Good evening, everyone! It is my honor to be here to share something with you. Today my topic is “Stop {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(choose) merit students(优秀生)”.

    There is no doubt {#blank#}2{#/blank#} choosing merit students may inspire some students to learn from those models, which make many parents happy, for they always attach great importance to their education. However, this way has its {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (weak). As we know, the students are still young, and choosing merit students may be {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(harm) to their mental health by sorting them into good students and bad students. So it {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(obvious) doesn't benefit them in health. At the same time, teachers are always {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(drown) in teaching, thus ignoring their virtue and PE, which does more harm {#blank#}7{#/blank#} good to the growth of students.

As a matter of fact, what is more important is that we should take measures to enter their minds to find {#blank#}8{#/blank#} they are thinking and desiring. Only in this way can we really find an effective method {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(guide) them at school. Everyone may have a balanced {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(develop).

    That's all.

    Thank you for listening!

    I am fond of my sister but she has one serious shortcoming. She can be really {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Although she didn't know the best way of getting to places, she insisted that she {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the trip properly. Now I know that the proper way is always her way. I kept asking her, “When are we leaving and when are we coming back?” I asked her {#blank#}3{#/blank#} she had looked at a map yet. Of course she hadn't; my sister doesn't care {#blank#}4{#/blank#} details. So I told her that the source of the Mekong is in Qinghai Province. She gave me a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} look—the kind {#blank#}6{#/blank#} said she would not change her mind. When I told her that our journey would begin {#blank#}7{#/blank#} an altitude of more than 5,000 metres, she seemed to be excited about it. When I told her the air would be hard{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (breathe) and it would be very cold, she said it would be an interesting experience. I know my sister well. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} she has made up her mind, nothing can change it. Finally, I had to give {#blank#}10{#/blank#}.

Mike: Hey, Jack. How are you doing?

Jack: Just fine. I'm trying to make friends. Could you give me some {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (suggest)?

Mike: I'd love to. As we know, a true friend is someone who is always {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (concern) about you.

Jack: Yes. And he can also cheer me up when I'm upset and calm me {#blank#}3{#/blank#} when I'm angry.

Mike: I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (entire) agree with you.

Jack: I have one more question, though.

Mike: Go ahead. I'd be happy {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (show) you how to make new friends.

Jack: I wonder {#blank#}6{#/blank#} I can make friends with people of all ages.

Mike: Yes, of course. I {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (become) a friend to an old lady and to a young kid a few years ago.

Jack: Wow, that's surprising. I didn't know {#blank#}8{#/blank#} you could have such friends. I'm sure I can be friends with many people because I am outgoing.

Mike: I think so. Friends are people who understand you and enjoy {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) around you. I think you're a person who is easy to get along {#blank#}10{#/blank#}. People usually like to make friends with someone like you.

Jack: Thank you for giving me such useful advice.

Mike: You are welcome.

    One day a young man was walking along the road {#blank#}1{#/blank#} he heard a cry. It seemed to be coming from underneath a bridge. As he approached the bridge, the sound got {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (loud) and then he saw {#blank#}3{#/blank#} pitiful sight. There, lying in the muddy riverbed was a little dog about two months old, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} front legs were tightly tied with ropes. It had wounds on its head and {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (cover) with mud.

    The young man wanted to help the dog, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} as he approached, the dog started to bark. The young man did not give up. He sat down and started {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (gentle) talking to the dog. It took a long time but eventually the dog {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (stop) barking and the man was able to touch it. The young man carried the dog home, cared for its wounds, and gave it food and water. Even with all of this, the dog was still {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (friend) every time the young man approached. But the young man did not give up. Weeks went by and the man continued attending to the dog. Then one day, as the young man approached, the dog wagged its tail.

    It was consistent love and kindness {#blank#}10{#/blank#} won a lifelong friendship of loyalty.

    Sugar sculpture blowing is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Chinese folk art where artists blow and sculpt hot sugar to create 3D {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (figure). The finished sculptures not only look good，but also have a good taste, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (make) them popular among children.

    The main raw material for sugar sculpture blowing is malt sugar (麦芽糖).The malt sugar {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) in sculpture blowing has to be heated to high temperatures. It can only be used after several steps, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} include the sorting and cooking of the malt sugar followed by the firing and melting of it.

    Sugar sculpture blowing is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(careful) made. It can be divided {#blank#}7{#/blank#} two methods—one uses molds (模子)；the other does not，and involves sugar figures taking shape through a combination of blowing air into the processed malt sugar and the artist's flexible hand skills.

    The complex process may explain why there are fewer people making sugar sculpture. To protect and promote this {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (tradition) craftsmanship, the government of Hebei Province founded a sugar figure art {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(organise) in 2011. Now it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (consist) of over 90 artists recognized as the inheritors (继承人)of the technique.

Landslide Injures at least 10 in Norwegian Town of Ask

A landslide (山体滑坡)has smashed into a residential area near the Norwegian capital at midnight on Dec. 30. injuring at least 10 people, leaving 21 unaccounted for and {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(destroy) several homes, authorities said.

About 700 people have been brought to safety for fear of further landslides.

The landslide cut across a road, leaving a deep gap that cars {#blank#}2{#/blank#}not pass. Video footage showed dramatic scenes including one house falling into the gap. Photographs showed at least eight destroyed homes.

Rescue workers continued to search the area for children and adults {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(believe) to have been caught in mud and debris (废墟), police said. "We're still looking for survivors? police spokesman Roger Pettersen told a news conference.

Pettersen said there were no reports of missing people, but officials could not rule out the possibility {#blank#}4{#/blank#} there might be survivors in collapsed buildings. He said 21 people registered as living in the area arc unaccounted for.

One of the injured was seriously hurt, while nine had {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(light) injuries. Weather at the time was reported to be challenging, with snowstorm sweeping the village of Ask, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}about 5,000 people inhabited.

Norway's King Harald said the landslide had made a deep impression on him. "My thoughts are with all those who are affected, injured or have lost their homes and chose who now live in fear and uncertainty of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}damage the disaster has caused," he said in a statement released by the royal palace.

The area in which Ask {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(locate) is known to have a lot of quick clay, which can change from solid to liquid from. Previous landslides have been reported in the region.

Helicopters continued to circle over the area as night fell {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (lower) rescuers towards the debris of collapsed houses.

"There could be people trapped ... but at the same time we can't be sure{#blank#}10{#/blank#}it is the new year's holiday, which means people could be elsewhere," Ema Solberg, the Norwegian Prime Minister, told reporters after visiting the site.