Woman: Our design class is really interesting. Don't you think so?

Man: Yeah, I like Professor Vargas, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} sometimes he goes too fast, and I feel like I'm missing something. There's a lot we have {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (remember).

Woman: True. There are a lot of details about all the different styles.

Man: Yeah, there are Art Nouveau, and Art Deco, and Art Moderne... I have a hard time {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (keep) it all straight.

Woman: I know what you mean.

Man: For example, it seems to me {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Art Deco and Art Moderne are the same things.

Woman: Well, it's somewhat confusing. They were both popular in {#blank#}5{#/blank#}1930s although Art Deco came a little before Moderne. I think Professor Vargas {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (say) Art Deco started at an exhibition in Paris in 1925. Let me check out my notes. Right, Art Deco was a popular international art design movement from 1923 until the 1940s, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (affect) the decorative arts such as architecture and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (industry) design, as well as the visual arts such as fashion, painting, the graphic arts and film.

Man: So, they were about the same time. It's one thing that gets confusing. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} thing is, they seem so similar that it's hard to see why they're {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (consider) different styles.

    While many countries love their tea, UK citizens are particularly proud of being “tea people”. The average UK citizen consumes nearly 2 kilograms of (dry) tea each year.

    Tea only made its way to England in large {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(quantity) in the first years of the 17th century. Tea from China and a few other Asian countries{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(sell) more widely in England at that time. Then tea was getting more and more popular among different social classes.

    There are many varieties of tea. They all come from the plant Camellia sinensis (茶树), and are{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(simple) processed in different ways. Black tea mixtures are still{#blank#}4{#/blank#}most common type drunk in the UK. The reason why black tea is dark in colour is {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the leaves have been allowed to oxidize (氧化) before drying. People usually serve {#blank#}6{#/blank#}with milk or lemon.

    You may still find tea made with loose tea leaves, served up in a pot, and {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(pour) into the best china cups with saucers for visitors, but behind closed doors it is likely to be served in a tall cup, and made with a tea bag.

    Tea is still a large part of daily life in the UK today, but it seems to be {#blank#}8{#/blank#}the decrease. Tea sales {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(fall) by 6% in 2014 alone.

    Still, what goes around comes around; it's sure{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(become) fashionable again.

    When I was a ten-year-old girl, I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “ A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class ! Just imagine how{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(terrible) shy I was the moment I thought of that with so many eyes fixed upon me. I had only one{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (choose) , though. First I was to draft the speech and that was just a piece of cake for me, because I was a good writer – something to pride myself on. But the hard part {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(lie) in my oral presentation; to read from {#blank#}4{#/blank#} paper was not allowed ; I had to give the speech{#blank#}5{#/blank#}my memory and in front of such a big audience !

    A real trial began when I stood on the platform with my legs{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(tremble) and my mind blank. How much time had passed by , I didn't know . My listeners were still waiting patiently and without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found{#blank#}7{#/blank#} back, giving out my speech with difficulty. Finally I finished. After it seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding. I made{#blank#}8{#/blank#} From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared . Actually with my confidence building{#blank#}9{#/blank#} I now turn out to be a great speaker . Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way to success is our fear. Overcome it,{#blank#}10{#/blank#}we will be able to achieve our goals .

What does "barking (犬吠) up the wrong tree" mean? In this article, let's learn the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (express).

The phrase "barking up the wrong tree" means {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (follow) a mistaken plan of action. The phrase comes from the old hunting (捕措) practice in which dogs would bark to show they have made other animals up trees unable {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (run) away. Sometimes the dogs were mistaken, and the animals had {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (actual) run away. When this happened, the dogs were barking up the wrong tree.

This phrase first began appearing in {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (write) works after the 1820s, and was later widely used by western writers. It was used to describe anyone {#blank#}6{#/blank#} was following a wrong lead. Below is an example of how to use the phrase. Recently {#blank#}7{#/blank#} friend of mine needed a large amount of money {#blank#}8{#/blank#} his new business idea. So he went to an event to meet possible investors (投资者). However, the people he met {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) those also looking for money. Then we can say that he was barking up the wrong tree!

When using the phrase, avoid {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (mistake) in spelling. For example, don't write it as "barking up in the wrong tree".