While many countries love their tea, UK citizens are particularly proud of being “tea people”. The average UK citizen consumes nearly 2 kilograms of (dry) tea each year.

    Tea only made its way to England in large {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(quantity) in the first years of the 17th century. Tea from China and a few other Asian countries{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(sell) more widely in England at that time. Then tea was getting more and more popular among different social classes.

    There are many varieties of tea. They all come from the plant Camellia sinensis (茶树), and are{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(simple) processed in different ways. Black tea mixtures are still{#blank#}4{#/blank#}most common type drunk in the UK. The reason why black tea is dark in colour is {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the leaves have been allowed to oxidize (氧化) before drying. People usually serve {#blank#}6{#/blank#}with milk or lemon.

    You may still find tea made with loose tea leaves, served up in a pot, and {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(pour) into the best china cups with saucers for visitors, but behind closed doors it is likely to be served in a tall cup, and made with a tea bag.

    Tea is still a large part of daily life in the UK today, but it seems to be {#blank#}8{#/blank#}the decrease. Tea sales {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(fall) by 6% in 2014 alone.

    Still, what goes around comes around; it's sure{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(become) fashionable again.

    Last October, while tending her garden in Mora, Sweden, Lena Pahlsson pulled out a handful of small{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(carrot) and was about to throw them away. But something made her look closer, and she noticed a{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(shine) object. Yes, there beneath the leafy top of one tiny carrot was her long-lost wedding ring.

    Pahlsson screamed{#blank#}3{#/blank#}loudly that her daughter came running from the house. "She thought I had hurt{#blank#}4{#/blank#}I)," says Pahlsson.

    Sixteen years{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(early), Pahlsson had removed the diamond ring{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(cook) a meal. When she wanted to put the ring back on later, it was gone. She suspected that one of her three daughters — then ten, eight, and six — had picked it up, but the girls said they hadn't. Pahlsson and her husband{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(search) the kitchen, checking every corner, but turned up nothing. "I gave up hope of finding my ring again," she says. She never replaced it.

    Pahlsson and her husband now think the ring probably got{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(sweep) into a pile of kitchen rubbish and was spread over the garden{#blank#}9{#/blank#}it remained until the carrot's leafy top accidentally sprouted (生长) through it. For Pahlsson, its return was{#blank#}10{#/blank#}wonder.

    Seborga(塞波加) is a small village that declared itself independent in the 1960s, claiming it was never{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(proper) incorporated(合并) into Italy{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (it) founders argued that the deal was not really registered. They claimed that it could therefore not{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(consider) part of the nation.

    The principality's(公国) founder was a flower grower{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (call) Giorgio Carbone, who ruled until his death in 2009. Its independence is not recognised outside {#blank#}5{#/blank#}village but Mr. Dezzani, a campaigner(竞选者) for the throne, says it is important that they themselves believe{#blank#}6{#/blank#} it, describing it as “a state of mind”.

    This unusual story{#blank#}7{#/blank#} was the subject of a televised documentary, has attracted tourism to the region. Its current ruler, Marcello I, appears publicly {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (wear) a suit but Mr. Dezzani wants to introduce ceremonial uniform.

Mr. Dezzani added: “Without being too pretentious or{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (show) about it, I think we can promote the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (value) of peace, tolerance and openness.”

    In recent years many TV shows have become extremely popular among Chinese audience. Those programs, ranging from talent or dating shows to reality shows {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(receive) both commercial success and public attention.

    Their popularity is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(main) based on simple facts. First, they care {#blank#}3{#/blank#} social concerns. Second, without exception, they explore {#blank#}4{#/blank#} perfect balance between the international forms and Chinese expressions.

    Despite apparent highlights, much room {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(leave) for improvement. Above all, commercial interests often outweigh educational purposes, causing many {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(complaint) about the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(bearable) advertisements. In addition, some sharp remarks, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} they are eye-catching, may have misleading effects on the youth.

    In my opinion, such shows should shoulder more responsibility instead of merely {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(entertain) the public. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} is expected, these programs should be positive in their forms as well as functions. Meanwhile, the media should also safeguard the values of our society.

    Dujiangyan is the oldest man-made water system in the world, and a wonder in the development of Chinese science.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(build) over 2, 200 years ago in what is now Sichuan Province in Southwest China, this amazing engineering{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(achieve) is still used today.

    In ancient times, the region in which Dujiangyan now stands{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(suffer) from regular floods caused by overflow from the Minjiang River.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(help) the victims of the flooding, Li Bing, the region governor, together with his son, decided to find a solution. Li designed a series of channels built at different levels along Mount Yulei that would take away the floodwater while leaving the river flowing naturally. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(good) still, the extra water could be directed to the dry Chengdu Plain, making {#blank#}6{#/blank#}suitable for farming.

    Once the system was finished, no more floods occurred and the people were able to live {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (peaceful). Today, Dujiangyan is admired by scientists from around the world because of one feature. Unlike modern dams{#blank#}8{#/blank#} the water is blocked with a huge wall, Dujiangyan still lets water flow through the Minjiang River naturally,{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (enable) ecosystem(生态系统) and fish populations to exist {#blank#}10{#/blank#}harmony.

    I started to work in the operating room after nursing school {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (complete). I was{#blank#}2{#/blank#} excited about my new job that I was willing to take turns between being tired and not being able to sleep properly. Like many jobs, the newness and excitement disappeared and I found {#blank#}3{#/blank#}in drudgery(繁重乏味的工作).

    One night I was feeling very tired, since I hadn't slept well{#blank#}4{#/blank#} night before. I didn't like the doctor{#blank#}5{#/blank#}charge, my feet hurt, it was very late, and I was "doing eyes". Every nurse has a favorite (and least favorite) task. My least favorite was eyes - I thought it was always either boring{#blank#}6{#/blank#}unpleasant.

    My patient was an old man who was there to have his cataract(白内障){#blank#}7{#/blank#}(remove) As the {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(operate) neared a close, I started to take the operating cloth off, and put drops (眼药) in the patient' s eyes. We made eye contact and I stumbled(发愣) slightly when he said, "I can see! You are so beautiful.

    I realized then how{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(true) thankful he was and I helped him see! I realized at the moment that no matter how I was feeling, it was what I was doing{#blank#}10{#/blank#}was important.