There are various reasons {#blank#}1{#/blank#} people write poems. Some poems tell a story or describe something in a way that will give the reader a strong {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (impress). Others attempt {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (convey) certain emotions. Poets use different forms of poetry to express {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (they). For example, the language of nursery rhymes is concrete but {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (imagine). And list poems have repeated phrases which give both a pattern {#blank#}6{#/blank#} a rhythm to the poem. Another simple form of poem is the cinquain, which {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (make) up of five lines and can express strong feelings in just a few words. And of course there are Tang poems from China which you may enjoy {#blank#}8{#/blank#} particular. With so many different {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (form) of poetry to choose from, students may {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (eventual) want to write poems of their own.

    The Battle of Waterloo, which {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) place in Belgium in 1815, marked the final defeat of French military leader and emperor Napoleon, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} conquered much of continental Europe in {#blank#}3{#/blank#} early 19th century. Napoleon rose through the ranks of the French army during the French Revolution, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (seize) control of the French government in 1799 {#blank#}5{#/blank#} became emperor in 1804. Through a series of {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (war), he expanded his empire across western and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (center) Europe. However, a disastrous invasion of Russia led {#blank#}8{#/blank#} his abdication (退位) and exile (流放) in 1814. He returned to France in 1815 and briefly resumed power. The Battle of Waterloo, in which Napoleon's forces {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (defeat) by the British and Prussians, signaled the end of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (he) reign (统治) and the end of France's domination in Europe.

    Zhang Lanping has been teaching for 33 years now, but {#blank#}1{#/blank#} makes her special is her pair of crutches(拐杖). The courageous teacher from Gansu province {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (suffer) from poliomyelitis, an infectious disease, when she was only one year old.

    Zhang is not able to {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (full) recover and therefore has to use crutches for the rest of her life. This condition, however, has not weakened Zhang's spirit. As a student, Zhang devoted {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (she) to acquiring knowledge, which she believed would make her a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (success) teacher.

    After graduation, Zhang applied as a college teacher but she was turned down because of her physical {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (disable). Zhang did not give up and {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (accept) as a primary school teacher in her hometown in Gansu province, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} then experienced a shortage of teachers. For able­bodied people, it takes only six minutes {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (reach) school, but Zhang has to spend one hour from home to her work place {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(use) crutches. Zhang's efforts have not been in vain. The academic performance of her students is among the best in the district.

    In the age of the smart phone, there seems no reason to ask questions about: the weather forecast, a business's phone number or directions, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} can be easily found on Google, but very often people {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(actual) ask these things by {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(make) a phone call. Your answer may be replied to with a thank­you e­mail. This isn't the first time that great changes {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(take) place in our manners due to technology. In {#blank#}5{#/blank#} late 1870s, when the telephone {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(invent), people didn't know how {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(greet) a caller. Often there is just {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(silent). Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor, suggested that people say "Ahoy", {#blank#}9{#/blank#} finally "Hello" went out. The greeting is now used in everyday face­to­face communications. Try to be respectful no matter who you communicate {#blank#}10{#/blank#}. Just keep it in mind that politeness never goes out of fashion.