After four years of living here, I have a better {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(understand) of northern China's food.  

    Northern China's hearty food is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(general) more acceptable to Westerners. They can enjoy Beijing roast duck, beef and dairy from Inner Mongolia, and Korean dishes in the northeast. Northern China experiences cold and dry winters, and hot summers, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(make) calories and salt replacement more important. As a result, northern dishes have strong flavors, compared with the south {#blank#}4{#/blank#} dishes are lighter in flavor.  

    Wheat is the main crop of northern China, and you will find a variety of wheat-flour {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(product). Rice is also eaten in the north, but it is certainly secondary to wheat. Dumplings are very popular in the north, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(serve) with vinegar for dipping.  

    Northerners tend to eat more meat and dairy for the purpose {#blank#}7{#/blank#} fighting against the cold weather. Most meat dishes {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(base) on mutton, pork, beef,  chicken,  and fish.  

    {#blank#}9{#/blank#} are less fresh vegetables available because of the cold weather. Fruit is traditionally limited to a few hard seasonal varieties like apples, so it doesn't feature much in the cuisine, although the northwest is famous for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(it) dried fruit and wine.  

    All our teachers try to make classes lively and {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(interest), so that we won't get {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(bore). The class of my English teacher is organized well although some students often say they hate this subject. I know I can't avoid {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(lose) my confidence unless I work hard. I also know I must make sure of enough time and energy {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(learn) English. I once {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(admit) to my parents that I had trouble with my English learning and they encouraged me greatly. The teacher is always strict {#blank#}6{#/blank#} me. With my teacher {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(help) me, I have made great progress in English. Last week, I didn't get nervous in the English examination or answer incorrectly, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} meant that I succeeded. My teacher thinks I am shy {#blank#}9{#/blank#} much more intelligent than other students! In my opinion, my English teacher is patient, energetic and serious in his English literature class, and he leaves me such a deep and good {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(impress). I will show respect for him forever.

    English is a language {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(bring) to Britain in the 5th century by Anglo­Saxon settlers from various parts of Northwest Germany. It is convenient to divide English into three periods roughly─Old English, Middle English, and Modern English.

    The {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(early) form of English is called Old English or Anglo­Saxon. Old English developed from a set of North Sea Germanic dialects {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(origin) spoken along the coasts of Frisia, Lower Saxony, Jutland, and Southern Sweden by Germanic tribes known {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. Later, Old English was strongly influenced by the North Germanic language Norse, spoken by the Vikings who settled mainly in the northwest. The most famous work from the Old English period is the epic poem Beowulf, written by {#blank#}5{#/blank#} unknown poet. Old English is very different from Modern English and difficult for the 21st­century English speakers to understand.

    For the 300 years following the Norman Conquest in 1066, the Norman kings and the nobility spoke only a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(vary) of French called Anglo­Norman. English continued to be the language of the common people. The Norman influence {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(strong) the continual evolution of the language over the following centuries, resulting in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} is now referred to as Middle English. And one of the best­known works from the Middle English period is Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales.

    From the late 15th century, the language changed into Early Modern English, often dated from the Great Vowel Shift. English is continuously absorbing foreign words, especially Latin and Greek, causing English to have the largest vocabulary of any language in the world. By the late 18th century, the British Empire had sped the spread of English through its colonies and geopolitical dominance. Commerce, science and technology, diplomacy, art and formal education all contributed to English {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (become) the first truly global language. As there are many words from different languages, the risk of mispronunciation is high. In 1755, Samuel Johnson published his A Dictionary of the English Language, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} introduced a standard set of spelling conventions and usage norms.

    The best way to get around a city may be driving a car. Indeed, it could be of little {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (convenient) for you to travel from one point to another if you don't own a car. While you can always use public transport, it can be quite unreliable sometimes. But don't worry. There are car rental companies that can help you with your traveling needs at anytime. If you are planning on a vacation during a major holiday like Christmas, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (consider) hiring a car for you and your family's use. The obvious {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (benefit) of doing so are as follows: Some rental companies even include a driver with every car rented. Imagine yourself with a driver taking you to your destination{#blank#}4{#/blank#}waiting to drive you back home. In this way, even parking{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(become) the least of your concerns.

    Even if you have to drive the car by yourself, you can benefit from hiring a car because you can take the shortest route{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(enjoyable) to your destination. If you have planned your holiday in{#blank#}7{#/blank#}hurry, you might  {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(miss) checking on your car's condition. If this is the case, it is wise to rent a car because it will not break down{#blank#}9{#/blank#} your way at all.

    Traveling in your own car is a lot {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(comfortable), to be frank, than riding the train or bus. You can stop at anytime if you need to grab something.