Why men wolf down their meals {#blank#}1{#/blank#} women take their time? Many a woman has watched in disbelief as their partners eat their food minutes after sitting down to dinner. Now Korean researchers have discovered why: men and women {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (actual) chew differently. Women chew each individual mouthful more times — taking longer to finish {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (eat) their meal.

    The researchers hired 24 males and 24 females in South Korea. They recorded the size of people's bites, total chewing time per mouthful of food, total number of chews and how long {#blank#}4{#/blank#}   took the person to eat the entire meal. Men typically take {#blank#}5{#/blank#}   (large) bites with more “chewing power”, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} means they consume their meal more quickly than women.

    Though women were watched {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (have) the same chewing pace as men, they chewed each mouthful more times, slowing down the total time it took them to eat their meal.

    The study {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (publish) in the January issue of the Physiology and Behaviour Journal. But it flies in the face of an earlier result studied {#blank#}9{#/blank#} researchers at Nippon Dental University in Tokyo, Japan, which found no {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (different) in how the sexes chewed gum.

    Our local Community Youth Club is a very popular{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(organize) with young people in my town. We've taken part{#blank#}2{#/blank#}lots of projects.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}, we've also started doing social work to help in{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(we) neighborhood. We're particularly proud of the recent project. We paid{#blank#}5{#/blank#}visit to the local people's home,{#blank#}6{#/blank#}we sang songs and played games with the elderly. After this visit, we made a decision{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(help) improve the quality of their lives. Up to now,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (probable) over twenty volunteers{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(join) us. Everyone finds the experience{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(offer) by our local Community Youth Club rich and rewarding.

    Xiao Li and John Martin became friends while{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(study)at university,It's been six years{#blank#}2{#/blank#}they last saw each other.And this is the first time John Martin{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(visit)Xia Li's hometown Xia Men,one of the most {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(attract)cities on the coast,It's so lively and everyone seems so friendly.Xiao Li feels very fortunate{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(live) here.The climate is pretty hot and wet in the summer,{#blank#}6{#/blank#}it can be quite cold in the winter.Every year many tourists come to Xiamen{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(spend)their holidays,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (especial)in the summer.A lot of high-rise buildings have put{#blank#}9{#/blank#}in the business district.And there are some shopping malls.With some really pretty parks,the western district is the most interesting part of the city.Gulangyu is just {#blank#}10{#/blank#}the water,a gorgeous island with some really interesting architecture.

    The lion is a special animal to Chinese people. A pair of stone lions, a male and a female, are {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (common) seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings.

    The lion {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (regard) as the king in the animal world so it represents power. The stone lions are also used to indicate the ranks of {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(official).

    It is interesting to note that China had no lions originally. The earliest stone lions were sculpted{#blank#}4{#/blank#} the beginning of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) with{#blank#}5{#/blank#}introduction of Buddhism into ancient China. In the Buddhist faith, the lion{#blank#}6{#/blank#}can protect the Truth and keep off evils, is considered a holy animal of nobleness and dignity. In Chinese folk tales, the lion has become a symbol of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(brave), power and good luck.

    It was also popular{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(decorate) bridges with sculpted stone lions for the same reason. The {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(well)known of this is the Lugouqiao (also as Marco Polo Bridge){#blank#}10{#/blank#} (build) from 1189 to 1192. A famous proverb says, “The lions on the Lugouqiao are uncountable.”

    Small talk is the short conversations we have at parties, while we wait in line at the store, at family events or work. Sometimes we make small talk with people we already know but not well. Often we have to make small talk with complete strangers. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

    ⒈{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    If you have seen a really good movie or have read a really good book, you can talk about that.

   When you are sharing the same experience with someone, it's easy to start a conversation. You simply notice and comment on what's going on around you. For example, if you are at a party and a song comes on that you like or that reminds you of something, you can talk about that.

    ⒉Ask open-ended questions

    These types of questions require more thought and more than a simple one-word answer. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, the conversation will go on longer.

    ⒊Become a student

    Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It's a win-win situation.

    Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most definitely improve your speaking and listening skills.

A. Have some conversation starters ready

B. If you make small talk in your native language

C. However, some people are not good at small talk

D. If you ask questions that need more details to answer

E. You can talk about something that you recently learned

F. Many people find these small conversations about random topics easy

G. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something