In my living room, there is aplaque that advises me to “bloom {#blank#}1{#/blank#}youare planted”. It reminds me of Dorothy. I got to know Dorothy in the early1980s, when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program. Thejob {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(responsible) requiredoccasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program. Dorothystands out in my memory as on one {#blank#}3{#/blank#}bloomed in her remote area.

       Dorothy taught in a remote school nearHarlan. To get to her school from the town of Harlan, I followed a road {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(wind) around the mountain. In theeight-mile journey, I crossed the same railroad track five times, giving thepossibility of {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(catch) by thesame train five times. Rather than feeling excited by this drive throughmountains, I found it depressing. The poverty level was shocking and the smallshabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(hope).

        From the moment of my arrival at thelittle school, all my gloom disappeared. Upon arriving at Dorothy's classroom,I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen. The children{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(prepare) to show me their {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(late) projects. Dorothy told me witha smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread they madethemselves for dinner.

        Lonely {#blank#}9{#/blank#}she was far away from the moderncivilization and convenience, she never ran out of reports of excitingactivities of her students. Her enthusiasm never cooleddown. She passed all the tests {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(excellent)and I found that Dorothy was really blooming where life had planted her.

    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 .

    Swedish businessman Nile Bergqvist is delighted with his new hotel, the world's first igloo(冰屋) hotel.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(build) in a small town, it has been attracting lots of visitors but soon the fun will be over. In two weeks' time, Bergqvst's ice creation{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) nothing more than a pool of water. "We don't see it as a big problem," he says. "We just look forward to{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(replace) it."

    Bergqvist built his first igloo in 1991 for an art exhibition. It was {#blank#}4{#/blank#}successful that he designed the present one, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}measures roughly 200 square meters. Six workmen spent more than eight weeks —piling 1,000 tons of snow onto a wooden base; when the snow froze, the base{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(remove).

    After their stay, all visitors receive a survival certificate recording their success. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}no windows, nowhere to hang clothes and temperatures below 0℃, it may seem more like a survival test {#blank#}8{#/blank#}a relaxing hotel break. "It's great fun," Bergqvist explains, "as{#blank#}9{#/blank#} as a good start in survival training."

    The{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(popular)of the igloo is beyond doubt: it is now attracting tourists from all over the world. At least 800 people have stayed at the igloo this season even though there are only 10 rooms.

    Today, it is not rare that people may lose their jobs, so it is perhaps the time to consider the experience of unemployment. What are the first feelings? Well, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (lose)a job, or not being able to find one, almost always causes sadness.

    If you've lost a job, the first feeling is often that of{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(disappoint)  The days seem{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be)getting longer and the time becomes {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(hard)to fill in. Some people may {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(have)difficulty in sleeping and eating. They feel depressed, often isolated and lonely. Others may lose confidence in themselves. They are no longer certain about {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(they)own feelings. Despite all these problems, unemployment may bring good feelings, too. It's nice to be able to lie in bed in the morning, spend more time{#blank#}7{#/blank#}your family and relatives, and have more time to think. It can be a chance for a fresh start. You can use the time to consider{#blank#}8{#/blank#} you really want to get from life and how you can get it. Also you can use the time to plan how to find {#blank#}9{#/blank#} new job, learn a new skill, or see if you can run your own business and become a success. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(possible), a new and better job is already waiting for you.