For some time, I had been thinking that I wanted to do something to make strangers smile. I decided that I {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (leave) small notes around shops and other public places with positive sayings or kind words for strangers {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (find).

    A friend on Facebook posted that she had received a lot of beautiful paper from an artist friend and was wondering what to do with it. I told her about my idea, and she {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (immediate) said that this must be what her paper was meant for.

    So two friends on opposite {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (side) of the world started leaving these random notes of kindness. I leave my notes without {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (expect) any particular result. It doesn't matter whether they are read {#blank#}6{#/blank#} thrown away. The main thing is that I did this act.

    I now carry around a notebook in {#blank#}7{#/blank#} I write down lovely and inspiring phrases that I find. And I buy packs of Post­ its to write notes on whenever I see {#blank#}8{#/blank#} opportunity to make a stranger smile. I only leave the notes when I am feeling in a {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (happily) mood, as I don't want to pass any negative energy on to someone else.

    I sign them all {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (say) that this note is left for you by a stranger to make you smile. Then, I add a heart.

    Cyclist Agustin Navarro was coming fourth in a race in Spain. But as he approached the finish line, he saw that his competitor Ismael Esteban had suffered a flat line and was running toward the finish line{#blank#}1{#/blank#} his bike over his shoulders. Agustin Navarro slowed down and refused{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (pass) him. Instead, he rode behind Ismael Esteban{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (allow) him to win the bronze medal.

    The people standing along the way applauded for Agustin Navarro's{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (behave) and cheered the two men as they made it toward the finish line —{#blank#}5{#/blank#} on foot; the other, on his bike. Mr. Esteban later tried to give{#blank#}6{#/blank#} prize to Agustin Navarro,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} he refused it.

    Agustin Navarro{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (praise) online for his unusual act since then. In a television interview, he told people that he didn't want to win like that, so he braked out of respect for somebody who had been{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (good) than himself. That's{#blank#}10{#/blank#} the spirit in a sport lies: respect competitors, teammates, coaches and even themselves.

    Just up the road from my home is a field，with two horses in it. From a distance，each horse looks like any other horse. But if you get a{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(close)look, you will notice one of them is blind. Instead of abandoning him, his owner has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in. And if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (come) from{#blank#}3{#/blank#} smaller horse. Attached to{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(it) halter is a small, copper-colored bell assisting the blind friend to follow him.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} you watch them，you'll find the horse with the bell always checking on the blind one，and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the other one is，{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(trust ) he will not {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (lead) astray (歧路). When the horse with the bell returns to the barn each evening，he will stop {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(frequent) to look back，making sure that the other isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

    Life does not throw us away just because we are not perfect {#blank#}10{#/blank#}because we have problems or challenges. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of our acquaintances；at other times we are the guide horse，who helps others to find their way.

    In Chinese culture, each year is related to{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Chinese animal according to the 12-year cycle. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year. People born during the year of dog {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (believe) to take after some of the animal's characteristics, such as loyalty, patience, and reliability.

    Zodiac(黄道) theory also relates to Chinese elemental theory, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}associates the 12 animals with one of five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The five elements {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (combine) with the 12 zodiac signs produce a 60-year cycle. Zodiac animals have both fixed and non-fixed elements attached {#blank#}5{#/blank#}them. For example, the dog (as well as the dragon, ox, and goat) is always associated with the earth element.{#blank#}6{#/blank#} the year of 2018 is considered an earth year according to the Chinese solar calendar, those born in 2018 are considered earth dogs, which carry characteristics like being communicative and responsible at work. Though dogs are{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (general) associated with earth, those born during the metal dog year are believed to be conservative and{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (caution) in nature. As Dogs are not good at communication, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}is difficult for them to convey their thoughts to others. Therefore, Dogs tend to leave others with the {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (impress) that they have a stubborn personality, but they are indeed loyal to their families and friends.

    Wherever you look these days something's looking back at you. There are video cameras on street {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (corner), vehicles and our own front doors.

    A Chicago company {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (call)Cooler Screens believes that you won't mind if they put cameras into the display cases (展柜) in stores. The cameras aren't placed there {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (prevent) you from stealing. Instead, they're part of a system that tries to guess {#blank#}4{#/blank#}you will buy next, based on how you look.

    The doors on the cases {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) video screens that show images of the goods, so a customer can see what's available inside. The screens also show vivid ads. They decide which ads to show by {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (study) video images of the customers.

    A camera feeds images of each customer into a computer {#blank#}7{#/blank#} guesses his or her sex and age. In addition, the system tracks {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (exact) where the customer is looking. Do the eyes come to rest {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a bottle of Red Bull, or does the shopper fancy Coca Cola? The Cooler Screens system instantly {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (analyze) all of this data, and then starts showing ads on the cooler door.

    There is a wonderful story about Jimmy Durante, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}is one of the great singers in the twentieth century. One day, when {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(ask)to be part of a show for some old World War II soldiers, Jimmy said he could afford only a few minutes and {#blank#}3{#/blank#}he would come if they wouldn't mind his singing one short song and immediately leaving for his next appointment. Of course, the show's director agreed happily.

    But when Jimmy got on stage, something {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(surprise) happened. He went through the short song and then stayed. The applause grew louder and louder and he kept staying. Pretty soon, he had been on stage{#blank#}5{#/blank#}fifteen, twenty, and then thirty minutes. One of his assistants behind the stage stopped him and said, “I thought you had to go after a few minutes. What happened?” Jimmy answered, “I did have to go, but I can show you the reason{#blank#}6{#/blank#} I stayed. You can see for yourself if you look at the front row.” In the front row {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(be) two men, both of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}had lost an arm in the war. {#blank#}9{#/blank#}had lost his right arm and the other had lost his left. Together, they were able to clap, and that was exactly{#blank#}10{#/blank#} they were doing, loudly and cheerfully.