From {#blank#}1{#/blank#} early age he was interested in plants. He {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (study) agriculture in college and as a young teacher he began experiments in crop breeding. He thought that the key to {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (feed) people was to have more rice and to produce it more quickly. He thought there was only one way {#blank#}4{#/blank#} do this-by crossing different species of rice plant, and then he could produce a new plant which could give a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (high) yield than either of the original plants.

    A dog entered a butcher's（肉贩）shop with a note in his mouth. The note read, “$10 of lamb chops (羊排），please.”

    The butcher was very{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(surprise). He took the money, put a bag of chops in the{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(dog) mouth, and then he closed the shop{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(quick). He followed the dog and watched him wait for a green light. Then the dog crossed the road to a bus stop. He checked the timetable and sat on the bench. When a bus arrived, the dog checked the number and got{#blank#}4{#/blank#}it.

    As the bus traveled out into the countryside, the dog enjoyed the scenery. After{#blank#}5{#/blank#} while, he stood on his back paws (爪子）{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (push) the “stop” button. Then the butcher followed {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(he) off.

    The dog ran up to a house and dropped his bag on the ground. He went back down the path, took a big run, and{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (throw) himself against the door. No answer. He repeated the action a few times. Then a big man opened the door {#blank#}9{#/blank#} started complaining(抱怨) about the dog and beating him.

    Seeing this, the butcher ran up and shouted at the man, “What are you doing? This dog is a genius!” The man replied, “Genius? No way! He has forgotten his key for the{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(four) times this month!”

    For the majority of fans, the NBA means a series of exciting games{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(broadcast) on TV, but for some students in China, the world's top basketball league means something closer to real life.

    On June 6, NBA China and the Chinese Ministry of Education said that their partnership{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(take) further to improve fitness and basketball development in elementary, middle and high school across China.

    According to China Daily,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (begin) in September, the pilot program(试点计划) in 500 schools in 10 provinces will give students basketball training{#blank#}4{#/blank#}a basketball curriculum created by the Ministry of Education and the NBA.

    NBA China will also host five coaching classes in August{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(train) PE teachers from 500 schools using the newly-designed basketball curriculum. The teachers will then share their knowledge with students through{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(week) basketball classes in the new semester.

    In{#blank#}7{#/blank#}NBA China and the Ministry of Education will start a guiding committee made{#blank#}8{#/blank#}of basketball experts from China and the US to advise schools on basketball programs.

    The two parties will work{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(close) to run school basketball leagues and{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(compete) between classes. They will also share training videos and other programs online to develop basketball skills in elementary, middle and high schools.

    More than 700 years ago, a 17-year-old Italian youth followed his father and uncle on a journey to the East, dreaming about the mysteries of China. The three set{#blank#}1{#/blank#} on a path that might have frightened even the most ambitious travellers. The young adventurer was Marco Polo.

    Having a talent for languages，Marco Polo learned to speak Mongolian and Chinese. Later under the orders of Kublai Khan, he{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(travel) far and wide across China. Along the way, he stopped {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (record) detailed notes about the local customs, geography and values of the people, so as to report back to the Khan.

    Marco Polo returned to Venice 24 years later. With{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (count) treasures brought back from the East, he became{#blank#}5{#/blank#} wealthy man overnight.{#blank#}6{#/blank#} he witnessed in China aroused much interest among his countrymen. Marco Polo's journey to China and the contents of his{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (vivid) written book, The Travels of Marco Polo, which{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (think) to be a fairy tale in Europe at the time, triggered a wave of European interest in the Orient.

    Marco Polo's story is both one about an explorer's search riches and a Westerner{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (follow) his dream to reach China. More than 700 years later, China, the once mysterious Oriental nation，is igniting the Chinese dream of many modem Marco Polos, attracted by its rapid {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(develop) and its growing importance in the world.