We think that life in Chinese high school is an adventure in which we have to survive mountains of homework and all kinds of exams. Yet would it be {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(surprise) if I tell you that high school life in the US is almost as stressful and demanding

 {#blank#}2{#/blank#}it is in China?

       In US high school, everything must {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(record) into your studying document, including your grades on quizzes, tests and final examinations. Failing

 {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(turn) in your homework on time will directly affect your grade for a certain course. Perhaps completely different from {#blank#}5{#/blank#}we used to think of theUS high school students, they pay great attention to {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(they) academic performance in order that they can get into a distinguished university.

       Like university students, US high school students have the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(free) to choose the courses that most interest them. Even a ninth-grader can sit {#blank#}8{#/blank#}the same classroom as 12th-graders. But this also {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(mean) he orshe has to work very hard, because the teacher will not treat him or her {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (different).

    It is the Thanksgiving Day . I have the strong desire to write about something to express my thanks to the people around me.

    I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (bring up) by my grandparents {#blank#}2{#/blank#} are as kind and hardworking as thousands of Chinese peasants in a distant village. They worked in the field all day long and took good care of me as well.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (Honest) speaking, my parents are ordinary people. But I must say that they are great educators, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they educated me to be an independent and {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (use) man to society.

    My teachers, selfless, generous, devote themselves to {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (help) each individual student achieve his/her ambition.

    Meanwhile, I can share my happiness and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (sad) with my peer students .I am happy to be with them because we have much {#blank#}8{#/blank#} common.

    I am {#blank#}9{#/blank#} luckiest and happiest person with all these loved {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (one) around.

    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.

    Mr. Robinson had to travel somewhere on business. As he was{#blank#}1{#/blank#}a hurry, he decided to go by air. He liked sitting beside a window when he was flying, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}when he got onto the plane, he looked for a window seat. He found all of them already {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(take) except one. There was a soldier sitting in the seat beside {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Wondering why this one had not been taken, Mr. Robinson at once went towards it.

    When he reached it, however, Mr. Robinson saw that there was a notice stuck on the seat. It said, “This seat{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(keep) for proper load balance, thank you.” Because he had never seen such a kind of{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(usual) notice in a plane before, Mr. Robinson was a little surprised. But he thought that the plane must be carrying something {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(particular) heavy in it, so he walked on and found{#blank#}8{#/blank#}empty seat, not beside a window, to sit in.

    Two or three people tried to sit in the window seat beside the soldier, but they too read the notice and went on. When the plane was nearly full, a very pretty girl hurried into the plane. The soldier,{#blank#}9{#/blank#}was watching the passengers coming in, quickly took the notice off the seat beside his and in this way succeeded in having the company of a{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(beautiful) during the whole trip.

    Once there lived a rich man{#blank#}1{#/blank#}wanted to do something for the people of his town.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}first he wanted to find out whether they deserved his help.

    In the centre of the main road into the town, he placed {#blank#}3{#/blank#} very large stone. Then he {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(hide ) behind a tree and waited. Soon an old man came along with his cow.

    "Who put this stone in the centre of the road?" said the old man, but he did not try to remove the stone. Instead, with some difficulty he passed around the stone and continued on his way. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}man came along and did the same thing; then another came ,and another. All of them complained about the stone but not tried to remove {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. Late in the afternoon a young man came along. He saw the stone, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(say) to himself: "The night {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) very dark. Some neighbors will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone."

    Then he began to move the stone. He pushed and pulled with all his{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(strong) to move it. How great was his surprise at last! {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the stone, he found a bag of money.

    In recent years many TV shows have become extremely popular among Chinese audience. Those programs, ranging from talent or dating shows to reality shows {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(receive) both commercial success and public attention.

    Their popularity is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(main) based on simple facts. First, they care {#blank#}3{#/blank#} social concerns. Second, without exception, they explore {#blank#}4{#/blank#} perfect balance between the international forms and Chinese expressions.

    Despite apparent highlights, much room {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(leave) for improvement. Above all, commercial interests often outweigh educational purposes, causing many {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(complaint) about the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(bearable) advertisements. In addition, some sharp remarks, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} they are eye-catching, may have misleading effects on the youth.

    In my opinion, such shows should shoulder more responsibility instead of merely {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(entertain) the public. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} is expected, these programs should be positive in their forms as well as functions. Meanwhile, the media should also safeguard the values of our society.