Once upon a time, there was a man from the State of Chu who loved his sword very much. One day, he was sitting in a boat preparing {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(cross) a river, when he accidentally {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(drop) his sword into the water. The people on board reminded him that he should go into the water to find his beloved sword back. The man felt {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(anxiety), too.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}, he turned a deaf ear to that. And instead, he {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(immediate) took out a knife and made a notch(刻痕) on the side of the boat {#blank#}6{#/blank#}his dear sword fell. The people wondered why he did so. He said proudly the notch could help get his sword back. Shortly after the {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(arrive) at the shore, he entered the water just beneath the notch he made. After rather a long time, he returned empty-handed. Without doubt, he was laughed at in public and his story became {#blank#}8{#/blank#}well-known joke in China.

    Today the idiom {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(relate) to the story is used to describe a person who stick {#blank#}10{#/blank#}strict rules without considering a changing environment.

    Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability.

    Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in this practice, gradually we'll learn how {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（express）ourselves in English. In keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(difficult). In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble in {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find) appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(proper).

    As far as I am {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(concern), my suggestion is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also ask our English teacher {#blank#}9{#/blank#}help, if necessary. In short, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}development of our writing skills.

    My most {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (embarrass) moment occurred last month. I was invited to attend {#blank#}2{#/blank#} interview for a job as a hotel receptionist. I arrived on time and was shown into the manager's office by m an {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (assist). I was {#blank#}4{#/blank#} nervous that I didn't catch the manager's name.

    The interview began, “Do you have any previous experience in hotels?” asked the manager. “No sir,” I said. The manager frowned (皱眉). “Are you good {#blank#}5{#/blank#} using computers?” “Yes, Sir, I am {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (family) with most popular kinds of software. The manager frowned again. He didn't look a friendly person- The interview continued. Every answer I gave {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (receive) by a frown from the manager, even though I told him about my communication skills, my knowledge of French and so on.{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (obvious), I was doing very badly. At last, the interview came to a close. “One final question,” said the manager. “How good is your eyesight?” “Excellent, sir,'' I replied. “Very well,'' said the manager, “Thank you for coming.” I stood up {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (shake) hands with him. When the manager stood up as well, I realized {#blank#}10{#/blank#} I had been doing wrong. The gentleman I had been calling “sir” during the whole interview was wearing a skirt! The manager was a woman! I didn't get the job.

    Respect is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} to any relationship. Respect is the key to {#blank#}2{#/blank#}friendships, to political alliances, and to international{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Through respect you show that someone matters to you. Your{#blank#}4{#/blank#}of others {#blank#}5{#/blank#}your level of respect for them.

    {#blank#}6{#/blank#} is much more than just growing plants. To make a garden {#blank#}7{#/blank#} it is just as important that the {#blank#}8{#/blank#}in which the plants are placed is right. You can have your garden{#blank#}9{#/blank#}and constructed by{#blank#}10{#/blank#}

    When I was young, I was not popular {#blank#}1{#/blank#} my classmates. If you'd asked me, I would have told you I was against bullying(霸凌).

    But one day, I was in the classroom, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(chat) with my friend Lizzie, when Kristina walked up to me. She was one of the bullies so I prepared {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(me) for more insults(羞辱). I looked at her, feeling {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(terrify). But she said that she was sorry for what she {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(do) to me.

    I accepted her apology. Later, we became friends, laughing at people, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} even pushing them. People were noticing me in {#blank#}7{#/blank#} way they never had before.

    Then one day, Lizzie came up to me and shouted, "you've become a bully!" That night I was {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(wake) thinking for a long time. The next day at school, I apologized to Lizzie and told her I would never hurt her  {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(feel) like that again.

    {#blank#}10{#/blank#} took a while to earn back her trust, but eventually we got back to normal.