California is the third largest state in the USA but has the largest population. It also has the{#blank#}1{#/blank#} of being the most multicultural state in the USA, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} people from all over the world. The customs and languages of the immigrants live on in their new home. This diversity of culture is not{#blank#}3{#/blank#} when you know the history of California.

    People from different parts of the world, attracted by the climate and the lifestyle, still immigrate to California. It is believed that before long the mix of nationalities will be{#blank#}4{#/blank#} great that there will be no distinct major{#blank#}5{#/blank#} or cultural groups, but simply a mixture of many races and cultures.

    Although at present human egg cells and embryos{#blank#}6{#/blank#} for cloning research are difficult to obtain, newspapers wrote of evil leaders{#blank#}7{#/blank#} to clone themselves to attain their ambitions. Religious leaders also raised moral questions. Governments became nervous and more conservative. Some began to reform their legal systems and{#blank#}8{#/blank#} research into human cloning, but other countries like China and the UK, continued to accumulate evidence of the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} medical aid that cloning could provide. However, scientists still wonder whether cloning will help or harm us and{#blank#}10{#/blank#} it is leading us.

The Language of Love

    Music is a universal language, which has the most powerful magic in the world. Music is a sweet language to show love to those who love us and those who{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(love) by us. Music is also a friendly language for unfamiliar people to show kindness. It is living everywhere and all the time in our daily life.

    I learned this while{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(take) care of a seagull unfortunate enough to swallow a hook. After calling the wildlife rescue center and learning that all its{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(vehicle) were out on other business, I carefully{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(wrap) (裹住)the wild bird in a towel and carried him to my friend's car. The only way{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(keep) him calm was by singing. For 30 minutes, I sang{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(soft) to the small creature until finally delivering(递送) him{#blank#}7{#/blank#}those who could help. I'm not certain {#blank#}8{#/blank#}happened afterwards, but for that brief period, we two vastly different species connected, bridging{#blank#}9{#/blank#}gap between us through songs.

    {#blank#}10{#/blank#}doesn't matter whether there will be difficulties in communication，for love is always the theme of each piece of music.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has praised a group of middle school students for their efforts in satellite design. He said he was pleased with their curiosity and bravery in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (science) exploration. The president also wished the teachers and students in Bayi School {#blank#}2{#/blank#} happy new year.

    Xi made the praise in a letter {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (write) to the students in Beijing's Bayi School on Saturday. A small satellite designed and developed by them {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (send) into space last Wednesday at Taiyuan Satellite Launch (发射) Center {#blank#}5{#/blank#} it was designed to operate in orbit (轨道) for 180 days.

    Three months ago, Xi returned to his high school, to visit a laboratory and talk to teachers and students {#blank#}6{#/blank#} were designing the small satellite. The president said he was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (extreme) glad to know that the satellite designed by the students would be launched and called on them to become {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (build) of the country. Xi warmly encouraged the students {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (study) science and contribute to the development of China. He hoped that the students would keep hungry for knowledge and develop {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (they) national spirit.

    Zhou Shihao, 17, from Shanghai Yichuan High School, was shocked by the statistics he had found.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}he was looking into the use of handheld cellphones by drivers, he found that more than 30% of them reached for their phones on the road.

    "Any use of handheld devices(设备) should{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(firm)be forbidden while driving," said Zhou. "It's not a daily chore, but a serious social issue."

    The teenager's concerns led to his drafting a proposal on this issue – something {#blank#}3{#/blank#}he did together with five other schoolmates in the Mock Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference competition in the Putuo District of Shanghai.

    Zhou and his schoolmates were not alone. In January, many Shanghai youngsters, even elementary school students, took part in Mock CPPCC competitions {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(hold) in their local districts and handed in proposals on issues ranging from network security and the future city to the protection of{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(tradition) culture.

    "The competition really encourages us students to focus on social issues and play an active role{#blank#}6{#/blank#}taking responsibility for our country," said Zhang Simin, 17, from Shanghai Nanyang High School.

    The senior student used to think that the handling of state affairs was just for politicians. But thinking on the "3:30 problem" changed her mind.

    Kids usually finish school at 3:30. However, most parents work until 6:00,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (make) it hard for them to pick kids up. "This is a problem we've all been through," said Zhang.

    To help students, Zhang's school{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(invite) deputies (代表) to the National People's Congress to give students instruction.

    "Thanks to the deputies, we finally understand it's not who is to blame that{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(matter), but finding the best solution," said Zhang.

    "The competition aims to encourage a sense of citizenship among China's post-00s generation," said Xia Jing, a teacher from Shanghai Jinyuan Senior High School. "Through this channel, students can let their{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(voice) be heard."

    When I was in Australia, I accompanied a friend on his driving test. I was {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (amaze) to learn that in Australia, people hardly go to driving schools. Instead, many people practice on the road with a licensed driver sitting next {#blank#}2{#/blank#} them. But this doesn't mean that getting a driving license is a piece of cake. This was the third time that my friend {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (apply) to take the driving test.

    The first time, after confidently driving over an intersection (十字路口), the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (examine) asked him to pull over and said that he should have stopped {#blank#}5{#/blank#} car and looked right first and then left to make sure there was no other car approaching.

    The second time, a car rushing in front caught him by surprise and he hit the brakes too hard. The examiner got {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (anger) and asked him to get out. In Australia, the test is not about driving skills, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} about following every rules.

    After finally passing the test, my friend drove very {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (careful) because in the first year of having a driving license, running two red lights results in the license being suspended (暂停使用). But one day he {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (pull) over by a policeman who warned him that he was driving too slow and blocking the traffic. Actually, he was driving at a speed of 40 km/h, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} is a totally acceptable speed in China.