Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability.

    Compared with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in this practice, gradually we'll learn how {#blank#}2{#/blank#}（express）ourselves in English. In keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(difficult). In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble in {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(find) appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(be) many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is extremely hard for us to put them into English {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(proper).

    As far as I am {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(concern), my suggestion is {#blank#}8{#/blank#}we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also ask our English teacher {#blank#}9{#/blank#}help, if necessary. In short, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for {#blank#}10{#/blank#}development of our writing skills.

    All through high school, I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(play) football, basketball, and soccer, and I was on the track team. But boxing was the sport that I liked {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (much) because It's more {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(challenge)and exciting to me. I found that I enjoyed the Anil of the one-on-one competition. I also liked the feet that it was up to me {#blank#}4{#/blank#} I won or lost – that I was the determining factor. I think I've always been a competitor, and winning would give me {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (satisfy) and a good feeling about myself. I wanted to win every time.

    I started training with Bruce who got me into the boxing. With Bruce {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (act) as my boxing coach, friend, mentor, and a father figure for me {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(look) up to, I learned that boxing is a sweet science{#blank#}8{#/blank#}I could use my brain as well as my strength and size. I used my ability to focus under pressure. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (train) for several years, I went from being a street fighter {#blank#}10{#/blank#}a gold medal-winning Olympic champion.

    Different people feel stressed in different ways. Some ways of dealing with stress don't solve much. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} other ways can lead you to {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (solve) your problem or at least feeling better.

    Try taking these four steps the next time you are stressed: Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people {#blank#}3{#/blank#} care about you. Talk to your parents or other {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (relative). And don't forget about your friends. They might have had similar problems. Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (they). Oh, dear, that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Ask for a helping hand to get you through the tough situation. Try to solve the problem. After you're calm and you have support from adults and friends, it's time {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (get) down to business. You need to figure {#blank#}7{#/blank#} what the problem is. Even if you can't solve it all, you can solve a piece of it. Be positive. Remember stress {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (do) go away, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (especial) when you start working on solving it. These steps aren't magic, but they do work. And if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time, you'll help yourself feel {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (good) even faster.

    Benjamin West, the father of American painting, showed his talent for art when he was only six years of age. But he did not know about brushes before {#blank#}1{#/blank#} visitor told him he needed one. In those days, a brush was made from camel's hair. There were no camels nearby. Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead. He cut some fur from the family cat {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) a brush.

    The brush did not last long. Soon Benjamin needed more fur. Before long, the cat began to look ragged(蓬乱). His father said that the cat {#blank#}3{#/blank#} be sick. Benjamin {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (force) to admit what he had been doing.

    The cat's lot was about to improve. That year, one of Benjamin's cousins, Mr. Pennington, came to visit. He was impressed with Benjamin's drawings. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} he went home, he sent Benjamin a box for paint and some brushes. He also sent six engravings(版画)by an artist. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had even seen. In 1747, when Benjamin was nine years old, Mr. Pennington returned for another visit. He was amazed at {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Benjamin had done with his gift. He asked Benjamin's parents {#blank#}8{#/blank#} he might take the boy to Philadelphia for a visit.

    In the city, Mr. Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings. The boy began a landscape painting. William Williams, a well-known painter, came to see him work. Williams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home. The books were long and dull. Benjamin could read only a little, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) a poor student. But he later said, “Those two books were my companions by day, and {#blank#}10{#/blank#} my pillow at night." While it is likely that he understood very little of the books, they were his introduction to classical paintings. The nine-year-old boy decided then that he would be an artist.