How time flies! I will be a senior high school student this term. I am very excited and nervous. I feel excited because I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(learn) more knowledge from my new teachers.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (especial), I can learn more about English, math, physics, chemistry and biology. I think they are {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(interest). I can meet many new {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(friend) in senior high school as well. I think they,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (I) new friends, will be friendly and kind-hearted. I believe I will get along well {#blank#}6{#/blank#}all of my new classmates. As {#blank#}7{#/blank#}saying goes, “A friend is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(easy) to be lost than found.” If you want to make friends with others, you should treat them true-heartedly. It is really hard,{#blank#}9{#/blank#} I will try.

I feel nervous because I heard that it is difficult{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(study) in senior high school. I think I will meet many problems. But it's nothing serious, because I know if I work hard, I will be successful at last.

    Starting in 1972, the National Park Service established a policy for forest fires called Natural Bum. It was true {#blank#}1{#/blank#} some forest fires, such as those which were caused by lightning were necessary for forests{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (keep) balanced ecosystems, so the fire should be allowed to burn{#blank#}3{#/blank#} , a big fire in Yellowstone National Park in 1988 caused this policy to be abandoned (放弃) since the fire was initially allowed to burn yet soon out of control. As a result, the fire of 1988 destroyed much of Yellowstone, which is America's {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(old) and most beloved national park. Massive areas of plants were destroyed, and large empty spaces and acres of burned and blackened trees greeted {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (visit). The rivers and streams were choked with ash, and the ecosystem of the park was changed {#blank#}6{#/blank#} repair.

    In addition, great numbers of animals{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (kill) by the fires that burned out of control. The fires were driven by high winds{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (move) as many as ten miles a day. Many small animals died in the flames. The fires' rapid advances {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (give) the wildlife little chance to escape. Even today, few of these small forest animals have returned to live in the park. In the years immediately following the fires, the numbers of visitors declined{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (rapid).

    At the start of every new year, it is very typical {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (make) new year's resolutions. However, do they really work?

    Personally, I don't think so. Firstly, it's always great to start the new year with a good {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (intend) and a positive attitude, as it can bring more hope and happiness. However, when life {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (return) to normal, the enthusiasm of writing a diary, for example, can wear off.

    We often choose the goals {#blank#}4{#/blank#} are unrealistic as resolutions under the false belief that we can just be a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (complete) different person in the new year. In fact, changes happen in small steps over time, so why not take a step back and think of something we can benefit {#blank#}6{#/blank#}?

    For instance, let's simply set some achievable goals: smile more at {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(strange), laugh at least {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (two) a day or write a positive thing that makes you happy, no matter {#blank#}9{#/blank#} simple they are. These small gestures are thought {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) effective to make you better on the inside and outside. So, let's take the pressure away and make a great effort to be a better me!

    The Silk Road is in fact {#blank#}1{#/blank#} relatively recent term. These ancient roads had no particular name until in the mid-nineteenth century; Baron Ferdinand von Richth often named the trade and communication network the Silk Road. Since then the term {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（accept）globally.

    In the nineteenth century, a new type of travelers stepped onto the Silk Road: archaeologists and geographers, enthusiastic explorers who were eager {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（look）for adventure.

    Researchers who came from many countries traveled through the Taklamakan Desert, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} is now in Xinjiang, to explore ancient sites along the Silk Road, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}（lead）to many discoveries and studies, and most of all, a renewed interest {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the history of these routes.

    Today, many historic {#blank#}7{#/blank#}（build） and monuments still stand, marking the passage of the Silk Road through hotels, ports and cities. What's more, the long - standing legacy （遗产） of this {#blank#}8{#/blank#} （remark）network is reflected in a large number of cultures, languages, customs and religions that have developed for many years along these routes. The passage of merchants and travelers of many different nationalities resulted not only in commercial exchange {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in a widespread and continual process of cultural interaction. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}（obvious）, it has become a driving force in the formation（形成）of diverse societies.