When I was young, my parents and I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(move) to New York from China. Although we now live in the US, we follow the customs and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (tradition) of China. I have learned to speak several languages, English {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (include). I eat all kinds of foods and celebrate different holidays {#blank#}4{#/blank#} have something to do with culture.

    However, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) many disadvantages of being part of two cultures. Sometimes, speaking a language at home {#blank#}6{#/blank#} speaking another language in school can get confusing. Sometimes, I have trouble {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (express) my thoughts in English because they don't understand me well. Sometimes, my culture does make me feel far away from others because I feel too {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (difference).

    I am closer to the culture of China than that of the US. I don't listen to English music as {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(frequent) as I listen to Chinese music. Therefore, I feel very far away {#blank#}10{#/blank#} my friends when I don't know what song they talking about.

    I seldom thought I had a passion. I would sit before the TV all day, thinking about nothing but the next show. It was not long ago that I first learned how important {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (have) a passion is to life.

    One day I went with Mum {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (drop) my sister off at the gym. Then, as Mum stopped at a red light, someone on the roadside caught my eyes. It was a man {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (dress) in rags, homeless. That didn't interest me, for I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (see) many like him before.

    But the man wasn't sitting down with a sad {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (express). He had a radio in his hand and was dancing {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (merry) to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious thing {#blank#}7{#/blank#} he had.

    “Mum, why does that man have a radio even though he is homeless?” I asked.

    “He bought {#blank#}8{#/blank#} ,”she replied.

    “But if he is homeless, why doesn't he use the money to buy food or clothes? He wasted it on something he doesn't need.”

    “Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren't the only important things. We need happiness, too.”

    “I see.” The man {#blank#}9{#/blank#} care too much about music, so he bought a radio instead of food and clothes. I realized that happiness is the key to life. Without it, there {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) nothing to look forward to. A passion a person the happiness he needs to keep going!

    Drunk driving, a major concern currently, is not a funny thing, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}has killed many people and ruined the lives of many others. At present, traffic accidents become "the world's first harm".

    Two months ago, after {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(drink) a lot of alcohol, my friend's uncle drove his car home. He was{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(heavy) drunk, but he still drove home by {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. On the road near his home, an old lady was going across the road, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} his uncle didn't notice her and he was still moving on under the influence of alcohol. And the old lady didn't see his uncle, either. In the end, the lady died.

    {#blank#}6{#/blank#} it not been for his uncle's drunkenness, the terrible accident would not have happened. If the lady hadn't died, she {#blank#}7{#/blank#} live a happy life with her daughters and sons. And his uncle's home was also destroyed by his uncle. Therefore, two {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(family) were destroyed.

    I wish more people {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(can) realize the seriousness of drunk driving and obey the traffic regulations faithfully. Always remember: refuse {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(drink) and drive, and give a safe world to you and me!

    It's amazing that Chinese police are using facial-recognition tech to catch criminals. Police in Beijing are reportedly testing out new smart glasses with facial-recognition technology. The smart tech, which {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (use) in many checkpoints to find suspects presently.

    Some people will certainly be worried about the possibility of police using facial-recognition tech to flag individuals, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the chief executive thinks that there is no reason {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the concern, because he trusts the government. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (Interesting), this is not the first time that facial recognition has been used to stop wrongdoers in Beijing. In 2017, we reported on how visitors were having their faces scanned automatically in a certain restroom in {#blank#}5{#/blank#} capita] city to prevent locals from {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (steal) the paper for use at home.

    Authorities in Shenzhen, China, have also set up artificial intelligence-powered CCTV cameras to scan the faces of those {#blank#}7{#/blank#} cross the streets unlawfully and display their {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (identity) on large LED screens for all people to see.

    If that isn't punishment enough, plans are now in place {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (link) the current system with cellular technology, so offenders will also be sent a text message with a fine as soon as they are caught {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (cross) the road against traffic lights.

    Here, let me share one of my experiences with you. When I was a ten-year-old girl, I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class! Just imagine how {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(terrible) shy I was the moment I thought of that with so many eyes {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(fix) upon me. I had no other {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(choose), though. First I was to draft the speech and that was just a piece of cake for me, because I was a good writer — something to pride myself in. But the hard part {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(lie) in my oral presentation; to read from {#blank#}5{#/blank#} paper was not allowed; I had to give the speech from my memory and in front of such a big audience ! A real trial began when I stood on the platform with my legs trembling and my mind blank. How much time had passed by, I didn't know. My listeners were still waiting, patiently and without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (I) back，giving out my speech with difficulty. Finally I finished. After {#blank#}7{#/blank#} seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding. I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared. Actually with my confidence building {#blank#}8{#/blank#}， I now turn out to be a great speaker.{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (Look) back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way to success is our fear; overcome it，{#blank#}10{#/blank#} we will be able to achieve our goals.

Linqing City is connected to Beijing, over 400 kilometers away, through its tribute(贡品) bricks. Linqing tribute bricks, or Gong Bricks, were transported to the country's capital through the Grand Canal for the {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (construct) of historical buildings like the Forbidden City. Local people call the type of brick a legend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} flows from the Grand Canal. This "legend" {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(list) as an example of national cultural heritage on June 14, 2008.

Linqing sits at the confluence (交汇处) of the Weihe River and the Grand Canal, making transportation very {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(convenience) .

During the Ming and Qing (1368-1912) dynasties, Linqing was a large important city {#blank#}5{#/blank#}a population of over one million. Linging tribute bricks earned their reputation during the Ming Dynasty, when they were {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(wide) used for imperial buildings. Apart from the transport links, the quality of the brick is one factor to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#}famous.

The "Lianhua" soil in Linging is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}ideal raw material for bricks. The city is located in the plain of the Yellow River. So when the Yellow River floods, there will always be a layer of fine sandy soil {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(cover) the local soil. Over time, a layer of sandy soil and a layer of clay will form an overlapping structure, known as "Lianhua". Linging tribute bricks {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(make) of this soil will not be out of shape easily.