London has become a cycle-friendly zone after the launch of a new bike hire scheme.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

   {#blank#}2{#/blank#}First you have to sign up to the scheme to be sent a key. The key will unlock one of the bikes, which are kept at docking stations in and around central London. You have to pay an access fee for the key and then you pay as you go, for the length of time you use the bike.

    Transport for London, which runs the scheme, are hoping to have 6,000 bikes and 400 docking stations in place by the end of the year. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}London Mayor Boris Johnston launched the scheme and said London has been “filled with thousands of gleaming (发光的) machines that will transform the look and feel of our street and become as commonplace on our roads as black cabs and red buses”.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} On the first day some people found they couldn't dock their bike properly and their usage of the bike had not registered. Transport for London did admit they had been expecting a few “teething problems” and have said they would not charge for the first day as a “gesture of goodwill”. Some other people have criticized the lack of docking stations and locks for the bikes as well as the price it costs to hire the bicycles.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}“My crusade for the capital to become the greatest big cycling city in the world has taken a great pedal-powered push forwards.”

A. So how does it work?

B. How do you like it?

C. However, there have been a few problems since the scheme was launched last Friday.

D. Despite the comments, the green-thinking London Mayor still says with certainty.

E. However, the London Mayor is confident of the scheme.

F. It has been designed to encourage more people to cycle in and around central London.

G. The new hire system is hoping to ease congestion(拥挤) in London and is expected to create up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day into the city centre.

    While you are travelling abroad，cultural mistakes are more serious than linguistic mistakes，which can lead to serious misunderstanding and even ill—feeling between individuals．{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Touching Someone{#blank#}2{#/blank#}In Mediterranean countries，if you don't touch someone's arm when talking to them or if you don't greet them with kisses or a warm hug，you'll be considered cold．But backslap(拍背)someone who isn't a family member or a good friend in Korea，and you'll make them uncomfortable．In Thailand，the head is considered sacred—never even pat a child on the head．

Talking Over Dinner

    In some countries，like China，Japan and some African nations，the food's the thing，so don't start chatting about your day's adventures while everyone else is digging into dinner．{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's not because your group is unfriendly，but because meal times are for eating，not talking．

Removing Your Shoes or Not

    Take off your shoes when arriving at the door of a London dinner party and the hostess will find you uncivilized，but fail to remove your shoes before entering a home in Asia，Hawaii，or the Pacific Islands and you'll be considered disrespectful．So，if you see a row of shoes at the door，start undoing your laces．{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Once you are on the ground of a different country，remain highly sensitive to native behavior．{#blank#}5{#/blank#}And don't feel offended if something seems offensive—like queue jumping．After all，this is a global village，and we are all very different．

A．Personal space varies as you travel the globe．

B．Asians consider removing shoes impolite at home．

C．Never be completely surprised by anything．

D．The linguistic mistake means that someone is not fully expressing his idea．

E．Look out for the following cultural mistakes and try to avoid them．

F．If not，keep the shoes on．

G．You'll likely be met with silence．

    Training for a marathon requires careful preparation and steady, gradual increases in the length of the runs.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, buy the best-fitting, best-built running shoes you can find. No one can say which brand will work best for you or feel best on your feet, so you have to rely on your experience and on the feel of each pair as you shop. When you have found shoes that seem right, walk in them for a few days to double-check the fit.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.As always, you should stretch(伸展) at least ten minutes before each run to prevent injuries.

    During the first week, do not think about distance, but run five minutes longer each day.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}, it is wise to take a day off to rest. But during the next week, set a goal of at least a mile and a half per run.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} After two weeks, start timing yourself.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.Depending on the kind of race you plan to enter, you can set up a timetable for the remaining weeks before the race.

A. For a good marathon runner

B. After six days

C. Before you begin your training

D. With each day, increase the distance by a half mile

E. Time spent for preparation raises the quality of training

F. If they still feel good, you can begin running in them

G. Now you are ready to figure out a goal of improving distance and time

Many people find it hard to lose weight and have to go starvation. Now, I'd like to offer some tricks to help lose weight.

