I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I remember{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(tear) across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb.“There is no Santa Claus.” She laughed. “Even dummies(傻瓜) know that!” I {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(flee) to Grandma because I knew she would be straight with me. She always told the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(true).

“No Santa Claus?” she said. “Ridiculous!Don't believe{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Put on yourcoat, and let's go.” “Go where, Grandma?” I asked.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} we walked through the doors of the general store Grandma handed me ten dollars and Said, “Buy something for someone {#blank#}6{#/blank#}needs it. I'll waitfor you in the car.”

      I was only eight years old. Never had I shoppedfor anything all by myself. For a few moments I just stood there,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (wonder) what to buy, and who{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(buy) it for. I thought of everybody Iknew. Then I thought about Bobbie Decker.

      He was my classmate with bad breath and{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(mess) hair, and he sat right behind me. He did not have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to play gamesduring the winter. I fingered the bill with growing {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(excite). I would buy Bobbie a coat.

    A CCTV journalist succeeded in arousing a heated discussion among netizens by asking people whether they were happy. The responses to the question were various, even some quite funny ones {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (include). Although people played jokes {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the answers, it did not take long {#blank#}3{#/blank#} they began to figure out the true meanings of happiness.

    It is certain that people's views on happiness {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (affect) greatly by their own life experience. Unfortunately, too many people refer to being rich as happiness and there is no sign of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} decrease in the number of those who are voluntarily at the mercy of wealth. Some people whose {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (intend) is to make big money appreciate being given any chance to multiply their income, believing that is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} their happiness lies. Some are eager to inherit their parents' property, especially those who {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (be) known as silver-spoon kids. Even worse, some would rather break the law to satisfy their financial desire or seek their fortune {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (legal).

    In my opinion, happiness is not about pursuing wealth merely but about admiring the beautiful things in life. Therefore, live your life {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the fullest and be happy.

    Few people would even think of beginning a new job at the age of 76, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} one of America's most famous artists just did that. Anna Mary Robertson, better {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (know) as “Grandma Moses”, turned to painting because she was too old to work on her farm.

    Grandma Moses was crazy about painting soon after she picked it up and worked hard at it. She painted {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(careful) and her works were nice. She first painted only to please {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(she) and then began to sell her works {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a little money. In 1993, a collector, Louis Caldor happened {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (see) several of Grandma Morse' works {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(hang) in a shop. He liked them, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (buy) them at once, and set out to look for more. Caldor held a show to introduce the works of Grandma Moses to other artists. Grandma Moses, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} was world famous, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (die) on December 13, 1961, at the age of 101.

    I'm not sure when I started to love qipaos. I just remember that when I saw Zhao Weiand other stars {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(wear) qipaos in the TV series Romance in the Rain, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(impress). Although Chinese women are fond of wearing qipaos for special events, for example, red ones for weddings, I wear them more {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(frequent), not only for parties but also sometimes even in the office.

    I've collected some qipaos, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(buy) at a store in one of Beijing's historical neighborhoods. A Chinese friend of mine recently gave me one of her old qipaos, which almost reaches my ankles. The qipao fits well at the shoulders, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}it was simply too tight（紧的）at the waist.

    Many foreigners'{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(body) differ from those of the Chinese, which makes{#blank#}7{#/blank#} hard for some foreigners to take off qipaos. Because I am not too short, and pretty thin, I can often buy ready-made qipaos in China.

    In my native United States, non-Asians {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) sometimes blamed on social media for wearing qipaos because of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(culture)differences, but in China, people have what I consider a more reasonable and open-minded approach: If foreigners wear qipaos, it is seen {#blank#}10{#/blank#} an attitude of appreciation for Chinese culture.

The bicycle is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} most popular means of transport in China. People ride it for various {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (purpose) such as going to and from school and work. Bicycles are very cheap and easy {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (buy) in China.

There are many advantages of riding a bicycle. Firstly, compared with cars {#blank#}4{#/blank#} are powered by gas, bicycles can do good to{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (save) energy and reducing the air pollution. Taking up less space, a bicycle can also {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (lighten) the traffic jams. Most importantly, people can keep {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (health) by riding a bicycle regularly.

{#blank#}8{#/blank#} my view, the future of the bicycle will be bright{#blank#}9{#/blank#} some city governments have built special paths for bicycle riders and{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (provide)"public bicycles" to travel round the city center free of charge. Bicycles will be popular again in China.