In 1977, a dead author of detective stories saved the life of a 19-month-old baby in a most {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(usual) way. The author was Agatha Christie, one of the most successful writers of detective stories in the world.

    In June that year, a baby girl became {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(serious) ill in Qatar, near Saudi Arabia. Doctors were unable to find out the cause of her illness with {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(confident), so she was sent to big hospital in London {#blank#}4{#/blank#}specialist help was available. A team of doctors hurried to examine the baby only {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(discover) that they, too, were confused by the very unusual disease. Just then, a nurse asked to speak to them.

     "Excuse me," said the nurse, "{#blank#}6{#/blank#} I think the baby is suffering from thallium(铊) poisoning. "

    "What makes you think that?" Dr. Brown asked. "Thallium poisoning is extremely rare."

"I read a detective novel {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Agatha Christie a few days ago,” the nurse explained, "and in the book, somebody suffers from thallium poisoning, and all the symptoms {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(describe). They're exactly {#blank#}9{#/blank#} same as the baby's."

    The tests showed that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium, a rare metallic substance{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (use) in making special glass. Once they knew the cause of the illness, the doctors were able to give the baby the correct treatment. She soon recovered and was sent back home.

    Africa has been called the “dark continent” for a long time because {#blank#}1{#/blank#} lacks technology, electricity and other {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (achieve) of the modem world. However, it is beginning to change. Africa is starting to catch up with {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (industry) countries and the driving force behind this new development is the Internet and the World Wide Web.

    Now Africa is the fastest {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (grow) place on the earth. So far, governments, businesses and individuals {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (realize) that in order to develop quickly, modem technology is needed.

    Only ten years ago a SIM card used to cost about $100 in Niger. Today you can buy one for under $2 and phone calls have become much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (cheap), too. As a result, 23% of its population are now mobile phone users.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (equip) with this new service, people can connect to the Internet easily. Many Nigerians have access {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the World Wide Web now.

    In Ethiopia farmers can now get the prices of their farming products in real time. Until recently, most of the small farmers of the country did not know {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the prices of their products were at {#blank#}10{#/blank#} certain time. Today, they can phone in and get an up-to-the-minute report on prices.

    Thanksgiving was drawing near and I was feeling sad about being separated from my family in Indiana.

    Would I have to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(my)?

That night at Dubya's Restaurant, which was my favorite place to dine, I chatted with Dubya, the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (own) of the restaurant. “It's too bad that this place won't be open {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Thanksgiving, or I could just come here.” I said.

    “Why not join my family for the holiday?” he said in a warm voice. I knew Dubya and his wife well, but I didn't think we were close enough {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (share) Thanksgiving dinner. I was sure he was joking. But Dubya soon handed me a note on which directions to their house and their phone number {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (write).

    And two days later, I reached Dubya's house. As{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (expect), the food was great but the company（陪伴）was even {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (good). I truly felt I belonged there.

    Of course, I wrote them {#blank#}8{#/blank#} thank-you letter the next week, but I couldn't really put into words {#blank#}9{#/blank#}that Thanksgiving dinner invitation had meant to me. I've never forgotten their {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (kind) and that very special Thanksgiving.

    Who invented the ATM? There have been {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (argue) for years over who should officially go down in history as "the inventor of the ATM". Now the UK government is {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (clear) saying it was James Goodfellow {#blank#}3{#/blank#} invented the ATM.

    Back in the mid-1960s, James Goodfellow was working {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a development engineer for Glasgow firm Kelvin Hughes, and had been charged with inventing a way to enable customers to withdraw (取) cash from banks when Saturday opening ended. "Most people {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (work) during the week couldn't get to the bank. They wanted a solution. The solution {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) a machine which would issue cash on demand to a {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (recognize) customer," he said. "I set out to develop a cash-issuing machine, and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (make) this a reality, I invented the pin (personal identification number) and an associated coded token (代币)."

    The cash machine has become a world-conquering piece of technology. There are now 3 million ATMs worldwide, with {#blank#}9{#/blank#} number forecast to hit 4 million by 2020. The good news for Goodfellow is that people are beginning to know him for his invention. Even {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (good) for him, the Home Office has now officially recognized his other achievement.