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, it is difficult for them to convey their{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(think) to others. Therefore, Dogs tend to leave others with the impression that they have a stubborn {#blank#}10{#/blank#} ( personal) , but they are indeed loyal to their families and friends.

    One day, Nick invited his friends to supper. He was cooking some delicious food in the kitchen .Suddenly, he {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（find）that he had run out of salt. So Nick called to his son," Go to the Village and buy some salt, but pay a fair price for it: neither too much {#blank#}2{#/blank#} too little."

    His son looked surprised. "I can understand why I shouldn't pay too much, Father, but if I can pay less,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} not save a bit of money?"

    "That would be a very {#blank#}4{#/blank#}（reason）thing to do in a big city, but it could destroy a small village like ours," Nick said.

    Nick's guests,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} had heard their conversation, asked why they should not buy salt more cheaply if they could. Nick replied," The only reason a man would sell salt {#blank#}6{#/blank#} a lower price would be because he was desperate for money. And anyone who took advantage of that situation would be showing a lack of respect {#blank#}7{#/blank#}the sweat and struggle of the man who worked very hard to produce it."

    "But such a small thing couldn't {#blank#}8{#/blank#}（possible）destroy a village."

    "In the beginning, there was only {#blank#}9{#/blank#}very small amount of unfairness in the world, but everyone added a little ,always {#blank#}10{#/blank#}（think）that it was only small and not very important ,and look where we have ended up today."

    I'm not sure {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is more frightened, me or the female gorilla(大猩猩）that suddenly appears out of nowhere. I'm walking on a path in the forest in the Central African Republic. Unexpectedly, I'm face-to-face with the gorilla, who begins screaming at {#blank#}2{#/blank#} top of her lungs. That makes her baby scream, and then a 400-pound male appears. He screams the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(loud)of all. The noise shakes the trees as the male beats his chest and charges toward me. I quickly lower myself, ducking my head to avoid {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(look) directly into his eyes so he doesn't feel{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(challenge).

    My name is Mireya Mayor. I'm a {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(science)who studies animals such as apes and monkeys. I was searching {#blank#}7{#/blank#} these three western lowland gorillas I'd been observing. No one had seen them for hours, and my colleagues and I were worried.

    When the gorillas and I frightened each other, I was just glad to find {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(they) alive. True to a gorilla's unaggressive nature, the huge animal {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(mean)me no real harm. He was just saying: "I'm king of this forest, and here is your reminder!" Once his message was delivered, he allowed me {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (stay)and watch.

    Imagine a road crossing without the three-day traffic signal, cars, trucks, school buses, bicyclists and students walking to school would try to rush through the crossing{#blank#}1{#/blank#} the same time. Their safety would be in danger.

    Thanks to an African American{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (invent) named Garrett Augustus Morgan, we have three-way traffic signals that help make crossings much{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (safe). Mr. Morgan was born in Kentucky in 1877. He only received six years' education. As a teen he left his family's farm in search of better{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (opportunity). Living in Cincinnati, Ohio, he continued his studies in English grammar. Then he moved on to Cleveland{#blank#}5{#/blank#}he worked as a repairman for a clothing factory. He had a keen interest in solving problems {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (meet) in everyday life. Later he patented several inventions. The three-way traffic signal was just one of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}. One day he felt very sad when he saw a traffic accident. To help reduce traffic accidents and save people's lives, he {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (immediate) began to work on the invention. Finally, it was {#blank#}9{#/blank#} great success which saved lives then, and {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) still saving lives today.

    On January 25, 2020, over a billion people in China and millions around the world will celebrate the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival. The ancient tradition, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} date is determined by the lunar calendar and falls somewhere between January 21 and February 20 each year, is the{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (long) and most important of all Chinese festivals.

The preparations will {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (official) begin with Little Year on January 17, 2019. It is observed with a day of memorial and prayer ceremonies. Other Little Year activities include cleaning the house {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(sweep) away bad luck and hanging spring couplets —red decorations hung in pairs —on doorways for wealth. Since red {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (believe) to keep misfortune and evil spirits away, it can be noticed in everything from clothing to {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(lantern) used to decorate houses.

    Often {#blank#}7{#/blank#}  (consider) the most important meal of the year, the reunion dinner is both delicious and rooted in Chinese tradition. {#blank#}8{#/blank#}whole chicken symbolizes family togetherness, while long uncut noodles show longevity (长寿). Wealth is represented by dumplings and spring rolls. Children receive red envelopes filled {#blank#}9{#/blank#} money and inspiring messages from elders and are often allowed to stay up late to watch the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(amaze) fireworks shows.

    The two-week long celebrations will end on February 8 — the day of the full moon — with the Lantern Festival.

    Soudee, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is a 24-year-old Frenchman, has already been at sea for two years. He {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (travel) along Africa's west coast, through the Caribbean Sea and up to the Arctic Ocean since he set sail from the Canary Islands in 2017. Soudee is {#blank#}3{#/blank#} only person on his sailboat but he brought along a pet hen with him. Soudee met Monique, the hen, on the Canary Islands shortly before he began {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (he) around-the-world voyage. He told a BBC reporter that he knew she was the one he needed.

    While planning for his trip, Soudee had considered {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (bring) along an animal for companionship (陪伴), but not {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(necessary) a chicken. Later he told the BBC reporter, "The hen is a good {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (choose). I don't have to spend much time looking {#blank#}8{#/blank#} it and I'm able to get eggs at sea."

    The story has also become popular on social media. One Twitter user wrote this week, "This hen has a(n) {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (good) life than me." Monique and her owner plan {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (sail) to Alaska next. You can find reports about Soudee's trip on his Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.