I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I remember{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(tear) across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb.“There is no Santa Claus.” She laughed. “Even dummies(傻瓜) know that!” I {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(flee) to Grandma because I knew she would be straight with me. She always told the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(true).

“No Santa Claus?” she said. “Ridiculous!Don't believe{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Put on yourcoat, and let's go.” “Go where, Grandma?” I asked.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} we walked through the doors of the general store Grandma handed me ten dollars and Said, “Buy something for someone {#blank#}6{#/blank#}needs it. I'll waitfor you in the car.”

      I was only eight years old. Never had I shoppedfor anything all by myself. For a few moments I just stood there,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (wonder) what to buy, and who{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(buy) it for. I thought of everybody Iknew. Then I thought about Bobbie Decker.

      He was my classmate with bad breath and{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(mess) hair, and he sat right behind me. He did not have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to play gamesduring the winter. I fingered the bill with growing {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(excite). I would buy Bobbie a coat.

        In much of Asia, especially the so-called＂rice bowl＂ cultures of China, Japan, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Vietnam,food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

        Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo.They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hard woods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create)special designs.

        The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs(树枝)to removeit. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly.

Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (gradual) turned into chopsticks.

        Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} livedfrom roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

Chopsticks are notused everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    The lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A pair of stone lions, a male and a female, are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (common) seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings.

    The lion {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (regard) as the king in the animal world so it represents power. The stone lions are also used to indicate the ranks of {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(official).

    It is interesting to note that China had no lions originally. The earliest stone lions were sculpted{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) with{#blank#}5{#/blank#}introduction of Buddhism into ancient China. In the Buddhist faith, the lion{#blank#}6{#/blank#}can protect the Truth and keep off evils, is considered a holy animal of nobleness and dignity. In Chinese folk tales, the lion has become a symbol of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(brave), power and good luck.

    It was also popular{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(decorate) bridges with sculpted stone lions for the same reason. The {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(well)known of this is the Lugouqiao (also as Marco Polo Bridge){#blank#}10{#/blank#} (build) from 1189 to 1192. A famous proverb says, “The lions on the Lugouqiao are uncountable.”

Nosey and the Porcupine（豪猪）

    Nosey knew that she was supposed to stay in the yard, but the gate was let open. She took a glance {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the woods up the street. For Nosey there was nothing as wonderful as {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(dash) among the trees and sniffing（嗅）the flowers. After all, she was called Nosey for a reason. Her name described her usual, day-to-day {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(behave).

    She quietly slipped out of the yard and headed towards the woods. Soon after Nosey arrived in the woods, a butterfly landed on her nose. She reached for it, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} it few away. Then Nosey {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(spot) it again on a berry bush. When she was within striking distance, she jumped. The butterfly fluttered out of Nosey's reach once more, but it was too late for Nosey {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(stop). She landed directly on top of the berry bush with a crash. At first, she was astonished by the sudden fall. Then she was shocked to find {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(she) face to face with a sleeping porcupine under the bush!

    The arrival of a {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(noise) visitor caused the porcupine to wake up. Nosey had ever seen a porcupine before, so she gently sniffed at it with her nose, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} really annoyed the porcupine. He turned around and the quills（棘刺）on his tail were standing up. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(sudden) Nosey found herself with a nose full of quills.

Dear Sir,

    I'm Li Hua, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} student from Class2, Grade 3. I'm writing to apply{#blank#}2{#/blank#} the position as a student volunteer.

    I really want to catch this precious opportunity because, by {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(offer) my service, I will be able to improve my organizational ability, communication skills as well as {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(confident) in speaking English in public.

    As an outgoing girl, I get along well with my classmates. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, I have been elected as assistant to my English teacher because I have {#blank#}6{#/blank#}a good command of English. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(successful), I {#blank#}8{#/blank#} （lend） a helping hand to her in several English activities of my class, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} have been appreciated by both teachers and classmates.

    I am sure that I can perfectly live up to your expectations. I will be grateful {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you could give me a kind consideration.

    Looking forward to your reply.

Yours truly,

Li Hua