In China, the history of people planting and using bamboo can date back to as far as 7,000 years. As early as the Shang Dynasty, bamboo was being used in ancient people's daily lives. It was used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(music) instruments and even weapons.

    The {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(apply) of bamboo in science and technology is thrilling. In 251 BC, Li Bing, in Sichuan, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(lead) the local people in building the Dujiang Weirs(都江堰), the first irrigation network in the world, in which bamboo played {#blank#}4{#/blank#} important role. The world's oldest water pipe was also {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(make) of bamboo. During the Han Dynasty, the people in Sichuan {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(success) sank a 1600-metre-deep well with thick bamboo ropes. This technology did not spread to Europe {#blank#}7{#/blank#} the 19^th century, and it was by using the technology {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the Americans drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859.

    In Chinese culture, bamboo is well-known as {#blank#}9{#/blank#} of the “four gentlemen” in plants. To many famous men, bamboo is a symbol of goodness and honesty. It is always closely related to people of positive spirits. Bamboo culture contributes to encouraging people to hold on when {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(face) tough situations.

    Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences.

   Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} will help people forget bad memories. The pill is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(design)to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(possible) erase (抹去) the effect of painful memories.

   In November, experts tested a drug on people in the U.S. and France. The drug stops the body from {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(release) chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far, the research {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(suggest) that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that memories are wiped out. They are not sure to the degree people's memories are affected.

   The research has caused a great deal of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(argue). Some think it is {#blank#}7{#/blank#}bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills which prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer {#blank#}8{#/blank#}terrible memories. {#blank#}9{#/blank#}, those who are against the research say that maybe the pills can change people's memories and changing memories is very {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(danger) because memories give us our identity.

Over the past years Starbucks coffee{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(become) a coffee chain store. The cafes don't sell coffee; they sell{#blank#}2{#/blank#}very atmosphere. They offer customers the perfect atmosphere{#blank#}3{#/blank#} which to take time out and relax. Every single store throughout the world is furnished in a romantic style and {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(special) meant to be cozy, private and quiet: earth-toned (褐色调) space, fancy wall paper, lovely paintings,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (amaze) background and irresistible coffee smell……The most fantastic decoration style about Starbucks {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(design) with oversized chairs and tables outside the store. When{#blank#}7{#/blank#}comes to a sunny afternoon, I love to take a seat outside,{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (bath) in the afternoon sunshine, and listening to the lovely music{#blank#}9{#/blank#}tasting the most terrific Cappuccino. This is exactly what I love in here —-the Starbucks ! This is the café I love not merely because of the café itself, but also because of the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(feel) it brings me.

    In 551 BC, a man {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (name) Kongzi was born to a poor family in the province of Shandong. Kongzi {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (know) in the Western world as Confucius.

    Confucius saw many problems in the world in {#blank#}3{#/blank#} he lived. He looked forward to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (help) make improvements to change the world for the better. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (get) into a position of influence, Confucius tried to get himself appointed （任命）as an advisor to a number of different government officials. Having got a(n) {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (disappoint) result, Confucius set out to become a teacher.

    Confucius believed in peace and order. He felt everyone had a proper role in society, and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} if people were willing to accept their role and show good {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (behave), peace would be kept. So Confucius laid out what he called ethics. These ethics explained how a person should treat others. One of {#blank#}9{#/blank#} most important ethics explained the responsibilities of children to respect and listen to their parents and other elders.

    During his own lifetime, Confucius' teachings were not widely accepted. However, within a hundred years they were being used by the emperor to help him rule, and {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (final) became a widely followed philosophy（哲学）.

Comets are among the most beautiful and interesting {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(sight) in the universe. For centuries, people {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(show) great interest in studying them. In 1682, Edmund Halley, an astronomer, noticed a comet that was especially bright and large. Based on his calculations, Halley predicted that this bright comet would return in 1758 or 1759—this was about 75 years {#blank#}3{#/blank#} he first saw the comet. The comet really returned on time and it was named "Halley's Comet" in honor of Edmund Halley.