Using Garbage as a Fuel

    Garbage can be a good fuel to use. The things in garbage do not look {#blank#}1{#/blank#}coal, petroleum, or natural gas, but they are chemically similar to these fossil fuels. As we use up our fossil fuel supplies, we might be able to use garbage as {#blank#}2{#/blank#}energy source. Burning garbage {#blank#}3{#/blank#}( be) not a new idea. Some cities in Europe and the United States {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(burn) garbage for years. The heat that is produced by burning garbage is used to boil water. The steam that is produced is used to make electricity or to heat nearby {#blank#}5{#/blank#}( build). In Paris, France, some power plants burn almost 2 million metric tons of the city's garbage each year. The amount of energy {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(produce) is about the same as would be produced by burning almost a half million barrels of oil!

    But there are problems in using garbage as a fuel. Garbage that burns {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(easy) , such as food and paper, must be separated from metals, glass, and other materials {#blank#}8{#/blank#}do not. Another problem is that burning garbage can pollute the air. Our fossil fuel supplies are {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(limit) . Burning garbage might be one kind of energy source that we can use to help meet our energy needs. This method could also reduce the amount of garbage {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(pile) up on the earth.

    Most Americans think of New Year as a single day on January lst. However, Chinese-Americans and people from other{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(culture) that use different calendars each have another celebration as well. A good example of this is the Chinese New Year celebration in San Francisco, which is similar to{#blank#}2{#/blank#}we do in Shanghai.

    The most famous part of Chinese New Year in San Francisco is the parade, which{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(watch) by over three million people every year. Over a hundred entries take part in the parade{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(march) through downtown and Chinatown. In the course of the parade, cheering from the crowd is mixed {#blank#}5{#/blank#}music as local community groups wave banners, flags, and carry lanterns. Chinese themed floats will “float” by, including {#blank#}6{#/blank#}long Golden Dragon float that {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(take) one hundred people to operate. Local kung fu schools will perform lion dances when firecrackers explode around their feet.

    For many Americans, celebrating{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(they) ancestral culture is as {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (importance) as American culture, and they celebrate both. If you have a chance {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (visit) the United States, you may have the chance to see some of the celebrations yourself.

    The tea culture of China is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (amaze) and has a long history.  Tea drinking was widespread in China for about one thousand years {#blank#}2{#/blank#} appearing in Europe.  

    Tea drinking in China enjoys wide popularity.  Many people nowadays go to expensively decorated teahouses {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(talk) business.  However, tea drinking is very complex. Many factors contribute to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} enjoyable experience. It starts with the surroundings. In the past, tea drinking took place in a setting {#blank#}5{#/blank#}spring water runs on marble. At present, in order to create such atmosphere, teahouses {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(decorate) with traditional paintings and furniture.  Besides, there is always a {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(perform) of a traditional Chinese musical instrument, such as the guzheng, pipa and erhu. Water {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (use) for tea also matters. In the old days, the water that came from melted snow was regarded as the best. Today no one collects snow any longer because of pollution and what people use is bottled water. Red tea, together with green tea, oolong tea and pu'er tea {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(rank) the top four favorites. The first three types of tea are processed using similar methods but pu'er tea uses a {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (total) different method.  

    How are you getting along with your senior high school? It may be hard for you as this is the first time that you {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(leave) your parents. I know that you are now having trouble {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(communicate) with others, and you may often feel lonely. That's {#blank#}3{#/blank#}you are new here and people don't know about you. But I think you can overcome the difficulty if you can follow the advice below.

    First, you should attach great {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(important) to taking an active part in the discussions and show your own opinions about the matters, and at the same time, learn to listen to other people's views {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (careful). Second, you should learn about your classmates' likes and dislikes,{#blank#}6{#/blank#}can make you get familiar with them. Only in this way can you get to know more {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(difference) people and show them that you are just as friendly. Last but not least, I'm always here ready to help. We can take part in some {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(activity) together and I can introduce you to others.

    There's no need {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(worry) too much, people will know you more very soon and will like to make friends with you if you can do {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the above. Just remember, "God helps those who help themselves".

    Smokejumpers are a special type of firefighter. They jump from planes into areas that are difficult to reach by car or on foot. When they arrive there, they first examine the land and decide {#blank#}1{#/blank#}to fight the fire. Their main goal is to stop a fire from {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (spread). They will use basic equipment to clear land of plants and other dry materials. The work is dangerous, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} they love being able to jump out of planes, fight fires, and live in the forest. As 38-year-old Alexi Tishin, who {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (work) as a smokejumper for 15 years, says, “This is the best job for tough guys.”

    A black hole is a spot in space that has{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(power) gravity. Its gravity is so strong that it pulls everything nearby into it, stars, planets and other things. Black holes form when a star dies. When that happens, a huge amount of matter crowds into a very small space,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}becomes very dense. Black holes{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(talk) about in 1783 first. That year, one scientist said that in the universe, there might be places with strong gravity to trap light, although he didn't use the term "black hole".