When I left for the United States to study. I had butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous because I was going to {#blank#}1{#/blank#}new place with new people and new customs. I couldn't even understand {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(they)language. Everything was different {#blank#}3{#/blank#}my own country. There was nobody that I could talk to. I just had my husband, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}was a new person for me, too.

    It was a sad moment when I had to say goodbye to my family and friends. I didn't want {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(leave)my hometown because I {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(grow) up there and had wonderful {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(memory) of the place. So, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (think)about all these changes made me nervous and I was {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(worry)about my new life. But studying abroad was a decision that I made myself. I had to continue and accept the challenge. I looked forward to {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(visit)my family in the summer vacation.

    My name is Tabitha,a 36-year-old mother living with my three{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(kid) in West Tennessee.I{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(lose) my job a couple of weeks ago and I am still searching for work now.The town{#blank#}3{#/blank#}I live is quite small and finding a job here has proven to be a major task.

    Since leaving my last job,I have found that it's{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(difficult) to make myself employed again than I expected.I have become a full-time homemaker{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(take) care of my motherly duties as well as housework.Apart from caring for my children and taking care of the house,I am still busy looking for part-time and full-time{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(employ) to help my family financially.I{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(frequent) visit our local career center and search online if I have very little free time.

    To be frank,I admit that being unemployed is stressful.I usually find myself lying awake at night and wondering{#blank#}8{#/blank#}I'm going to support my family if I cannot find{#blank#}9{#/blank#}job.In my inner heart,I never think about giving up.Having devoted much effort to my job-hunting,I believe it will pay off one day.Therefore,I will continue to search until I find one that allows me{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(provide) an income for my family.

    Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant(木材商), and he got it. The pay was {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(real) good and so were the work conditions.  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do {#blank#}3{#/blank#} best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (bring) 18 trees. "Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on that way". Very {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(motivate) by the boss's words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder. But he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. "I must be losing my {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(strong), " the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(say) that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your axe? " the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(try) to cut trees. "

    From red lanterns to red envelopes, did you ever wonder {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the color red is so popular in China, especially during the Chinese New Year? It is said that it all began with Nian, a wild beast {#blank#}2{#/blank#} would frighten villagers on the New Year,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (eat)crops, livestock(家畜),and even children. But villagers learned that this animal {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a lion head was afraid of three things: fire, noise, and the color red. Nian was defeated, and from then on, the color red was considered {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (bring)good luck and good fortune to all.

    “Usually red lanterns are hung outside the doors to ward off(避开)bad luck,” suggests Karen Katz, author of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} picture book My First Chinese New Year.“ Also red cutout papers {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (use)as decorations to hang on the walls. If you live near a Chinese neighborhood, you should be able to purchase these {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (item), but if not, go online and order them. You can also make your own cutouts.”

Still, the most popular way to celebrate the Chinese New Year {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be)to hand out red envelopes filled with money. However, like toys under the Christmas tree, some traditions are meant for children, and Chinese red envelopes are given to {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (they)to ward off evil spirits.

    Beijing Opera is a traditional culture of China. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (call) Beijing Opera because it's formed in Beijing.

    Beijing Opera has a history of about 200 years, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} origin can date back to old local operas, especially Anhui Opera. In 1790, the first Anhui Opera performance was held in Beijing {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (celebrate) the Emperor's birthday. Later, some other Anhui Opera troupes (戏班) went on to perform in Beijing. Anhui Opera was easy to move {#blank#}4{#/blank#} good at absorbing the acting styles of other types of operas.

    At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Beijing Opera finally formed, and became the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (big) of all operas in China. Beijing Opera has a rich list of plays, artists, troupes, audiences, and wide influences, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (make) it the leading opera in China.

    Beijing Opera is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} all-round acting art. It mixes singing, reading, acting, fighting and dancing together by using acting {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (method) to tell stories and describe characters. The roles in Beijing Opera include the male, female, painted-face, and comedic roles. Besides, there {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) other supporting roles as well. In addition, the types of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (face) make-up, especially the color, are the most particular art in Beijing Opera.

    For thousands of years, doctors {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (recognize) that childbirth can have a big effect on a woman's mind and body. Many women experience a time of sadness {#blank#}2{#/blank#} they give birth to a baby. This is called the baby blues, or postnatal depression.

    Doctors do not know the exact cause of postnatal depression. But they believe that an imbalance of brain chemicals {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) probably the cause. Hormones are {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (nature) body chemicals. They affect a person's emotions. Immediately after pregnancy, a woman's hormone {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (level) change a lot. So, a woman's emotions and ways of thinking also change a lot.

    Other brain chemicals also influence the way a person feels. They {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (physical) affect the brain. They make a person feel depressed. There are ways to fix and balance these brain chemicals.

    Some medicines, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (call) anti-depressants, can help to treat postnatal depression. But these medicines may cost a lot of money. And not all people can get them. However, there are ways that women may be able to treat and recover from these sicknesses without medicine.

    If you are a new mother {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (suffer) from the baby blues or postnatal depression you should know that you are not alone. Other women have had {#blank#}9{#/blank#} same experiences. They have lived to have happy and healthy lives. If you are a husband, friend, or family member of a new mother, you should know that you can help! You can support the new mother. You can share the information {#blank#}10{#/blank#} her. You can help her find hope.