I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(fix) upon me. I had no {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(lie) in my oral presentation from my memory— for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Otherwise, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(run) away from them. Gradually I found myself back, delivering my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding— I made {#blank#}7{#/blank#}! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way {#blank#}9{#/blank#} success is our fear. Overcome it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} we will be able to achieve our goals.

    I was very happy when my friend Mary came to visit me from England. Her destination {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) Beijing and the architectural heritage of China. In {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (prepare) for her visit she had attended a series of seminars on the history of China. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (check) into the Holiday Inn, Mary settled in and began her tour of the capital city. Day in and day out she walked around the city, rejoicing in its abundant {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(culture) sites and experiencing the kindness of its people. However, after seeing the Ming Tombs, she was eager {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) a trip to Xi'an to see the terracotta warriors, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} is known as the eighth wonder of the world.

    Originally this had been an optional trip on her schedule, but unfortunately it was later cancelled {#blank#}7{#/blank#} some reason. She felt it was out of the question for her to visit China without {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (go) to see the terracotta warriors, so I helped her arrange a tour to Xi'an. It was {#blank#}9{#/blank#}outstanding success and Mary returned to England with wonderful {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (memory) of her holiday in China.

    When we read a poem, we often imagine what the poets{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (think) when they wrote or what they were doing at the time. These thoughts let us connect with the words better, as if we'd created the poem{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (we). Will a poem still mean as much if a compute writes it?

    By{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (use) algorithms (算法) , computers can now create all kinds of text, including research papers, books, news, stories and even poems. Computer-generated poems might be correct in both grammar and style, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}some say they still lack {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (create) and true meaning.

    Australian researcher Oscar Schwartz created a website{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(call) "bot or not". On his site, you can read poems and guess whether they{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(write) by a human or a computer. Schwartz recently gave a speech at TedX Sydney, in {#blank#}8{#/blank#}he stated that some of the website's poems were able to{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(foolish) 65 percent of human readers.

    He said that on his website, he hoped people would question the difference between humans and machines—and be able to identify what it is {#blank#}10{#/blank#}makes us human.

Keep Your Eyes Open for Weight Loss Ads

    "In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight."

    "Two full inches in the first three days!"

    These are the kinds of statements {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (use) in magazine, newspaper, radio and television ads, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (promise) new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device. The promoters of products say they {#blank#}3{#/blank#} shape the legs, slim the face and smooth wrinkles. Often such products are nothing more than money-making things for their promoters. The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health.

    To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug, FDA(Food and Drug Administration) can require proof that it is safe and effective before it {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(put) on the market. But if the product is a device, FDA has no authority {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (require) premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a product already on the market is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action, including seizure(查封) of the product.

    One notable case a few years ago {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(involve) an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds {#blank#}10{#/blank#} it was dangerous to health and life.