I lost my last debate in the recent National High School Academic Debate & Speech Tournament held in Shanghai. But instead of focusing on my {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(fail), I stopped to reflect on my experiences in the past few years {#blank#}2{#/blank#}a debater.

    In general, preparing for new debate topics usually {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (include) brainstorming arguments, researching a resolution（解决）, and doing debate practice. So if you spot a debating group, you might see us sitting together after school, or even all day at weekends, discussing arguments and researching evidence. You might also notice us arguing {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(fierce) anywhere we can.

    Not only are they supportive, but my debate friends also have similar passions and interests to mine. As we discuss debate topics, my fellow debaters and I can talk about anything, from {#blank#}5{#/blank#}best way of rehabilitating（改造）criminals to the negative points of free immigration policies. However, our discussions are more than just a way {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (practice) our debating skills. In my mind, they're helping us to become calm and consider {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(win) and solving real problems as well.

    To me, the debating community is a great place{#blank#}8{#/blank#}people help each other not only because they're interested in a higher cause, but because they care about how people from different {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(background) can lead better lives. I'm grateful to each of my debate friends and every single minute we get to spend together. Indeed, my high school life would be incomplete without them. So even though I {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(defeat) in my last debate, I'm still thankful for being part of my wonderful debate family.

    Henry is carried out to sea by a strong wind but {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (spot) by a ship, on which he earns his passage by working without pay. As a result, he is brought to London. Feeling hungry, he {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (wander) alone on the streets, hoping for {#blank#}3{#/blank#} job.

    Then unexpectedly he is {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (invite) to a large and beautiful house by two rich brothers, Roderick and Oliver. They give a(n) envelope {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a bank note in it to him.

    They have made a{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(secretly) bet on whether a man can {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (survival) a month in the city with a million-pound bank note. Henry is the person they want.

    He feels surprised at first and doesn't want {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(accept) it, for he just wants an honest job from them, not {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(they) charity. The two brothers persuade him to take it at last, however. Though feeling very {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(surprise) about the matter, Henry promises them not to open the letter until one and a half hours later.

    Qiang Shuping was so busy making cloth shoes {#blank#}1{#/blank#} she didn't even rest during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. The woman from Baipu County, Jiangsu Province, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) shoes since she was 19 years old, and this year marks her 3lst year making cloth shoes.

    She spends the entire day in her tiny studio, which {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(measure) less than 10 square meters altogether, filled with cloth shoes in {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(variety) stages of completion.

    Nowadays, many stores make cloth shoes {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(use) machines, but Qiang sticks to the technique of making shoes entirely {#blank#}6{#/blank#} hand. She say the shoes {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(produce) by machine are not of the same quality as handmade ones. The handmade cloth shoes are more durable（耐用的）and comfortable, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (soft), and absorb sweat better.

    Some people buy cloth shoes out of nostalgia（怀旧）, while others trust {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(they) quality. Making shoes isn't a profitable job, but Qiang still insists as she wants to preserve the craft and pass it down to the younger generation.

    Handmade cloth shoes are also called qiancengdi (shoes with a thousand layers), {#blank#}10{#/blank#} can date back to the ancient Zhou Dynasty. In 2009, the making technique of qiancengdi was listed as the national intangible cultural heritage（非物质文化遗产）

    When I was 19, I got a job in my local bookstore. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(live) in the large city, I usually saw many strange customers, most of whom were {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(teenager). They didn't come often; I forgot all the customers {#blank#}3{#/blank#} two. One night a 15-year-old girl came in looking for a book with a boy. They seemed to find {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they wanted to buy. But when they came to the counter, the girl found she was a dollar or two short to buy the book, and she took out all her money to prove it. She looked so {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(disappoint). Just then I remembered my discount(折扣) card and {#blank#}6{#/blank#} was still active, so I told the girl not {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(worry). I put in my code, being happy that I could help people with this card. With the book in her hand she gave me {#blank#}8{#/blank#} thankful smile, and then she and the boy got out of the store {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(happy), leaving me feeling content, too. This experience {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(influence) me deeply every day since then. In fact, sometimes a little thing can also make one's world beautiful.

    A teahouse is a special house which primarily serves tea and other light refreshments(茶点). Its function varies widely{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(depend)on the culture. In China, a teahouse is a place {#blank#}2{#/blank#}people gather to enjoy tea, chat and socialize. It {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(consider) as a symbol of Chinese tea culture and people's leisure lives.

    Chinese teahouses enjoy a long-standing history. They developed from tea {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(stand) in the Western JIN Dynasty, took shape in the Tang Dynasty, developed {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(gradual) in the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and became booming in modern times.

    In the Song Dynasty, teahouses spread all over the cities and villages, at a rate comparable with that of restaurants. The owners preferred to decorate their teahouses {#blank#}6{#/blank#}paintings of celebrities or rare and precious plants {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(attract) customers. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the number of teahouses went beyond that of restaurants, gaining much {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (wide) popularity and becoming more famous. Later, the acculturation(文化植入)of western culture forced traditional Chinese teahouses to take on{#blank#}9{#/blank#} new look.

    Since reform and opening-up, with the rapid development of the economy and evident improvement of people's living standards, teahouses{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(flower) in China.