When I was an international student in China, I was lucky to experience Chinese New Year. The build-up was exciting as everywhere {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(decorate) with red.

Some fellow students and I decided to travel from Xi'an to Guilin for the festival. Travel during that time is quite{#blank#}2{#/blank#} adventure—many people journey home {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (see) their families and everywhere is very busy. On the eve of New Year, we watched the CCTV New Year's Gala. Although we didn't really understand everything, it was good to be lost {#blank#}4{#/blank#}the atmosphere(气氛) of the occasion! At New Year, families make{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(taste) dumplings together as part of the celebrations. On New Year's Day, and for several weeks afterwards, you can hear firecrackers and fireworks everywhere, and the air{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(smell) strongly of dynamite(火药) and smoke. This was adventurous for us!

    Being in China during New Year somewhat meant{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(lonely) though it was a great experience. I can{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(absolute) explain it with how international students in the UK might feel at Christmas if{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(have) no loved ones around them. Overall, my first Chinese New Year was an amazing experience{#blank#}10{#/blank#}I will never forget.

    You may like at least some kind of music. But the problem is that, in lots of places, you're made {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(hear) somebody else's choice of music. Say you've just landed at an airport, where the background (背景) music may be played loudly. When you are {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the way to you hotel, there may be another kind of music {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (switch) on by the taxi driver. Then you go out to dinner and end up in a restaurant,{#blank#}4{#/blank#}owner thinks music will help make you eat more and spend more. Then a person {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(play) the violin comes around. This is called the “music wallpaper” and its purpose is to make you consume more. In a word, you find {#blank#}6{#/blank#} hard to find a quiet public place without music.

    Noise pollution may be {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(harm) to our hearing. It's also bad for some of our daily {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (activity).

    The fact {#blank#}9{#/blank#} you can't see, taste or smell noise may help explain why it has not received as much attention as other kinds of pollution, such as air pollution or water pollution. Many of us fail to realize we {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (surround) by too much noise. As a result, harm is done to our health without us being aware of it.

    There was once a small boy who would never get dressed when his parents told him to,{#blank#}1{#/blank#} would he wear what they wanted him to. He preferred unusual clothes, but above all, he liked taking his time. His parents were always in a rush, and wanted him to be much{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(quick), but the boy didn't like this, and he would slow down even more.

    One day, his parents got so angry when he refused to dress that they told him to go out without any clothes at all.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (surprise), the boy followed his parents out of the door. He held a belief {#blank#}4{#/blank#}nobody could do anything to him.

    As the boy stood outside his house with nothing on,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (wait) for his parents's car, along came the local pig farmer. The farmer,{#blank#}6{#/blank#} was almost deaf, had very poor eyesight. Not only that, but also he {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(forget) his glasses that day. When he saw the boy's pink skin, he thought it was one of his pigs. Shouting and pushing, the farmer forced{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(he) into a pig cage. The boy begged him to stop but the deaf farmer couldn't hear.

    When found by his parents, the terrified boy never again wanted to be mistaken{#blank#}9{#/blank#} anything other than a human being. Now he's the first {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (get) dressed, and always looks neat.

    In many countries{#blank#}1{#/blank#} is not unusual for families of different backgrounds to live together in the shared space.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} ，in the United States, this idea may still be considered odd.

    But this type of housing{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(call) co-housing, is gaining{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(popular) in the United States, too. Co-housing complexes are popping up across the country. For many people, this way of life is a relief to the busy modern lifestyle. A co-housing community has{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(private) owned houses and shared land. There is often a “common house” with a kitchen and dining room, meeting room, and maybe a workshop of library or music room. About 25 co-housing communities{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(build) in recent years, and 150 more are planned.

    A co-housing complex is a place {#blank#}7{#/blank#} residents shop, cook, and eat together. Residents of a co-housing complex like its sense of shared community. Children have other kids to play{#blank#}8{#/blank#},{#blank#}9{#/blank#}many families like. Other residents like the feeling of living in a “ village”. Residents also say that they can live in co-housing for{#blank#}10{#/blank#}money than they would pay for nearby apartments.

    I came to England last summer. I{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(be) in England for eleven months. I am going to finish my studies in England soon, and will leave {#blank#}2{#/blank#} China next month.

    At first it was very difficult for me {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(communicate)with other people in English, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}now I can speak English much {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(well), and even understand English television, because I have studied hard and my teachers and classmates have helped me a lot.

    I have lots of English{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(friend) now. Some of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(they) have even invited me for dinner at their houses {#blank#}8{#/blank#}I have learned a lot about their custom. They are {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (interest) to learn about China and Chinese people. Every time they ask me a lot of questions, I realize how {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (few) I know about my own country.

A robot used for housework was tested out in a family. He looked {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a tall and handsome man with smooth hair, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (speak) in a deep voice. Larry was going to be away from home so he wanted such a robot {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(accompany) his wife Claire. Claire didn't like the idea at the beginning, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}she agreed with it at last. At the first sight of Tony, Claire was alarmed. When Tony offered to help her dressing, Claire felt {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (embarrass). {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (gradual), Tony began to win Claire's trust. He helped Claire realize her dreams by making her home elegant, giving her a new haircut, changing the makeup she {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (wear) and giving her advice on her dresses. Therefore, at the party the guests {#blank#}8{#/blank#}were invited{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (fill) with admiration when they saw her house was completely changed.

After the test, the company was satisfied with Tony's report because he had {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(successful) made a woman regain her confidence.