I don't think it's my parents' job to check my homework. Since we have already grown up, we cannot act like little{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (baby) and depend on our parents all the time. We must learn to be {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(independence).

    I remember when I was in Grade Three, my parents {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (ask) me to check my homework by myself. I didn't know what to do at first, so I only cried. But after that, I got used to {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(check) my own homework in my studies.

    Checking homework by ourselves is {#blank#}5{#/blank#}good habit. It can help us find mistakes in exams more {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (easy), it can also save the teachers a lot of time {#blank#}7{#/blank#} they check our homework, and it can also let our parents worry {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(little) about our studies.

    Some day in the future, Mum and Dad {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (leave) us. So we should start to learn to do everything by {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (we) and really understand how important independence is.

    The first UN Chinese Language Day {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (observe) on Friday at UN Headquarters in New  York in 2010. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the world's most widely spoken language, it seems appropriate that Mandarin (普通话) has one day every year dedicated (把…专用于) to it. This {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (official) marked day of Mandarin language celebration was set by the United Nations as a way of celebrating the language's history and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (contribute) to the world. It is hoped that having one day every year {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (celebrate) Mandarin will encourage more people around the world to take it up. With China likely to become the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (large) economy in the world, it is important that the wider world becomes interestingly more perfect in this wonderful language. Every year UN Chinese Language Day {#blank#}7{#/blank#} ( fall) on April 20. A great way to get {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (involve) in the celebration is to join a Mandarin class or attend one of the many Confucius Institutes (孔子学院){#blank#}9{#/blank#} are set up in countries around the world. The number of people learning Chinese is on {#blank#}10{#/blank#} increase in China's neighboring countries, such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

    For Nigel Portman, a love of travelling began with what's called a "gap year". In common with many other British teenagers, he chose {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) a year out before settling down to study for his degree. After doing various {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (job) to raise some money, he left home to gain some experience of life in different cultures, visiting America and Asia. The more adventurous a young person, the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (great) challenge they are likely to set {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (them) for the gap year, and for some, like Nigel, it can result in a thirst for adventure.

    Now that his university course {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (come) to an end, Nigel is just about to leave on a three—year trip that will take him right around the world. What's more, he plans to make the whole journey {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (use) only means of transport which are powered by natural energy. In other words, he'll be relying {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (main) on bicycles and his own legs; and when there's an ocean to cross, he won't be taking a shortcut (捷径) {#blank#}8{#/blank#} flying aboard—he'll be joining the crew of a sailing ship, instead.

    As well as doing some mountain climbing along {#blank#}9{#/blank#} way, Nigel hopes to pass on to the people he meets the environmental message {#blank#}10{#/blank#} lies behind the whole idea.

    The art of paper-cutting in China may date back to the second century, since paper {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(invent)by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. As paper became more affordable, paper-cutting became one of the most important {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(type) of Chinese folk art. Later, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}different regions using their own cultural styles, this art form spread to other parts of the world. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(usual), the artworks are made of red paper, as red is connected with {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(happy)in Chinese culture, but other colors are also used.

    With {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(it)long history, paper-cutting, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}originated in China, has been very popular among the ordinary Chinese people. People put up papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(add)to the cheerful atmosphere(氛围).

    Chinese papercuts are rich in content. The auspicious(吉祥的)designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil. The child, lotus(莲花)and bat designs suggest a family with {#blank#}9{#/blank#} large number of children and grandchildren. Birds, livestock, fruit, fish and worms are also familiar objects {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(accept) by Chinese farmers. In a word, papercuts used in different occasions have different meanings.