An idiom is a phrase that we can't understand from the m{#blank#}1{#/blank#} of each word. For example, if an American boy asks his mom what's for dinner tomorrow, she may say “I'll play it by ear”, that means she doesn't have plans for dinner and she will d{#blank#}2{#/blank#} later.

    “Play it by ear” used to mean playing music w{#blank#}3{#/blank#} using the sheet music (乐谱), but now people often use it when they're not talking about music!

    There are many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be much more vivid (生动的) and colorful.

    Have you ever heard the idiom “He bought the farm”? It means he died. Do you know how it became p{#blank#}4{#/blank#}? It was first used in World War I. When a soldier died, the government gave his family enough money to buy a farm.

    In the early 1930s, people in the US often didn't know when or where their next meal was. So once they got something in their hand that could be e{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, it would go into their mouth. That was how people began to use the idiom “living hand to mouth” to mean “living a p{#blank#}6{#/blank#} life”.

    And don't be a{#blank#}7{#/blank#} if your English friend says this to you, “Break a leg in your game!” He is wishing you good luck! Hundreds of years ago, people believed in sprites (小妖精). Sprites enjoyed causing t{#blank#}8{#/blank#}. If the sprites heard you ask for something, they would make the o{#blank#}9{#/blank#} happen. Tell someone to “break a leg” and the sprites would make something good happen.

    Aren't English idioms interesting? And break a leg in your next football m{#blank#}10{#/blank#}!

    Mary and I are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (sister). This is my room. It's tidy. First, you can {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (see) two beds. The red bed is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (Mary). The black bed is {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (I). My schoolbag is on it. Under my bed, you can see a box. In {#blank#}5{#/blank#} box {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) my old books. A table is between the two beds. On the table you can see a telephone, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} English book, a radio {#blank#}8{#/blank#} two cups. The radio is brown. Look! Here's a yellow jacket. I found {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (it) is on the playground(操场). Do you know whose it is? Please call me {#blank#}10{#/blank#} 8567332.

    Soap is widely used in our lives around the world. Once soap was a dangerous-to-make hair P{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. But it is something that it would be difficult to live without today.

    Soap is everywhere. We use it every day and c{#blank#}2{#/blank#} it as something important in our lives. It also has an amazing h{#blank#}3{#/blank#}, in Babylon around 2800 B. C., the e{#blank#}4{#/blank#} known soap was made and used. Ancient Egyptians also made soap. At one time, soap-making was not s{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.That's because lye(碱液) b{#blank#}6{#/blank#}chemical burns or even made people blind in the making process. Other dangerous materials were also m{#blank#}7{#/blank#}with animal fats and oils. Later. soap became a{#blank#}8{#/blank#} in stores and people gradually stopped making it in their homes.

    Originally (最初), soap was not mainly used for c{#blank#}9{#/blank#} Instead,it was used as gel(凝胶) for making hair stay in place or smell good. The Arabs first made the soap that we know today. They created colored, liquid, and hard soaps. They even had soaps which were used for shaving(刮胡子).

    Soap became people's f{#blank#}10{#/blank#}in the late 1800s. Advertising in Europe and the US helped people understand the connection between cleanliness and good health. Now. Soap is something we wouldn't want to live without.

    Jenny is my pen friend.Yesterday was her{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(第十二)birthday.She came to China and she likes travelling in the natural world. On the first day,we got up very early and went to Tian'anmen Square.We stayed{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(在….之中) thousands of people and waited to see the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}（旗子）raising. On the following day, we{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(继续) to visit.We visited the Great Wall.It is one of the great{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (奇迹) in the world. When we got to the Great Wall ,it was very early in the morning. The sky was grey. We could see nothing and it was{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(寂静的). Half an hour later, the sun rose and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (照耀) on the Great Wall. Jenny was so excited that she began to run on the Great Wall.{#blank#}8{#/blank#}（几乎，差不多） thousands of men died when they built it. The Great Wall was made not only of stones, but millions of lives.We remained on the Great Wall for two hours. For her, the Great Wall is the place of interest not only to the Chinese people, but also to{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (任何人) all over the world. We really enjoyed{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(我们自己).

    It was an unforgettable trip.

    The population of the Earth is growing faster. It is important that we should care for the{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. We need it.

    The Earth gives {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a lot of things. We {#blank#}3{#/blank#} give the Earth a lot. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} some of the things are not good.

    In {#blank#}5{#/blank#} , when something dies, other animals and plants get food {#blank#}6{#/blank#} it. Every animal or plant gives food to other animals or plants. However, animals can't get food from many of the things that we give the Earth. Animals and plants can't eat metal（金属）, plastic（塑料）and glass. These things will {#blank#}7{#/blank#} in the ground for many, many years.

    Some things are very dangerous for plants and animals. In some places, many animals live together. One animal makes food for many more animals. If we put rubbish and chemicals（化学制品）in the water, the plankton（浮游生物）will die. If there isn't any plankton, many animals have {#blank#}8{#/blank#} to eat.

    So what can we do? Don't leave any rubbish（垃圾）in the countryside! Don't make so much rubbish!