In much of Asia, especially the stalled “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Korea,{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

    Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine (结合) various hardwoods and metal{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(create) special designs.

    The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs (树枝) to remove it. Over time,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(gradual) turned into chopsticks.

    Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

    Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat{#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    This morning, they left on a long trip to Hawaii. They were as {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(excite) as if it were their honeymoon(蜜月).

    When my parents married(结婚), they had only enough money for a three-day trip fifty miles from home. They made an {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(agree) that each day they would put a dollar in a special metal box and save it for a honeymoon in Hawaii for their fiftieth anniversary(周年纪念).

    Dad was a policeman, and Mom was a school teacher. They lived in a small house and did all {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(they) own repairs. Raising five children was a challenge, and sometimes money was short, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} no matter what emergency came up, Dad would not let Mom take any money out of the “Hawaii account(账户)”. As {#blank#}5{#/blank#} account grew, they put it in a saving account and then bought CDs.

    My parents {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(be) always very much in love since the day they got married. I can remember Dad {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(come) home and telling Mom, “I have a dollar in my pocket,” and she would smile {#blank#}8{#/blank#}him and say, “I know how to spend it.”

    When each of us children married, Mom and Dad gave us a small metal box and told us their secret, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}we found attractive. All five of us are now saving for our dream honeymoon. Mom and Dad never told us how much money they had managed {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(save), but it must have been fairly large because when they cashed in those CDs, they had enough for the flights to Hawaii and a hotel room for ten days and plenty of spending money.

I'm a single mother with a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}( grow ) son. I love him more than I can say. He's a good person, a great guy {#blank#}2{#/blank#}so many ways —- smart, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(create), kind to animals, etc. We get along well, have common interests and enjoy each {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(other) company. The rest of my immediate family is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (die), and he is literally all the family I have.

The problem is that he is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}( turn ) 30 and shows no signs of wanting to leave home. He {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(do)move out and try the roommate route twice, but both times it did not turn out well and he moved back in with me. This wouldn't be so bad —- we do get along well —- but he doesn't pay half the expenses, or even a quarter. In fact, he doesn't pay me {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (something) at all. My frequent requests for him {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(contribute) to the rent and utilities(公用设施) often result in losing his temper and yelling at me that all I care about is money. He {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (spend) his salary on himself: clothes, movies, computer accessories. It's as if he still sees himself as a teenager with an allowance.

    Since the beginning of the 21^st century, artificial intelligence (AI) {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (find) its way in different areas in the entertainment industry. Disney, which is one of the world's leading entertainment {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (company), has decided to make use {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the technology in its theme parks, where robot cartoon characters will soon walk among guests. Disney has also its robot Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck to communicate with tourists.

    “I think AI is going to be {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (great) important for what we do," said Jon Snoddy, an official of the entertainment company. "Robot characters that can move around among our guests need to understand where they're going and know {#blank#}5{#/blank#} to behave in a world with humans.”

    However, the company also {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (know)some of the fears surrounding AI. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (scare) kids won't be part of what we do, said Mr Snoddy. "We will go and do tests in our parks to find out what kids find {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (interest) about these things. We will carry out tests {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (make) sure the robot characters make a positive {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (impress) on kids.”

    How are you getting along with your high school? It may be hard for you as this is the first time that you {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(leave) your parents. I know that you are now having trouble{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(communicate) with others. That's{#blank#}3{#/blank#}you are new here and people don't know about you. But I think you can follow the advice below.

    First, you should take{#blank#}4{#/blank#}active part in the discussions and show your own opinions about the matters, and at the same time, learn to listen to other people's views{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(careful). Second, you should learn about your classmates' likes and dislikes,{#blank#}6{#/blank#}can make you get familiar with them. Only in this way can you get to know more{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(difference) people and show them that you are just as friendly. I'm always here ready to help. We can take part in some{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(activity) together and I can introduce you to others.

    There's no need{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(worry) too much. People will know you more very soon and will like to make friends{#blank#}10{#/blank#}you if you can do as the above.