Put out a large vegetable plate. Eating water-rich foods such as tomatoes during meals reduces calorie consumption. Other water-rich foods include soups and salads.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Because the body processes hunger and thirst through different systems, it simply doesn't register a sense of fullness with water (or tea, coffee or juice).

Downsize your dinner plates. The less food put in front of you, the less food you'll eat. So instead of using standard dinner plates, serve your main course on salad plates.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Instead of large glasses and coffee mugs, return to the old days of cups and even smaller coffee cups.

Serve your dinner restaurant-style (with food already on the plates) rather than family-style (where the food is served in bowls on the table).{#blank#}3{#/blank#}There's no reaching for seconds.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}You're more likely to eat more—and eat more high-fat, high calorie foods—when you eat out than when you eat at home.

    Eat slowly and calmly.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Vary your eating with stories of the interesting things that happened during your day. Your brain is behind your stomach by about 20 minutes when it comes to fullness signals. If you eat slowly enough, your brain will catch up and tell you that you no longer need food. Serving separate courses will also slow you down

A. The same goes for liquids.

B. Eat 90 percent of your meals at home.

C. When your plate is empty, you're finished.

D. Put your fork or spoon down between every bite.

E. Be sure to choose a high-fiber, low-sugar variety of food.

F. You won't get the same benefits by just drinking water, though

G. You should eat equal amounts of vegetables and grains at dinner.

    While some lucky people are born with the gift of artistic power, others have to study to become fluent in the language of art.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If the artistic path is calling you, begin the journey with tiny steps and follow it. Here are some ways to show you how to become a true artist.

    Try a generous choice of differing forms of art. If you have never spent much time creating art, it may feel challenging to try to become an artist.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}They just need to express their creative ideas in a great way. If there is a specific type of art you would like to learn more about, go for it, but don't be afraid to branch out and try other forms as well. Some of the most basic forms of art include drawing, painting, sculpting, and photographing.

    Do your research and learn the basics.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Learn as much as you can about the medium-read books and articles, watch educational videos, and research various methods and other artists. One of the best ways to learn is by studying the work of others who have come before you. If you put effort, it is completely possible to teach yourself how to be a great artist. Need help?{#blank#}4{#/blank#} I'll work for sure.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Many artists devote their lives to creating art. While you do not have to spend every single second of your day working on a painting, do try to dedicate some time each day (or every other day) to working on your project, whatever it might be.

A. Make creating art your favorite.

B. Make time for your art every day.

C. The truth is that all people are artists.

D. Pick up some books on your chosen form(s).

E. You can always further your research with an art class.

F. A key part of being an artist is observing the world around you.

G. Whichever path you are on, be clear that everyone is an artist.

    I like my job. It may be my nature that draws me to this kind of job. I work at Izzy's Pizza Bar.

    One day an elderly couple came in just after 3p. m. The first thing they said was, Where is Nan?" Nan is my mother. She was not in that day. It was her day off.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} , since they liked to talk with my mom. But when I explained I was her daughter, they were thrilled to meet me. We enjoyed our conversation, comparable to a girl speaking with her grandparents. They are the type of people who understand me and have a positive attitude towards my job.

    Later that night, I waited on two men. It took some effort to get them to be friendly. I explained I was waitressing over the summer to make some extra cash for school. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, since she was also my coworker. They said they were very surprised at the idea of me and my mother waiting on people at the same restaurant. The two men were quite different. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Once all the customers had finished eating, I began my closing duties, using the time to reflect on my day, or rather, life. I rushed around getting everything done, thinking about those two men.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. We should treat people with respect, regardless of their occupation. I could have let those two men make me feel ashamed, but I didn't. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. I will always have pride in the person I was, am, and aim to be.

A. I had always received a positive response from everyone else I had told

B. Everyone should have equal opportunities in getting a job

C. I also said I was grateful that my mom had trained me

D. On the contrary, I felt really proud

E. This couple got a lot of enjoyment out of eating in this restaurant

F. You could say they were very disappointed to know that

G. Your job doesn't have to state who you are as a person