Lofton (洛夫顿) is a little village not far from Manchester (曼彻斯特). Like many 1 villages near towns or cities, it's clean and quiet. Not many families 2 there, so the people all know 3. Most of them are friendly and helpful. Their homes are in Lofton, 4many people have jobs in Manchester. Some work in big factories. 5 work in shops or offices. Most of these people go to work by train. It usually takes them about 6 to go from Lofton to Manchester.

    In the evening a lot of people enjoy 7 TV. If they want to see a film or to listen to a concert, they 8 go to Manchester. There are no cinemas in Lofton.

    Life in Lofton may not be so exciting as life in the 9 cities, but it can be just as 10 as that in them. That's why people in Lofton love their village.

When you are invited to a meal in Thailand（泰国），the words of the invitation mean "come and eat rice". In fact, nearly all Thai dishes are 1 with rice, which grows there very easily 2 the climate is warm and there is much rain.

    The food served is 3 cut into pieces, so there is no need to use knives and forks, but, instead, special spoons and forks are used. The Thais 4to eat with their hands and now there are still some people who eat this way. There is a special 5 of doing it. First they wash their 6 hands in a bowl of water—they only eat with their right hands. They are careful not to let the food 7the palms（手掌心）of their hands. After the meal, the 8are again carefully washed.

    The meal usually has several different dishes. They are all hot. They are served in bowls, which everyone shares, 9each person has their own bowl of 10. As Thailand has a long coastline（海岸线）, it is not surprising that fish and shellfish（贝类动物） play an important part in Thai cooking.

    The red star over China is shining brightly on its sixty- fifth birthday. And why is that? There are many reasons. First of all, there is peace and prosperity(繁荣) in China. The country isn't at war and 1 Chinese are living better and more comfortable lives than at 2 in history. And things will get even better in the future.

    The Chinese economy is a world wonder — grow so quickly, so many buildings and so many new businesses. China is now the 3 economic country in the world only next to America. Some believe that China will be Number One 4 the year 2030. What amazing 5! And what does that mean for you? It means that there will be lots of chances for you to do good jobs and to use all of your talents.

    The rest of the world has started to take a closer 6 at China and they like what they see. In recent world wide survey, almost seventy percent of the people said they had a "positive image" of China. They thought China is beautiful and they are 7 in what is happening in China.

    And it is not only because of economy, 8 Chinese culture. Zhang Ziyi and Gongli are famous all over the world, as well as the movie director Ang Lee. Writers like Gao Xingjian and Ba jin have won international awards. And painters, such as Wu Zuoren are selling their works for record high prices. This 9 China seem pretty cool and it really is!

    So happy birthday, China! We are 10 you!

    The Spring Festival is often called "Chinese New Year" by people in western countries, because people in China 1 the end of a lunar(农历)year, and the start of a new lunar year.

    At Spring Festival, people want to keep away from 2, so that the new year will 3 with good luck. There are a lot of 4 for the Spring Festival. People 5 their houses (before New Year's Day), cut their hair, and buy lots of new 6 to wear. They decorate their houses with couplets, paper-cuts and lanterns. The decorations are all 7, because red is a "lucky colour".

    Older people give young people red packets 8 money in them. People eat jiaozi for New Year and yuanxiao at Lantern Festival.

Then there's the dragon dance and fireworks. These are 9 to bring good luck for New Year. It's a great time and everyone feels 10.