In China, the history of people planting and using bamboo can date back to as far as 7000 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 distinguished men, bamboo is a symbol of goodness and honesty. It is always closely related to people of positive spirits. Influenced by bamboo culture, many people are taught to hold on when {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (face) tough situations.

    A teacher once told each of her students to bring a clear plastic bag and a large bag of potatoes to school. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} every person that the students refused to forgive in their life, they {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(choose) a potato, wrote on {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the name of that person and the date, and then put it in the plastic bag. Some of their bags were quite heavy.

    They were then told to carry these bags with them everywhere for one week,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (put) them beside their beds at night, on their car seats when driving, and next to their desks at work.

    During this time,{#blank#}5{#/blank#} they carried the bags around with them, they realized what a weight they were carrying, and{#blank#}6{#/blank#}they needed to pay attention all the time, so as not to forget them or leave them in {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (embarrass) places. Of course, the potatoes were becoming {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (rot), and smelled very bad.

    This is the same as the price we pay for keeping our pain and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (happy) with us! Forgiving others is not only a gift to them, but also a very good gift to {#blank#}10{#/blank#}！

    Traditional Chinese culture is{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(begin) to capture the attention of the world,this is also true even if popular culture{#blank#}2{#/blank#}has traditionally been considered Western begins to spread throughout China.

    China Kung Fu,especially,has had a great impact{#blank#}3{#/blank#}millions of people in the world{#blank#}4{#/blank#}it has been so fascinating in the eyes of westerners.Apart from that,they may come to China and learn about other aspects of this culture,such as traditional operas like the Beijing and Sichuan ones.Asian nations have long known about the{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (great) of ancient Chinese culture.Their own cultures are a mix of native ones and those Chinese characteristics.

    Actually,Korea and Japan long ago{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(adopt) ideas such as Confucianism as something that continues today even as it is challenged by Pop Culture.This strength comes from the ideas{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(give) in the Four Books（四书）of Confucianism (The Great Learning,The Doctrine of the Mean,The Analects of Confucius,and The Book of Mencius). These books built upon the ideas of{#blank#}8{#/blank#}even more ancient period codified in the Five Classics（五经）.From them, the West learns such things as Fengshui and other concepts that are{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(unique) Chinese.

    In recent years,China has taken steps to further this spread of culture by{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(establish) Chinese Cultural Centers in foreign counties,the United States and Europe,in particular.

    I am taught by many teachers in my school. Every subject has a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (differ) teacher, but I like my math teacher {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(well).Her name is Lakshmi but we usually call her Ma'am. She is our class teacher too.

    Ma'am {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (join) us last term. She is very kind and her way of teaching is so{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (interest) and simple that we all can understand everything {#blank#}5{#/blank#} is being taught and how it can be done. Most {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (important), Ma'am teaches math with lots of patience. If we do not understand a problem, she will spend extra time guiding us until we understand it. And we can go to her at any time during school hours for help.

    She also helps us {#blank#}7{#/blank#}activities at school. When there is some kind of programs, she will be there {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(help) us to get ready for the show. Even when we go on picnics, she takes good care of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}.

    To me, Ma'am is not only {#blank#}10{#/blank#} good teacher, but also our best friend. I love Ma'am and I wish her a happy life.

    Yesterday I went shopping in the town. I was using my crutches(拐杖)on {#blank#}1{#/blank#} were two bags. I really struggled through the shopping mall. I was {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(tire)! After a while, I found a space and had {#blank#}3{#/blank#} rest there.

    Then I noticed Michael. He was my former student and he was a man {#blank#}4{#/blank#} his 40s. It's been years since I {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(teach) Michael, but he stopped to chat with me. When he noticed my crutches, he said, "Let me carry the bags for you." I thanked him but {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(polite) declined his offer. Then Michael pointed to a coffee shop nearby, "I will be here Rose Marie, if you change your mind." It was lovely and kind of {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(he) to give me an opportunity to change my mind.

    In fact, Michael is tattooed(纹身) on his arms. People think that guys like this are frightening, but there {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(be) nothing threatening about Michael. Michael's {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(appear) with tattoos is just his idea of sell-expression.

    {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(chat) with him helps me recognize the tenderness in the youth regardless of how they look.

    When I packed up my life and moved from the comforts of my little hometown to Waco, I remember feeling {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (lose). All my friends were so excited to start their own lives, but I just wasn't sure {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I was ready for that yet. Many things worried me. But I hid my fears and when the time {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (final) came, I hugged my mother goodbye, made the two-hour one-way drive from Coppel to Waco, and set up my new room.

    For the first few weeks, I didn't miss home or really feel any kind of emotion at all except tired. There was so much for me to learn {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I hadn't had time to think about anything. My energy {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (direct) towards figuring out campus, adjusting to college-level classes and remembering the names of every new person I met. I explored every corner, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (look) for the perfect place to study. I learned to set {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (I) a schedule of getting groceries, cleaning my room and doing my laundry on Sundays.

    Nowadays, in my second semester, I feel like I have almost adapted {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the university life. The transition from high school to college wasn't {#blank#}9{#/blank#} difficult as my mind made me think it would be. One of the best {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (thing) college has taught me is how to be independent.