The giant vending machine is a new village shop Villagers have long been used to facing a drive when they run out of basic supplies. However, help is now nearer at hand in form of the country's first automatic push-button shop. Now residents in the Derbyshire Village of Clifton can buy groceries around the clock after the huge vending was installed outside a pub in the village this week.
Peter Fox, who is 1 electrical engineer, spent two and a half years working on the project. The machine 2 (equip) with securing cameras and alarms and looks like a mini shop with a brick front, a grey roof and a display window.
Mr. Fox said he hoped his invention, 3 is set to be installed in other villages in the area over the coming months, will mark a return to convenience shopping for rural communities.
He said:"I had this idea a few years ago but I couldn't find a manufacture who could deliver what I wanted, so I did it by 4 . The result is what amounts to huge outdoor vending machine.Yet I think the term 'automatic shop' is far 5 (appropriate)."
In recent years, the commercial pressure from supermarket chains 6 (force)village shops across the country to close. In 2010, it was estimated that about 400 village shops closed, 7 (urge) the local government to give financial support to struggling shops or set-up new communities stores.
Hundreds of communities have since stepped in and opened up their won volunteer-run shops, but Mr. Fox hopes his new invention will offer a solution 8 these villages without a local shop.
My Stay in New York
After graduation from university, I had been unable to secure a permanent job in my small town. So I decided to leave home for New York, 1 I might have a better chance to find a good job. 2 (earn)some money to pay the daily expenses, I started work in a local cafe as a waiter. I believe that 3 I was offered a good position, I would resign at once.
Over time, the high cost of living became a little burden on my already 4 (exhaust) shoulder. On the other hand, my search for a respectable job had not met with much success. As I had studied literature at university, I found it quite difficult to secure a suitable job in big companies. Mother had just said that 5 I want to have a better career advancement, I had to find work in the city. Perhaps 6 my mother had told me was deeply rooted in my mind. I just did as she had expected.
Soon I had lived in the city for over six months but I still did not like it. Apparently, I had difficulty 7 (adapt) myself to life in the city, let alone finding a job to my delight. After nine months of frustration, I eventually decided to go back to my small town. Not until I returned 8 I realize that a quiet town life was the best for me.
Gift from a Stranger
My local supermarket is always busy.The first parking space I found was convenient, but I'd noticed a woman in a blue car circling fora while. 1 I was in a good mood, I let her have it. On the edge of the car park I backed into the next available spot—it was a tight fit.
Pretty soon Id made my way through the supermarket and was back in the fresh air. Feeling good, 2 (empty) my purse change into the hands of a homeless man and helped a struggling woman reverse park.
Just as I approached my car, I saw the woman I'd let have my car spot earlier. She was giving me 3 odd look—half puzzled, half intent. I smiled and wished her a pleasant day. As I squeezed back into my car, I saw the same lady 4 (look) in at me."Hello," she said, hesitantly. "This 5 sound crazy but I was on my way to drop some of my mother's things off at the charity bins. You are just so much 6 her. You helped those people, I noticed, and you seemed so happy." She looked at me meaningfully and passed a box in through the window. "I think she would like you to have it.” 7 (shock), I took it from her automatically. She smiled and walked away.
After a pause, I opened the box. Inside was a beautiful gold necklace with a large grey pearl. It was 8 (nice) gift I'd ever received, and it was from a complete stranger. The necklace was around my neck, a warm reminder of human kindness.
Ask Helpful Hannah
Dear Helpful Hannah,
I've got a problem with my husband, Sam. He bought a smartphone a couple of months ago and he took it on our recent ski vacation to Colorado. It was a great trip except for one problem. He has a constant urge 1 (check) for text messages; he checks his phone every five minutes! He's so addicted to it that he just can't stand the idea 2 there may be an important text. He can't help checking even at inappropriate times like when we are eating in a restaurant and I am talking to him! He behaves 3 any small amount of boredom can make him feel the need to check his phone even when he knows he shouldn't. The temptation to see 4 is contacting him is just too great.when I ask him to please put down the phone and stop 5 (ignore) me, he says, "In a minute," but still checks to see if 6 has posted something new on the Internet. Our life 7 (interrupt). If we go somewhere and I ask him to leave the phone at home, he suffers from withdrawal symptoms.Maybe this dependency on his smartphone has become more than an everyday problem.
