When you take a walk in any of the cities in the West, you can see a lot of people {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(walk) with dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful and faithful animal in the world, but the reasons why people keep a dog {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(change). In the old days people used to train dogs to protect themselves against attacks by other beasts. And {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(late) they came {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(realize) that a dog was not only useful for protection,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} willing to obey his master. For example, when people used dogs for hunting, the dogs would not eat what was caught without {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(permit). But now people in the city need not protect themselves against attacks of animals. Why do they keep dogs, then? Some people keep dogs to protect themselves from robbery. But the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(important) reason is for companionship. For a child, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For young couples, a dog is {#blank#}9{#/blank#}child when they have no children. For old couples, a dog is also their child when their real children have grown up. So the main reason why people keep dogs has changed from protection {#blank#}10{#/blank#} friendship.

    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 as it is in China?

    In US high school, everything{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(record) into your studying document, including your grades on quizzes, tests and final examinations. Failing{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(turn) in your homework on time will directly affect your grade for a certain course. Perhaps contrary to{#blank#}4{#/blank#}we used to think of the US high school students, they pay more attention to their{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(academy) performance to try to get into a distinguished university.{#blank#}6{#/blank#}, they'll be disappointed after graduation from high school.

    Like university students, US high school students have the{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(free) to choose the courses that most interest{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(they). Even a ninth grader can sit{#blank#}9{#/blank#}the same classroom as twelfth graders. But this also means he or she has to work very hard, because the teacher will not treat him or her differently just because he or she is a few years{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(young).

    To the Chinese, the Mid-autumn Festival means family reunion and peace. The festival is celebrated when the moon is believed to be the {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(full).

    Many traditional and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(mean) celebrations are held in most households in China, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}include eating mooncakes, admiring the moon and lighting lanterns.

    The Mid-autumn Festival has {#blank#}4{#/blank#} history of over 3,000 years, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(date) back to the Shang Dynasty. It's such an important festival {#blank#}6{#/blank#} many poems and stories {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (write) about its origin. The term “ Mid-autumn” first appeared in the book Rites of Zhou, written in the Warring States Period. In the Northern Song Dynasty, the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month was established (确立) {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the “Mid-Autumn Festival”. From then on, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(admire) the moon was very popular and {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (become) a custom ever since.

A: Hi, Lily! How about {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(go) to see a film together?

B: What time?

A: This Saturday evening.

B: I'm afraid I {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(can) go with you. So you'd better go there {#blank#}3{#/blank#}yourself.

A: Why? I {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(buy) two tickets already. This film is said to be very {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(interest). I had a lot of trouble in getting these two tickets.

B: I'm really sorry but I had made an{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (appoint) already. I'm going to see my former professor Lee at university this Saturday afternoon.

A: But can't you find some other time to see{#blank#}7{#/blank#}?

B: No, I can't. He is now {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (serious) ill in hospital.

A: Your teacher will be very happy {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (see) you.

B: I'm sure he will. He used to be very kind to us students {#blank#}10{#/blank#}we were at university. How about next Saturday? I will be free the whole day.

A: OK, let's make it next Saturday.

    As we head towards midwinter all seems quiet in the garden, but now is the perfect time for {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (plant) a tree. Are you worrying about not having the space? Are you gardening on concrete? There {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) a simple solution {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the problems: grow a small tree in a pot. This is often overlooked, so in an effort {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (change) that, here is a list of the best species for pot growing, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} will work well in even the tiniest of the city gardens.

The most {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (common) suggested candidate for this treatment is an olive(橄榄树)—and with good reason. They are evergreen and have character from a young age.

    If you want something {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (usual), I'd give dwarf eucalypus {#blank#}8{#/blank#} try. Eucalypus kybeannensis is much slower growing than its cousins, creating an airy treetop of fragrant leaves on trees just 5m tall.

    Finally, if bright {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (colour) are more your thing, you can choose Cercis canadensis “Forest Pansy”(加拿大红叶紫荆). It is clothed all summer in rich and heart-shaped leaves with bare branches {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (decorate) with pink flowers in the spring.