We set off very earlier in the morning. My brother and I sat in the backseat of Dad’s old car. We were excited because of we were going to countryside to pick apples. When we got there, we saw hundreds of trees filling with apples! Some were golden yellow, and some were bright red. We even saw some apples what were very green. I tasted one of the apples. It was such sweet. The sun was rising in the sky and we could feel the fresh airs around us. My brother climbed a tree but started picking apples. I stood on the ground to pick apples from the next tree over. It didn’t take long for ourselves to pick three baskets of apples. Then, we go home to make some apple pies.

4 . Birthdays at the Canadian Children’s Museum

The perfect place for a memorable birthday party!

Celebrate at the Canadian Children’s Museum with creative and fun-filled activities designed to excite the interest of children aged 3 to 12.

The party includes:

●One hour in a private party room;

●Admission to the museum;

●Unlimited time in the Children’s Museum (until closing);

●One hour animation(动画片)(Only with the “scene-Stealers” and “round the World” themed party. ) Payment is due(到期的)in full upon registration. Registration is required at least two weeks in advance.

Scene-Stealers (Ages 3 to 8)

Step into the spotlight (聚光灯)with a behind-the-scenes trip to the Canadian Children’s Museum Theatre. The Director will help you warm up with some theatre games, and teach you some stage skills to get you ready for the audience!

Cost: $190 for up to 10 kids and 2 adults; $10 for each extra child.

Around the World (Ages 4 to 7)

Take an unforgettable trip around the world to learn a traditional Mexican dance! This unforgettable journey through the International Village is packed with fun and creative activities for young adventurers.

Cost: $190 for up to 10 kids, and 2 adults; $10 for each extra child.

DIY Party (Ages 5 to 12)

DIY Party includes Museum admission, and one hour of free time in one of the Museum’s party rooms. A great choice for parents looking to plan their own activities!

Cost: $100 for up to 10 kids and 2 adults; $8 for each extra child.

5 . As a teenager, I felt I was always letting people down. I was rebellious（叛逆的）outside, but I wanted to be_________inside.

Once I left home to hitch-hike（搭便车）to California with my_________Penelope. The trip wasn't_________, and there were many times I didn't feel safe. One situation in particular kept me_________to still be alive. When I_________home, I was different, not so outwardly sure of myself.

I was_________to be home. But then I noticed that Penelope, who was_________with us, was wearing my clothes. And my family seemed to like her_________than me. I wondered if I would be_________if I weren't there. I told my mom, and she explained that though Penelope was a lovely girl, no one could__________me. I pointed out, "She is more patient and is neater than I have ever been." My mom said these were wonderful__________, but I was the only person who could fill my role. She made me realize that even with my__________—and there were many—I was a loved member of the__________who couldn't be replaced.

I became a searcher, wanting to__________who I was and what made me unique. My view of myself was__________. I wanted a solid base to start from. I started to__________pressure to act in ways that I didn't like any more, and I was delighted by who I__________was. I came to feel much more sure that no one can__________take my place.

Each of us holds a unique place in the world. You are__________, no matter what others say or what you may think. So__________about being replaced. You can't be.

6 . It has been two months since I moved to China, but its digital advancement hasn't stopped impressing me ever since. One of the major things that I cannot imagine living without anymore is mobile payment. There are two major mobile payment apps here, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both have similar payment features, though WeChat has more like a social media. That's why I will focus on this "super app".

So far, I've been shocked by how efficient life can be with WeChat. It is present in every aspect of people's daily life, from paying water and electricity bills, meals, cinema tickets to calling a taxi, following news, and chatting with friends. Most merchants have adopted it, from tiny local street food stalls to high-end（高端的）stores. A cashier may be surprised if you do not pay with WeChat or Alipay at the grocers or in restaurants. And it seems like the entire payment industry has encouraged this shift to mobile payment, equipping payment terminals with QR code scanners to simplify payments. Mobile payments are so common here that I realize that I can perfectly survive if I forget my wallet at home one day because most days I just don't take it out of my bag！

As mentioned earlier, WeChat is also a major social media platform with about one billion daily users, which is more than the entire population of European Union. So I have to say Chinese technological and digital development is a real miracle.

