Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (improve) our English writing ability.

Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist (坚持) in thispractice, gradually we'll learn how to express ourselves in English. In keepinga diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(difficult). Firstly, it often happensthat we have trouble {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find)appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) many idiomatic ways of saying things inChinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (proper).

        As far as I am concerned, my suggestion is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} we should always have a notebook and aChinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, wecan first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We canalso ask our English teacher {#blank#}8{#/blank#} help, if necessary. In short, I believe thatit is  {#blank#}9{#/blank#} great use to keep a diary in English for the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (develop) of our writing skills.

    There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(quick). So he sent them each to go and look at a pear tree that was far{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}in the summer, and the youngest son went in the autumn. When they had all{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(go) and came back, he called them together to describe what they{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(see)．

The first son said that the tree was ugly. The second son said no—it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

    The third son{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(agree). He said it was full of flowers that looked very beautiful.

    The last son said it was full of fruit.

    The man then explained to his sons that they were all wrong，{#blank#}7{#/blank#}they had each seen just one season in the tree's life.

    He told them that you cannot judge what a tree is, or how a person is，{#blank#}8{#/blank#}only one season. The{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(please), joy and love come from that life can only be measured at the end.

    If you give up when it's winter, you{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(miss)the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer and the fruit of your fall.

    Two years ago, Jo acted as a teacher in Papua New Guinea. There was no electricity, water or textbooks in the school. When she knew that the students {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (die) to learn chemistry, she tried to show {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (they) chemistry experiments every week. Sometimes, she doubted whether chemistry was relevant{#blank#}3{#/blank#} these students, because most of them would go back to their villages. Actually, they had no{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (person) ambition. The local people had a hard life. Their hut was so dark that it took time for one's eyes {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (adjust). The only possessions {#blank#}6{#/blank#} could be seen were one broom, a few tin plates and cups and a couple of jars. They didn't speak much of the local English dialect. When {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (sit) around, she loved listening to them softly talking to each other in their language{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (occupy) with teaching, she had no time for social{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (activity). Instead, she often joined in their family party. She felt it was {#blank#}10{#/blank#} privilege to spend a day with them.

    The Czech Republic really loves celebrations, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(include) anniversaries, national holidays and many other festivals.

    In the fall they hold their harvest festival in different regions. People basically celebrate the harvest, recognizing that they have enough food to survive through winter. It's a tradition that dates back{#blank#}2{#/blank#} the time when people didn't have enough food to eat, so many died from {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(hungry).

    I felt very {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(luck) to go to a village, where a festival was being held. This village is known for its outdoor museum{#blank#}5{#/blank#} shows the lives of people from the past and the jobs they did.

    In the afternoon, there were not only performances of singing and dancing, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}also plenty of other activities to do. Bands started to play traditional Czech music on the stage. People in the garden{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(drink) beer and enjoyed {#blank#}8{#/blank#}wonderful music that everyone there relaxed.

    Through festivals Czech people remind{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(they) of their history, and at the same time have {#blank#}10{#/blank#}good time together with their families and friends.

    My friend had a chance to make a trip to Hong Kong{#blank#}1{#/blank#}August 15, 2015. He had dreamed about {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(visit) it since his boyhood and it was the first time that he{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) there. The following was what he had seen.

    Arriving there, he was {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(surprise) by its beautiful scenery and tall {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(building). As we all know, Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers in the world. Wherever he {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(go), he saw many smiling faces. People in Hong Kong were kind, generous, easy-going and ready to help others. Much to his surprise, he saw that people there always kept order in public places. Although a great number of people {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(be)waiting for the next train at the subway station, they were talking in such {#blank#}8{#/blank#} low voice as not to bother others.

    Chinese and English are the official languages of Hong Kong. English is {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(wide) used in governments, markets, service centers and other fields.

    Staying there for a week was a good experience for him, {#blank#}10{#/blank#}he would never forget.