It was a dark day in Canada in 1998 when rain began to fall from the sky. However, this was not ordinary rain—it turned to ice as it fell     1     the cold air. It rained for six days. On 5^th January, the people of Montreal     2     to find they had no electricity in their homes. It was dark and cold. The roads were covered in ice, and it was very dangerous to walk or drive anywhere. Families had to stay inside and burn wood to keep warm. They expected the power to come back     3    .

    4    , the ice kept falling. It caused branches and whole trees to fall down. More power lines fell down, and the roads became even more dangerous.

The forest fires began on March 23 in Northern Thailand. The fires caused serious air     1     in several parts of Northern Thailand. And no rain and hot weather made the situation     2    . According to a park worker, they had     3     putting out forest fires, because there were some materials which can burn easily and strong winds blew across firebreaks.

At the same time, about 3,000 officials and soldiers     4     to fight against the fires. Plenty of water was dropped to stop the heavy fire which had burned     5     a week in Doi Suthep Pui National Park. Soldiers and officials     6     14 hours a day keeping the fire under control. Helicopters from Environment Ministry and Interior Ministry have been dropping water on fires,     7     drones (无人机) were being used to discover new fires.     8    , the fires are controlled now.

Facing the unexpected natural disaster (灾难), what we have to do firstly is to learn how to protect     9    . And always remember to pull together     10     the disaster. Although it broke many things apart, it brought people closer together.

Nature shows itself in many ways. One of its     1     forms is a kind of storm known as a typhoon, cyclone or hurricane. The names of the storm are different in different areas. When the storms form in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, they are     2     typhoons. In the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, they are called cyclones. In the central and eastern North Pacific and the North Atlantic Oceans, they are hurricanes.

The storm can stretch (延伸) over 900 kilometers across. The winds     3     it can reach a speed of more than 320 kilometers an hour. The storm may also reach a     4     of up to 15 kilometers. When the storm     5     the land, it can probably bring heavy rains. And the heavy rains often cause floods and wash away buildings.

A new study shows that,     6     with the speed 70 years ago, the speed of many storms now is dying down.     7     a result, they brought more and more rain to the land. According to scientists, the reason for these slower-moving storms is that the Earth’s climate (气候)     8     changed. If we don’t do something for nature, we will have to face a more terrible     9    . Only by saving the environment can we save     10    . Only by changing the way we treat the environment can we get along with it.

Bill lives in a country near the forest (森林). Sometimes he plays with other     1     in the forest. Sometimes he goes for a walk there.

Last weekend, some boys and girls     2     a picnic in the forest. Bill joined (加入) them. They walked about half an hour and then     3     a beautiful place. They sang songs and     4     kites. After that they ate food happily.

Before it became dark (黑的), all the children     5     home happily.

Your advice is very helpful. I read it     1    . I have a problem in my life and I need your help.

Let me tell you about my problem. My family moved to     2     last month because of my father’s job. So I went to a new school. The school is so boring. I like the teachers, but I’m not     3     the work because it is too simple. I even     4     in class. Also, I have no friends to talk and play with. I feel so lonely.

I don’t know how to solve the problem. Can you help me?

Thanks for reading my email. Hope to     5     you soon.

Yours,

Alisha

Are you scared of heights? I was, but last summer, I got over my fear. I did something that was a big challenge     1     me.

I joined a club with many fun activities. One of them was a jumping game. We had to     2     from a high platform (高台) while holding a string. At first, I was too afraid to try it. The platform was seven     3     high, and jumping down sounded hard. But my coach encouraged me,“You never know until you try.”

I thought for a while and     4     to do it. After all, I didn’t want to be known as timid (胆小的). So, I joined the others on the platform and waited. It looked really exciting. Some of the others called out     5     as they flew. When it was my turn, I was still a little nervous. “Remember to bend     6     knees when I tell you.” said our coach as she gave me the string. I held it with all my strength, almost making my hands     7    . I took a deep breath and then jumped.

I had never felt like that before. It seemed like I was in the air like a     8    . I truly enjoyed it. Then I heard my coach say loudly, “Bend your knees!” I did, and I was so     9    . After a while, she said, “Good, now it’s time to let go.” I landed perfectly.

From then on, I learned that trying new things might be hard. But we don’t know     10     we try. So, just challenge yourself from now on!