7 . I was coming back from home late at night in a “Sharing” minivan (面包车). In Hyderabad, India, it is a _________ and quick way of transport. The van drivers carry as many as 13 people _________ in a vehicle which is built for the _________ of 8 people. Our van was over _________ as well. People were getting off and on at many _________.

One girl signaled the driver to _________. She got out of the van. While getting down, she slipped and fell. None of us noticed it, as it was _________. The driver was waiting for her to pay. It was then that we saw that the girl was on her knees by the side of the road. Another _________ and I got down and help her up.

_________ in pain, she held up a note and asked up to __________ the driver. The other passenger took the note and paid the driver. My stop was a few hundred meters away. I decided to __________ her till she was really __________. I paid up the driver for myself and he took off.

I neither knew her nor did I know __________ to do. But I was there, saying some comforting words to a __________ in pain. Some time later, her friend __________ us.

We made her sit in the nearby grass and her friend rushed to get water. In the meantime, she __________ her leg. It looked like a minor sprain (扭伤). Once her friend came back, they __________ a car and rushed to a nearby clinic. She __________ me and said they could manage as it was only a minor sprain.

I do not know if I did __________, But I feel I gave some __________ to her in a small way.

8 . A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), though my teacher emphasized (强调) the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.

One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished. Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic (适当的话题). “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words: “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t request you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “You don’t say’ actually means ‘really!’ It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself.

Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.

9 . France has the most beautiful castles throughout Europe. Here are some of the best French castles to visit. You’ll surely want to visit one of them during your travels in France. Have a look and enjoy!

The Chateau de Versailles is about 20kms southwest of Paris. When the castle was built, Versailles was a small village. Today, however, it is a famous area in Paris. The castle was built as a small hunting lodge (乡间小屋) for Louis XIII in the 1620s. Years later, he made it bigger. Later, louis XIV also made it larger, making it one of the largest palaces of the world.

The Chateau de Chambord is one of the largest castles around the world. It sits in the Loire Valley. Being at the heart of Europe’s largest enclosed wooded park, Chambord, it was built for King Francis I to serve as a hunting lodge. It is one of the world’s most well-known castles in the world because of its French Renaissance (文艺复兴) building.

As one of the most famous castles in the Loire Valley, the castle was built during the 11th century on the River Cher. It was passed through many bands. The castle was not destroyed during the French Revolution because it was the only bridge across the river for many miles.

This historic castle sits in the town of Chantilly, France. This beautiful castle is made up of two buildings: the Petit Chateau built around 1560 for Anne de Montmorency, and the Grand Chateau which was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 1870s. There are many interesting pieces of 17th century history about the castle. Every two years a fireworks competition is held in the castle gardens.

10 . Do you like shopping? Or does the thought of wandering round the shops fill you with terror? For some of us, shopping is an enjoyable way of spending our spare time and money. For me, it’s something I would rather avoid. Thanks to the Internet, we can buy goods and services cheaper online. But sometimes the problem is knowing what to buy. This has led to a type of shopping called “showrooming”.

Showrooming is something I’ve done. I will go to a shop to see, touch and try out products but then go home and buy them online at a knock-down price. I’m not alone in doing this. Research by a company called Foolproof, found 24% of people showroomed while Christmas shopping in 2013.

Amy Cashman, head of Technology at TNS UK, says the reasons for this new shopping habit are that “people are lacking time, lacking money and they want security about the products they are buying.”

But does this mean technology will kill shops? Certainly shops will change. They will have to offer more competitive prices or encourage people to buy more by giving in-store discounts (折扣) or free gifts.

We mustn’t forget that buying in a shop means you can get expert advice from the sales assistant and you can get good aftercare. It’s good to speak to a real human rather than look at a faceless computer screen but at least by showrooming, you get the best of both worlds!