I was ready to pay for my bananas at the grocery one night, when fear seized me. My wallet was gone. I could only have left it on the G9 bus, which was now speeding in the dark to some _______ station. How much time and money would it cost to replace the contents of that little wallet? The credit cards, the driver’s license, the cash, all lost to the bus.

Two hours later, I heard a knock on the door. My husband answered it while I was on the phone. In my husband’s hand was my wallet, with not a penny _______. She left before I could even make it to the door to offer my thanks.

After sharing the story online, someone identified the lady as Erin Smith. Without _______, I called to thank her. She said she _______ my wallet on a bus seat. “If I were in that situation, I would want someone to try to find me,” she said.

This one stranger responded beautifully to my small _______, but she actually wasn’t the only one. Right after Erin took my wallet on the bus, she posted a picture of my driver’s license to an online forum, trying to see _______ anyone knew me. No sooner did she leave my doorstep than I had emails from two women whose kids go to my son’s nursery and who recognized my face. I’ve never _______ words with those moms beyond small talk, but they wanted to help. I read that people are more divided than ever, but that’s not how the people I _______ tend to act.

Erin had gone _______ what almost anyone would have done, finding my house on a bitterly cold night, and for that I was extremely __________.

Yuan Longping was born in 1930 in Beijing. His parents wanted him to pursue a career in science or medicine. However,     11     concerned him most was that farmers often had poor harvests. How to boost yields was challenging question at the time. Fortunately, the answer     12     (find) in the creation of hybrid rice. Through intense effort, Yuan overcame enormous technical     13     (difficulty) to develop the first hybrid rice that could be used for farming in 1974. This hybrid enabled farmers to expand their output greatly.

The Richfield Museum of Fine Art is proud to present their new     14     (exhibit). They have many fine examples of Tang Dynasty(618-907) sculptures, most of     15     are of Buddhist origin. Even though Buddhism entered China much earlier, it did not really begin to show expansion until the seventh century. During this same period, trade     16     the Silk Road also boomed. Chinese sculpture thus found itself highly influenced by Buddhist art     17     (bring) from India and Central Asia. These works were intended to spread Buddhism and they are of exceptional beauty and quality.

Music for Life Learning music is important for the educational and personal development of young people!

Learning an instrument: how do pupils choose?

All our teachers are highly qualified and experienced musicians, and pupils can learn to play a wide range of instruments, from the keyboard to the drums(鼓). We have open days when new pupils who are unsure which instrument to choose can come to the centre. They are able to speak to teachers about which instrument might be best for them, and they can also see and hear classes in action.

Who is responsible for buying the instruments?

Parents usually have to provide instruments. But parents of beginners are advised not to buy an instrument until they are told that a place is available. They should also find out from the teacher the most suitable type of instrument to get.

When and where do lessons take place?

Lessons are available in many schools, usually during the day. If there is no lesson available for a particular instrument in a particular school, other arrangements can be made at one of our music centres for lessons on Saturday afternoons or weekday evenings.

How are pupils taught?

Pupils can learn in small groups, in classes or individually, depending on their needs. Small groups of three pupils have lessons that last thirty minutes. Class lessons last forty-five minutes and have at least ten pupils. Individual lessons are offered only to pupils who have some experience.

Starting young: when can pupils begin?

Children are never too young to become interested in music. We have special “Musical Youth” classes for children from the age of 3 to 8. These are designed to encourage young children to enjoy music through a variety of activities including singing, musical games, listening and movement. “Musical Youth” classes take place on Saturday mornings with groups of about 18 children. A parent or other adult must attend each session, and they are encouraged to sit with their children and help them with the activities.