Every society has {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (it) special words, expressions and ways of saying things. One of the popular expressions in the United States is "Hitting the books". It {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (mean) studying a subject with great effort(努力).

    One of the great challenges for students {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) taking tests. Students spend long hours {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (prepare) for a test. They read all their books carefully, and then read them {#blank#}5{#/blank#} second time and a third time. They prepare for every possible question. They study every night. They are "hitting the books."

    In the United States, most children go to school {#blank#}6{#/blank#} they are five years old. Public education is free and most children go to schools near their homes. School in these early years is fun. Children learn {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (read) and write, but they also play games and go on trips. There is no reason at such an early age for them to hit the books.

    This situation changes as children become older. The subjects become {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (difficult). Students must learn {#blank#}9{#/blank#} world history, algebra(代数) and life sciences. Tests become more common.

    Pressure is growing to hit the books, study hard, and advance(升级). {#blank#}10{#/blank#}, most students only really begin hitting the books for long hours when they reach high school.

Knowledge is a prize that is not easy to gain.

    When Ruby, a seven-month-old elephant from Thailand, came {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the Phoenix Zoo in 1974, she was the only elephant at the zoo. Her roommates were some chickens and a goat.

    Ruby was very bored. She had no elephants around her. She was given food and everything she needed, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} she had nothing to do, When the workers at the zoo saw Ruby scratching(刮) the ground {#blank#}3{#/blank#}  A stick, they had an idea. They gave her a paint brush and some paint. With just a little bit of help from her trainer, Ruby became a {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(paint) of her own style. She produced many paintings. Her {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(expensive) painting was sold for $25, 000.

    Elephants have the brains to learn how {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (paint). But just like people, not all of {#blank#}7{#/blank#} have the interest or talent(天赋) to turn it into a "career". Ruby was one of the few who did.

    Ruby {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(die) in 1998, at the age of 25—very young for an elephant.

    There are very few elephant {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (art) left in North America. In Asia, there are programs trying to develop elephant artists. Money got from the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(sell) of their art goes towards protecting wild(野生的) elephants.

    In learning English, one should first connect the knowledge he or she has learned {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the knowledge he or she is learning. While learning English, we can find listening and speaking are really important. You'd better try your best {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(speak) while you do much listening. Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Be careful not to let them stop you from {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (increase) your speaking speed. When you are doing this, a good way is to write a diary or letters or take {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (note). When I was in the junior high school, my English teacher Mrs. Liu often {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (create) some contexts(语境)for us to speak English. Many mistakes in your speaking will be {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (easy) found when you write.

    {#blank#}7{#/blank#} you are slow in speaking, don't worry about it. One of the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (help) ways is reading, either aloud or to yourself. The important thing is to choose something interesting to read besides the articles from the textbooks. But you can find {#blank#}9{#/blank#} not difficult to read.  When you are reading in this way, don't stop to look {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the new words if you can guess their meanings when you have nothing to do with understanding the sentences. You can do that some other time.