In 1910，Abraham Bank，my great－grandfather，didn't want to join the army.At the time，he was only twenty－one years old.So he {#blank#}1{#/blank#}  (decide) to leave his hometown during the night.

    Abraham traveled through Finland to Sweden，{#blank#}2{#/blank#} he worked for a while as a porter.He earned his ticket to London where he continued to work.His goal was to earn enough money to follow {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the footsteps of his brother，who had already moved to America.

    Two years after {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (leave) his home in Latvia，Abraham was finally able to buy a ticket on a ship from England to America.But Abraham ran into {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  (difficult)，one of which was he had no money left {#blank#}6{#/blank#}  he bought the ticket.So Abraham decided not to use the ticket.He remained in London for a few {#blank#}7{#/blank#}  (month) and then he moved to South Africa.It {#blank#}8{#/blank#}  (be) not until 1987 that his grandson (my father) and his family made the move to America.

    I have good cause to be {#blank#}9{#/blank#}  (thank) to my great－grandfather for deciding not to use that ticket.In fact，it might well have been the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}  (good) decision he had ever made.The name of the ship that sank into the Atlantic that day was the Titanic.

    In much of Asia, especially the so-called “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

    Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hardwoods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create) special designs.

    The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs（树枝）to remove it. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(gradual) turned into chopsticks.

    Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

    Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

The Internet {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(become) part of young people's life already. A report shows that 38% of students often use the Internet . Most of them get {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (use) information on the Internet {#blank#}3{#/blank#}use the Internet to help their studies. But many students don't use it {#blank#}4{#/blank#}a good way. Some play games too much, some visit websites that{#blank#}5{#/blank#}shouldn't look at. So bad things may happen{#blank#}6{#/blank#}students spend too much time on the Internet.

    {#blank#}7{#/blank#} is important for students to use the Internet properly. Now we have a textbook,{#blank#}8{#/blank#}uses many examples to teach students some good ways to use the Internet. It gives useful {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (advise).

    Some students also make friends on the Internet.  But  if you want to have  a face-to-face {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (meet) with your online friends, let your parents know and meet in a proper place.

    Last October, while tending her garden in Mora, Sweden, Lena Pahlsson pulled out a handful of small{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(carrot) and was about to throw them away. But something made her look closer, and she noticed a{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(shine) object. Yes, there beneath the leafy top of one tiny carrot was her long-lost wedding ring.

    Pahlsson screamed{#blank#}3{#/blank#}loudly that her daughter came running from the house. "She thought I had hurt{#blank#}4{#/blank#}I)," says Pahlsson.

    Sixteen years{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(early), Pahlsson had removed the diamond ring{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(cook) a meal. When she wanted to put the ring back on later, it was gone. She suspected that one of her three daughters — then ten, eight, and six — had picked it up, but the girls said they hadn't. Pahlsson and her husband{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(search) the kitchen, checking every corner, but turned up nothing. "I gave up hope of finding my ring again," she says. She never replaced it.

    Pahlsson and her husband now think the ring probably got{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(sweep) into a pile of kitchen rubbish and was spread over the garden{#blank#}9{#/blank#}it remained until the carrot's leafy top accidentally sprouted (生长) through it. For Pahlsson, its return was{#blank#}10{#/blank#}wonder.

    You may be in the United States only a short time before you are invited to dinner in an American home. Your hosts may telephone you or ask you {#blank#}1{#/blank#} person, or they may send you a written {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (invite) in the mail. If you get one, you should telephone your hosts to accept.

    A dinner in an American home is most likely to be a meal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (serve) to guests sitting at a table. If the guests {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(seat) at the table, the hosts may serve the food, or it may be passed so {#blank#}5{#/blank#} each person may help himself.

    There are some other customs you should know. You should arrive on time. When you get there, your hosts may offer you something to drink, and some light food before dinner. The meal is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(usual ) served about half {#blank#}7{#/blank#} hour after all the guests arrive.

    Most Americans do not have maids {#blank#}8{#/blank#} other help in the house. Often the husband and wife and their children share the responsibilities of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(prepare) the meal and cleaning up afterward. After dinner, the guests often stay with the host for another two or three hours. Then all of them enjoy {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(them).

    Jack was in his last year of junior school. He was only 4 feet and 11 inches, overweight. He had little hair and few {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (friend). His grade was not {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (good) than his look. His life was going nowhere. He was having a really hard time because his parents recently got divorced (离婚). But he wanted to change {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (he) so that he could have a fresh start in the high school.

    Jack went to Mrs. Collins, his favorite teacher, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} told him that he had to make small changes first and start with the easier things. Jack went to the hospital {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (solve) his hair problems. He started talking to people more to make friends. He realized that he just had to express himself. He started to study more instead of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (think) about his parents, He {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(begin) to eat healthily to lose weight.

    When Jack entered the high school on the very first day, he was a {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (total) different person. He was now in good shape, smart {#blank#}9{#/blank#} popular. He also had a nice hairstyle. Everyone wanted to make friends {#blank#}10{#/blank#} him. More importantly, Jack finally became happy and confident through his own efforts.