One day an ant was drinking at a small stream and fell in. She made all efforts {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (reach) the side, but made no progress at all. The poor {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (tire) ant was still bravely doing her best when a dove saw her. Moved by her {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (determine) and perseverance, the bird threw her a blade of grass, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}supported her like a raft, and thus the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (she) in the grass, she {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (hear) a man come near. He was walking along barefooted {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the dove, he wished to kill it. He would certainly have done so, but the ant bit him in the foot just as he raised his gun to fire. He stopped to see {#blank#}8{#/blank#} had bitten him, and  the  dove {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(immediate) flew away.  It  was  an  animal  much {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(weak) that had saved her life.

    Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability.

    Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in this practice, gradually we'll learn how {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（express）ourselves in English. In keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(difficult). In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble in {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find) appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(proper).

    As far as I am {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(concern), my suggestion is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also ask our English teacher {#blank#}9{#/blank#}help, if necessary. In short, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}development of our writing skills.

Lesson 3：…the tree was planted near a church fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it has gained an evil {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. ... He has pointed out that the tree is {#blank#}2{#/blank#} useful source of income {#blank#}3{#/blank#} tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it.

Lesson 4：…As the neighbors complained {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the noise, my husband spent weeks training him to press his paw on the latch to let himself in. …Since then, he {#blank#}5{#/blank#} another bad habit…. After this he immediately lets himself in and begins barking again. Yesterday my husband {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the gate and Rex got so {#blank#}7{#/blank#} we have not seen him since.

Lesson 5：…A relation of {#blank#}8{#/blank#} is coming to see you. …The moment you leave this tent, you {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a big surprise. “Where have you been hiding?” she asked {#blank#}10{#/blank#}.