I had always found {#blank#}1{#/blank#} interesting to talk to foreigners and learn about the cultural differences between countries. Last Saturday, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (meet) a man from France who explained to me {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the French greeted each other. Now I know the French usually shake hands when they meet {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they know each other well, they kiss each other on the cheek. When {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(say) goodbye, they shake hands again. So it is not {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(usual) for a Frenchman who you greeted several minutes ago {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(come) and shake hands with you again.

    Every culture in the world has its own taboos. It is necessary that we {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) aware of them because breaking a taboo may be an {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (annoy) experience. For example, in Japan, “4” and “9” are considered to be numbers that are unlucky. We should know this in order not to cause {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (offend).

    What is reading?

    Reading is actually a very complex process that requires a great deal of active{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(participate) on the part of the reader. It is an active thinking process involving the interaction between the reader and the print. That is to say, the reader's schema (former or previous knowledge) about the topic to{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(read) and his language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar) directly affect his understanding of the reading material and{#blank#}3{#/blank#}turn, the new information about the topic{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(contain) in the reading material will enlarge the reader's former schema.

    Reading is a very important{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(mean) of gaining knowledge about culture, custom, science education and technology from others or other countries. It is a good way of learning the most advanced hi-technology{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(serve) the needs of the social development and the interests of our people through reading. Reading is{#blank#}7{#/blank#}inseparable component of the English learning. We should lay solid foundations for our advanced education, and we can master the language by reading{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(large). However, it is a very complex activity{#blank#}9{#/blank#}involves almost all psychological processes{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(include) sensation, perception, motor behavior, motivation, attention, emotion, cognition and all kinds of memory.

    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).