I decided to ski to the North Pole. It was after I saw a(n)1in a newspaper looking for people to join a team that would2350 miles to the Magnetic North Pole. Back in 1996, a woman from the UK had never3 this challenge. I wondered what it would be like to4in temperatures that cold, so I sent off for the application form.

    When the application form5, it said “Are You Man Enough for the Ultimate Challenge? ” and it was6pictures of male explorers. I was angry and decided that women could do it too, so it made me even more7to get on the team.

    Over 500 individuals8for a place in the team, and the selection process included physical and psychological tests designed to 9the best group. One test was to complete the Sandhurst military assault course, where the UK's best officers are trained, and it's not for 10 We had to climb a huge rope ladder, and I stopped at the top because I have a fear of 11 I thought all hope was 12But two others helped me over, and later I found out that the organizers were not looking for amazing 13 but great team players, and it was this moment14had shown them who would look out for others in the team. I had also shown my real self, and in a place like the Arctic, you have to be yourself, 15there is nowhere to hide. These 16 of asking for help and showing your real self are necessary for women to master.

    I realized that by being yourself, I could 17 I was chosen for the team, and as a result became the 18 British woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole. I realized that I could achieve more than I ever19-but more importantly, by sharing my story with others, I could20them to take a step into the unknown.

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

    Mr.Jones had always wanted to make a trip into the middle of Africa to shoot wild animals.1first he had no enough money, and then he was married.His wife had not wanted him to2 her.At last his wife 3 to the trip if he allowed her to go, too.

    “But it will be very uncomfortable,” Mr.Jones4 her, “ It will be very hot and we shall live in a tent, and it5 be dangerous.”“I don't care,” said his wife, “I want to go with you.” So they bought a big tent, camp beds, a refrigerator（电冰箱）which did not need 6 and many other things which would make the trip comfortable, and went off to the7of Africa.

    The first morning,8 Mr.Jones took his gun and left the tent, he9 his wife a bell and explained to her , “If you fall in10and you need me ,11this bell and I'll come at once.”

    After a few minutes, he heard the bell and returned 12to the tent.“What's the matter?” he asked.“13” said his wife, “I was only14the bell.” Mr.Jones went off, but after a quarter of an hour, the bell rang15.

    Mr.Jones hurried back to the tent, but his wife said, “I'm16.I was cleaning our tent, and I knocked the bell over by mistake.” Mr.Jones returned to his17, but soon he heard the18 once more.This time, when he got back to his19, the tent was burning and Mrs.Jones was lying on the ground, with20running from a big cut on her shoulder.“That's better!” said Mrs.Jones.“This time the bell had been used correctly!”

    Hello, everyone. It's my honor to recommend (推荐) Educator of the year. I'm sure everyone has a(an) 1 teacher that they will be able to 2 for years to come. There is one famous teacher that everyone wants to have in our middle school—Ms. Sullivan, whose 3you must often hear at school. Ms. Sullivan does a lot of things to make herself 4.

    First of all, she has great enthusiasm for her 5. She teaches many different classes—Language Arts Enrichment, Writing for Publication and Reader's Theater, though most teachers in middle school only teach one 6, such as Math, Social Studies, Science, etc. Ms. Sullivan is also responsible for 7 the school play. Every year she devotes her time into 8 an amazing school play. Luckily I have been a part of it and 9 it so much!

    In addition, Ms. Sullivan always shows her students that she 10 us, whether in our study or in life. Some teachers teach us the lessons in a strict way, 11 Ms. Sullivan shows us that she is always 12 like a friend. In writing classes, she makes us have a group discussion first, which I think is a good way to 13 our creative ideas. Then she lets us 14 write our stories at our own speed. She 15 everything we write and gives us a(an) 16 opinion about it. We are getting more 17 writing a composition, and no longer consider it hard work. Most importantly, she also makes each of her classes 18.

    19, I think Ms. Sullivan should be Educator of the Year. Even if she doesn't get the 20, she still deserves our respect and love!

