There are many optimistic (乐观的) people around. The     1     optimistic person I have ever seen is my dad! He is so optimistic     2     I do not remember hearing a single word from him which is related to hopelessness.

He is always there to give me encouragement and help. When I do something     3    , he always tells me what’s right according to a positive view. If I am in trouble, he often asks me to pay     4     to the right and quickest way out rather than anything else. He also likes to share some educational stories that can help me to deal with the     5     I’m facing. After that, we enjoy having     6     discussion together.

Even though I’m not always a good kid, my dad never shouts at or gets angry     7     me. I know that he’s     8     for a day when I grow up and understand things in my life.

I can see the reason why he is so optimistic. He always believes that whatever happens, it is under     9     control. So we have nothing to     10     about. Be positive! Sunshine will be in your life forever.

It is Saturday today. It is 7 o’clock in the evening in Beijing. I     1     writing to tell you something about my family. My father is watching Animal World     2     TV. That is his favorite show. My mother is listening to music on the radio. She likes pop music a lot. My pet dog Dick is taking my hat to me. He wants me     3     put it on and go out for a walk with him. What     4     cute dog! My little sister is playing with her toys and she is happy. From the window, I can see many boys playing football outside.

What are your family doing?     5     time is it now in New York? Please write to me soon.

Yours,

Mary

Benny and Chester are two squirrels(松鼠). They are good     1     (friend). One day, Benny goes to     2     (she) friend’s home. She sees Chester is sad.

“I can’t find my nuts.” says Chester. “They are not under my bed or in my desk. They are for my family. I must find     3     (they).”

“I can help you.” says Benny.

Benny sees a white bag under the chair,     4     the nuts are not in it. Then she sees     5     photo on Chester’s desk. In the photo, Chester     6     (have) a big red box. A lot of nuts are     7     the box.

“Box? Where is it?” Benny thinks. She     8     (look) here and there.

“Look, Chester!” says Benny, “    9     is in the box?”

“Oh, nuts!” says Chester. “You’re great!”

Then he goes to the top of the bookcase. Chester is h    10     now.

Do you eat rice every day? Rice is one of     1     (important) food for people all over the world. Not all rice looks and tastes     2     same. There are many kinds of rice. About 90 percent of the rice is in Asia and it     3     (help) to feed one third of the world’s population(人口).

Scientists say that China started growing rice about 3000 to 4000 years ago. Now, rice is common in     4     (people) daily meals. Lots of people eat rice     5     least twice a day. Feeding so many people is not easy     6     China has large population with less farmland(耕地).

Thanks to Yuan Longping, the Father of Hybrid Rice, he spent about fifty years on it day and night. Hybrid rice is a stronger plant, it makes 20%     7     (much) rice than any other kind. Today, half of China’s rice     8     (plant) are Yuan’s special hybrid rice. He won the World Food Prize for     9     (he) work to help feed so many people. Though this Chinese top rice scientist     10     (die) in 2021 at the age of 91, we will always remember him.

It's so glad to know you will come to my home town. Welcome to Xinjiang. Here     1     (be) some information about it.

It's     2     the northwest of China. The weather here is very strange. It's cold in the morning,but it     3     (turn) very warm at noon.     4     you are here,both warm clothes and cool clothes are needed. It's     5     very dry all year.     6     fruit here is very sweet because there is a lot of sunshine. I like the grapes and melons very much. I think you will like       7     (they) too.

People here are also very     8     (friend) and kind. And Xinjiang food is very delicious. Remember     9     (bring) warm clothes.

Looking forward to     10     (meet) you as soon as possible.

Yours,

Li Lin

How to make fruit salad

Next time you go to have a picnic, try bringing fruit salad to share! How do you make fruit salad? OK, I will have some tips f    1     you.

First, go to the market and find some fruit in season. Make sure it’s f    2    . And you should use fruit of different colors to make it look as g    3     as it tastes. For e    4    , if you mix red apples, green pears, purple grapes and orange oranges t    5    , your fruit salad will look c    6    . Next, cut your fruit into small p    7    . F    8    , put some cheese (奶酪) into your salad and taste it. It’s so easy. You hardly need any instruction to make this delicious food! But remember: prepare the fruit salad just b    9     you’re going to eat it. Some of the fruit will quickly turn brown when you l    10     it in the air for some time.

Do you know how to make     1     cup of tea? You may     2     it’s simple. In fact, it is not. Now let me     3     you the steps.

    4    , warm up your teapot     5     pouring hot water into it. After a while, pour the water out and put some tea in the     6    . Next, pour fresh hot water over the tea     7     cover the teapot with its cap tightly（紧紧地）. Then brew（泡）the tea for five     8    . Good tea needs much time to brew. But the tea will be quite bitter（苦的）if you brew for too long.     9    , pour the tea into your cup and you can     10     it.