My grandfather is seventy years old, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}  he is still very healthy. He is tall and of medium {#blank#}2{#/blank#} . He has short straight white {#blank#}3{#/blank#} He likes reading. Every morning he {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  up very early and then reads morning {#blank#}5{#/blank#} . When he reads, he always wears {#blank#}6{#/blank#} . He also likes {#blank#}7{#/blank#}  chess, too. He always plays chess with his {#blank#}8{#/blank#}  friends. He {#blank#}9{#/blank#}  plays chess with me. Why? Because I {#blank#}10{#/blank#} play chess.

A: Annie, I'm a little nervous. I have to finish {#blank#}1{#/blank#} a book and give a report next Monday.

B: That doesn't sound too bad.

A: But I'm a very slow reader.

B: Just read quickly to get the main ideas at first. Don't read word {#blank#}2{#/blank#} word. Read word groups.

A: But I don't understand many of the words. I have to use a dictionary.

B: Try to guess a word's {#blank#}3{#/blank#} by reading the sentences before and after it. You {#blank#}4{#/blank#} understand more than you think.

A: That sounds difficult!

B: Well, be patient. It takes time. You can become better by reading something you enjoy every day. The more you read, the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} you'll be.

    David received a parrot for his birthday. The parrot had a poor vocabulary, and many were not {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. David tried hard to change the bird's words and was often saying polite words, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} soft music, trying anything he could  think of to set a good example. But nothing {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. He shouted at the bird and the bird just got angry and became{#blank#}4{#/blank#} less polite .Finally，without any hope，David put the bird in the fridge. For a few moments he heard the bird kick and cry {#blank#}5{#/blank#} in it. Then suddenly it was quiet-not a sound for half a minute. David was frightened that he might have hurt the bird and quickly opened the fridge door. The parrot quietly {#blank#}6{#/blank#} out onto David's arm and said，"I believe that I may have made you angry {#blank#}7{#/blank#} me about my impolite language and {#blank#}8{#/blank#} . I will try my best at once to be polite. I am really sorry and beg {#blank#}9{#/blank#} pardon. "

    David was surprised at the bird's change，and he was just to ask what had made such a {#blank#}10{#/blank#} change when the parrot went on saying, "May I ask what the chicken in the fridge did?"

    2019 is the Year of the Pig according to Chinese tradition. Do you know what pigs are really like? People sometimes say, "You are as stupid as a pig." But pigs are not stupid. They are {#blank#}1{#/blank#}one of the 10 smartest animals. They have a good memory and can tell different shapes apart. Many experts think pigs are{#blank#}2{#/blank#} to train than dogs or cats. In France, people teach pigs to find truffles(松露). With their good sense of smell, they can find truffles even faster than dogs. People in ancient China really liked pigs. People thought the pigs big head and ears were a symbol of {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. If someone had a round and chubby face, he or she was thought to be blessed(有福气的). People also believed the animal {#blank#}4{#/blank#}wealth. Piggy banks are a symbol of this. Most children have piggy banks that they can use to save money.

    People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be fun, patient and understanding. But some say they care for others too much and are willing to sacrifice their own {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. They also forget things quickly. Many famous people were born in the Year of the Pig, such as US writer Earnest Hemingway and Chinese athlete Liu Xiang. Pigs often {#blank#}6{#/blank#}in fairy tales, cartoons and movies. In the story the Three Little Pigs, a mother pig sends her three children to live on their own. Each of them builds a house with different {#blank#}7{#/blank#}. When the big bad wolf comes, each pig hides in his own house. Whose house will survive? Another popular pig is Mc Dull. He is a little pink pig who lives in Hong Kong. He is not bright, but he works hard. One of his simple wishes is to make his mother {#blank#}8{#/blank#}him. He also wants to go to the Maldives and have a turkey dinner for Christmas.