of young people {#blank#}6{#/blank#} welcome new technology and inventions. So the reason why young people as well as others love to emoji is that they show meanings {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (beautiful). When young people are asked what makes the generation unique, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} put "technology use" first.

    Now emojis are in much {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(wide) use than written words. As{#blank#}10{#/blank#} result, people began to doubt whether it has made up a too large part in our online communication.

    A black hole is a spot in space that has{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(power) gravity. Its gravity is so strong that it pulls everything nearby into it, stars, planets and other things. Black holes form when a star dies. When that happens, a huge amount of matter crowds into a very small space,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}becomes very dense. Black holes{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(talk) about in 1783 first. That year, one scientist said that in the universe, there might be places with strong gravity to trap light, although he didn't use the term "black hole".