Linda Evans was my best friend. When I was 13, my family moved away. We kept in touch through {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (letter) and saw each other on special time — like my wedding and Linda's. Soon we were busy with children and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (move) to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (come) back, stamped—Address Unknown. We lost touch with each other.

    Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I was eager {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (share) happiness and sadness. There was {#blank#}5{#/blank#} empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.

    One day, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (read) a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman—Linda's {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (marry) name. There must be thousands of Wagmans, I thought, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} I still wrote to her.

    She called as soon as she got my letter. Mrs, Tobin, she said {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (excite), —Linda Evans Wagman is my mother.

    Minutes later, I heard a voice that I knew very much, even {#blank#}10{#/blank#} 40 years. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there's one thing that Linda and I know for sure: we won't lose each other again!

    How will our continuously growing population affect our way of life, our environment, even our planet? No matter how you look at it, we will face {#blank#}1{#/blank#}extremely serious problem. By the middle of the 21st century, we {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(use) up all the oil that drives our cars if at the rate we're going. Even if scientists develop some new {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(way)of feeding the human race, the crowded conditions on the earth will make {#blank#}4{#/blank#}necessary for us to look for open space somewhere else. But none of the planets in our solar system are able {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(support) life at present. One possible solution {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the problem, however, has recently been suggested by an American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan. His idea is {#blank#}7{#/blank#}before the earth's resources are almost exhausted, it will be {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(total)possible to change the atmosphere of Venus（金星）and so create a new world almost as large as earth itself.

    However, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}his idea is turned into reality, humans have a long way to go. On the one hand, Venus is much {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(hot)than the earth; on the other hand, there is only a tiny amount of water there.

    Parents' Day is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} American event for the parents and families. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (surprising), this event was not even there two decades ago.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} was only in 1994 that this event got officially accepted in the USA.

    It is very hard {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (say) when the idea of Parents' Day actually came into picture. But it can be certainly said that this event is born to honor and appreciate parents {#blank#}5{#/blank#} are responsible for the upbringing of the new generation. Their hard work {#blank#}6{#/blank#} endurance (耐力) open up a new horizon for the humankind.

    As said earlier, Parents' Day {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(get) its acceptance in 1994. President Bill Clinton passed the law for {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(recognize), uplifting, and supporting the role of parents. It was decided that the fourth Sunday of every July would be celebrated as Parents' Day, which is similar {#blank#}9{#/blank#} Mother's Day and Father's Day.

    The tradition {#blank#}10{#/blank#} celebrating Parents' Day is relatively new. But within few years after its acceptance, the event has spread its wings to the whole world. Now the event is widely adopted.

    A few years ago, after a long morning of sightseeing in New York, my children and I took a rest on a park bench in Central Park.

    "Look!" my son said, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (point) to a nearby rubbish bin. That's when we saw our first raccoon (浣熊). Quite at home in the big city, he paid us no attention, concentrating only on finding a {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (taste) lunch. He sorted through a few options before coming out with a wrapped sandwich {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (hold) between his paws.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (surprise), rather than run away, he jumped down and walked casually to a spot on the path, not a metre from {#blank#}5{#/blank#} we sat. The children were spellbound, the raccoon providing better {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (entertain) than any museum. He glanced at us, perhaps checking to see {#blank#}7{#/blank#} we were about to steal his lunch.

    {#blank#}8{#/blank#} his fingers, he peeled back the layers of plastic wrap until the half-eaten sandwich {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (uncover).

    Then he surprised us all. Instead of starting his food, he {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (turn) to a nearby pool of water and dipped his paws in. With a casual air, he rubbed his paws together underwater for a moment, brushed his fur, then started gracefully picking at his meal.