Julie was at a crossroads. She had just graduated from university {#blank#}1{#/blank#}was ready to begin life as an independent adult. She had already received some great job {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(offer) from several major companies and was very {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(excite)about the opportunities. While {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(clean) out her dormitory room on her last day at university, she {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(receive) an unexpected phone call. The {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(call) greeted her in careful English and then introduced himself as representing {#blank#}7{#/blank#}international association. He had met Julie a few weeks ago at a job fair(招聘会)and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(impress) with her spoken English. The only difficulty was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} his company was in the country of Colombia. Julie was {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(curiously)to find out more, so after talking with her parents that evening, she booked a flight to South America.

English Around the World

    There are more than 3,000 languages {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（speak）in the world. Of all these languages, English is the most {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(wide) used. Recent {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(survey) show that more than 500 million people speak English as their mother tongue.

    From its roots in England, the language was spread around the world {#blank#}4{#/blank#}English traders and English governments in new lands. One of these new lands {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(become) the United States of America. The population of the United States is 309 million,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (make) it the country with the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}large) number of native English speakers.

    About 300 million people speak English as their second language. There are even more people, like some in Europe as well as in China and Japan,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} study English as a foreign language.

    English has become the base language for international business, for the world's airlines and even for the Internet. Whatever language people speak, they need  {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(know) some English if they work in these fields.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} is clear that the English language is becoming more important.

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

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(compare) with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes less time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in this practice, gradually we {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(learn) how to express ourselves in English. In keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(difficult). In the first place, it often happens {#blank#}5{#/blank#} we have trouble finding and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there are many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(extreme) hard for us to put them into English properly.

    As far as I'm concerned, my {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(recommend) is that we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary {#blank#}8{#/blank#} easy reach. Whenever something beats {#blank#}9{#/blank#}, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also turn to our English teacher for help, if necessary. In {#blank#}10{#/blank#} word, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for the development of our writing skills.

    Swedish businessman Nile Bergqvist is delighted with his new hotel, the world's first igloo(冰屋) hotel.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(build) in a small town, it has been attracting lots of visitors but soon the fun will be over. In two weeks' time, Bergqvst's ice creation{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) nothing more than a pool of water. "We don't see it as a big problem," he says. "We just look forward to{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(replace) it."

    Bergqvist built his first igloo in 1991 for an art exhibition. It was {#blank#}4{#/blank#}successful that he designed the present one, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}measures roughly 200 square meters. Six workmen spent more than eight weeks —piling 1,000 tons of snow onto a wooden base; when the snow froze, the base{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(remove).

    After their stay, all visitors receive a survival certificate recording their success. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}no windows, nowhere to hang clothes and temperatures below 0℃, it may seem more like a survival test {#blank#}8{#/blank#}a relaxing hotel break. "It's great fun," Bergqvist explains, "as{#blank#}9{#/blank#} as a good start in survival training."

    The{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(popular)of the igloo is beyond doubt: it is now attracting tourists from all over the world. At least 800 people have stayed at the igloo this season even though there are only 10 rooms.

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.