Around twenty years ago I was living in York. Although I had a lot of experience and a Master's degree, I could not find {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(satisfy) work.

    I was driving a school bus to make ends meet and living with a friend of {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(me), for I had lost my flat. I had attended five interviews with a company and one day between bus runs, they called to say I did not get the job. "Why has my life become so hard?" I thought {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(pain).

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I pulled the bus over to drop off a little girl, she handed me an earring {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(say) that I should keep it in case somebody claimed it. The earring {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (paint) black and said "BE HAPPY".

    At first I got angry. Then it hit me — I had been {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(give) all of my attention to what was going wrong with my life rather than what was right! I decided then and there to make a list of fifty things I was happy with. Later, I decided to add more things to the list. That night there was a phone call for me {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a lady who was a director at a larger hospital. She asked me {#blank#}9{#/blank#} I would give a one-day lecture on stress {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(manage) to 200 medical workers. I said yes.

    My day there went very well, and before long I got a well-paid job. To this day I know that it was because I changed my way of thinking that I completely changed my life.

    I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(fix) upon me. I had no {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(choose) but to prepare for it, though. First of all, I was to draft the speech, which was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(lie) in my oral presentation from my memory— for to read from the paper was not allowed. The real moment began {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Otherwise, I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(run) away from them. Gradually I found myself back, delivering my speech with difficulty. After what seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding— I made {#blank#}7{#/blank#}! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(confident) building up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way {#blank#}9{#/blank#} success is our fear. Overcome it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} we will be able to achieve our goals.

    Yesterday was my 18th birthday. As Father and Mother thought it{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) a big occasion for me, they suggested I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (held) a birthday party at home to celebrate it. For several days they had been busy {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (prepare) for this. By 4 o'clock I was pleased to see all my friends had come {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a lot of beautiful presents.

    We spent a wonderful night together, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (happy) talking and eating. One of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} most exciting moment was when Mother put a big birthday cake on the table and all my friends began to sing Happy Birthday. Seeing the 18 candles burning, I couldn't keep back my {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (tear). Without Mother and Father's love, I would not lead such a happy life now. Mother asked me to make a wish before I blew out all the candles. After that, everyone enjoyed the sweet birthday cake and shared my happiness.

    I am eighteen years old now, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} means I've become an adult and have {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (many) responsibilities. I'll do my best to return my parents' love and live up to {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (they) expectations.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

    How do you usually buy what you need, shopping on line or going out to shop in person? With the help of the Internet, shopping is {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(easy) than before. We can just click our mouse to choose the things we like, pay for them online, and the shopping {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(finish). It is easy and quick. It helps save money, too. We can save thousands a year if we compare the prices of similar items (商品) before deciding which{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(buy).

    However, there are always{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(trap) in shopping online. If we are {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(care), we may get into trouble. For example, we may find the color of the item different {#blank#}6{#/blank#}that in the picture online. Sometimes, the size of the item we receive can be too big{#blank#}7{#/blank#}too small. To avoid such troubles, we should compare similar items on different online stores and pay more attention to what other customers say. From their opinions, we can know {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(well) about an item's color, size as well as {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(it) shortcomings. In this way we increase our chance of buying{#blank#}10{#/blank#}more satisfactory item.

    If {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (give) the choice, a great many people would change at least one aspect of their appearance. They would request a doctor to give them a straighter nose, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (big) lips, and so on.

    Firstly, one's appearance is{#blank#}3{#/blank#} or her parents' blessing. After breast enlargement surgery, many women look sexier than before. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, many of them are later diagnosed with mammary diseases. The more serious effect is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} they risk {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) unable to breast-feed. Secondly, the advocating {#blank#}7{#/blank#}such a practice will mislead people in the{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (judge) of beauty. The concept of beauty is quite rich in its content. It should include many virtues like honesty, diligence, and so on, which should form the real mainstream of our spiritual life. The practice and the debates about man-made beauty will confuse those who are to develop {#blank#}9{#/blank#} correct concept of beauty.

    Concerning the above possible {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (harm) the practice may bring about, I am strongly against it and advocate seeking true and natural beauty. Besides, people, especially women, should lay more attention on the cultivation of their inner hearts. The inner beauty outweighs the outside beauty in the long run.