I started learning English at the _________ of 22. It is kind of _________ to start studying a language. However, age is never a problem if you really want to _________ something.

I was preparing myself to study engineering in the USA. To enter (进入) my dream university, I had to _________ a TOEFL score (托福分数) of 90 or higher. After careful thought, I signed up for (报名参加) a six-month program to study English.

It was difficult to get 90 in six months for someone who started learning English from the very beginning, but I decided to have a try. In order to join the _________, I moved to a different city and rented (租用) a house with a friend. We were in the same program. We did not have any distractions (使人分心的事物) in _________ house, such as televisions, computers or smartphones.

We had classes every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a lunch break only. After the classes were over, we had something for dinner and started _________ what we had learned and doing homework. We would study _________ we became sleepy and usually, we would finish it by midnight.

My friend and I encouraged each other and we did our best. _________, we __________ got perfect TOEFL scores and went to the USA at last.

China is a country with many colorful days and festivals. Dragon Head Raising Day (Longtaitou) is one of them.

This special day is on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar (阴历). It stands for (代表) the start of spring and farming. This year the day falls on February 24.

The dragon is important in Chinese culture. We Chinese people call ourselves the “descendants (后代) of the dragon”. Therefore, people celebrate Dragon Head Raising Day with many customs about dragons.

On the day in ancient times, people put ashes (灰烬) in the kitchen. This was to “lead the dragon into the house”. People believed that with the help of the dragon, they could have a good harvest (收获) in autumn.

Also, people eat special foods on the day. The foods are usually named after dragons. For example, people eat “dragon whisker (须)” noodles and dumplings called “dragon teeth”.

Today many customs have faded away (逐渐消失). But one that has remained (保留) is the cutting of hair. It is said that a haircut during the first lunar month may bring bad luck to the mothers, brothers. So many people have their hair cut on Dragon Head Raising Day.

In ancient times, red was the symbol of Power. Not everyone could write with red pens—only emperors（皇帝）. They would reply to officials’（大臣）memorials（奏折）with red pens. The red ink that emperors used was made of cinnabar（朱砂）. So their replies were known as zhupi（朱批）.

Writing with red pens was also related to（和……相关）death. In ancient China, the criminals （罪犯）who were sentenced（判刑）to death signed their names with red pens. The records of criminals’ names were all written in red words. Names on the tombstones （墓碑） were red as well. Therefore, it was thought to be unlucky to write name with red pens.

Since（因为）red words carry bad meanings, people don’t write letters with red pens. If you write to friends or family members with red pens, it means you want to break up with them.

Nowadays, red pens are used for proof-reading（校对）. Teachers mark students’ homework with red pens. So do editors（编辑）who need to correct mistakes in newspapers and magazines. But writing names or letters with red pens is still a bad idea to many people.

What will life on Earth be like in 2050? How different are things going to be?     41    

■TRANSPORTATION

Transportation (交通工具) will look very different in years to come.     42    

Chris Riddell, a famous futurist (未来学家), predicts (预测) that well before 2050, roads in many big cities will be filled with self-driving cars. People who want to drive themselves may have to pay some money for the pleasure.     43     Personal drones (无人驾驶飞机) will have been a common thing by the year 2050.

■ COMPUTER LEADERS

Among all new technologies artificial intelligence (AI) (人工智能) will change our lives the most, according to Riddell. It will be built into computers. And these computers will be able to learn to act like humans.     44     “In the year 2050, you won’t just have humans at the top of businesses,” says Riddell. “Company leaders will probably work with computers.”

■THE ENVIRONMENT

By 2050, there will be more people living on Earth. A growing population will add stress to the environment. Scientist Tan Lowe warns that we need to use clean energy (能源). “We are damaging (破坏) the environment at a great speed,” Lowe says. “We simply don’t know what will happen in the future.     45     What happens in the future will be the result of our decisions and actions today.”

We all have to ask for favors（帮忙）sometimes. But it can be a difficult thing to do —even when you ask a good friend. So how can you ask for a favor and be sure to get a positive（正面的）response? Here are some suggestions.

Be a nice person.

When you ask someone for a favor, you’re really asking the person to go out of his or her way to help you. Show the person that you understand he or she is doing something especially nice for you. If people think you’re friendly, （A）they are more likely（可能的）to want to help. Thank them sincerely（真诚地）when they help you. And, of course, a smile goes a long way.

(B)Choose your words carefully.

How do people respond（回应）to requests like this one:“Hey, Mike, lend me your car!” They probably refuse. How can you avoid this problem? Choose your words carefully! For example, say, “Mike, would you mind doing me a favor?” Mike will probably respond like this: “Maybe. What do you need?” Now you have his attention and can explain the situation. People are more likely to agree to help you when they know the whole story.

Show your respect.

If someone agrees to do you a favor, allow the person to choose when he or she helps you. Be respectful of（尊重）the other person’s time, and try not to ask for too much. （C）If someone refuses your request, you should accept the answer politely. Don’t make a habit of asking for favors, and always make sure you’re ready to do someone a favor in return.