I recently read an article about "monophobia,” 8 is a real illness people can suffer from: the fear of being without your phone! I am worried that Sam may be suffering from this illness because he feels anxious if he doesn't have his phone with him, even for a short time.
Who would have thought that little devices like these could have brought so much trouble!
Sick and Tired Sadie
A young man, while traveling through a desert,came across a spring of clear water. 1 water was sweet. He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder 2 had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, the young man 3 (present) the water to the old man.His teacher took a deep drink, smiled 4 (warm), and thanked his student very much for the sweet water. The young man went home 5 a happy heart.
After the student left, the teacher let 6 student taste the water.He spit it out, 7 (say) it was awful. Apparently, it was no longer fresh because of the old leather container. He asked his teacher,"Sir, the water was awful. Why did you pretend to like 8 ?"The teacher replied, "You tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and love. Nothing could be 9 (sweet).”
We understand this lesson best 10 we receive gifts of love from children. Whether it is a cheap pipe or a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.
If you feel stressed by responsibilities at work, you should take a step back and identify those of 1 (great) and less importance. Then, handle the most important tasks first so you'll feel a real sense of 2 (achieve). Leaving the less important things until tomorrow 3 (be) often acceptable.
Most of us are more focused 4 our tasks in the morning than we are later in the day. So get an early start and try to be as productive 5 possible before lunch. This will give you the confidence you need to get you through the afternoon and go home feeling accomplished.
Recent 6 (study) show that we are far more productive at work if we take short breaks 7 (regular). Give your body and brain a rest by stepping outside for 8 while, exercising, or doing something you enjoy.
If you find something you love doing outside of the office, you'll be less likely 9 (bring) your work home. It could be anything-gardening, cooking,music, sports—but whatever it is, 10 (make) sure it's a relief from daily stress rather than another thing to worry about.
Chengdu has dozens of new millionaires, Asia's biggest building, and fancy new hotels. But for tourists like me, pandas are its top 1 (attract).
So it was a great honour to be invited backstage at the not-for-profit Panda Base, where ticket money helps pay for research. 2 (allow) to get up close to these cute animals at the 600-acre centre.From tomorrow, I will be their UK ambassador. The title will be 3 (official) given tome at a ceremony in London. But my connection with pandas goes back 4 my days on a TV show in the mid-1980s, 5 I was the first Western TV reporter 6 (permit) to film a special unit caring for pandas rescued from starvation in the wild. My ambassadorial duties will include 7 (introduce) British visitors to the 120-plus pandas at Chengdu and others at a research centre in the misty mountains of Bifengxia.
On my recent visit, 1 help a lively three-month-old twin that had been rejected by 8 (it) mother. The nursery team switches him every few 9 (day) with his sister so that while one is being bottle-fed, 10 other is with mum-she never suspects.
A 90-year-old has been awarded "Woman Of The Year" for 1 (be) Britain's oldest full-time employee -still working 40 hours a week. Now lrene Astbury works from 9am to 5pm daily at the pet shop in Macclesfield, 2 she opened with her late husband Les. Her years of hard work have 3 (final)been acknowledged after a customer nominated her to be Cheshire’s Woman Of The Year.
Picking up her "Lifetime Achievement" award, proud lrene 4 (declare)she had no plans 5 (retire) from her 36-year-old business. Irene said, "I don't see any reason to give up work. I love coming here and seeing my family and all the friends I 6 (make) over the years. I work not because I have to, 7 because I want to.”
Granddaughter Gayle Parks, 31--who works alongside her in the family business--said it remained unknown as to who nominated Irene for the award. She said, "We don't have any idea who put grandma forward. When we got a call 8 (say) she was short-listed, we thought it was 9 joke. But then we got an official letter and we were blown away. We are so proud of her. It's 10 (wonder).”
In 1863 the first underground passenger railway in the world opened in London. It ran for just under seven kilometers and allowed people to avoid terrible 1 (crowd) on the roads above as they travelled to and 2 work. It took three years to complete and was built using an interesting method. This included digging up the road, 3 (lay) the track and then building a strong roof over 4 top. When all those had been done,the road surface was replaced.
Steam engines 5 (use) to pull the carriages and it must have been 6 (fair)unpleasant for the passengers,with all the smoke and noise. However, the railway quickly proved to be a great success and within six months, more than 25,000 people were using 7 every day.
Later, engineers 8 (manage) to construct railways in a system of deep tunnels,which became known as the Tube. This development was only possible with the 9 (introduce) of electric-powered engines and lifts. The Central London Railway was one of the most 10 (success) of these new lines, and was opened in 1900. It had white-painted tunnels and bright red carriages, and proved extremely popular with the public.
