In my living room, there is aplaque that advises me to “bloom {#blank#}1{#/blank#}youare planted”. It reminds me of Dorothy. I got to know Dorothy in the early1980s, when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program. Thejob {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(responsible) requiredoccasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program. Dorothystands out in my memory as on one {#blank#}3{#/blank#}bloomed in her remote area.

       Dorothy taught in a remote school nearHarlan. To get to her school from the town of Harlan, I followed a road {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(wind) around the mountain. In theeight-mile journey, I crossed the same railroad track five times, giving thepossibility of {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(catch) by thesame train five times. Rather than feeling excited by this drive throughmountains, I found it depressing. The poverty level was shocking and the smallshabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(hope).

        From the moment of my arrival at thelittle school, all my gloom disappeared. Upon arriving at Dorothy's classroom,I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen. The children{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(prepare) to show me their {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(late) projects. Dorothy told me witha smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread they madethemselves for dinner.

        Lonely {#blank#}9{#/blank#}she was far away from the moderncivilization and convenience, she never ran out of reports of excitingactivities of her students. Her enthusiasm never cooleddown. She passed all the tests {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(excellent)and I found that Dorothy was really blooming where life had planted her.

    For example, one evening when it was so warm, I stayed awake {#blank#}1{#/blank#} until half past eleven {#blank#}2{#/blank#} have a good look at the moon by myself. But as the moon gave far too much light, I didn't dare open a window. Another time five months ago, I happened to be upstairs{#blank#}3{#/blank#} when the window was open. I didn't go downstairs until the window had to be shut. The dark, rainy evening, the wind, the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} clouds held me {#blank#}5{#/blank#} in their {#blank#}6{#/blank#}; it was the first time in a year and a half that I had seen the night{#blank#}7{#/blank#}.

    Chengdu has dozens of new millionaires, Asia's biggest building, and new fancy hotels. But for tourists like me, pandas are its top {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (attract)．

    So it was a great honor to be invited backstage at the not for profit Panda Base, where ticket money helps pay for research. I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (allow) to get close to these cute animals at the 600­acre center. From tomorrow, I will be their UK ambassador. The title will be {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (official) given to me at a ceremony in London. But my connection with pandas goes back {#blank#}4{#/blank#} my days on a TV show in the mid­1980s, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} I was the first Western TV reporter {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (permit) to film a special unit caring for pandas rescued from starvation in the wild. My ambassadorial duties will include {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (introduce) British visitors to the 120­plus pandas at Chengdu and others at a research in the misty mountains of Bifengxia.

    On my recent visit, I held a lively three­month­old twin that had been rejected by {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (it) mother. The nursery team switches him every few{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (day) with his sister so that while one is being bottle ­ fed, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} other is with mom—she never suspects.

    With the amazing development in China, all China's major cities have good transport networks. There are the tour buses, mini buses, taxis, as well as public buses.

    Buses in Chinese towns are always {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (crowd). The fare depends on distance, and is payable to the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (conduct) of buses.

    A taxi is often {#blank#}3{#/blank#} most convenient means of travel in the city. They are available at airports, railway stations and hotels and even in urban areas. The total fare depends on the starting meter price, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} can range from 5 to 12 yuan, and the distance. Extra fees{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (charge) for waiting and low speed driving during traffic jams. If you take a taxi after 11 pm, a 20 percent surcharge {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (apply) over the basic fare.

    The minibus is a compromise between the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (relative) expensive taxis and full public transport. Their charge is a little more than that of the bus, about 2 yuan or more {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (depend) on distance, but it is very convenient, because it can stop {#blank#}9{#/blank#} any point you want along the route.

    Tour buses, normally {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (equip) with air conditioning and TV, are managed by travel agencies, hotels and airports and provided for short tours. A tour guide is usually present on such buses.