    If you have been to Harbin in winter, but didn't have a 1 to see people do winter-swimming, I am sure you will feel it's a(n) 2. Can you imagine swimming in a river with the temperature being about 10 degrees below zero? This would be 3 to the people from the South. If you were on the Songhuajiang River, you could not help 4 those brave swimmers.

    I felt greatly excited as well as 5 when I first saw the winter-swimming, though it was very cold that day, the swimmers were only wearing 6 clothes, while all the people watching were having heavy clothes covering all their bodies with only two 7 visible. I had thought that the river was warm, but it 8 much cold when I dipped my hand into the river water. What excited me most was the way they 9 into the river from the high ice-platform and the styles in which they swam, 10 butterfly-stroke and back-stroke.

    My uncle has been 11 about winter-swimming for several years. Now he is a member of the Winter Swimming Club. Once I asked him, “Aren't you afraid of cold? Have you got a 12 from it?” Smiling, he said, “13 we have a strong will, we can surely overcome any 14 and difficulties. I haven't got a cold at all. On the contrary, I have become 15 than I was before “That's true, he 16 suffer from bronchitis. However, since he began to like swimming, he has been fully 17 from the disease.

    Today, more and more people are 18 joining in the winter-swimming, including women and children. This activity shows the great 19 and strong will of the people in Harbin which I think is just what we 20 in our work and study as well.

    I became a gardener when I was twelve. My early 1 of gardening may not have come from my love for nature. It was to 2 my parents.

    At that time we had a big yard in which a beautiful maple tree stood. But my mother often looked with 3 at this work of natural art. Those golden leaves seemed like tons of rubbish to her, something else to 4. Seeing the neighbors busy with gardening, my father even thought it a waste of time.

    At that age, I always did something 5 to whatever my parents did! If gardening were something they found 6, I would plant a garden!

    I planted some lily seeds in the yard. But they failed to 7, I continued to plant sunflower seeds and roses. Wild 8 joy, I found the first rose bloom (开花). One by one, the flowers bloomed their heads off. 9, I was touched by this land of wonder.

    10, my parents showed no interest in my garden. My father even 11at me because he found it was 12 to move around my garden to the driveway. To my mother's 13, I put in her vase my real roses which in her eyes were simply weeds 14 flowers.

    Regardless of their 15, I kept on planting my garden and 16 to enjoy the pleasure of gardening. Plants make such good companions: they breathe, they bloom, they 17 to care and love.

    It has been many years since I made my first garden out of my desire to 18 my parents. Today I become known as Mrs. Green thumbs (手指), teaching gardening and hosting a gardening show, which makes my parents feel very 19. And now I could say it my affection for 20 that makes me a real gardener.

Dada Band is a popular Chinese rock group from the 1990s. The band {#blank#}1{#/blank#}（found）in Beijing by a group of young musicians who were deeply influenced by Western rock music but sought {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（create）a sound that was distinctly their own.

One of their most beloved songs, "South"（Nánfāng）, shows the essence of Dada Band's artistry. This song is a vivid reflection on the feelings of homesickness and longing for their hometown of Wuhan, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}（especial）as the members were living in Beijing during their formative years as a band. The song's lyrics（歌词）paint {#blank#}4{#/blank#} rich picture of personal memories and universal emotions, revealing the essence of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} it means to leave a part of oneself behind in the pursuit of dreams.

With its soft melodies（旋律）and {#blank#}6{#/blank#}（touch）lyrics, "South" offers a window into the soul of Dada Band. Dada's music shows their {#blank#}7{#/blank#}（remark）skill in harmoniously integrating Western rock influences with the unique sensibilities of Chinese culture, creating a sound that was both familiar and fresh {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the audience. The track {#blank#}9{#/blank#}（become）an anthem（赞歌）since its release for anyone who has ever felt the pull of home while navigating the challenges of life away from it.

Their song "South" remains a timeless piece, continuing to touch the hearts of listeners across {#blank#}10{#/blank#}（generation）and geographical boundaries, reminding them of the power of music to connect us all to our roots and to each other.