In China, the history of people planting and using bamboo can date back to as far as 7000 years. As early as the Shang Dynasty, bamboo was being used in ancient people's daily lives. It was used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (music) instruments and even weapons.

    The {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (apply) of bamboo in science and technology is thrilling. In 251 BC, Li Bing, in Sichuan, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (lead) the local people in building the Dujiang Weirs(都江堰), the first irrigation network in the world, in which bamboo played {#blank#}4{#/blank#} important role. The world's oldest water pipe was also {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) of bamboo. During the Han Dynasty, the people in Sichuan {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (success) sank a 1600-metre-deep well with thick bamboo ropes. This technology did not spread to Europe {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the 19^th century, and it was by using the technology {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the Americans drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859.

    In Chinese culture, bamboo is well-known as {#blank#}9{#/blank#} of the “four gentlemen” in plants. To many distinguished men, bamboo is a symbol of goodness and honesty. It is always closely related to people of positive spirits. Influenced by bamboo culture, many people are taught to hold on when {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (face) tough situations.

In China, a site that amazed me was one {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (provide) by nature—the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River, the mother river of the country.

    The Yellow River was a main source of transportation in the past. Many ports and bridges were built and destroyed by the river's strong current(水流), and it was {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (challenge) for the locals back then to build a bridge {#blank#}3{#/blank#} was strong enough to withstand(承受) the current of the Yellow River.

    About 1,500 years ago, the locals of Puzhou, which is now Yongji,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (make) several iron oxen anchors, each {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (weigh) more than seventy metric tons to hold a floating bridge across the Yellow River. It was amazing to see these{#blank#}6{#/blank#} person and I was astonished by the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (wise) and workmanship of people back then.

    The hotels that {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (arrange) for us to stay in were among the best in each city we visited, which sums up {#blank#}9{#/blank#} China was shown to me, with sights both beautiful and amazing {#blank#}10{#/blank#} kind and helpful people.

    How will our continuously growing population affect our way of life, our environment, even our planet? No matter how you look at it, we will face {#blank#}1{#/blank#}extremely serious problem. By the middle of the 21st century, we {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(use) up all the oil that drives our cars if at the rate we're going. Even if scientists develop some new {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(way)of feeding the human race, the crowded conditions on the earth will make {#blank#}4{#/blank#}necessary for us to look for open space somewhere else. But none of the planets in our solar system are able {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(support) life at present. One possible solution {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the problem, however, has recently been suggested by an American scientist, Professor Carl Sagan. His idea is {#blank#}7{#/blank#}before the earth's resources are almost exhausted, it will be {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(total)possible to change the atmosphere of Venus（金星）and so create a new world almost as large as earth itself.

    However, {#blank#}9{#/blank#}his idea is turned into reality, humans have a long way to go. On the one hand, Venus is much {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(hot)than the earth; on the other hand, there is only a tiny amount of water there.

    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.

    As an attractive city in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(city)in the world, having over 800, 000 bikes in the capital. By comparison, the city has a population of only 750, 000, less than {#blank#}2{#/blank#}number of bikes. According to a survey{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(make)5 years ago, 490, 000 people used bicycles every day.

    Up to now, people in Amsterdam{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(enjoy)the convenience of cycling for decades. The city has special facilities for cyclists, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}can be used for free. Compared with other transportation in the city, bikes are{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(clean)and less expensive while also{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(offer)health benefits.

    {#blank#}8{#/blank#}reason for bicycle riding is that bicycle traffic is{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(relative)safe. Amsterdammers ride a wide variety{#blank#}10{#/blank#}bicycles. Many tourists also discover Amsterdam by bike, which is a typical Dutch way.