The history of Chinese currency covers more than 3,000 years. Currency of some type has been used in China since the Neolithic age (新石器时代), {#blank#}1{#/blank#} can be traced back to between 3,000 and 4,500 years ago. Cowry shells (贝壳) are believed to have been the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (early) form of currency used in Central China, and were used during the Neolithic period. The use of shell money is confirmed in the Chinese writing system. The traditional {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (character) for “goods”, “buy” and “sell”, in addition to other {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (vary) words relating to exchange, all contain the “shell”.

    Around 210 BC, the first emperor of China Qin Shi Huang (260 — 210 BC) abolished all other forms of local currency and introduced{#blank#}5{#/blank#} uniform copper coin. Although paper money {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (invent) in China in the 9th century, the base unit of currency remained the copper coin. Copper coins were used{#blank#}7{#/blank#} the chief currency in China until the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (introduce) of yuan in the late 19th century.

    Currently, the RMB is the official currency of China. With over 1.3 billion people {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (use) RMB every day, it is one of the most commonly used currencies in the world. Nowadays, online payment is taking a large share in the market. Will paper money disappear one day like shells or copper coins {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (replace) by a new way of payment? Only time can tell.

    As an old saying goes, "Friends are like wine, the older, the better." Many people consider old friends to be more important than new ones. For example, if two pieces of advice {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (give) to solve a problem, one from a new friend and the other from {#blank#}2{#/blank#} old friend, people would prefer the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} one to the former one, even though the new friend's advice may be better.

    I, however, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (agree) with the old saying, believing that new friends are not necessarily {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (bad) than old friends. It is not always right {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (determine) your friendship by the length(长度) of time.

    Once you call someone a friend, he must be a person who is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (rely) and whose interests are in common with {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (you). It is mainly his character (性格) and interests {#blank#}9{#/blank#} make him your friend. It actually has little to do with time. People's appearance may change, but their character usually stays the same. Therefore, on this point, there is no {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (different) between old friends and new friends.

    I'm not sure {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is more frightened, me or the female gorilla(大猩猩）that suddenly appears out of nowhere. I'm walking on a path in the forest in the Central African Republic. Unexpectedly, I'm face-to-face with the gorilla, who begins screaming at {#blank#}2{#/blank#} top of her lungs. That makes her baby scream, and then a 400-pound male appears. He screams the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(loud)of all. The noise shakes the trees as the male beats his chest and charges toward me. I quickly lower myself, ducking my head to avoid {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(look) directly into his eyes so he doesn't feel{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(challenge).

    My name is Mireya Mayor. I'm a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(science)who studies animals such as apes and monkeys. I was searching {#blank#}7{#/blank#} these three western lowland gorillas I'd been observing. No one had seen them for hours, and my colleagues and I were worried.

    When the gorillas and I frightened each other, I was just glad to find {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(they) alive. True to a gorilla's unaggressive nature, the huge animal {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(mean)me no real harm. He was just saying: "I'm king of this forest, and here is your reminder!" Once his message was delivered, he allowed me {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (stay)and watch.