In Canada and the United States, people enjoy entertaining(请客) at home. They often invite friends over{#blank#}1{#/blank#} a meal, a party, or just for coffee and conversation.

    Here are the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (kind) of things people say when they invite someone to their home: "Would you like to come over for dinner Saturday night?” "Hey, we{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(have) a party on Friday. Can you come?"

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(reply) to an invitation, either say thank you and accept, or say you're sorry and give an excuse: "Thanks, I'd love to. What time would you like me to come?" {#blank#}5{#/blank#}"Oh, sorry. I've tickets for a movie."

    Sometimes, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}, people use expressions that sound like invitations(邀请) but which are not real invitations. For example: "Please come over for a drink sometime." "Why not get together for a party sometime?" "Why don't you come over and see{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(we) sometime soon?"

    They are really just polite ways of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(end) a conversation. They are not real invitations because they don't mention a specific(确定的) time or date. They just show that the person is trying to be{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(friend). To reply to expressions like these, people just say "Sure, that would be great!" or "OK. Yes, thanks."

    So next time when you hear what sounds like an invitation, listen {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(careful). Is it a real invitation or not?

    December 16, 2013 was my birthday. It was the day {#blank#}1{#/blank#} my best friend left me. I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was also our Christmas concert. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(offer) a job in Colorado, my friend's father had to leave our city. And his family had to go with {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(he). Mr. Escalante, our old headmaster, brought her whole family up on the stage, and they made a big {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(announce) about how they {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(leave). After the concert ended, I was in a total mess. I felt as if I had made something torn out of my body that could never be {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(full) replaced. My best friend's name was Hannah Zona.

    Ever since I was a little girl, my family was always with the Zonas. We would go to the fair, did anything you could think of. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(live) so close {#blank#}8{#/blank#} each other, we could always go to each other's houses after school. {#blank#}9{#/blank#}she is about 7 years older than me, we act like we are sisters. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(word) can't describe how much I miss her. When she comes back to California, it's like we were never apart. Hannah Zona is the best friend you could ask for. No one could ever replace her and the love I have for her.

    A man looking at his smartphone while walking across a railway crossing in Nanjing {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (have) a close knock on Oct 22. He was so absorbed in his smartphone {#blank#}2{#/blank#} he didn't see a train approaching until it brushed past him,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (throw) him to the ground. This should serve {#blank#}4{#/blank#}a warning that people should be aware of their surroundings, especially when crossing roads.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(lucky), the man survived the brush with death, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}the incident forced the driver to stop the train. {#blank#}7{#/blank#}18-minute delay followed the incident, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} led to a break in the running of other trains on the route.

    Smartphone addiction(入迷、上瘾) has spread like an infectious disease. It's evident that it will do great harm to society. What's even {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (bad), some addicts become impatient with relatives and friends.

    Some people blame the smartphone for the tragedy, yet{#blank#}10{#/blank#}fact people's weakening self-control and self-discipline are to blame.

    The passage is about a letter written by Li Qiang who is taking {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the prize that he won last year. At first he was nervous and {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (certain) about the journey. However, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Wang Ping's guidance, Li Qiang was transported into the future safely.

    Hit by a lack {#blank#}4{#/blank#} fresh air, his head ached and he tried to make the necessary {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (adjust) to this new situation. Soon he was back {#blank#}6{#/blank#} his feet again and flew after Wang Ping in a hovering carriages {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (drive) by computer.

    Arriving at Wang Ping's house, Li Qiang was shown into a large room with a green wall {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (make) of trees, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} leaves provided the room with oxygen. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (exhaust), Li Qiang slid into bed and fell fast asleep.

    NASA has a new job listing, and it's no joke. The US space agency is looking for a "joker" to join their {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (plan) mission to Mars.

A mission to Mars is no laughing matter. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is known that Mars is 225 million kilometers away from Earth. A trip there would take around eight months in a small spacecraft. "When you're living with others in a confined (封闭的) space for a long period of time, such as on a mission to Mars, problems are likely {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (happen)" Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist at the University of Florida, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (say) to the Guardian. This is probably {#blank#}5{#/blank#} NASA wants an astronaut with a sense of humor. "These are people that have the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (able) to pull everyone together." Johnson said.

    In {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stress) situations, perhaps humor is a way to know we aren't alone. We can share our stress by {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (laugh) together. Then we can focus on our jobs instead of just worrying.

But if you're hoping that your favorite TV comedian will fly to Mars, that {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (possible) won't happen. "Being funny won't be enough to land somebody the job," Johnson said, "They also need to be an excellent scientist and engineer." Besides, it's required that they {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) in top physical condition.