I was nine years old when I learnt to ride a bike. The bike was a birthday present from my uncle. You can imagine how{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (excite) I was when I saw the bike, and I begged my uncle to teach me how {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (ride) it right away. However, before I got on the bike, I felt {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (extreme)  nervous and l  was  afraid  that l  would  fall  off and hurt {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (me).My uncle held onto the seat and helped me to get {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the bike. While l was riding, he was running along beside me, holding the seat so I would not fall over. I was so{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (grate) to him for his help.

    As I was practicing, I became more and more confident. Then, I heard my uncle shouting, "You are riding it by yourself now!" I was both excited and scared. I was really riding by myself, but{#blank#}7{#/blank#} if I fell off? Could I use the brakes to stop? As I was wondering about this, my uncle ran after me and got hold of the bike. I{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (slow) down and came to a stop. My heart was still beating fast when I got off the bike. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (late) that day, having learnt how to get on the bike and get off it, I felt like l was walking on air! I am still thankful to my uncle for teaching me to ride a bike on my {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (nine) birthday.

    She is widely seen as example that good looks can last forever. At nearly 500 years of age, time is catching up with the Mona Lisa. The health of the famous picture, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (paint) by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1505, is getting {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (bad) by the year, according to the Louvre Museum where it is housed.

    Nearly 6 million people go to see the Mona Lisa every year, many attracted by the mystery of her smile. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, the actual history of the Mona Lisa is just as secret as the smile. Da Vinci {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (him) loved it so much that he always carried it with him, until it was {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (final) sold to France's King Francis I in 1519.

    In 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre by a former employee, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} took it out of the museum placed under his coat. He said he planned to return it to Italy. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} painting was sent back to France two years later.

    During World War II, French {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (hide) the painting in small towns to keep it out of the hands of German forces.

    Like many old {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (lady), the Mona Lisa has some interesting stories {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (tell).

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 flesh air. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(feel)good, I emptied my purse change into the hands of a homeless man and{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(help)a struggling woman reverse park.

    Just as I approached my car, I saw the woman I'd let have my car spot earlier. She was giving me {#blank#}4{#/blank#}odd look——half intent(热切的), half puzzled. I smiled and wished her a pleasant day. As I squeezed back into my car, I saw the same lady{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(look)in at me. "Hello, "she said, hesitantly. "This {#blank#}6{#/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#}7{#/blank#}her. You helped those people, I noticed, and you seemed so happy. "She looked at me{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(meaning)and passed a box in through the window. "I think she would like you to have it. "{#blank#}9{#/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 the {#blank#}10{#/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.

    In order to realize his dream, Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, gave up {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(study) in Harvard University, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is the most famous in the world. He set {#blank#}3{#/blank#} a company and researched the computer software. As an old {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(say) goes, “Interest is the best teacher.” I quite agree with this idea. I began to be crazy {#blank#}5{#/blank#} English when I was a little girl. I got particularly interested in foreign {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(culture) and customs. To meet my curiosity, I read English stories every day. It seemed to be the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(good) “meal” of the day. As {#blank#}8{#/blank#} result, I always did very {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in my English exams. Interest is the key to {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(succeed).

    Your teeth may be part of your smile, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} they have a more important job­they are the first step in the process of digestion. You have three {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(kind) of teeth. In the very front of your mouth are eight flat, thin teeth called incisors. They are used for cutting and biting food. Next to these are pointed teeth called canines, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} also help you tear food. The remaining teeth are molars. These teeth have flat tops for crushing and grinding the food.