One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried loudly {#blank#}1{#/blank#}hours and the farmer tried to figure out {#blank#}2{#/blank#} to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(cover) up anyway; it just wasn't worth the effort to get the donkey back.

    He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel（铲）and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(cry) horribly. Then, to everyone's {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(amaze), he quieted down. A few shovel loads {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(late), the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(hit) his back, the donkey was doing something surprising. He would shake {#blank#}8{#/blank#} off and take a step up.

    As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would do the same. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over {#blank#}9{#/blank#} edge of the well and {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(happy) ran off!

    Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

    Running a few kilometers each day is good for our health. However, new research says running too much could be bad for us. Running long distances {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(regular) for many years could make our life{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(short), not longer. The study is from the Minneapolis Heart Institute. A researcher said too much running can created plague(斑) inside your heart,{#blank#}3{#/blank#}can lead to heart disease. He wrote that running too much for many years takes away the good things from exercise. He{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(add) that the risk of heart disease could be{#blank#}5{#/blank#}same as someone who never exercised.

    Researchers looked{#blank#}6{#/blank#}the health and training of 3,300 runners over the age of 35. 70% of them ran over 30 kilometers a week. Men who ran marathons for 25 years had 62% more plaque in their heart than men who did little{#blank#}7{#/blank#}no exercise. Another doctor said he felt cheated. He started running marathons in 1967. He used{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(run) 60 kilometers every week. He said, “I thought I was out there exhausting{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(me), building an absolutely strong heart.” The doctor advised{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(exercise) frequently but not to overdo things.

    Recently a really strange thing happened in a middle school in China's Hubei Province. Over 600 students there took part in a “caring for an egg like a baby”{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (active) in which they were asked to keep an egg close at hand for a month{#blank#}2{#/blank#}breaking it.

    "It's hard for parents to bring up their children{#blank#}3{#/blank#}many students just ignore it,” said Liu Kang, the school's director. "They should{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(teach) to be grateful to their parents, who have given them life but ask for nothing in return.”

    Li Ming is one of the students. His egg didn't break during the month, but he felt{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(exhaust). "I now realize that my parents have had great difficulty{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(bring) me up. I'll do all I can to make their life easier and more{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(comfort) when I grow up.” promised the 13-year-old boy.{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (luck), about 10 students broke their eggs. Yan Yueming broke his egg after just five days, which made him frustrated. He said, "I can't imagine{#blank#}9{#/blank#}sad my parents would be if there was something wrong with me, their 'egg'!" It is time I{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(do) something in return for their love.” said Yan.

    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.

    Smiling

    Smile is a universal language, which is widely used throughout the world. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, the meaning of a smile in different cultures may be different. Depending on different cultures, smiling can express joy and {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(amuse), but it can also indicate embarrassment. The following examples show this point of view:

    In an attempt to be open and {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(friend), people in the United States smile a lot. Every one smiles at each other and this nonverbal communication shows being polite in the United States. But in China, smiling is not only {#blank#}4{#/blank#}expression of happiness, but also a way to avoid {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(laugh) at. Chinese people like smiling when they are embarrassed in order to avoid embarrassment. Smiling is a kind of good will but not sneer (嘲笑). For example: When a child{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(fall) off from a bike, the adults in China may smile, {#blank#}7{#/blank#}is a kind of gentle encouragement and may not be a kind of impolite laugh.

    Related {#blank#}8{#/blank#}the smile is the laugh. Also, different cultures have different {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(meaning) about laugh. Americans can enjoy a very heartfelt belly (腹部) laugh that comes from the deepest emotions while most Chinese may think {#blank#}10{#/blank#}silly to laugh that way.

    The year 2018 marks the 40^th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. The past four decades has seen China shift its society from a farmers' community to a digital culture {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (successful). Under the leadership of CPC, many {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (achievement) can be seen in every field. The life of the Chinese people has improved, with millions of people being lifted out of poverty. The country now has the world's {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (large) high-speed rail network. And with around 800 million Internet users, China has become the world's fastest-growing online shopping market.