Keeping in touch with our friends is an important part of friendship. This does not mean that {#blank#}1{#/blank#} have to write or call our friends every day. It does mean, however, that we {#blank#}2{#/blank#} care enough about our friends to find out how they are doing from time to time.

    People have different habits about keeping in touch with others. Some like to call their friends, sometimes many times {#blank#}3{#/blank#}day. Others prefer to e-mail their friends. Still {#blank#}4{#/blank#} prefer writing letters so that they can include photos or interesting articles {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the envelopes along with their letters. Some even write postcards while they are on vacation {#blank#}6{#/blank#}send them to friends.

    Every kind of communication is important. It is {#blank#}7{#/blank#}important what kind of call we make or letter we send.{#blank#}8{#/blank#}is important is that we let others know we care about them.

Unlike some other European languages, English is a little tricky when it comes to writing. How a word{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (pronounce) and how it is actually spelt can be very different things. Take two simple{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(verb) like"have"and "save" shouldn't they be pronounced the same? Why do "sir", "her" and "fur" all rhyme, but "fork"and "work" don't?

Imagine, then, a situation{#blank#}3{#/blank#}two words are spelt and pronounced exactly the same way, but have{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(complete) different meanings. Welcome to the world of homonyms(同形同音异义词){#blank#}5{#/blank#} ( take), for example, the word "fair"- it can be a kind of festival or an adjective to describe the colour of your hair.

So how do you know which{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(mean) someone is referring to?— You don't, except by the context. Obviously, if someone asks you to "give them a hand", they don't want you to remove{#blank#}7{#/blank#}is at the end of your arm.

    Sometimes even the context doesn't help much- the result can be {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (amuse). These sentences play with the double meaning of a noun :I used to be a banker, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}I lost interest.

A small boy swallowed some coins and had to go to hospital when his grandmother phoned{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (ask) how he was, the nurse said, "No change yet."

"Waiter, will the bread be long?" "No, sir. It's round."

    In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay succeeded {#blank#}1{#/blank#} climbing to the top of Mount Everest, at 11:30 am, on May 29. They were the first people {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(reach) the top of Mount Everest.

    Edmund Hilary was a New Zealand mountaineer, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (explore) and philanthropist (慈善家)，and Tenzing Norgay was a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer. Both of them were part of the ninth British expedition to Everest {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (lead) by John Hunt in 1953. For this expedition, Hunt selected a group of people who were {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (experience) in climbing mountains in the whole British Empire. In the group, Edmund Hilary{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (select) from New Zealand, and Tensing Norgay was actually recruited (招收) from India where he lived. Before climbing, the expedition had been organized and planned for months. They made nine camps on their way up, some of {#blank#}7{#/blank#} have been still used by climbers up to now.

    In fact, the first team made {#blank#}8{#/blank#} to the place which was just 300 feet below the summit, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} they left on May 26. They actually had already reached the point that no man had reached before. They were forced to leave because of the bad weather and because there were {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (problem) with their oxygen tanks.

    Friendship is one of the most important things in everyone's life. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is very difficult to find a better definition of friendship. A true friend is the person {#blank#}2{#/blank#} can share all our sorrows and double all our joys. In time of trial(尝试) , he or she is always at our side to give us his or her help and comfort.

    Knowing how {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (value) friendship is, we should be very careful with our choice of a friend. We should choose those people with a good character as our friends, but we must try to avoid {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (make) friends with a bad man. Besides, we should forgive their mistakes and try to help them as much as possible.

    A true friend can {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (trust), loved and respected. If you tell a friend your secrets, he or she won't tell {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. Friends share their happiness and {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(sad). They help each other when they are {#blank#}8{#/blank#} trouble, and cheer each other up when they are sad. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} most important thing is that a friend always understands you. In conclusion, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you have made a good friend, don't forget him or her.

Son {#blank#}1{#/blank#} approaches the table in the living room when Grandfather and Father were playing chess, and asked Father {#blank#}2{#/blank#} with him. Father agreed, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} soon Father became angry, for Son planned not to go to college but to focus {#blank#}4{#/blank#} music. Therefore, a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} discussion happened between them. Father wanted Son to be a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}, which could make Son {#blank#}7{#/blank#} and have a good income. However, Son refused Father's advice. At that time, Grandfather told them to calm {#blank#}8{#/blank#} and suggested that Son think carefully before {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in with both feet. Son took Grandfather's advice and wanted to have {#blank#}10{#/blank#} try.