Jane was walking round the department store. She remembered how difficult 1 was to choose a suitable Christmas present for her father. She wished that he was as easy 2 (please) as her mother, who was always delighted with perfume.
Besides, shopping at this time of the year was not 3 pleasant experience: people stepped on your feet or 4 (push) you with their elbows, hurrying ahead to get to a bargain.
Jane paused in front of a counter 5 some attractive ties were on display. "They are real silk," the assistant tried to attract her. "Worth double the price." But Jane knew from past experience that her 6 (choose) of ties hardly ever pleased her father.
Jane stopped where a small crowd of men had gathered. She found some good quality pipes 7 sale. She did not hesitate for long: although her father smoked a pipe only once in a while, she knew that this was a present which was bound to please 8 .
When Jane got home,with her small but well-chosen present in her bag,her parents were already 9 table having supper. Her mother was excited.“Your father has at last decided to stop smoking," Jane 10 (inform).
One morning, I was waiting at the bus stop, worried about 1 (be)late for school. There were many people waiting at the bus stop, 2 some of them looked very anxious and 3 (disappoint). When the bus finally came, we all hurried on board. I got a place next 4 the window, so I had a good view of the sidewalk. A boy on a bike 5 (catch ) my attention. He was riding beside the bus and waving his arms. I heard a passenger behind me shouting to the driver, but he refused 6 (stop) until we reached the next stop. Still, the boy kept 7 (ride). He was carrying something over his shoulder and shouting. Finally, when we came to the next stop, the boy ran up the door of the bus. I heard an excited conversation. Then the driver stood up and asked,“ 8 anyone lose a suitcase at the last stop?”A woman on the bus shouted,"Oh, dear! It's 9 (I) ."She pushed her way to the driver and took the suitcase thankfully. Everyone on the bus began talking about what the boy had done, and the crowd of strangers 10 (sudden) became friendly to one another.
Diets have changed in China—and so too has its top crop. Since2011, the country 1 (grow) more corn than rice. Corn production has jumped nearly 125 percent over 2 past 25 years, while rice has increased only 7 percent.
A taste for meat is 3 (actual) behind the change: An important part of its corn is used to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Another reason for corn's rise: The government encourages farmers to grow corn instead of rice 4 (improve) water quality. Corn uses less water 5 rice and creates less fertilizer runoff. This switch has decreased 6 (pollute)in the country's major lakes and reservoirs and made drinking water safer for people.
According to the World Bank, China accounts for about 30 percent of total 7 (globe) fertilizer consumption. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture finds that between 2005—when the government 8 (start)a soil-testing program 9 gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers—and 2011, fertilizer use dropped by 7.7 million tons. That prevented the emission of 51.8 million tons of carbon dioxide.
China's approach to protecting its environment while 10 (feed) its citizens "offers useful lessons for agriculture and food policymakers worldwide,"says the bank's Juergen Voegele.
I was on my way to the Taiyetos Mountains. The sun was setting when my car 1 (break) down near a remote and poor village. Cursing my misfortune, I was wondering where I was going to spend the night when I realized that the villagers who had gathered around me were arguing as to 2 should have the honor of receiving me 3 a guest in their house. Finally, I accepted the offer of an old woman who lived alone in a little house. While she was getting me 4 (settle) into a tiny but clean room, the head of the village was tying up his horse to my car to pull it to 5 small town some 20 kilometers away 6 there was a garage.
I had noticed three hens running freely in my hostess's courtyard and that night one of them ended up in a dish on my table. 7 villagers brought me goat's cheese and honey. We drank together and talked 8 (merry) till far into the night.
When the time came for me to say goodbye to my friends in the village, I wanted to reward the old woman 9 the trouble I had caused 10 .
Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?
In 1969, the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River Cleveland, Ohio. It 1 (be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up.The river was so polluted that it 2 (actual) caught fire and burned.Now, years later, this river is one of 3 most outstanding examples of environmental cleanup.
But the river wasn't changed in a few days 4 even a few months.It took years of work 5 (reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is 6 (clean) than ever.
Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you leave a habit 7 is driving your family crazy. Possibly you drink too much or don't know how to control your credit card use. When you face such an impossible situation, don't you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?
While there are 8 (amaze) stories of instant transformation, for most of us the 9 (change) are gradual and require a lot of effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be 10 (patience).
