Julie: Are you OK, Bill? You look tired.

Bill: Tm fine, Julie. I just {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (stay) up late last night to write an English article. It is time for me to improve my English writing.

Julie: Read as many things you're interested in as possible,{#blank#}2{#/blank#} soon you'll realise that there are many different ways of saying {#blank#}3{#/blank#} same thing. After all, having a variety of sentence {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (structure) in your writing makes your English appear better.

Bill: Reading can also broaden my vocabulary. What kind of books should I read?

Julie: You can choose books {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (write) by native speakers. They, often contain sentences {#blank#}6{#/blank#}differ from those commonly seen in English textbooks.

Bill: Good idea. But sometimes I don't know what to write about and find {#blank#}7{#/blank#} hard to write a long article.

Julie: I suggest you begin by writing short ones about topics you're interested in, such as movies and sports.

Bill: Yes, III write something every day.

Julie: Writing all the time is the key to improving your writing.

Bill: Quite right. Practice {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(make) perfect.

Julie: It's {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (easy)said than done. But in the end, it's worth the work you've put in.

Bill: Thank you for giving me such {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (value) advice.

    In our daily life, we often meet with difficulties. Some people do nothing but wait, while others try hard to conquer{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Personally, we should face with difficulties positively and make every effort to overcome them.

    My memory drew me back to five years ago when I was{#blank#}2{#/blank#}middle school student. At that time, I had great trouble studying English. First of all, I felt it hard to memorize English{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(word). Besides I didn't dare to say anything in class when{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(ask) questions. What annoyed me most was that I failed exams{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(constant). I was about to give up{#blank#}6{#/blank#}my English teacher found my problems. He encouraged me and gave me some good advice. So{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(inspire) by him, I decided to settle my problems. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(follow) his advice, I made progress gradually. I owe my achievement{#blank#}9{#/blank#}the teacher whose encouragement was of great {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(important).

    In 1914, Thomas Edison, at the age of 67, lost his factory, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}was worth a few million dollars, to a fire. It had very little insurance. No longer a young man, Edison watched his lifetime effort {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(go) up in smoke and said, “There is great value in disasters. All our mistakes are burnt up. Thank God we can start anew.” In spite of disasters, three weeks later, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} invented the phonograph(留声机). What {#blank#}4{#/blank#} attitude!

    Below are more examples of successful people {#blank#}5{#/blank#} had failed before succeeding.

    Thomas Edison failed {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(approximate) 10,000 times while he worked on the light bulb. Henry Ford fired Lee Iacocca {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the age of 54. Young Beethoven {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(tell) that he had no talent for music, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} he gave some of the best music to the world.

    Setbacks(挫折) are inevitable in life. A setback can act as a driving force and also teach us humility. In grief you will find the courage and faith {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(overcome) the setback.

    The art of paper-cutting in China may date back to the second century, since paper {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(invent)by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. As paper became more affordable, paper-cutting became one of the most important {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(type) of Chinese folk art. Later, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}different regions using their own cultural styles, this art form spread to other parts of the world. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(usual), the artworks are made of red paper, as red is connected with {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(happy)in Chinese culture, but other colors are also used.

    With {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(it)long history, paper-cutting, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}originated in China, has been very popular among the ordinary Chinese people. People put up papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(add)to the cheerful atmosphere(氛围).

    Chinese papercuts are rich in content. The auspicious(吉祥的)designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil. The child, lotus(莲花)and bat designs suggest a family with {#blank#}9{#/blank#} large number of children and grandchildren. Birds, livestock, fruit, fish and worms are also familiar objects {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(accept) by Chinese farmers. In a word, papercuts used in different occasions have different meanings.