It was a summer afternoon and some boys were playing together in a park. They knew each other well, as they  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (spend) the last three years of school together and tomorrow was the start of a new term, about  {#blank#}2{#/blank#} they were excited and nervous.

    The first day of school came, and all the boys from the park the day before were put in the same class  {#blank#}3{#/blank#} coincidence. They jumped for joy all morning long. After lunch, the teacher came into the classroom with a boy and it was evident {#blank#}4{#/blank#} they had never seen him before.

    All the children were quiet, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (wait) for the teacher to speak. And she said: “Hello everyone, this is Mei Pei from China, our newest class member. Mei Pei knows some English so I hope you will treat him as if he {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (be) your brother.”

    Then one child said to Mei Pei: “How come you speak {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (different)?” Meipei answered: “In my country, we all talk this way. On {#blank#}8{#/blank#} other hand, we're just the same as you. I wish I {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (speak) English as well as you in three months.”

    The children in the class understood this, and that it also didn't matter what he looked like, or what colour his skin was, or that he didn't speak perfect English.

    So the new {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (add) to the class helped everyone learn how to respect new people. And the boys stayed in the same class for another two years, with Meipei as one of their best friends.

Woman: Our design class is really interesting. Don't you think so?

Man: Yeah, I like Professor Vargas, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} sometimes he goes too fast, and I feel like I'm missing something. There's a lot we have {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (remember).

Woman: True. There are a lot of details about all the different styles.

Man: Yeah, there are Art Nouveau, and Art Deco, and Art Moderne... I have a hard time {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (keep) it all straight.

Woman: I know what you mean.

Man: For example, it seems to me {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Art Deco and Art Moderne are the same things.

Woman: Well, it's somewhat confusing. They were both popular in {#blank#}5{#/blank#}1930s although Art Deco came a little before Moderne. I think Professor Vargas {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (say) Art Deco started at an exhibition in Paris in 1925. Let me check out my notes. Right, Art Deco was a popular international art design movement from 1923 until the 1940s, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (affect) the decorative arts such as architecture and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (industry) design, as well as the visual arts such as fashion, painting, the graphic arts and film.

Man: So, they were about the same time. It's one thing that gets confusing. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} thing is, they seem so similar that it's hard to see why they're {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (consider) different styles.

    A proverb says, "Time is money". But in my opinion, time is even {#blank#}1{#/blank#} precious than money. Why？{#blank#}2{#/blank#} when money is spent, we can earn it back. However, when time is {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（go） , it will never return. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} is known to all that the time we can use is limited. Therefore we should make {#blank#}5{#/blank#} use of our time to study hard so as to serve our country in {#blank#}6{#/blank#} future. But it is a pity that there are a lot of people {#blank#}7{#/blank#} do not realize the value of time. They waste their precious time smoking, drinking and playing. In {#blank#}8{#/blank#} word, we should form the good habit of {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (save) time. Do not put off what can be done today {#blank#}10{#/blank#} tomorrow.

    As an English learner, you might have been frequently upset about {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a large vocabulary and difficult grammar.

    Whatever you do in future,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}English will help you to succeed.

    The more vocabulary and its usages that you learn, the more you will {#blank#}3{#/blank#} of the language.

    Being a clown in a hospital is very tiring both{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    At the moment I'm working with a very sick little girl from Bosnia who speaks no English, so our only{#blank#}5{#/blank#}is laughter.

There are two main sets of Games—the Winter and the Summer Olympics, and both are held every four years on a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} basis. The Winter Olympics are usually held two years before the Summer Games. Only athletes who have reached the agreed standard for their event will be {#blank#}2{#/blank#} as competitors.

    Our Greek cities used to compete against each other just for the honor of winning. No other countries could join in, nor {#blank#}3{#/blank#} slaves or women!

The book The Secret Garden, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} in 1911, inspires people to plant flowers. But before that, only a few people had enough money {#blank#}2{#/blank#} gardens. Many houses have been built {#blank#}3{#/blank#} gardens and many British people are proud of their "green fingers". In spring children like to find the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} sunflowers. Some people spend much time {#blank#}5{#/blank#} their vegetables for competitions. However, the space on {#blank#}6{#/blank#} to grow things is limited so people use their rooftop {#blank#}7{#/blank#} a private garden. These gardens {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the air quality and people's living {#blank#}9{#/blank#} since then. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you tend a rose... a thistle can't grow.