At the start of every new year, it is very typical {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (make) new year's resolutions. However, do they really work?

    Personally, I don't think so. Firstly, it's always great to start the new year with a good {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (intend) and a positive attitude, as it can bring more hope and happiness. However, when life {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (return) to normal, the enthusiasm of writing a diary, for example, can wear off.

    We often choose the goals {#blank#}4{#/blank#} are unrealistic as resolutions under the false belief that we can just be a {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (complete) different person in the new year. In fact, changes happen in small steps over time, so why not take a step back and think of something we can benefit {#blank#}6{#/blank#}?

    For instance, let's simply set some achievable goals: smile more at {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(strange), laugh at least {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (two) a day or write a positive thing that makes you happy, no matter {#blank#}9{#/blank#} simple they are. These small gestures are thought {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) effective to make you better on the inside and outside. So, let's take the pressure away and make a great effort to be a better me!

    A free program {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (help) Milwaukee Public High School students realize their theater dreams at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

    "My mom put me in acting classes {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I was seven because I was {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (extreme) shy," says 17-year-old Beatrice Low.

    "And I just {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (take) to it like a duck to water, I guess."

    Today, she's having the chance {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (work) one-on-one with a professional, touring actress through program at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

    "I can't describe it, it's amazing, I love it," Low says.

    It {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (call) "Arts Connect" and pairs a class of young actors with theater professionals for a weeklong workshop.

    During one session, Beatrice works with actress Teri Hansen. She was in Milwaukee for the Marcus Center's recent touring {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (produce) of "An American in Paris."

    "It's the favorite thing that I do, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (work) with aspiring artists," Hansen says.

    Together they work {#blank#}9{#/blank#} a song from the Andrew Loyd Weber musical "Tell Me on a Sunday," with an audience of Beatrice's young peers. No pressure.

    The Marcus Center makes the Arts Connect program free for students from three Milwaukee public high schools. It's has been {#blank#}10{#/blank#} invaluable—even life-changing—experience, Beatrice says.

    Many people consider old friends to be more important than new ones. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}an old saying goes, “Friends are like wine, the older, the better.” If two pieces of advice {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (give) to solve a problem, one from a new friend and the other from {#blank#}3{#/blank#} old friend, people would prefer the latter one {#blank#}4{#/blank#} the former one, even though the new friend's advice may be better.

    I, however, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (agree) with the old saying, believing that new friends are not necessarily worse than old friends. It is not always right {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (determine) your friendship by the length(长度) of time.

    Once you call someone a friend, he must be a person who is {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (rely) and whose interests are in common with {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(you). It is mainly his character (性格) and interests that make him your friend. It {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (actual) has little to do with time. People's appearance may change, but their character usually stays the same. Therefore, on this point, there is no {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (different) between old friends and new friends.

    China{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(witness) rapid growth in dealing with cases between citizens and government departments over the past five years. But{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(take) officials to court (法庭)would have been unheard of 30 years ago.

    “The question of whether to allow citizens to sue (起诉)government departments caused heated debates back then,” said Yang Jingyu, 82, a retired lawmaker {#blank#}3{#/blank#}at the time was a member of the Standing Committee of the National Peopled Congress.

    He looked back {#blank#}4{#/blank#} discussions about the Maritime Traffic Safety Law, which {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(regard) as a basis of China's legal system. But it started a debate on whether governments could be sued, because some officials thought what they do is in the name of the country.

    However Peng Zhen, who {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (devote) to making the laws, argued that it would be unfair{#blank#}7{#/blank#} we did not allow citizens to appeal (上诉)in court. For example, sailors, especially{#blank#}8{#/blank#} who had worked many years to become captains, would be jobless or fall into trouble if they were {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(wrong) punished.

    Now, according to the laws, courts must accept cases without {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (hesitate) if litigants (当事人)provide enough material.

The bicycle is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} most popular means of transport in China. People ride it for various {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (purpose) such as going to and from school and work. Bicycles are very cheap and easy {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (buy) in China.

There are many advantages of riding a bicycle. Firstly, compared with cars {#blank#}4{#/blank#} are powered by gas, bicycles can do good to{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (save) energy and reducing the air pollution. Taking up less space, a bicycle can also {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (lighten) the traffic jams. Most importantly, people can keep {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (health) by riding a bicycle regularly.

{#blank#}8{#/blank#} my view, the future of the bicycle will be bright{#blank#}9{#/blank#} some city governments have built special paths for bicycle riders and{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (provide)"public bicycles" to travel round the city center free of charge. Bicycles will be popular again in China.