Dear Tom，

    How time flies! You {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (study) in Beijing for nearly a month, during which you must have achieved a lot. Well, how's everything going? It is reported that the weather there is very hot and dry these days, which is very different from{#blank#}2{#/blank#} of your country. Have you adapted to it? In addition, you once complained that the food {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (serve) there was not {#blank#}4{#/blank#} your taste. I hope that should have been improved.

    I am glad to tell you that I will go to Beijing to take part in an English speech contest in July, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} is not only an honor, but also a great opportunity for me to improve {#blank#}6{#/blank#}. And now I try my best to make {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (prepare) for it. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}, I have some trouble in collecting the materials relevant and using the language. I will appreciate {#blank#}9{#/blank#} if you give me a hand to solve the problems.

    After the contest, I am to drop {#blank#}10{#/blank#} at your school to visit you. Please wait for my phone.

Li Hua

    On May 18, it was announced that China had achieved success in drilling fire ice, a frozen {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(mix) of water and natural gas, from the South China Sea. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(official) known as methane hydrates(甲烷水合物), fire ice produces a high amount of energy when {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(burn) and its chemical reaction produces nothing but dioxide and water.

    Fire ice, both clean and energy-intensive, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(consider) the fuel of the future. Many countries, including the United States and Japan, have long been conducting research on fire ice, but extracting（提取）it from the bottom of the sea has been a common problem {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(trouble) all of them. But, the Chinese team succeeded in drilling fire ice for nearly eight successive days, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}is a big breakthrough.

    However, it is too early {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(say) a new energy source has been found. The world's total fire ice reserve is about 21,000 trillion cubic meters, which, if extracted, could meet the world's energy need

    {#blank#}8{#/blank#}1,000 years. But the successful test drilling of fire ice does not mean it can be extracted for {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(industry) use. China has to solve many problems before it can use fire ice as a source of energy.

    It's thought that only by 2025 at{#blank#}10{#/blank#} earliest might people be able to look at realistic commercial options.

    Modern-day robots are programmed to handle tasks that are normally carried out by humans. They are faster and{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(accurate) than human workers and never ask for a pay rise or take breaks!

    Robots are also able to work{#blank#}2{#/blank#}dangerous situations.

    Researchers at the University of Arkansas in the United States say that the mobile robots which have been created already are ideal for the job of hospital attendants. These mobile robots store a{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(detail) map of the hospital in their memory. The robots' sensors can detect{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(object) and quickly get out of the way. Although these robots cannot go up and down know how{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(press) a button of an elevator.

    Researchers at a Massachusetts' university are creating the first robot {#blank#}6{#/blank#}can constantly change its shape according to the task it has to do. These are called polymorphic robots. "Polymorphic" means{#blank#}7{#/blank#}ability to take different forms. A 3D printer{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(place) inside the robot to create the desired shape. The entire process of changing forms in this manner is called the rapid printing technology which is{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(fair) common in the car industry to produce complex 3D structures quickly. Once the robot has performed{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(it) task, it can be melted down and recycled into another useful part by the 3D printer.

    It is reported that many middle school students are just not getting enough sleep, especially during the school week. The problem seems to get {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (bad) as they get older. Year 7 students sleep 8.4 hours in a school night, and Year 9 students only 6.9 hours.

    It's also reported that not getting enough sleep can cause {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (problem) in a student's life. Many students fall {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (sleep) in school or while doing their homework, so it is not {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (surprise) that they get lower grades than those who get enough sleep. Scientists suggest nine hours a night for middle school students. Of the students who feel {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (happy) and nervous, 73% don't get enough sleep at night.

    Why aren't students getting enough sleep? Many students have one of the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (follow) things, like telephone, television, or computer in their bedrooms. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (use) them on a school night not only takes their time away from homework, but also makes {#blank#}8{#/blank#} difficult for them to sleep. As a result, many students can't sleep before 11 p. m., yet they must get up early {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (go) to school.

    Scientists also suggest students should not do exciting activities for an hour {#blank#}10{#/blank#} bedtime.