Without doubt, studying international customs can help avoid {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (difficult) in today's world of cultural crossroads.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I get to know more international friends, I learn more about cultural “body language”. Not all cultures greet each other the same way, nor {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be )they comfortable in the same way with touching or distance between people. Spoken language can {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (take) full advantage of to communicate with others, they also express their feelings {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (use) unspoken “language” through physical distance, actions or posture, English people, for example, do not usually stand very close {#blank#}6{#/blank#} others or touch strangers as soon as they meet.

    However, people from places like Spain, Italy or South American countries approach others {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (close) and are more likely {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (touch) them. Most people around the world now greet each other by shaking hands, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} some cultures use other greetings as well, such as the Japanese, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} prefer to bow.

    The lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A pair of stone lions, a male and a female, are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (common) seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings.

    The lion {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (regard) as the king in the animal world so it represents power. The stone lions are also used to indicate the ranks of {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(official).

    It is interesting to note that China had no lions originally. The earliest stone lions were sculpted{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) with{#blank#}5{#/blank#}introduction of Buddhism into ancient China. In the Buddhist faith, the lion{#blank#}6{#/blank#}can protect the Truth and keep off evils, is considered a holy animal of nobleness and dignity. In Chinese folk tales, the lion has become a symbol of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(brave), power and good luck.

    It was also popular{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(decorate) bridges with sculpted stone lions for the same reason. The {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(well)known of this is the Lugouqiao (also as Marco Polo Bridge){#blank#}10{#/blank#} (build) from 1189 to 1192. A famous proverb says, “The lions on the Lugouqiao are uncountable.”

    Davidson Black was a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(Canada) doctor who organized the excavation that led to the discovery of the bones in the Zhoukoudian{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(cave) near Beijing. He was a specialist in the study of bones{#blank#}3{#/blank#}it was his ambition to find and identify bones of early humans. His university was aware{#blank#}4{#/blank#}the significance of his work. At first they gave him ample time to do his research, but{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(late) they realized he was prepared to pursue it regardless of his students' needs and his{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(teach) career, so they forbade him {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(travel) there any more. It was his assistant, Pei Wenzhong{#blank#}8{#/blank#}made the discovery of these primitive bones and{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(sharpen) tools. Davidson Black knew that his success was almost {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(entire) due to his assistant's systematic hard work.

    As you know, science plays {#blank#}1{#/blank#} very important role in our education. Do you want to keep up with the latest research and discoveries in science? There are many good websites {#blank#}2{#/blank#} you can check out the latest in the science world.

    One great site is Science News for Kids. This site reports science news {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (cover) a wide range of subjects. The articles are aimed {#blank#}4{#/blank#} younger readers, but adults will find this site {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (suit) for them as well. Another wonderful site, one that I check out every day, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (call) Science Daily. The site is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (constant) updated with news, often about exciting {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (finding) that change how we view the world.

    These sites post the latest stories and also keep all the past articles they post{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (early). That way you can find articles just about anything that {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) related to the science fields you are interested in.

    I'm not sure {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is more frightened, me or the female gorilla(大猩猩）that suddenly appears out of nowhere. I'm walking on a path in the forest in the Central African Republic. Unexpectedly, I'm face-to-face with the gorilla, who begins screaming at {#blank#}2{#/blank#} top of her lungs. That makes her baby scream, and then a 400-pound male appears. He screams the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(loud)of all. The noise shakes the trees as the male beats his chest and charges toward me. I quickly lower myself, ducking my head to avoid {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(look) directly into his eyes so he doesn't feel{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(challenge).

    My name is Mireya Mayor. I'm a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(science)who studies animals such as apes and monkeys. I was searching {#blank#}7{#/blank#} these three western lowland gorillas I'd been observing. No one had seen them for hours, and my colleagues and I were worried.

    When the gorillas and I frightened each other, I was just glad to find {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(they) alive. True to a gorilla's unaggressive nature, the huge animal {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(mean)me no real harm. He was just saying: "I'm king of this forest, and here is your reminder!" Once his message was delivered, he allowed me {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (stay)and watch.