Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (improve) our English writing ability.

Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist (坚持) in thispractice, gradually we'll learn how to express ourselves in English. In keepinga diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(difficult). Firstly, it often happensthat we have trouble {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find)appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) many idiomatic ways of saying things inChinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (proper).

        As far as I am concerned, my suggestion is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} we should always have a notebook and aChinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, wecan first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We canalso ask our English teacher {#blank#}8{#/blank#} help, if necessary. In short, I believe thatit is  {#blank#}9{#/blank#} great use to keep a diary in English for the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (develop) of our writing skills.

    Last Friday, my friend David called me and invited me and our friend Tom to a party in his university. Tom and I are in{#blank#}1{#/blank#} same class. We both wanted to go to the party, but there was a problem--we'd have a final exam on the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (come) Monday.

    “Don't worry. We can come back on Sunday and won't miss the exam,” really{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (want) to go to the party, Tom said. So I decided to go{#blank#}4{#/blank#} him.

    The party was great and we{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (true) enjoyed ourselves there. However, we stayed up late on Saturday night and slept all day on Sunday and didn't make it back to our university until Monday morning. We missed the exam. Then we went to our professor's office and explained{#blank#}6{#/blank#} we missed the exam. We lied that there was a flat tire（车胎漏气）on our way back to the university. Our professor {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (agree) that we could take the exam the following day.

    When it was time to take the exam, Tom and I{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (take )to different rooms. After we opened the test paper, we saw only one question, “Which tire?”

    Neither Tom nor I answered the question. Instead we told our professor the truth. Luckily, he later gave {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (we) the real test paper. And both Tom and I made a{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (decide): never to lie again.

    Happiness means different things to different people. For Mary, who has {#blank#}1{#/blank#} severe sleeping problem, happiness is as simple as having a good night's sleep.

    Bed was once a place {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Mary went to rest after a long, hard day. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, she has not had a full night's sleep in almost six months. Her doctor said that {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (count) sheep might help her fall asleep. She tried this, but soon got tired of it after it failed to work. She finds the nights without sleep almost {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (bear) . She is always sleepy and lacks energy during the day.

    Mary is not alone. Studies show that more than one in three people worldwide struggle with getting enough sleep. It often takes on different {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (form) : some people can get to sleep, but wake up much too early; some get a full night's sleep, but are {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (disappoint)  to find that they still feel tired when they wake up; others, like Mary, find {#blank#}8{#/blank#} difficult to fall asleep in the first place.

    Specialists say that people should not worry too much about this problem. In most cases , a lack of sleep {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (cause) by anxiety and pressure. It is important to keep yourself {#blank#}10{#/blank#} good spirits and to be positive. 

    Gymnast Shawn Johnson is my favorite athlete. Back at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I was very {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (excite) when she won the gold medal on the balance beam. Years later, Shawn wrote an autobiography, Winning Balance. I was only ten years old{#blank#}2{#/blank#}she wrote her book and I wanted to wait a few years to read {#blank#}3{#/blank#} since I had a feeling that I wouldn't understand the book then.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (release) in June 2012, the book won much popularity among her fans.

    Shawn talks about her experiences as a gymnast and her post-Olympic life in her book. One of the things that she wants her readers{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(get) from reading the book is that “behind all the glory and glitz(浮华) I am able to have a normal life”. She hopes that her reader, especially {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (girl) in middle school and high school, will get really{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(encourage) by reading her book and believe that dreams will{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(actual) come true. I believe that gymnasts around the world {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(take) a lot from this book because in some situations they experience {#blank#}10{#/blank#} same things in gymnastics.