Last year, my brother and I went to Miami for a vacation. Some of my friends who had been there before said 1 was a wonderful holiday destination. Before we went, we had planned for months. When the day came, we were ready.
After our plane landed, we went to the hotel. We had made our reservation six months 2 (early), but the man at the front desk said there had been a mistake. We 3 (tell) that our rooms hadn't been reserved for that week, 4 for the week after. I didn't understand 5 this would happen and my credit card has already been charged 6 the reservation.What's worse, the hotel had been fully booked. When we were wondering what to do, the manager came out. She was 7 (surprise) helpful. She apologized for the mistake and gave us a spare VIP room on 8 top floor. We had never stayed in such an amazing room, and we weren't charged extra.
The next day, my brother and I went to the beach 9 we watched some people play volleyball. We got a little 10 (sunburn), but the day had been so relaxing that we didn't mind.
According to a review of evidence in a medical journal, runners live three years 1 (long) than non-runners. You don't have to run fast or for long 2 (see) the benefit. You may drink, smoke, be overweight and still reduce your risk of 3 (die) early by running.
While running regularly can't make you live forever, the review says it 4 (be) more effective at lengthening life 5 walking, cycling or swimming. Two of the authors of the review also made a study published in2014 6 showed a mere five to 10 minutes a day of running reduced the risk of heart disease and early deaths from all 7 (cause).
The best exercise is one that you enjoy and will do. But otherwise...it 's probably running. To avoid knee pain, you can run on soft surfaces, do exercises to 8 (strength) your leg muscles, avoid hills and get good running shoes. Running is cheap, easy and it's always 9 (energy). If you are time poor, you need run for only half the time to get the same benefits as other sports, so perhaps we should all give 10 a try.
In much of Asia, especially the so-called "rice bowl" cultures of China, Japan, Korea, 1 Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.
Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might 2 (make)of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hardwoods and metal 3 (create) special designs.
The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years.People probably cooked their food in large pots, 4 (use) twigs to remove it. Over time, 5 the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which 6 (gradual) turned into chopsticks.
Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, 7 lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the 8 (develop) of chopsticks.Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and 9 (be)too violent for use at the table.
Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat 10 their hands.
Yangshuo, China
It was raining lightly when 1 (arrive) in Yangshuo just before dawn. But I didn't care. A few hours 2 , I'd been at home in HongKong, with 3 (it) choking smog. Here, the air was clean and fresh,even with the rain.
I'd skipped nearby Guilin, a dream place for tourists seeking the limestone mountain tops and dark waters of the Li River 4 are pictured by artists in so many Chinese 5 (painting). Instead, I'd head straight for Yangshuo. For those who fly to Guilin, it's only an hour away 6 car and offers all the scenery of the better-known city.
Yangshuo 7 (be) really beautiful. A study of travelers 8 (conduct)by the website Trip Advisor names Yangshuo as one of the top 10destinations in the world. And the town is fast becoming a popular weekend destination for people in Asia. Abercrombie & Kent, a travel company in Hong Kong, says it 9 (regular) arranges quick getaways here for people 10 (live) in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
In ancient China lived an artist 1 paintings were almost lifelike. The artist's reputation had made him proud. One day the emperor wanted to get his portrait done so he called all great artists to come and present their 2 (fine) work, so that he could choose the best. The artist was sure he would 3 (choose), but when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor's chief minister, the old man laughed. The wise old man told him to travel to the Li River—perhaps he could learn a little from the greatest artist in the world.
Filled with 4 (curious), the artist packed his bags and left. 5 he asked the villagers on the banks of the river where he could find the legendary artist, they smiled and 6 (point) down the river. The next morning he hired a boat and set out 7 (find) the well-known painter. As the small boat moved 8 (gentle) along the river he was left speechless by the mountains being silently reflected in the water. He passed milky white waterfalls and mountains in many shades of blue. And when he saw the mists rising from the river and the soft clouds 9 (surround)the mountain tops, he was reduced to tears. The artist was finally humbled by the greatest artist 10 earth, Mother Nature.
Mary will never forget the first time she saw him. He suddenly appeared in class one day, 1 (wear) sun glasses. He walked in as if he 2 (buy) the school.And the word quickly got around that he was from New York City.
For some reason he sat beside Mary. Mary felt 3 (please), because there were many empty seats in the room. But she quickly realized that it wasn't her, it was probably the fact that she sat in 4 last row.
