Few people I know seem to have much desire or time{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (cook). Making Chinese dishes is seen as especially troublesome. Many westerners {#blank#}2{#/blank#} come to China cook much less than in their own countries once they realize how cheap {#blank#}3{#/blank#} can be to eat out. I still remember {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (visit) a friend who'd lived here for five years and I was shocked when I learnt she hadn't cooked once in all that time.

    While regularly eating out {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (become) common for many young people in recent years, it's not without a cost. The obvious one is money; eating out once or twice a week may be affordable but doing this most days adds up. There could be an even {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (high) cost on your health. Researchers have found that there is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} direct link between the increase in food eaten outside the home and the rise in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (weigh) problems.

    If you are not going to suffer this problem, then I suggest that the next time you go to your mum's home {#blank#}9{#/blank#} dinner, get a few cooking tips from her. Cooking food can be fun. You might also begin to notice the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (effect) not only on your health but in your pocket.

    I met this elderly lady in town, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I suppose may be someone's grandmother. The city has grown and everybody is so busy {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (walk), and at times shoving(挤着) other people. I'm not sure what made look at her as she walked slowly by with her wooden walking stick. Maybe it's because I wondered if I would reach that age and what I would be doing then if I did.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (sudden), her stick dropped. I was not so sure if someone had pushed her or it just dropped accidentally. She tried reaching for it, but I noticed that bending was becoming a challenge to her. I moved towards her, although I thought that someone would have helped her by the time I{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (reach) her. I was wrong. Nobody seemed {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (notice) or cared much. I picked{#blank#}6{#/blank#} her stick and positioned it in her hand. She gave me {#blank#}7{#/blank#} wide, honest smile and thanked me. She raised her {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (eye) and said something nice to me, still smiling.

    I felt happy too, and will remember that it is {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (meaning) to slow down and take notice of what is happening around {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (we) and outside our own selves.

    The falling stars challenge, which began in Russia, invites participants{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(share) their best fake fall and recommend their friends to do the same, and people have been going to make their falls as dramatic as possible. At first, the falling stars challenge{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(regard) as a way for the wealthy to show their{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(possession). People were photographing themselves falling from cars, boats and even their own private jets,{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(lie) face-down with luxurious jewelry, expensive items from high-end brands surrounding them.

    However, as the challenge spread, it transformed from being a way of showing off to a creative way to show {#blank#}5{#/blank#}people consider important in their lives. The social media craze soon made{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(it) way to Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. A major difference with the Chinese version of the challenge {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(be) that professionals from different industries participated to show their daily routine. These include a firefighter lying in front of a row of fire trucks and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}officer at an emergency call center on the ground with documents thrown in all directions.

    While some pictures are intended {#blank#}9{#/blank#}fun online, Chinese authorities are taking it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (serious). Some people who have participated in the trend have received tickets for breaking traffic laws to get the perfect photo.

    One Sunday morning in August I went to a local music festival. I left it early because I had an appointment{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(late) that day. My friends walked me to the bus stop and waited with me{#blank#}2{#/blank#} the bus arrived. I got on the bus and found a seat near the back，and then I noticed a man{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(sit) at the front. He {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(pretend) that a tiger toy was real and giving it a voice. He must be{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(mental) disabled.

    Behind him were other people to {#blank#}6{#/blank#} he was trying to talk，but after some minutes {#blank#}7{#/blank#} walked away and sat near me，looking annoyed.

    I didn't want to be laughed at for talking to him but I didn't like leaving him {#blank#}8{#/blank#} his own either.

    After a while I rose from my seat and walked to the front of the bus. I sat next to the man and introduced myself. We had {#blank#}9{#/blank#} amazing conversation. He got off the bus before me and I felt very happy the rest of the way home.

    I'm glad I made the choice. It made {#blank#}10{#/blank#} of us feel good.