Once upon a time, there was a poor fisherman who always dreamed of becoming rich. He wished to become a millionaire, and{#blank#}1{#/blank#} did his wife. He had heard from some old men before that several ships{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (load) with diamonds and gold{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (sink) in the nearby seashore. Because of this, for a long time he kept searching that whole area{#blank#}4{#/blank#}this treasure. One day, while he was sitting on the boat daydreaming, he suddenly felt that the fishing rod{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (weigh) down by a heavy object. He{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (excite) pulled hard at it, and{#blank#}7{#/blank#} he saw made him exclaim, “Wow! A big, shiny gold chain!” He pulled hard at the gold chain to get it into the boat, but{#blank#}8{#/blank#}seemed to be no end to it. His boat started to get over-loaded and the sea water filled his boat. However, he had begun dreaming of a big house, a big piece of land and buying horses and{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (ox)... He kept pulling in the chain{#blank#}10{#/blank#} the boat kept sinking. The boat was finally submerged and he struggled to stay afloat. Unfortunately his feet were entangled in the gold chain and he drowned.

    When I was a ten-year-old girl, I was once asked to deliver a speech titled “ A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class ! Just imagine how{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(terrible) shy I was the moment I thought of that with so many eyes fixed upon me. I had only one{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (choose) , though. First I was to draft the speech and that was just a piece of cake for me, because I was a good writer – something to pride myself on. But the hard part {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(lie) in my oral presentation; to read from {#blank#}4{#/blank#} paper was not allowed ; I had to give the speech{#blank#}5{#/blank#}my memory and in front of such a big audience !

    A real trial began when I stood on the platform with my legs{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(tremble) and my mind blank. How much time had passed by , I didn't know . My listeners were still waiting patiently and without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found{#blank#}7{#/blank#} back, giving out my speech with difficulty. Finally I finished. After it seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding. I made{#blank#}8{#/blank#} From then on, my fear of talking before an audience disappeared . Actually with my confidence building{#blank#}9{#/blank#} I now turn out to be a great speaker . Looking back, I know the greatest difficulty on our way to success is our fear. Overcome it,{#blank#}10{#/blank#}we will be able to achieve our goals .

    Woodblock printing first appeared in the early Tang period. During the Song dynasty, the technique of block printing was very advanced. Books were {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (beautiful) printed. Even today the books{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(print) at the time are valuable and treasured by libraries and book collectors. 

    However, block printing {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) not very convenient. Every two pages of a book had to be carved on a woodblock, and a big book would require many blocks. Besides, there had to be large places for storing the books. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (overcome) these shortcomings, Bi Sheng invented the movable type during the years between 1041 and 1048. One word was carved on one piece of clay, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} was hardened with fire. Then clay characters were set on {#blank#}6{#/blank#} iron plate according to the text of a book. Then ink was applied to them and {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(sheet) of paper spread over them, and the printing was done. Bi Sheng's invention made printing faster and {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(easy) than before. Later, movable type of metal and wood was made and widely used.

    The technique of printing was gradually known to other Asian countries and Europe. The great influence printing had {#blank#}9{#/blank#}the advance of civilization is too clear to need any {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(explain).

    The Amber Room was considered one of the wonders of the world. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (design) for the palace of Frederick I and thought highly of {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (it) fancy style and design. The whole{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (decorate) of the Amber Room was very splendid (富丽堂皇). Tons of amber as well as gold and jewels were used to make it, which makes it an {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (amaze) treasure.

    However, the next king of Prussia, Frederick William Ⅰ, decided to give it as {#blank#}5{#/blank#} gift to the Russian Emperor, Peter the Great, {#blank#}6{#/blank#} gave Prussia a troop of their best soldiers in return.

    Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the Nazi Germany was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} war with Russia. Nazis invaded Russia and some of Nazis {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (secret) removed many objects from the Amber Room. After that, what happened to it {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(remain) a mystery.

    Recently, the Russians and Germans {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (build) a new Amber Room at the summer palace so that they can appreciate it and remember the history.

Human history begins with stories. Some stories are so important that they{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(pass) down for countless generations. And storytelling is a useful tool, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}gives a lesson much more powerfully than other ways. For example, once I had to tell actors to be on time for a performance. Instead of{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(repeat) the time over and over again, I told them a true story. "The year before, one of the actors was late. We replaced him so he didn't get a chance to perform." Then, no one{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(be) late again.