5 he thought he could escape attention by sitting at the back, he was wrong. It might have made it a little 6 (hard) for everybody because it meant they had to turn around, but that didn't stop the kids in the class. Of course whenever they turned to look at him, they had to look at Mary, 7 made her feel like a star.
"Do you need those glasses for medical reasons?" the teacher asked.The new boy shook his head. “Then Id appreciate it if you didn't wear them in class. I like to look at your eyes when I'm speaking to you.”The new boy looked at the teacher 8 a few seconds and all the other students wondered 9 the boy would do. Then he took 10 off, gave a big smile and said, "That's cool.”
On our way to the house, it was raining 1 hard that we couldn't help wondering how long it would take 2 (get) there. It was in the middle of Pearl City.
We were first greeted with the barking by a pack 3 dogs, seven to be exact. They were well trained by their masters 4 had great experience with caring for these animals. Our hosts shared many of their experiences and 5 (recommend) wonderful places to eat, shop, and visit. For breakfast, we were able to eat papaya and other fruits from their trees in the backyard.
When they were free from work,they invited us to local events and let us know of an interesting 6 (compete) to watch, together with the story behind it. They also shared with us many 7 (tradition) stories about Hawaii that were 8 (huge) popular with tourists. On the last day of our week-long stay, we 9 (invite) to attend a private concert on a beautiful farm on the North Shore under the stars, 10 (listen) to musicians and meeting interesting locals.
Mr. Johnson lived in the woods with his wife and children. He owned 1 farm, which looked almost abandoned. 2 (lucky), he also had a cow which produced milk every day. He sold or exchanged some of the milk in the towns nearly 3 other food and made cheese and butter for the family with what 4 (leave). The cow was their only means of support, in fact. One day, the cow was eating grass 5 it began to rain heavily.While making great efforts to run away, she 6 (fall) over the hill and died. Then the Johnson tried to make a living 7 the cow. In order to support his family, Mr. Johnson began to plant herbs and vegetables. Since the plants took a while to grow, he started cutting down trees 8 (sell)the wood. Thinking about his children's clothes, he started growing cotton too. When harvest came around, he was already selling herbs, vegetables and cotton in the market 9 people from the town met regularly. Now it occurred to 10 that his farm had much potential and that the death of the cow was a bit of luck.
There has been a recent trend in the food service industry toward lower fat content and less salt. This trend, which was started by the medical community 1 a method of fighting heart disease, has had some unintended side 2 (effect) such as overweight and heart disease -- the very thing the medical community was trying to fight.
Fat and salt are very important parts of a dict. They are required 3 (process)the food that we eat, to recover from injury and for several other bodily functions. When fat and salt 4 (remove) from food, the food tastes as if is missing something. As 5 result, people will eat more food to try to makeup for that something missing. Even 6 (bad), the amount of fast food that people eat goes up. Fast food 7 (be) full of fat and salt; by 8 (eat)more fast food people will get more salt and fat than they need in their diet.
Having enough fat and salt in your meals will reduce the urge to snack between meals and will improve the taste of your food. However, be 9 (care) not to go to extremes. Like anything, it is possible to have too much of both, 10 is not good for the health.
One day, Nick invited his friends to supper. He was cooking some delicious food in the kitchen. Suddenly, he 1 (find) that he has run out of salt. So Nick called to his son, "Go to the village and buy some salt, but pay a fair price for it: neither too much 2 too little.”
His son looked surprised. "I can understand why I shouldn't pay too much, Father, but if l can pay less, 3 not save a bit of money?"
“That would be a very 4 (reason) thing to do in a big city, but it could destroy a small village like ours," Nick said.
Nick's guests, 5 had heard their conversation, asked why they should not buy salt more cheaply if they could. Nick replied, "The only reason a man would sell salt 6 a lower price would be because he was desperate for money. And anyone who took advantage of that situation would be showing a lack of respect 7 the sweat and struggle of the man who worked very hard to produce it."
“But such a small thing couldn't 8 (possible) destroy a village." "In the beginning, there was only 9 very small amount of unfairness in the world, but everyone added a little, always 10 (think) that it was only small and not very important, and look where we have ended up today."
She looks like any other schoolgirl, fresh-faced and full of life. Sarah Thomas is looking forward to challenge of her new A-level course. But unlike her school friends,16-year-old Sarah is not spending half-term 1 (rest). Instead, she is earning 6,500 a day as 2 model in New York.
