Gift from a stranger

My local supermarket is always busy. The first parking space I found was convenient, but I'd noticed a woman in a blue car circling for a while. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} I was in a good mood, I let her have it. On the edge of the car park I backed into the next available spot—it was a tight fit.

Pretty soon I'd made my way through the supermarket and was back in the fresh air. Feeling good, I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (empty) my purse change into the hands of a homeless man and helped a struggling woman reverse park（倒车）.

Just as I approached my car, 1 saw the woman I'd let have my car space earlier. She was giving me {#blank#}3{#/blank#} odd look—half puzzled, half intent (热切的). I smiled and wished her a pleasant day. As I squeezed back into my car, I spotted the same lady {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  (look) in at me. "Hello," she said, hesitantly. "This {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  sound crazy but I was on my way to drop some of my mother's things off at the charity bins.” You are just so much{#blank#}6{#/blank#} her.” You helped those people, I noticed, and you seemed so happy.” She looked at me meaningfully and passed a box in through the window. “I think she would like you to have it.”{#blank#}7{#/blank#}  (shock), I took it from her automatically. She smiled and walked away.

After a pause, I opened the box. Inside was a beautiful gold necklace with a large grey pearl. It was{#blank#}8{#/blank#}  (nice) gift I'd ever received, and it was from a complete stranger. The necklace was around my neck, a warm reminder of human kindness.

    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.  

    The information I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(collect) over the last few years leads me to believe that speed reading may be less {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(use) than most people think. The claim that you can read and comprehend over 30,000 words per minute is overstated. One researcher proved this in a study where irrelevant and illogical sentences were added to a text. The “speed readers” {#blank#}3{#/blank#} were tested didn't notice the irrelevant lines — the non-speed readers spotted them immediately.

    I've interviewed people who have attended the introductory sessions {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (offer) by some speed reading courses. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (them) stories indicate that improper methods are sometimes used to sell the courses. Here's how: First, you're asked to read a passage from a book {#blank#}6{#/blank#} which most persons would be unfamiliar. Your reading speed and comprehension are tested during this exercise. Then, after about half {#blank#}7{#/blank#} hour of instruction, another reading test is given. But this time the reading is one most educated Americans know well — such as Huckleberry Finn. Not {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (surprising), persons attending these introductory sessions find that their “exit” speed and comprehension are better than their “entry”{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (perform).

    I'm one of the fiction readers who appreciate the beauty in good writing. Occasionally I'll read a passage or sentence over and over just {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (let) the beauty of its construction soak(参透) in. Good writing must be read carefully and thoughtfully to be fully appreciated.

    Overhead bridges are found in many parts of big cities, especially in places{#blank#}1{#/blank#} traffic is very heavy and crossing the road is dangerous. The purpose of these bridges{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) to enable pedestrians to cross roads {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(safe). Overhead bridges are used in very much the {#blank#}4{#/blank#}way as Zebra crossings. They are more efficient although{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(little) convenient because people have to climb up a long flight of steps. This is{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(convenient) especially to older people. When pedestrians use an overhead bridge, they do not hold up traffic. However, when they cross a busy road using a zebra crossing, traffic is held up. This is why the government has built many overhead bridges {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(help) pedestrians and to keep traffic moving at the same time. For their own safety, pedestrians should be encouraged to use them instead of {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (risk) their lives by dashing across the road. Old people, however, may find it a little difficult climbing up and down the steps, but it is still much safer than walking across the road with all the danger of moving traffic. Overhead bridges serve a very useful purpose. Pedestrians, both old and young, should make {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a habit to use them. This will prevent unnecessary accidents and {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(lose) of life.