Welcome back to the hot topic of studying abroad！ Last time, we talked about the general "soft- ware" needed to havea{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(success)  studying experience overseas, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}refers to the ability to understand western culture,  and problem solving skills when {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(face)  critical situations, etc.

      Now,1 will dig deeper into the concept of software".Everyone is talking about culture shock nowa-days, but you may wonder what itactually {#blank#}4{#/blank#}_(mean). Simplyput:  culture shock is the diffi-cultypeople may experience when being exposed and adjusting to a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (remarkable) different new culture. Usually, people often go._{#blank#}6{#/blank#} four distinct phases: the honeymoon phase, thene-gotiation phase, the adjustment phase and the mastery phase. Culture shock can happen immediately upon your {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(arrive) in the country.

For international students, perhaps the most direct impact of culture shock is the variety of accents, especially in multicultural countries {#blank#}8{#/blank#}the U.S. Canada or Australia.There are two main reasons: Firstly, these countries have highly diversifiedgroups of residents from different cultural{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(background). Secondly,  there are many international students fromall around the world every year studying in these countries, so you shouldn'tbe surprised {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(find) allkinds of unfamiliar accents around the university campus.

    I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(fix) upon me. I had no {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, which 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 {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Otherwise, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(run) away from them. Gradually I found myself back, delivering my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding— I made {#blank#}7{#/blank#}! 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 {#blank#}10{#/blank#} we will be able to achieve our goals.

    One morning, I was waiting at the bus stop, worried about {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) late for school. There were many people waiting at the bus stop, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} some of them looked very anxious and {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(disappoint). When the bus finally came, we all hurried on board. I got a place next {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the window, so I had a good view of the sidewalk. A boy on a bike {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (catch) my attention. He was riding beside the bus and waving his arms. I heard a passenger behind me shouting to the driver, but he refused {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(stop) until we reached the next stop. Still, the boy kept {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (ride). He was carrying something over his shoulder and shouting. Finally, when we came to the next stop, the boy ran up the door of the bus. I heard an excited conversation. Then the driver stood up and asked, “{#blank#}8{#/blank#} anyone lose a suitcase at the last stop?” A woman on the bus shouted, “Oh, dear! It's {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(I)”. She pushed her way to the driver and took the suitcase thankfully. Five others on the bus began talking about what the boy had done and the crowd of strangers {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(sudden) became friendly to one another.

    Are people happier in nature with blue skies overhead and fresh green grass underfoot? Could noisy streets, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (crowd) with cars and people, make us unhappy? The World Health Organization estimates that 54 percent of the world's population lived in urban areas in 2014. The WHO adds that that amount {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (increase) to 66 percent by 2050.

    People often move to cities for{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (good) jobs and more cultural activities. But are they putting {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(they) at risk?

    Experts say that natural environments or green spaces do a lot of good for our mental health.

    Many studies have shown that nature can calm us and make us feel happy. Nature, experts say, can also help us learn better. And {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (experience) nature helps people recover from the mental tiredness that {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(come) from day-to-day work.

Mental health experts say some research suggests that city living might hurt our mental health, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} they cannot say exactly why. “What are the specific{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (aspect) of the urban environment {#blank#}9{#/blank#}causes some people to develop mental health issues?” asked AndraMechelli, a doctor at Kings College, London.

    Researchers have found that being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky, and being {#blank#}10{#/blank#}touch with nature are associated with higher levels of mental well-being.

    Red is used in many American expressions. It can be used to show {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (happy), as in “a red letter day. This is a day when something special happens. The expression is probably based on church customs. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} almost six hundred years, church calendars have been marked with red to indicate special holy {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (day).

The expression “a red-letter day” is often heard in daily life. A red-letter day is {#blank#}4{#/blank#} day that people are feeling quite happy. You might tell your friends that yesterday was a red-letter day because you {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (win) some money in the state lottery (彩票).

    “Rolling a red carpet” is another {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (common) heard expression, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} represents a warm welcome. A city may “roll a red carpet” for {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (it) baseball team when the team arrives home after winning the championship.

    Red is also used in some expressions that {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) not happy. “Red-handed” is an example. To be caught “red-handed” is to be found in an act of wrong doing. For example, a mother might say she caught her son red-handed, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (take) cookies out of the cookie jar.

Have you ever tasted or perhaps heard of sugar painting? As fewer people choose to make sugar paintings, the traditional Chinese folk craft might have become a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (distance) memory in some ways. However, a 38-year-old craftsman, Li Jiangzhong, is devoted to {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (keep) the art of sugar painting alive.

Li worked as a miner for more than ten years. After the mine closed down, Li turned {#blank#}3{#/blank#} housing decoration until he {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (force) to give that up due to a finger injury. Earlier this year, he discovered sugar painting, something he really had {#blank#}5{#/blank#} interest in.

Since there was no sugar painting craftsman in his village, he studied by {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (he) through large quantities of videos and information on the Internet. Li loved painting when he was young, and he found it easy to learn the skill in sugar painting. He soon mastered the skill and could make {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (vary) of sugar paintings. A sugar painting is made with {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (melt) brown or white sugar. Craftsman {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(basic) paint animals and flowers on a stone board with the syrup (糖浆). When the sugar cools down, {#blank#}10{#/blank#}appears is a piece of sugar art.