Long long ago, there was a small village in the Middle East. In the village there was {#blank#}1{#/blank#} old man called Sthira. He lived by himself. His only son had gone far away to study. Sthira's friends {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(wonder) whether his son would return, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Sthira always said, "Whatever happens, happens for good.”

    One day the old man's son returned and the villagers were very happy for Sthira. He thanked the villagers and said {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (polite),"Whatever happens, happens for good.” However, later, Sthira's son broke his {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Once again the villagers came to visit him and once again the old man thanked {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (they) and said, "Whatever happens, happens for good." Some of the villagers were surprised {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(hear) this. Why? What was good? His son's leg got badly hurt!

 After a few days, the army came to the village and forced all the young men to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the army. When they found his son had a {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (break) leg, they left him behind. Once again, all the villagers came to congratulate him on his {#blank#}10{#/blank#} luck, like always, the old man was still thankful to them and said. “Whatever happens, happens for good.”

    Bill doesn't do well in public speaking. One day, he {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（invite）to make a speech at the church. His {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（young）brother, Ben, knew he was nervous and tried to calm him down. “ Don't worry. Everything{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) fine.”

    When the day came, Bill's car had an accident{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the way to the church. Luckily, he wasn't badly hurt and got to the church on time. It was his turn. When he stood up, his coat became tangled  (纠缠)with his chair. After a few {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (minute), he began his speech, but he was so nervous {#blank#}6{#/blank#} he dropped his book. Many people thought he would run, but he went on.

    Suddenly, people saw something{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (usual) running down from his nose, blood! He stopped {#blank#}8{#/blank#} （speak) when he saw the blood. But he still tried to finish his speech. Then Ben quietly moved to the front and handed him his handkerchief(手帕).Then he gave him a smile and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (return) to his seat.

    It was a really simple gesture, and might be the simplest. He just saw someone in need, and gave him a hand. In the end, Bill finished his talk{#blank#}10{#/blank#} more confidence.

    Now more than 40 million {#blank#}1{#/blank#} around the world are learning Chinese, according to a report. The relationship {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the United States and China is becoming more and more important in the world. This has really {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the growth of Chinese language learning in U.S.

    I am Chris from the United States. I am one of the many people {#blank#}4{#/blank#} are learning Chinese. I am studying at a Confucius Institute(孔子学院)in New York. There are 10 students in our class. Some are over thirty years old. Some are middle school students. Our teacher comes from Beijing. He is fun and often tells us interesting things in China.

    I think Chinese is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} to learn. The biggest challenge for American learners is the writing. Chinese is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} different from any other language in the world. It will take me a lot of time to learn enough Chinese characters(汉字). But I think there are many benefits (益处) of {#blank#}7{#/blank#} time in learning Chinese. One important benefit is that it makes me see things from a {#blank#}8{#/blank#} point of view, because Chinese is {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a different language from English. I think for American the students most important benefit is that {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a challenging language can open up their eyes.

     Emily, an eight-year-old girl, is not very {#blank#}1{#/blank#} because she has so many rules to obey every day.  

     At school, she can't arrive {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. She has to get up early in the morning. She {#blank#}3{#/blank#} run or laugh in the hallways and she can't eat or listen to music in class. She agrees {#blank#}4{#/blank#} these rules because they're reasonable. But there are some rules she can't {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. For example, she has to {#blank#}6{#/blank#} her school uniform from Monday to Friday. She can't wear a cap or a hat in the classroom. She can't talk {#blank#}7{#/blank#} in the classroom. She has to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the blackboard and the classroom once a week.

     She also has to keep some rules at home. For example, she can't hang out {#blank#}9{#/blank#} watch TV after school. She has to finish her homework first. She can't meet friends on school nights. And she has to be in {#blank#}10{#/blank#} by nine o'clock. {#blank#}11{#/blank#} Weekends, she has to clean her room and {#blank#}12{#/blank#} her clothes. And she has to {#blank#}13{#/blank#} her mum do housework. Later she has to go to the Children's Palace to {#blank#}14{#/blank#}dancing. She never has any {#blank#}15{#/blank#}. What an unhappy girl!

    Welcome to this short tour of London. In this square we are standing in the middle of Landon. Opposite is the National Gallery, a museum {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (介词) lots of famous paintings.

    Go along the red street to Buckingham Palace. The Queen {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (live) here.

    Turn left {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (连词) go to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Opposite you can see  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (冠词) London Eye. It takes you {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (metre) above the River Thames. You can see most of London  {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (介词) a clear day.

    Take the boat back along the river. Get off the boat and go past the station and walk along the street. Opposite is the old fruit and vegetable market. They {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (do not) sell fruit and vegetables now.

    There {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) stores and restaurants, and lots of street musicians. Tum left into King's Street, and go past the church. You're now back where you {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (start) at the square. Now you finish {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (you) tour.

    Yesterday I heard from a friend. In his letter, he said,“I'm planning a housewarming party and I've already started making {#blank#}1{#/blank#} for it. It will start at 2 pm next Tuesday and last(持续) {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 9 pm. I hope you can come if possible.I am {#blank#}3{#/blank#} your coming.” But I am busy preparing for an important meeting these days. I have to turn it down. So I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} in writing to the invitation like this, “I'm glad that you invited me. It's such a big event that I don't want to miss(错过) it. But I really have an important meeting that day, so I won't be {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. I'm very sorry. I'll visit you another time.”