Sarah 3 (tell) that she could be Britain's new supermodel, earning a million dollars in the next year. Her father Peter, 44, wants her to give up school to model full-time. But Sarah, 4 has taken part in shows along with top models, wants 5 (prove) that she has brains as well as beauty. She is determined to carry on with her 6 (educate).
She has turned down several 7 (invitation) to star at shows in order to concentrate on her studies. After school she plans to take a year off to model full-time before going to university to get a degree 8 engineering or architecture.
Sarah says, "My dad thinks I should take the offer now. But at the moment, school 9 (come) first. I don't want to get too absorbed in modeling. It is 10 (certain) fun but the lifestyle is a little unreal. I don't want to have nothing else to fall back on when I can't model anymore."
China has become the first country to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. The unmanned Chang'e-4 probe —the name was inspired by an ancient Chinese moon goddess- 1 (touch) down last week in the South Pole-Aitken basin. Landing on the moon's far side is 2 (extreme) challenging. Because the moon's body blocks direct radio communication with a probe, China first had to put a satellite in orbit above the moon in a spot 3 it could send signals to the spacecraft
and to Earth. The far side of the moon is of particular 4 (interesting) to scientists because it has a lot of deep craters, more so 5 the familiar near side. Chinese researchers hope to use the instruments onboardChang'e-4 6 (find) and study areas of the South Pole-Aitken basin."This really excites scientists," Carle Pieters, a scientist at Brown University, says, "because it 7 (mean) we have the chance to obtain information about how the moon 8 (construct)." Data about the moon's composition, such as how 9 ice and other treasures it contains, could help China decide whether 10 (it) plans for a future lunar base are practical.
I'm not sure 1 is more frightened, me or the female gorilla that suddenly appears out of nowhere. I'm walking on a path in the forest in the Central African Republic. Unexpectedly, I'm face-to-face with the gorilla, who begins screaming at 2 top of her lungs. That makes her baby scream, and then a 400-pound male appears. He screams the 3 (loud) of all. The noise shakes the trees as the male beats his chest and charges toward me. I quickly lower myself, ducking my head to avoid 4 (look) directly into his eyes so he doesn't feel 5 (challenge).
My name is Mireya Mayor. I'm a 6 (science) who studies animals such as apes and monkeys. I was searching 7 these three western lowland gorillas I'd been observing. No one had seen them for hours, and my colleagues and I were worried.
When the gorillas and I frightened each other, I was just glad to find 8 (they) alive. True to a gorilla's unaggressive nature, the huge animal 9 (mean) me no real harm. He was just saying:"I'm king of this forest,and here is your reminder!" Once his message was delivered, he allowed me 10 (stay) and watch.
Chinese proverbs are rich and they are still widely used in Chinese people's daily life. 1 these proverbs there are often interesting stories. For example, the proverb, "plucking up a crop 2 (help) it grow", is based on the following story. It is said that a short-tempered man in the Song Dynasty (960—1279) was very anxious to help 3 rice crop grow up quickly. He was thinking about 4 day and night. But the crop was growing much slower than he expected.
One day, he came up with an idea 5 he would pluck up all of his crop a few inches. He did so the next day. He was very tired 6 doing this fora whole day, 7 he felt very happy since the crop did "grow" 8 (high). His son heard about this and went to see the crop. Unfortunately the leaves of the crop began to wither.
This proverb is saying we have to let things go in their 9 (nature)course. Being too anxious to help an event develop often 10 (result) in the contrary to our intention.
Few people I know seem to have much desire or time to cook. Making Chinese 1 (dish) is seen as especially troublesome. Many westerners 2 come to China cook much less than in their own countries once they realize how cheap 3 can be to eat out. I still remember 4 (visit) a friend who'd lived here for five years and I 5 (shock)when I learnt she hadn't cooked once in all that time.
While regularly eating out seems to 6 (become) common for many young people in recent years, it's not without a cost. The obvious one is money; eating out once or twice a week may be 7 (afford) but doing this most days adds up. There could be an even 8 (high) cost on your health. Researchers have found that there is a direct link between the increase in food eaten outside the home and the rise in 9 (weigh)problems.
If you are not going to suffer this problem, then I suggest that the next time you go to your mum's home 10 dinner, get a few cooking tips from her. Cooking food can be fun. You might also begin to notice the effects not only on your health but in your pocket.
