As we all know, questioning can lead to {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(search) for an answer. If we are in the habit of raising doubts as to{#blank#}2{#/blank#}what we are told is true, we can find the correct answer and learn more.

    Two years ago, our teacher{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (offer) us an answer to a difficult math problem in class. Although the answer seemed a little strange, nobody {#blank#}4{#/blank#}me doubted it. Thinking that his answer might be wrong, I{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(careful) analyzed the problem and tried to work{#blank#}6{#/blank#} out in a different way. Half an hour{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (late), I managed to find the correct answer. When I showed my answer to him, the teacher praised me for my {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(depend) thinking.

    From this experience, I have learned that questioning can serve as {#blank#}9{#/blank#} bridge that helps us to seek the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(true).

    There are various festivals throughout the world, festivals to satisfy and please the {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(ancestor), to honor some famous people or important events, and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (express) people's thanks to the God {#blank#}3{#/blank#} bringing them harvest. For example, in Mexico people observe the Day of the Dead in early November, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with “bones” on them. In India, October 2 is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} national festival to honour Mohandas Gandhi who helped India become a(n) {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (depend) country. And in China, the Spring Festival, which {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (celebrate) in January or February, is the most {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (energy) and important because it is a festival that looks forward to the coming of spring. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} are there all these festivals? Because during the festivals, people can get together to eat, drink and have fun with each other, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (forget) all the daily struggle and demands for a while.

    How should you behave when you meet someone {#blank#}1{#/blank#}the first time? An American shakes your hand {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (firm) while looking you straight in the eye. In many parts of Asia, there is no physical contact at all. In Japan, you should bow, and the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (much) respect you want to show, the deeper you should bow. In Thailand, people greet each other by pressing both hands together at the chest. In both countries, eye contact {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(avoid) as a sign of respect.

    In Spain, lunch is often {#blank#}5{#/blank#}biggest meal of the day, and can last two or three hours. For this reason, many people eat a light breakfast and a late dinner. In Mexico, lunch is a time {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (relax), and many people prefer not to discuss business as they eat. In Britain, it's not unusual to have a business meeting over breakfast.

    In most countries, an exchange of business cards{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (be)necessary for all introductions. You should include your company name and your position. If you are going to a country {#blank#}8{#/blank#} your language is not widely spoken, you can get the back side of your card {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (print) in the local language. In a word, when {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (travel) abroad, we should follow local habits.

Linqing City is connected to Beijing, over 400 kilometers away, through its tribute(贡品) bricks. Linqing tribute bricks, or Gong Bricks, were transported to the country's capital through the Grand Canal for the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (construct) of historical buildings like the Forbidden City. Local people call the type of brick a legend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} flows from the Grand Canal. This "legend" {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(list) as an example of national cultural heritage on June 14, 2008.

Linqing sits at the confluence (交汇处) of the Weihe River and the Grand Canal, making transportation very {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(convenience) .

During the Ming and Qing (1368-1912) dynasties, Linqing was a large important city {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a population of over one million. Linging tribute bricks earned their reputation during the Ming Dynasty, when they were {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(wide) used for imperial buildings. Apart from the transport links, the quality of the brick is one factor to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#}famous.

The "Lianhua" soil in Linging is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}ideal raw material for bricks. The city is located in the plain of the Yellow River. So when the Yellow River floods, there will always be a layer of fine sandy soil {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(cover) the local soil. Over time, a layer of sandy soil and a layer of clay will form an overlapping structure, known as "Lianhua". Linging tribute bricks {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(make) of this soil will not be out of shape easily.

For much of history, reading was a fairly noisy activity. Today, however, the majority of us bottle the words in our heads as if {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(sit) in a library.

Recent studies provide ample evidence {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the ancient art of reading aloud has a number of benefits, from helping improve our memories {#blank#}3{#/blank#}strengthening emotional bonds between people.

According to a research on the impacts of reading on memory, people consistently remember words and texts {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(well) if reading them aloud than if reading them silently. This phenomenon has been named the "production effect", which means that producing {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(write) words-namely, reading them out loud-improves our memory of them. Even just silently mouthing the words makes {#blank#}6{#/blank#} more memorable.

One reason why people remember the spoken words better is that it gives us {#blank#}7{#/blank#} additional basis for memory. We are {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(general) better at recalling events that require active involvement. For instance, producing a word in {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(respond) to a question makes it easier to remember.

In time when our interactions with others and the large amount of information we take in {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(be) all too transient (转瞬即逝的) , perhaps it is worth making bit more time for reading out loud.