Crying marriage? Surprising, isn't it? Actually, the custom of crying marriage{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (exist) a long time ago in many areas of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, and remained in fashion until the end of the Qing Dynasty. Though not so popular {#blank#}2{#/blank#}before, the custom is still observed by people in many places, especially Tujia people,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} view it as a necessity of the marriage procedure.

    It is very much the same in different{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (place) of the province. According to elderly people, every bride had to cry at the wedding. Otherwise{#blank#}5{#/blank#} bride's neighbors would look down upon her as a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(poor) educated girl and she would become the laughingstock of the village. In fact, there were cases in which the bride {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (beat) by her mother for not crying at the wedding ceremony.

    In a word, crying at the wedding is a way to set off the{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (happy) of the wadding through falsely sorrowful words. However, in the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (arrange) marriages of the old days of China9 there were indeed quite a lot of brides who cried over their {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (disappoint) marriage and even their unhappy life.

    I can't help but feel {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(concern) about the {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(destroy) of tropical forests. It is one of the most serious environment problems today. From {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I know, people are damaging thousands of square {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(kilometer) of forests every day. This is killing hundreds of wild animals that live in the forests.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(fortunate), we do nothing but talk about it. We don't do anything {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(protect) the forests. We need to stop people doing it. There should be {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(strong) laws. I think that people who cut {#blank#}8{#/blank#} forests should go to prison. That's what should happen to people who destroy the forests and kill wildlife.

    In my opinion, we, human beings, must protect wildlife {#blank#}9{#/blank#} future generations. Hopefully, our children {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(be) more responsible than we are today.

    Nowadays, we can find advertisements almost wherever we go. We are so used to them  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} we often do not even realize how many we see and hear in {#blank#}2{#/blank#}day. An advertisement uses words and pictures {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(persuade) people to buy a product or service, or to believe {#blank#}4{#/blank#} an idea. There are two main types of advertisements—commercial advertisements {#blank#}5{#/blank#}public service advertisements (PSAs). A commercial advertisement is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}someone has paid for to advertise a product or service. PSAs are often run for free, and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (mean) to educate people about health, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (safe), or any other problem that affects public welfare. When {#blank#}9{#/blank#}comes to advertisements, we must all use our {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(intelligent) and not be a slave to them.

    Some new car models are fashionable. Others can go a long way with only a little gas. But all are taking advantage of technology that is making driving safer and {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(easy).

    The new Ford Escape has technology that helps the car avoid crashes. A new control system changes the car's speed {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (keep) a safe distance from other cars on the road. It works {#blank#}3{#/blank#}using sensors that measure the Escape's distance from other vehicles.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(drive) can connect to the Ford Escape's electronic system with their smartphone. The phone can start and track their car from anywhere.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}emergency vehicles are near, the Heedful Audio Alert System, or HAAS, will warn drivers. The device has a sensor{#blank#}6{#/blank#}detects（发现）the sound of an emergency vehicle siren（汽笛）. The device then {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(send) a warning to the driver's phone.

    A company {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(call) Sober Steering has developed a device to stop drunken drivers. The device can detect alcohol in the skin. If the driver's alcohol level is too high, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}will shut down the vehicle.

    Just as technology is changing life at home and at work, it {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(change) life on the road as well.

    Once there lived a rich man {#blank#}1{#/blank#} wanted to do something for the people of his town. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} first he wanted to find out whether they deserved his help.

    In the centre of the main road into the town, he placed {#blank#}3{#/blank#} very large stone. Then he {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (hide) behind a tree and waited. Soon an old man came along with his cow.

    “Who put this stone in the centre of the road?” said the old man, but he did not try to remove the stone. Instead, with some difficulty he passed around the stone and continued on his way. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} man came along and did the same thing; then another came ,and another. All of them complained about the stone but not tried to remove {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. Late in the afternoon a young man came along. He saw the stone, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (say) to himself: “The night {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (be) very dark. Some neighbors will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone.”

    Then he began to move the stone. He pushed and pulled with all his {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (strong) to move it. How great was his surprise at last! {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the stone, he found a bag of money.

    Wang: What's G. P.A.?

    Smith: G. P.A. stands {#blank#}1{#/blank#}the grade quality point average. Quality points are used {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(determine) the students' rank in class, academic honors, and academic warning, and probation or suspension.

    Wang: How can I list my overall undergraduate G. P.A. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(use)3 digits?

    Smith: I think it's difficult to change your grade {#blank#}4{#/blank#} G. P.A., as our system of grading is different from {#blank#}5{#/blank#} in your country. I'd like to advise you to submit your {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(office) transcripts(文字稿)of all previous undergraduate and graduate work.

    Wang: That's a good idea. I took TOEFL last year, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} I haven't taken the GRE. What's to be done?

    Smith: The GRE may {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(require) by the particular graduate or professional program. You should go over the Table of Program carefully. What's your TOEFL{#blank#}9{#/blank#}?

    Wang: 630.

    Smith: Wonderful. In general, the graduate division requires a TOEFL score of at least 575. Those {#blank#}10{#/blank#}TOEFL scores are in the range 500­575 are admitted conditionally upon successful completion of further coursework in English as a second language.