Chrysanthemum (菊花) comes from China and was recorded in some Chinese books as early as the 5th century BC. The flower     1     (introduce) to Japan during the Tang Dynasty. It usually begins to bloom (开花) in the 9th lunar month, lending a festive atmosphere to Double Ninth Day. That’s     2     the month is also referred to as (被称为)“the month of chrysanthemum”.

The flower has been favored by poets through the ages, because it is one of the only     3     (flower) that bloom in late autumn. Du Fu,     4     great Tang Dynasty poet, wrote more than ten poems singing the praises of the flower.

Chinese people    5     (be) fond of enjoying chrysanthemum on Double Ninth Day long before. Chrysanthemum displays were usually held     6    (immediate) after the day in some regions of China in the Qing Dynasty. People in Beijing began to stick chrysanthemums on doors and windows to get rid     7     the bad luck and bring in the good ones,     8     was an alteration (改变) of the custom of wearing chrysanthemum on people’s heads. At these displays family members accompany     9     (they) elders to have a relaxing day in a natural atmosphere while     10     (wish) for good health and happiness for them. The displays are often lively with a sea of visitors.

Polar bears are suffering in a     1    (warm) world than ever before.

Polar bears live in environments too cold for most animals. For most of the year, they live and hunt on the Arctic sea ice. Nature has prepared     2    (they) for the cold conditions. But nothing has prepared the bears for the danger     3     threatens the only home they know.

The polar bears’ world is melting. Studies show that the polar ice     4     ( decline) by 9.8% every 10 years since 1978. Now about 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears depend     5    the sea ice for their     6     (survive). “The sea ice is more than just this platform that the bears walk over,” says Andrew Derocher,     7     scientist who studies North American polar bear populations. “Without it, they can’t exist.”

Some     8     (melt) and refreezing of the polar ice is natural. But in a warmer world, these cycles speed up, and bears have less time     9    (hunt). Normally, they have three months in the spring when they gain more weight. The extra fat will be used, when the bears are not     10    (active) hunting.

Researchers examined the benefits of singing among people with mental health conditions     1     (include) anxiety and depression.

They found people who took part in a community singing group improved their mental health and that the     2     (combine) of singing and socializing was an important part of recovery.

The grassroots action runs weekly singing workshops for the people     3     mental health conditions as well as the general public. It     4     (original) began at a hospital in 2005     5     then moved into the community. Around 120 people now attend four free workshops each week across Norfolk, two thirds of     6     have had contact with mental health services.

The research project followed the group for six months and     7    (undertake) interviews and focus groups with participants, organizers, and workshop    8     (leader).

The report shows how singing and socializing gave participants    9     feeling of belonging and well-being that often lasted a day or     10     (many), as well as improved social skills and confidence.

Some people are great at remembering faces. However, for some people, remembering a face can be difficult. Even for others, remembering a face may be impossible. Such people have a condition     1     (call)“face blindness". Its actual name is Developmental Prosopagnosia, or DP     2     short.

Experts say DP can differ     3     (great) from patient to patient. In less severe cases, people are unable to describe the face of someone they have just met. In severe cases, people cannot even recognize     4     (they) own children in a group photo.

Those who have DP show no clear signs. Take Dacia for example. If you met her, you probably wouldn't know the fact     5     she suffered brain damage as a child. There would be no sign of it until you meet her     6     second time. She wouldn't remember you at all. Dacia has mostly recovered from her     7     (injure). But now, she suffers from face blindness.

Once face blindness     8     (think) to be very rare. But recent     9     (study) have shown that it might be more common than experts thought. The study on face blindness will not directly lead to any treatments. However, it could lead to a much     10     (deep) understanding of how we all remember the world around us.

A BBC team made a worrying film about the terrible influence plastic pollution is having on seabirds in the Tasman Sea near Australia. The team was working on the remote Lord Howe Island for a documentary called Drowning in Plastic. They filmed many birds that     1    (die) because their stomachs were full of plastic. The birds     2    (starve) to death. There was no room in their stomachs for food. The team filmed marine     3    (biologist) working to try and save the birds. The scientists caught hundreds of chicks and removed plastic     4     their stomachs to give them a chance of     5    (survive).

A marine biologist explained     6     was happening. She said the birds were predators(捕食性动物) that eat anything. She said: ＂They have no ability     7    (discover) non-plastic, so they eat it.＂Adult birds feed the plastic to     8    (they) chicks, not knowing what they are feeding them. The biologist said most of the plastic is entirely preventable. She said much of the plastic could     9    (easy) be swapped for other materials, such as aluminium or wood. She said: ＂My own toothbrush is made of bamboo.＂    10     BBC TV presenter said: ＂We saw 90 pieces of plastic come out of one of the chicks.＂