Many large cities in the United States have a place {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) Chinatown. People {#blank#}2{#/blank#} went there from China set up these places. For example, the Chinatown in San Francisco began in {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 1840s. The Chinese people came to America {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (look) for gold. Then the place they lived in later became known as Chinatown. Many Chinese people in these places helped {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (building) the first railroad systems across the United States. However, after the work {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (end) in 1869, many Chinese moved to the eastern and middle parts of the United States. We can also find Chinatowns in other {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (country). For example, the first Chinese people in London {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (arrive) in the late 18th century. Later, the Chinese people opened small stores and restaurants there. Chinatown around the world are not only places where Chinese people live and work, they are also places where {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (visit) can learn more {#blank#}10{#/blank#} Chinese culture and traditions.

    Michael is a student at an American high school. He usually {#blank#}1{#/blank#} up at seven in the morning. After {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (take) a shower, he eats breakfast and goes to school. His school starts {#blank#}3{#/blank#} eight o'clock. There are four classes in the morning. Lunch is from eleven to half {#blank#}4{#/blank#} twelve. In the afternoon, classes {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (finish) at half past four. After that he {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (go) home. Dinner is usually at six. He {#blank#}7{#/blank#} his homework after dinner. After doing homework, he {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (take) walks with his sister and then it's time {#blank#}9{#/blank#} bed. Do you know {#blank#}10{#/blank#} he usually goes to bed? Its about ten thirty.

Dear Cindy,

    How are you？I had a great time last Monday, June 2th, 2014.It was a traditional Chinese festival {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) Dragon Boat Festival that day.

    This festival is in memory of Qu Yuan, one of the greatest Chinese poets. He killed himself by {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (jump) into the Miluo River on May 5th of the lunar calendar, 278 BC. People there rowed the boats {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (save) him. But it was too late. They were very sad and then threw rice into the river to feed the fishes so that they would stay away from his body.

    From then on, every year on this day, people enjoy making Zongzi which {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (make) of rice with meat, eggs and so on. In the past we  {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (eat) it only once a year, but now we regard it as our daily food. We can have it any time we like.

    Have you ever {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (watch) the dragon boat race on TV？It is another important part of this festival. Several teams row their dragon shaped boats as fast as they can. The first team to reach the finish line {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (win).

    If you have a plan to visit China next year, would like to spend this festival with us?

    Best wishes!

Yours,

Shen

   I'm having a great time on my student exchange program in France. I was a bit nervous before I arrived here but there wasn't {#blank#}1{#/blank#}reason to be. My host family is really nice. The grandmother always helps me practice {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(speak) French. You can't believe how quickly my French{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (improve) because of that. I'm very comfortable speaking French now. My {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(big) challenge is learning how to behave at the dinner table. As you can imagine, things here are very different {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the way they are at home. For example, you're not supposed to put your bread on your plate. You should put it on the table! At first I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(think) that was pretty strange, but now I'm used to it. I find that it's{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (polite) to say that you're full. If you don't want any{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(much)food, you should just say, "That was delicious." I also find it difficult to remember everything, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}I'm gradually getting used to it. I don't find French customs so strange anymore. I'll write again soon and tell you {#blank#}10{#/blank#}is happening my daily life. Hope you're having a good school year.