I was never very neat, while my roommate Mary was extremely organized. Each of her {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（object）had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签）everything. I always looked for everything. She would push my dirty clothing over and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other. Finally, a war broke out one evening. Mary warned me against {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (put) my shoes under her bed. Suddenly, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

    The room was filled {#blank#}3{#/blank#} anger. We could not have stayed together for {#blank#}4{#/blank#} single minute but for a phone call. Mary answered {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. From her end of the conversation，I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬)under her covers, sobbing. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (obvious), that was something she should not go through alone.

    I realized that I should do something {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (show) my concern. Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't notice Mary was watching .She {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (reach) out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into {#blank#}9{#/blank#}（she）eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

    Mary and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

    Over time, many flowering plants and {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (they) animal pollinators(传粉昆虫) have evolved together. The plant needs the animal to pollinate it and the animal {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (reward) with food called nectar when it visits the flowers. Pollen becomes {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (attach) to the animal during its visit to a flower{#blank#}4{#/blank#} is then passed on to another plant's blossom on its next visit. So pollination takes place, therefore {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (increase) the chances of the survival of the plant species.

    The type of pollinator {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (depend) on the characteristics of the flower such {#blank#}7{#/blank#} its colour, shape, size and smell. For example, yellow flowers attract bees, while red flowers attract {#blank#}8{#/blank#}  (butterfly). The nectar in some flowers can only be reached by a bird {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a long bill or a long-tongued moth or butterfly. Flowers that attract bees often have a special way {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (guide) the bees to the nectar inside.

    A young man, while traveling through a desert, came across a spring of clear water. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}water was sweet. He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder {#blank#}2{#/blank#}had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, the young man{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (present) the water to the old man. His teacher took a deep drink, smiled{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (warm), and thanked his student very much for the sweet water. The young man went home {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a happy heart.

    After the student left, the teacher let {#blank#}6{#/blank#}student taste the water. He spat it out, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(say) it was awful. Apparently, it was no longer fresh because of the old leather container. He asked his teacher, "Sir, the water was awful. Why did you pretend to like{#blank#}8{#/blank#}?"

The teacher replied, “You tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and love. Nothing could be{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (sweet).”

    We understand this lesson best {#blank#}10{#/blank#}we receive gifts of love from children. Whether it is a cheap pipe or a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.

    Who built the first canal? Perhaps some people long ago, living in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} dry country, discovered that they could dig ditches (沟壑) {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (irrigate) their fields with the river water. And naturally in the days {#blank#}3{#/blank#} boats were the most important means of transport, canals were the easiest means of reaching a place. Furthermore, a ditch {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (join) two rivers proved efficient for boat travel.

    Today, most countries in the world have canals. Even in the 2lst century, goods can be moved more {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (convenient) by boat than by some other means of transport. Some canals, such as the Suez or the Panama, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (save) ships weeks of time by making their voyage a thousand miles {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (short). Other canals permit boats to reach cities that {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (situate) inland. Still other canals drain lands where there is too much water. Help farmers irrigate fields without enough water, and provide water power for {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (factory) as well.

    Most of the canals have a long history. Canals existed in Egypt thousands of years ago. And the Grand Canal of China was begun about 2, 500 years ago and took centuries to finish. During the seventeenth century, France built many canals that are still {#blank#}10{#/blank#} use today.

    There are about 100 million middle-aged women dancing in parks and on squares in China, and Deborah Roundy, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} U.S retired school teacher, is one of them. Mrs. Roundy is the only foreigner on the Shanghai dance team at Tongji University, where she is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(current) teaching English.

    Mrs. Roundy ran upon a dozen or so middle-aged women dancing {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the tunes of Chinese songs in 2012. At the time, she didn't feel used to the new environment and wanted to have some fun in her life. She {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(invite) to join the dancing team.

    At first, Mrs. Roundy communicated with her teammates by {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(exchange) notes to help translate for her. Now she uses a translation app on her iPad.

    {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the Chinese language is not the most difficult thing for her, mastering Chinese dance is. Mrs. Roundy used to do ballet. She said {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(dance) in the U.S. always dance facing the audience. But in China, they change directions all the time, and it was very {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(confuse) for her at first.

    They have developed good personal relations. Mrs. Roundy says they also go out to eat and on field trips together, which are {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(forget) experiences for her.

    Square dancing opens a window for her {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(understand) China, Mrs. Roundy said: Besides dancing, she and her husband have been active in community life, teaching English, and helping elderly neighbors.