It was a very foggy(雾茫茫的) morning in London. The fog was so thick that it was _________ to see more than a foot or so. Buses, cars and taxis were stopped along the roadside, unable to move because the drivers couldn’t _________. People were trying to walk to their destinations(目的地), but most were losing their _________ in the fog.

Mr. Smith had a very important meeting at the House of Commons, but he was not familiar(熟悉的) with the area and _________ could take him there in such heavy fog. So he was a little worried. He was trying to find his way in the fog. Soon, however, he realized that he was lost. _________ he bumped(撞) into a stranger. Mr. Smith said sorry to the stranger and then asked him whether he _________ help him find his way. The stranger said it was a piece of cake and offered to take Mr. Smith to the meeting place. Mr. Smith thanked _________ and they started to walk. The fog was getting thicker and thicker every minute _________ the stranger had no difficulty in finding the way. They went along one street, turned down another, crossed a square and at last, after about half an hour, they _________ the meeting place.

Mr. Smith couldn’t understand how the stranger found his way. “It is wonderful,” he said.“But __________ do you find the way in the thick fog? ”

“It is no trouble at all to me, ” said the stranger.“I am blind.”

Interesting Festivals in the World

I used to hate my mother because she worked a lot and didn’t spend much time with me. Then one Friday morning I took part in a three-day self-help program for teenagers. Whether you believe it or not, that weekend changed my life.

About 100 other teenagers were there. During the first two days I met a lot of great people. I was glad because I made so many friends there.

On Sunday, the leader did an interesting exercise called “Chocolate or Toys”. He asked a girl which she liked better, chocolate or toys. She chose chocolate. Then he asked her to choose again between chocolate and chocolate. Of course, she didn’t have a choice.

This exercise told us that sometimes we don’t have a choice in life, and that sometimes we have to accept something, rather than complaining(抱怨).

A girl stood up and started talking about her mom who was a drug addict(吸毒者) and how much she hated her mother.

“I want a new mom,” she cried.

“Unluckily, you can’t have one,” the leader replied. “You have to accept the mother that you have.”

This hit me hard. I realized that, for better or worse, my mom was my mom. I couldn’t choose another mom, but I could try to make the best of the situation.

To us, it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains. But in fact the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain. Its first use was as a sunshade(遮阳伞).

Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the Chinese were the first to use it, back in the 11th century BC.

We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing that connected with its use: it was a symbol of honor and power. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in the upper class or by royal people such as kings or queens.

In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. The umbrella was in common use in ancient Greece, but it is believed that the first people in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans. During the Middle Ages in Europe, the use of the umbrella almost disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late 16th century. And again it became a symbol of power.

The umbrella has not changed much in style during all the time, though it has become much lighter in weight. It wasn’t until the 20th century that the umbrellas for women began to be made in all kinds of colors.

Reading for pleasure (消遣) is the easiest way to become a better reader in English. It is also the most important way.

Some students say they don’t want to read for pleasure. They say they want to use their time to learn the rules of the language and new words. They say that pleasure reading is too busy.

Many experts (专家) say pleasure reading is very important for learning English. Dr. Stephen Krashen, a famous expert on learning languages, says that pleasure reading helps you learn many important things about English. Students learn more grammar and more words when they read for pleasure. They also learn more about good writing.

Dr. Krashen tells us that pleasure reading helps each student in a different way. Each student needs to learn something different. Pleasure reading makes it possible for each student to learn what he or she needs.

Reading for pleasure is not the same as studying. When you read for pleasure, you choose your own books, and you don’t have to remember everything. There are no tests on your pleasure reading books. Pleasure reading will help you：

•learn how English speakers use English

•read faster in English

•find examples of good writing in English

•learn new words

•learn about the culture of English speakers

There are many    45    folk stories about Mid-Autumn Day.    46    , most people think that the story of Chang’e is    47    . Chang’e was Hou Yi’s beautiful wife. After Hou Yi    48    down the nine suns, a goddess gave him magic medicine to thank him. Whoever    49    this could live forever, and Hou Yi    50    to drink it with Chang’e. However, a bad man, Feng Meng, tried to    51    the medicine when Hou Yi was not home. Chang’e    52    to give it to him and drank it all. She became very    53    and    54    up to the moon.