The giant vending machine (自动售货机) is a new village shop

Villagers have long been used to facing a drive when they run out of basic supplies. However, help is now nearer at hand in form of the country's first automatic push-button shop. Now residents in the Derbyshire Village of Clifton can buy groceries around the clock after the huge vending was installed outside a pub in the village this week.

    Peter Fox, who is{#blank#}1{#/blank#}electrical engineer, spent two and a half years working on the project. The machine {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (equip) with securing cameras and alarms and looks like a mini shop with a brick front, a grey roof and a display window.

    Mr. Fox said he hoped his invention,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} is set to be installed in other villages in the area over the coming months, will mark a return to convenience shopping for rural communities.

He said:“ I had this idea a few years ago but I couldn't find a manufacture who could deliver what I wanted, so I did it by{#blank#}4{#/blank#} The result is what amounts to huge outdoor vending machine. Yet I think the term “automatic shop” is far {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (appropriate)

    In recent years, the commercial pressure from supermarket chains{#blank#}6{#/blank#} force village shops across the country to close. In 2010, it was estimated that about 400 village shops closed,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (urge) the local government to give financial support to struggling shops or set-up new communities stores.

    Hundreds of communities have since stepped in and opened up their won volunteer-run shops, but Mr. Fox hopes his new invention will offer a solution{#blank#}8{#/blank#}these villages without a local shop.

    Each zebra has its own unique pattern of distinctive stripes (带), just {#blank#}1{#/blank#}humans have their own unique pattern of fingerprints, Zebras stick together in herds (兽群). Within a herd, zebras tend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (stay) together in smaller family groups. Families are generally made up of a male, several females{#blank#}3{#/blank#}their young.

    As zebras graze, they use their sharper front teeth to bite the grass, and then use their duller back teeth to crush and grind. A zebra's teeth keep growing for{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (it) entire life, because constant chewing{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(wear) them down.

    Zebras are{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (constant) on the move to find fresh grass and water. Sometimes they gather in huge herds of thousands as they migrate to better feeding{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (area). They often travel in{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (mix) herds with other grazers and browsers, such as wildebeest.

    Zebras groom (理毛) one another, If you see two zebras standing close{#blank#}9{#/blank#} each other and it looks like they're biting each other, don't worry. They're pulling loose hairs off each other as they groom. Grooming also feels good to a zebra—it's like having an itch scratched,

    While most zebras are least endangered, Grevy's Zebra{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (classify) as endangered.

    Chengdu, capital city of southwestern China's Sichuan Province{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (name) one of the top ancient capitals in China at a conference{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (hold) on Oct. 25^th, 2016. Along with Chengdu, nine other cities, including Beijing, Xi'an, Nanjing and Luoyang,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) also on the list.

    As one of the cradles (摇篮) of Chinese civilization, Chengdu has a history of more than 4,500 years. It is one of the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (old) cities in China, even in the world, having been the capital of five major states.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} addition, Chengdu has done a good job preserving{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (it) history. The location, name, and center of the city have never been changed, which reflects{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(clear) the city's vitality (活力) and cultural identity.

    “Chengdu has a unique spirit, related to inclusiveness and independence,” said the president of a(n){#blank#}8{#/blank#} (associate) of ancient Chinese capital studies. “Chengdu is{#blank#}9{#/blank#} open and influential city in Chinese history. So, there is no doubt {#blank#}10{#/blank#} it is an important and famous capital.”

    A museum has managed to draw in lots of visitors to learn about {#blank#}1{#/blank#} century-old duck recipe and sample the dish. The Sanzhenzhai museum, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (locate) next to the Wuzhen scenic spot, covers an area of 5,000 square meters. It {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (build) for the public to understand the brand's culture. "We attempt {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (ride) on the wave of Wuzhen's increasingly hot tourism and improve our brand's fame and sales," says Lu Fengxue, the sales manager of Sanzhenzhai. The brand was born in Wuzhen in 1848 and has been popular {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the distinctive taste of its duck products. Now, Sanzhenzhai has approximately 100 {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (outlet) across the country. The museum {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (become) a hit since it opened at the end of October. Approximately 70 buses drop by the museum on a daily basis, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} translates to roughly 7,000 tourists. Tourists {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (typical) choose three ducks at 100 yuan, according to Lu. "{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (we) products are especially popular with the middle-aged and seniors," says Lu.

    Living beside an active volcano (火山) means that small earthquakes are not unusual. Everybody here knows {#blank#}1{#/blank#} they feel like, and they come {#blank#}2{#/blank#} no surprise to the local people. For me, they're a little different, though.

    What do you do when there's an earthquake? Most people would try to leave the building. I live on {#blank#}3{#/blank#} third floor of a flat with several more stores above me—nobody wants {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (trap) under that after an earthquake. I guess, if an earthquake came, I would probably just panic rather than think about what I need to do, such as hiding somewhere or {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (run) out of the building.

    I had never felt an earthquake until last week. There was a small earthquake {#blank#}6{#/blank#} could hardly even be called an earthquake. I was not really {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (frighten). To feel the earth move like that was just strange. Of course, it {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (last) only a few seconds. I have spoken to the local people since the event and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (luck), there were no injuries or damage {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (do) by it. But if it had been a real earthquake, I think I would have felt quite differently.

Dear Aunt Mei,

    How time flies! It is six months since I came to London. I must {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (apology) to you for not writing more {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (regular). I'm glad you'll come to London and I refuse to let you pay for anything while you're here!

    Considering you are curious and {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (familiar) with London, I'll give you a brief introduction and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (describe) of it and your visit plan.

    London is an international city with people from all over the world living here and as {#blank#}5{#/blank#} result, there are many international restaurants, including many Chinese restaurants. Since you can easily get traveler's cheques {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (exchange) at banks or hotels, I advise you to get some of those before you come.

    We should consider {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stay) in the English countryside for a few nights as I know you enjoy hiking. And don't forget a warm coat! It can get pretty cold and foggy in this country.

    English humor is a bit difficult {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (understand). Don't be surprised if you hear laughter when you don't think anything is funny. The majority of the British are friendly and I have made some good friends {#blank#}9{#/blank#} share my interests so far.

    Looking forward {#blank#}10{#/blank#} your visit, Aunt Mei!

Love,

XiaoJin