{#blank#}1{#/blank#} it was autumn, the snow was already beginning to fall in Tibet. Our legs were so heavy and cold that {#blank#}2{#/blank#} felt like big blocks of ice. Have you ever seen snowmen ride bicycles? That's what we looked like! Along the way children who {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (dress) in long wool coats stopped to look at us. In the late afternoon we found it was so cold that our water bottles froze. However, the lakes {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (shine) like glass in the setting sun and looked wonderful. Wang Wei rode in front of me as usual. She was {#blank#}5{#/blank#} high spirit and I knew I didn't need to encourage her. To climb the mountains was hard work but as we  looked around us, we were surprised by the view. We seemed to be able to see for miles, and we were {#blank#}6{#/blank#} high that we found ourselves cycling through clouds. After {#blank#}7{#/blank#} while, we began going down the mountains. It was great fun especially as it slowly became much {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(warm). At the foot of the mountains, colorful butterflies flew around us and we saw many sheep {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(eat) green grass. Then we had to  change our caps, gloves and trousers {#blank#}10{#/blank#} T-shirts and shorts.

    I gain a lot of rewarding experiences from some social activities. Our local Community Youth Club is a very popular organization with young people in my town. I have been a member for four years now and I've taken part in a lot of interesting projects,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}include fun activities such as holiday camps and discos. We have organized sports competitions and we have even made a video.

    But it isn't all just enjoyment, we have also started doing social work to help people in our neighborhood. We{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(organize) activities for small children during the holidays. We have also formed a special support group to help young people stop{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(smoke).

    We are particularly proud of the most recent group we have created. It organizes regular visits{#blank#}4{#/blank#}the local old people's home. My class spent an afternoon at a home and everyone found the visit very rewarding. The old people there were{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(talk) and they told us their personal stories{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(cheer) .

    During our visit, the home was filled with {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(laugh). But we realized that life wasn't always easy .Some of them were in poor health and were very

{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (happy).

    Many young people like me do not live with our grandparents and we have little contact with elderly people. As a result, many young people don't know{#blank#}9{#/blank#}

    they are like. After this visit, my friends and I decided that we should do{#blank#}10{#/blank#}to help improve the quality of their lives.

    Friendship's Day in India falls on {#blank#}1{#/blank#} first Sunday of August every year. It is celebrated with many activities.

    Young people in India spend the day with their {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (close) friends and have fun together. Most youngsters in India plan a movie or lunch with their best friends. A large group of friends may also go on a drive to tourist places or make a plan {#blank#}3{#/blank#} camping. Some friends go to the supermarkets to do some shopping. On Friendship's Day most stores offer discounted prices for {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (customer) and it is the perfect day to buy something for friends.

    Some friends go to parties {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (organize) by many restaurants in order to attract youngsters. Such parties are very enjoyable. You can get food at a discounted price. Some friends just decide to meet up at someone's home and talk about {#blank#}6{#/blank#} happy time in the past. The time good friends spend {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (sit) together and talking over a cup of coffee is precious and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (forgettable).

    Long-distance friends call up each other on this day {#blank#}9{#/blank#} wish each other with warm feelings. Some of them even plan to meet up on this particular day. Yet some others plan a {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (surprise) visit just to see their friends in pleasant shock!

    Researchers examined the benefits of singing among people with mental health conditions {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (include) anxiety and depression.

    They found people who took part in a community singing group improved their mental health and that the combination of singing and socializing was an important part of {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (recover).

    The grassroots action runs weekly singing workshops for the people {#blank#}3{#/blank#} mental health conditions as well as the general public. It {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (original) began at a hospital in 2005, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} afterwards moved into the community. Around 120 people now attend four free workshops each week across Norfolk, two thirds of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} have had contact with mental health services.

    The research project followed the group for six months and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (undertake) interviews and focus groups with participants, organizers, and workshop {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (leader).

    The report shows how singing and socializing gave participants {#blank#}9{#/blank#} feeling of belonging and wellbeing that often lasted a day or {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (many), as well as improved social skills and confidence.

    Yuan Longping was born in 1930 and graduated from Southwest Agricultural College in 1953, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} hunger was a big problem for many people in the countryside. Since then, finding ways to grow more rice {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) his life goal. And he searched for a way {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (increase) rice harvests without expanding the area of the fields. Now, he {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (consider) as a great man who devotes his life to {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (find) a way to increase the rice output.

    As one of the most famous scientists, he grows what is called super hybrid rice which has {#blank#}6{#/blank#} high output. Using his hybrid rice, farmers are producing harvests twice as large as before. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}, he doesn't care about being famous. He feels it gives him {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (little) freedom to do his research. He would rather keep time for his {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (hobby). He enjoys listening to violin music, swimming and reading. Money means very little to him. Indeed, he believes that a person {#blank#}10{#/blank#} too much money has more rather than fewer troubles.