Taking a taxi in a certain Eastern European country can be a shocking experience. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is said that some taxi drivers have metal wires stuck into the passenger seats. And {#blank#}2{#/blank#} a button is pushed, the seat will give you {#blank#}3{#/blank#} electric shock. These taxi drivers don't do this {#blank#}4{#/blank#} fun. They do it to tourists {#blank#}5{#/blank#} argue about the ridiculous(可笑的，荒谬的) fares they charge. Some drivers charge as much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} ten times the legal fare.

    They have a secret switch which makes the meters run faster. If the tourists refuse to pay, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} are really in for a shock.

    In one case, a German woman had no {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (choose) but to pay $120 for a $ 20 ride from the airport. She said that she was "really taken for a ride," but what could she do? Besides the electric shock, she {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (threaten) with physical violence. She has only one piece of advice for tourists, “Take the bus {#blank#}10{#/blank#} stay at home.”

    Laozi was a Chinese philosopher who came from a village in the southern state of Chu. He is considered {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be)the father the philosophy called Taoism.

    Laozi {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (serve)in the Zhou capital for a long time before he became unhappy with the dishonest political situation and decided to resign. As he was passing through {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Hangu Pass, the gate-keeper stopped him and asked him to write down a book of his {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (teach). Laozi then composed a book of five thousand saying, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  (describe)the idea of the Tao and Te. This book was later known {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the Tao Te Ching.

    The Tao Te Ching stresses non-action (wu wei), which means the absence of aggressive action. In other words, man should not strive(奋斗)for wealth or fame, and violence is to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (avoid). This peaceful way of life was extremely {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (influence)in later periods and led to the development of a particular Taoist way of living. {#blank#}9{#/blank#}  included special breathing exercises and special eating habits {#blank#}10{#/blank#} were designed to keep calm.

    Once upon a time, there was a man from the State of Chu who loved his sword very much. One day, he was sitting in a boat   preparing to cross a river {#blank#}1{#/blank#} he accidentally dropped his sword into the water. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the ship moving fast on and the water running, the people on board reminded that he should go into the water to find his beloved sword back. The man felt in great {#blank#}3{#/blank#} ( anxious) too. However, he turned a deaf ear to that and instead, he {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  (immediate) took out a knife and made a notch（刻痕） on the side of the boat {#blank#}5{#/blank#} his dear sword fell. The people wondered why he did so. He said proudly the notch could help {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (get) his sword back. Shortly after the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (arrive) at the shore, he entered the water just beneath the notch he made. Though {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (spend) rather a long time, he returned empty-handed. Without doubt, he was laughed at in public and his story became {#blank#}9{#/blank#} well-known joke in China.

    Today the idiom {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (relate) to the story is used to describe a person who stick to rigid rules without considering a changing environment or describes an action made pointless by changing circumstances.

    “{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (congratulate), Mr. Cooper . It's a girl.”

    Fatherhood is going to have {#blank#}2{#/blank#} different meaning and brings forth different responses from every man who hears these words. Some feel proud, while others worry, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (wonder) whether they will be a good father.

    Although there are some men {#blank#}4{#/blank#} like children and may have had much experience with them, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} do not particularly look after children and spend little time with them. Many fathers and mothers have been planning and{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (look) forward to children for some time.

    Whatever the reaction to the birth of a child, it is obvious that the shift from the role of husband to {#blank#}7{#/blank#} of a father is a difficult task. Yet, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (fortunate), few attempts have been made to educate fathers in this. Although numerous books have been written about mothers, only recently has literature focused on the role of a father.

    It is argued that the transition to the father's role, is not nearly as great as the transition the wife must make {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the mother's role. The mother's role seems {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (require) a complete transformation in daily routine. However, the father's role is less demanding and immediate.

    Success never comes easy. How many of you have heard of successful people who haven't made any effort? People often have to overcome failures {#blank#}1{#/blank#} they can accomplish something great. They usually don't find success from the very beginning.

    Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime, but this didn't stop him from completing over 800 painting. Thomas Edison {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(fire) from his first two jobs for lack of competence. Later, as an inventor, he tried 1,000 times {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create) the light bulb, without success. He was confident in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (he), and{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (eventual) he did success. When{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (ask), “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} invention with 1,000 steps.

    These successful people have set good{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (example) to us. They wouldn't have achieved their success if they{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (abandon)their dreams. Believe in yourself and try your best, and success will not be far {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you.