Aesop (伊索) was a slave living around 550 BC. We call the stories he wrote fables, as every story has a moral. Almost all the fables he wrote are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (humor) and entertaining, appealing to people {#blank#}2{#/blank#} all ages. Till now, Aesop's fables {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (translate) into many languages and are known all over the world. Not only {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the fables themselves lived for nearly 1500 years, but the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (express) from them have entered various languages.

    One fable, for instance, is about a farmer who was driving his cart along a country road. The cart got {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (stick) in the mud, but the farmer made {#blank#}7{#/blank#} effort to get it out. Instead, he began to pray to the gods for help. The god Hercules finally appeared and told {#blank#}8{#/blank#} man to get busy and push {#blank#}9{#/blank#}. “Push your shoulder to the wheel.” Hercules advised.

    The moral of the story is clear. We mustn't rely on others for help. Another saying which has come from the fable is “God helps those {#blank#}10{#/blank#} help themselves.”

    Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

    In 1969, the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River Cleveland, Ohio. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up. The river was so polluted that it {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (actual) caught fire and burned. Now, years later, this river is one of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} most outstanding examples of environmental cleanup.

    But the river wasn't changed in a few days {#blank#}4{#/blank#} even a few months. It took years of work {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (clean) than ever.

    Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you leave a habit {#blank#}7{#/blank#} is driving your family crazy. Possibly you drink too much or don't know how to control your credit card use. When you face such an impossible situation, don't you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?

    While there are {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (amaze) stories of instant transformation, for most of us the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (change) are gradual and require a lot of effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (patience)

    In Chinese culture, each year is related to{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Chinese animal according to the 12-year cycle. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year. People born during the year of dog {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (believe) to take after some of the animal's characteristics, such as loyalty, patience, and reliability.

    Zodiac(黄道) theory also relates to Chinese elemental theory, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}associates the 12 animals with one of five elements :metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The five elements {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (combine) with the 12 zodiac signs produce a 60-year cycle. Zodiac animals have both fixed and non-fixed elements attached {#blank#}5{#/blank#} them. For example, the dog (as well as the dragon, ox, and goat) is always associated with the earth element. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the year of 2018 is considered an earth year according to the Chinese solar calendar, those born in 2018 are considered earth dogs, which carry characteristics like being communicative and responsible at work. Though dogs are{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(general) associated with earth, those born during the metal dog year are believed to be conservative and{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (caution)in nature. As Dogs are not good at communication, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} is difficult for them to convey their thoughts to others. Therefore, Dogs tend to leave others with the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (impress) that they have a stubborn personality, but they are indeed loyal to their families and friends.

To any soldier

    I served as a second lieutenant (少尉) in a war thirty years ago. Married for only a year and a half, I missed my wife and baby daughter a lot. In the years before cell phones and Wi-Fi, we had limited opportunities {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (communicate) with loved ones.

    One night while sitting by myself, I investigated the "Any Soldier" mailbox, a cardboard box with letters and packages from Americans. I chose one shoebox-size package. Inside I found about 20 greeting cards {#blank#}2{#/blank#} children. At the bottom was a letter written by their teacher  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (explain) how her kids had put the box together and how they supported our efforts in the war. Truly touched at that very moment by this gesture, I decided to write a letter of gratitude. I thanked the teacher for  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} her children had done—its impact on my patriotism, my morale, and, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (significantly), my uplifted faith. For security reasons, I was able to sign only my name.

    Around 2013, I received a Facebook friend request from a woman with  {#blank#}6{#/blank#} I shared no contacts. I replied that  {#blank#}7{#/blank#} we were friends, I could not accept her request. She responded with one question: "Are you Second Lieutenant Bartholomew?" I replied that I had been at one time.

    "Dear sir," she wrote. "We have never met, but thirty years ago I was a second-grade teacher at a school in Ohio and our classroom sent a care package  {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (address) to Any Service Member.' The thank-you letter you composed was framed and it  {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (post) on the wall of the school for more than 20 years. I wanted to again thank you for your service to our country."

    We never spoke again, but this gracious teacher strengthened my belief in doing what my mother always taught me: Write thank-you notes— {#blank#}10{#/blank#} never know how many people your kindness can touch.

    As we all know, we are what we eat. That's because what we eat every day has {#blank#}1{#/blank#}great effect on our health. Therefore, we should make every effort {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (change) our bad eating habits. Although baked or fried foods may be {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(taste), eating too much of them will {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (probable) result in some illnesses. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, some food that costs us a great deal of money and is not healthy is junk food.

    Compared with people in the West, Chinese people used to eat more grain and vegetables, but {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(little) meat, which is a good eating habit.  However, things are quite different now. With the rapid economic {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(grow) of our country, we now also eat a lot of food that is high in sugar and fat. We {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(run) the risk eating out without considering the balance of our diet.

The food we choose affects our health, so we must keep {#blank#}9{#/blank#} mind that the food we choose should give {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (we) the nutrients we need.