【推荐1】阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写 1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

I picked up the phone, slowly dialing the number to her house. All I could think was     1     we could possibly have a conversation about. Nothing! I didn’t think I could have anything in common with the person     2     is 50 years older than me. “Your grandmother won’t be around forever,” my mom said, so I just did what she told me and called my grandmother. What I didn’t know was that the phone call     3     (change) my attitude to life.

【推荐2】No one loves me more than my parents, especially my father. My father is stout and strong, severe look on his face and keen expressive eyes. At first sight you may feel him hard     1     (approach). In fact, he is very kind and considerate. I believe my father is a     2     (talent) man. He is decisive and efficient in doing things. By his own talents and years of efforts, he     3     (provide) the family with a good social position and a     4     (relative) rich life. Besides, he lives in harmony     5     others and never quarrels with anyone, so people from all walks of life come to my house, from     6     I’ve gained lots of social experience. But at home he is a strict parent who is hard on me and has high     7     (expectation) of me. I can see that my idling away time     8     (hurt) him deeply, while if I have done something great and meaningful, such as     9     (write) a book, he will be more excited than me. I always remind myself I must go on and on, and never     10     I give up halfway.

【推荐1】Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word or phrase that best fits each blank.

Cross-cultural Marriage

Previously, cross-cultural marriages were not accepted. However, most people get married out of love for one another, not because of one's race. Cross-cultural marriages, therefore,    1    （become）more popular among the younger generations.

    2    （enter）into a relationship with someone from another country can have a lot of ups and downs. The differences between the two cultures come into play as the relationship    3    （progress）. Couples may have problem    4    （get）used to each other's living style. Even the slightest difference, say in the food they eat, can spark off an argument. The couples may also have certain assumptions or expectations about what their partners are like, in terms of the ideas about a culture they may have before meeting their spouses. It is important for the couples to see their partners as who they are, and not    5    （base）on some common understanding of a culture. Of course, it is essential for the couples    6    （respect）and get a deeper understanding of the spouses' cultures.

Cross-cultural marriage may be particularly    7    （horrify）to women. Many brides fear that they will be unable to communicate with their new families. In Korea, courses are available to help Korean women who marry American men    8    （adapt）to their new lives. Fear of living abroad and    9    （understand）the new customs can be too much for a new bride to handle. With the help of the programs, the new husband can also understand his new wife.    10    （marry）someone from a different country can offer interesting experiences and new challenges.

【推荐2】Doing housework can make us keep life in order and get some exercise. As for me, I learn and get a lot     1    (much) than that.

I used to be lazy at home. Seeing this, my mother came up with     2     idea - I have to earn my pocket money by     3    (do) housework.

It changed me a lot. I have to manage my time to balance(平衡) schoolwork     4     house- work. For example, when I can't work    5     a math problem, I prefer to sweep the floor or tidy up my room     6    (clear) my mind. I will make a good plan for every coin I earn. I keep an account (账目) to check     7     something is worth buying. Once my mother told me to buy some toiletries(洗漱用品). I     8    (quick) made a list, compared prices and     9    (buy) products that were on sale. I now have a habit of managing money and I know it's great     10     my mother to look after my family so well!

This is how I learn and get from doing housework - it's a skill that lasts a lifetime.