Harvard is one of the most famous educational institutions in the world and many people want to study there. The problem is that most applicants don't follow the advice that will most likely get them {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (pick).

    One of the most important things you should remember when {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (apply) to Harvard is that THEY WANT YOU TO HAVE A LIFE. This is probably the main requirement after your grades. The best situation is that you are a {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (nature) leader with lots of activities and active social life. Another important thing to remember is that you have to promote (推销) {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (you) but in a reasonable manner. You should be aware of your strengths and {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (weak). Grades are very important but they are not everything. Try to gain a great school record from your high school years, take extra courses that are interesting, and enjoy life. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} rest will come naturally.

    Last but not least, let's pay attention {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the interview. You should be respectful and most importantly, show real interest in the school (not only the name). {#blank#}8{#/blank#} is a matter of luck to get an interviewer who shares common interests with you. The thing with the interview is that Harvard {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (receive) applications from hundreds, if not thousands of students with the same grades. This means the interview is your chance to show {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you are unique.

    Paul Frederic Simon is a famous musician, singer and songwriter. He was born {#blank#}1{#/blank#}October 13, 1941 in the USA.  It's been more than half a century since he wrote his famous song The Sound of silence with his partner Art Garfunkel. They also adapted the old English folk song Scarborough Fair, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}is still popular all over the world now.

    Recently Paul Simon released his latest album Stranger to Stranger and received excellent reviews. And Wristband, which is one of the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (song) from the album, is often played on college radio.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, Simon is ready to hang up his guitar and stop {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) music. “Show business doesn't hold any interest for me,” said the 74-year-old man.

    Simon is planning {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (begin) a month-long tour of Europe on October 17, shortly after his 75^th birthday. After that, he's going to travel for a year, perhaps with his wife. “It's {#blank#}7{#/blank#} act of courage to let go,” said Simon. “I am going to see{#blank#}8{#/blank#} will happen if I let go. Then I'm going to see who I am.”

    If he does quit music, Simon {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (bring) a great career to a close, which has spanned sixty years. He has won more than a dozen Grammys and produced a lot of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (amaze) songs. Paul Fredric Simon has been named by Time Magazine one of the “100 People Who Shaped the World”.

    Nowadays, we can find advertisements {#blank#}1{#/blank#}we go. We are so used {#blank#}2{#/blank#} them that we often don't realize how many we see and hear in a day. I did some research on them and now there {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) some important information to share with you. There are two main types of advertisements--{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(commerce) advertisements and public service advertisements. The first one is the kind {#blank#}5{#/blank#} someone has paid for to advertise a product or service. The second one, known as PSAs, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(run) for free and are meant to educate people about health, safety, or any {#blank#}7{#/blank#} problems that affect public welfare. Both advertisements uses words and attractive pictures to persuade people {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(buy) a product or service, or believe in {#blank#}9{#/blank#} idea. There are lots of media places {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you can find these advertisements.

    The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture(雕塑品) Festival is Harbin's main tourist highlight every year. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(become) the world's biggest winter festival so far. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} makes the Harbin festival special are the scale and size of the sculptures and the beautiful lighting. It is bigger than the ones in Japan, Norway, and Canada.

    At first, mainly the Chinese took part, but now it is an international festival and {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(compete). As the festival grows, the size of the snow sculptures and ice architecture exhibits keeps {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(increase). The work of making these exhibits is {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(astonish), and their size and beauty are amazing.

    The festival is {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(official) held from the end of December through February. Opening dates keep changing, and closing dates partly depend {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the weather. More than 1,000 ice sculptures are on show such as ice lanterns, magical figures and animals that {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(love) by children. It is mostly an ice world {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(aim) at kids. There are interesting activities kids may enjoy, like ice skating. If you are planning a Harbin tour, please attend {#blank#}10{#/blank#} wonderful festival.

    "If you're talking to me in a noisy restaurant and my nerve system is good at locking onto the sound of your voice, I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} understand what you say better."

    The research at Northwestern University shows that {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (play) a musical instrument is good for your brain. And the brain remembers how to "lock onto" the important sounds, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, our ears may not work as well as we age, and that helps us to hear better.

    A scientist, living in France twenty years ago, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (write) about what he called the "Mozart Effect". He said that {#blank#}5{#/blank#} could be helpful to the brain when listening to the classical music of Mozart. Some researchers said that Mozart's music would make you much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (smart), or even have some health disorders {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (cure). Others said that there was nothing special about Mozart's music. Any kind of high energy music would work. So if the cost of a musical instrument or music lessons is too costly, can we get {#blank#}8{#/blank#} same brain experience just by listening?

    Usually people have teachers, or they can teach themselves music. {#blank#}9{#/blank#}, the point is that they're actively playing a musical instrument and engaging in making music instead {#blank#}10{#/blank#} listening to music passively.