I was at the Indian grocery store with my cart totally full to check out. There was an African American man in his{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(sixty) behind me. I told him he could go before me{#blank#}2{#/blank#}he had just two items in his hand, and he was all smiles and added, as if{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(make) fun of me. “Thanks! Why don't you pay for my stuff too,” and laughed. I felt a little{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(embarrass)  and thought that the man had a wonderful sense of humor.

    I told the lady at the check out not{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(change) him. I said I would pay for him. He said, “No, no, no, I was just kidding.” And I{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(reply) with a smile, “Yes, yes your wish is heard. Please let me do it!”

    As we talked outside, he told me that the Indian herbs(草药){#blank#}7{#/blank#}he had bought{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) for his friend so I should take the money. I said to him, “It is good that it is not for you. Now you can pay it forward to somebody else.” He thanked me and promised he would.{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (eventual), I went home{#blank#}10{#/blank#}my car full of groceries and my heart full of warmth and kindness.

    When I was an international student in China, I was lucky to experience Chinese New Year. The build-up was exciting as everywhere {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(decorate) with red.

Some fellow students and I decided to travel from Xi'an to Guilin for the festival. Travel during that time is quite{#blank#}2{#/blank#} adventure—many people journey home {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (see) their families and everywhere is very busy. On the eve of New Year, we watched the CCTV New Year's Gala. Although we didn't really understand everything, it was good to be lost {#blank#}4{#/blank#}the atmosphere(气氛) of the occasion! At New Year, families make{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(taste) dumplings together as part of the celebrations. On New Year's Day, and for several weeks afterwards, you can hear firecrackers and fireworks everywhere, and the air{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(smell) strongly of dynamite(火药) and smoke. This was adventurous for us!

    Being in China during New Year somewhat meant{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(lonely) though it was a great experience. I can{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(absolute) explain it with how international students in the UK might feel at Christmas if{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(have) no loved ones around them. Overall, my first Chinese New Year was an amazing experience{#blank#}10{#/blank#}I will never forget.

    The choices people make can cause cancer. Not everyone who {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (use) tobacco products will get cancer, but the chance of getting certain{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(type) of cancer increases with tobacco use. The recent research{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (show) us that the constant misuse or overuse of alcohol may cause cancer of the mouth and throat as well recently.

    Sometimes cancer can be caused by radiation{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (find) in sunlight and X-rays, in addition {#blank#}5{#/blank#}other places. This doesn't mean you should stop getting X-rays or stay indoors, but limiting your{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (expose) to radiation can reduce the chances of developing cancer. The X-rays you get at{#blank#}7{#/blank#} doctor's or dentist's office are not {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(typical) enough to cause cancer.

    And sometimes, the reason{#blank#}9{#/blank#} someone gets cancer is simply an unfortunate mystery. Some cells in the body may start to increase and change. Doctors and researchers can see it happening{#blank#}10{#/blank#}they cannot provide a description of why it started.

    Agricultural experts say crop diversity is important to feed the{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(increase) population of our planet. They say having a large variety of plants also{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(help) to protect against possible crop diseases and future crises. But many experts say the number has decreased sharply during the past century.

    One of the world's {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(large) seed conservation projects has predicted further losses. The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is warning that up to one hundred thousand plant species could {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (permanent) disappear. The rich collection of genes{#blank#}5{#/blank#} decide their qualities would disappear with them.

    Many experts blame climate change and loss of habitat, normal growth area, for damaging plant life. They say human{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(activity) and poorly planned, overly heavy use of land also are responsible. Modern business farming is responsible{#blank#}7{#/blank#}loss of farmers' traditional crop varieties. The "Green Revolution" of the twentieth century changed agriculture. Some experts say the use of modern commercial farming methods saved millions of people from{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(starve). Farmers planted, watered, and fertilized their crops with the help of machines. They treated their fields with chemicals{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(control) diseases and insects. Harvests grew larger and higher quality,{#blank#}10{#/blank#} another result was that some traditional crops were lost. Damage to the environment over the past century makes people believe that crop diversity also suffered.

    Across the world people prepare and drink tea in many {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(difference) ways. The handmade purple clay teapot (紫砂壶) is one of the most popular{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(item)among tea lovers in Asia. But the skill of making that particular teapot faces a lot of challenges in modern times.

    Chinese people {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(drink)tea for thousands of years. And {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(recent), these handmade teapots have become popular. As an old saying goes, "A thing is valued if it is rare."

    Tea sets (茶具) have been a key part of Chinese culture. Gao Dezhi, 99, has been making purple clay teapots since he was 13 years old. Usually, this kind of skill {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(pass) down from generation to generation or taught to those {#blank#}6{#/blank#} are crazy about the craft. Gao says that his son and daughter are not {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(interest) in learning such skills. They already earn a lot of money by {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (work) in other jobs. People cannot make such things {#blank#}9{#/blank#} they have no interest in learning the skill, he says.

    In order to protect skills {#blank#}10{#/blank#} disappearing, local people have built a special museum where masters can show their craft.