One Sunday morning in August I went to local music festival. I left it early because I had an appointment 1 (late) that day. My friends walked me to the bus stop and waited with me 2 the bus arrived. I got on the bus and found a seat near the back, and then I noticed a man 3 (sit) at the front. He 4 (pretend) that a tiger toy was real and giving it a voice. He must be 5 (mental) disabled.
Behind him were other people to 6 he was trying to talk, but after some minutes 7 walked away and sat near me, looking annoyed.
I didn't want to be laughed at for talking to him but I didn't like leaving him 8 his own either. After a while I rose from my seat and walked to the front of the bus. I sat next to the man and introduced myself. We had 9 amazing conversation. He got off the bus before me and I felt very happy the rest of the way home. I'm glad I made a choice. It made 10 of us feel good.
Jonny: Hey! I'm just practicing Tai Chi. Would you like to join me?
Peter: I know nothing about it. Is it difficult?
Jonny: It seems easy, but you need a lot of practice. You just follow me like this.
Peter: OK. Don't laugh 1 me. I may look funny.
Jonny: Bend your knees slightly and reach out your arms like tree branches, naturally and 2 (soft). Try to keep your body straight. Move slowly, then be sure to keep your balance and don't let your body shake.
Peter: I cannot control my body well. My legs become 3 (pain).
Jonny: Keep 4 (hold) your position for a while. It helps develop your strength and flexibility. Raise your leg and let 5 stay in the air for seconds.
Peter: I feel my legs shaking. I cannot do this any longer.
Jonny: Be patient! Tai Chi 6 (call)"shadow boxing" in English. It asks you to act like water: to be flexible as well 7 strong. In real competition, a Tai Chi master borrows the strength of the competitor and uses this energy to fight back. The 8 (hard)you try to beat him, the more likely you will get hit. He controls you!
Peter: Unbelievable! Oh..., 9 you don't mind, I'll stop and take a deep 10 .
The adobe dwellings 1 ( build) by the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest are admired by even 2 most modern of architects and engineers. In addition to their simple beauty, what makes the adobe dwellings admirable is their 3 (able) to "air condition”a house without 4 (use) electric equipment. Walls made of adobe take in the heat from the sun on hot days and give out that heat 5 (slow)during cool nights, thus warming the house. When a new day breaks, the walls have given up their heat and are now cold enough 6 (cool) the house during the hot day; 7 the same time,they warm up again for the night. This cycle 8 (go) day after day: The walls warm up during the day and cool off during the night and are thus always a timely offset for the outside temperatures. As 9 (nature) architects, the Pueblo Indians figured out exactly 10 thick the adobe walls needed to be to make the cycle work on most days.
Decorating with Plants, Fruit and Flowers for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a 1 (celebrate) marking the end of the winter season and the beginning of spring. This is why decorating with plants, fruits and flowers 2 (carry) special significance. They represent the earth 3 (come) back to life and best wishes for new beginning.
These are some of the most popular in many parts of the country:Oranges: Orange trees are more 4 decoration; they are a symbol of good fortune and wealth. They make great gifts and you see them many times 5 (decorate) with red envelopes and messages of good fortune.
Bamboo: Chinese love their "Lucky Bamboo" plants and you will see them often in their homes and offices. 6 (certain) during the holiday period, this plant is a must. Bamboo plants are associated 7 health,abundance and a happy home. They are easy 8 (care) for and make great presents.
Branches of Plum blossoms: The 9 (beauty) long branches covered with pink-colored buds make fantastic decorations. The plum trees are 10 first to flower even as the snow is melting. They represent the promise of spring and a renewal of life.
The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and some big land masses as far south as Newfoundland. While they are rare north of 88°, there is evidence 1 they range all the way across the Arctic, and as far south as James Bay in Canada. It is difficult to figure out a global population of polar bears as much of the range has been 2 (poor) studied; however, biologists calculate that there are about 20, 000-25, 000 polar bears worldwide.
Modern methods 3 tracking polar bear populations have been employed only since the mid-1980s, and are expensive 4 (perform) consistently over a large area.In recent years some Inuit people in Nunavut 5 (report) increases in bear sightings around human settlements, leading to a 6 (believe) that populations are increasing. Scientists have responded by 7 (note) that hungry bears may be congregating around human settlements, leading to the illusion that populations are 8 (high) than they actually are. Of 9 nineteen recognized polar bear subpopulations, three are declining, six 10 (be) stable,one is increasing, and nine lack enough data.
