For many students，it is a great honour     1     (participate) in all kinds of     2     (compete). Some regard competitions     3    a good chance to improve themselves while others complain that on such     4     (occasion), they have no freedom and there     5     (exist) stress. In my opinion, when an opportunity comes, you should embrace it and make every effort     6     (make) it. If you fail, it is all right, because you lose nothing. Instead, during the process, you harvest experience and courage.

Growing up with my cousin since we were     1     (teenager), we became best friends—more like brothers throughout the years. That was until we had a huge disagreement. We didn’t speak what seemed like forever. Admittedly, it never     2     (strike) me then that I was the one to blame. When someone means a lot to you and then keeps you     3     a distance, it leaves this huge void (空白) in your life and possibly all because you couldn’t admit any mistakes.

During that time, I was eager for     4     (update) of my cousin, but I lost track     5     him. After four long years, I heard he was anxious     6     (maintain) contact with me. I felt the same and didn’t postpone     7     (meet) up in person. Sitting     8     comfort, we talked in     9     familiar atmosphere. It was like we had never quarreled.

My experience taught me a valuable lesson about how to fix friendships: Don’t be afraid to reach out first.

Each culture has a diet that is typical     1     its own. In Kerala, India, people eat more fish. Rice is Kerala’s main food. In all three meals, rice dishes can be seen. While a grandmother was preparing powdered porridge, her grandchildren recommended her     2     (take) a bite of the instant noodles. They told her it was convenient     3     (make) noodles.

Traditional     4     (cuisine) of Kerala, such as powdered porridge, fish curry, sambar and spices, are disappearing. Instead, many foreign dishes such as chilli chicken and     5     (roast) meat are becoming available. And people are addicted to     6     (drink) modern red and yellow flavoured water.

We can not resist     7     (eat) the dishes foreigners find unhealthy, even though foreigners are culturally fall     8     love with our diet.

How time flies! We have spent three years together. Apart from laughter, every inch of the campus reminds me of the scenes where we were struggling     1     (deal) with various challenges. So many unforgettable     2     (moment) are coming to my mind one by one, the first day at senior high     3    particular.

Time is a one­way trip — we cannot buy a return ticket. But     4     (impress) memories will not fade with time, neither will your lovely faces. After     5     (graduate), we will go to different colleges. I can not figure out what     6     (press) we may face. However, I am     7     (confidence) of our excellent performance in the college entrance exam and I hope that every one of us will go all out     8     (get) what we want.

My love for Chinese can date back to my childhood. Though there are various Chinese characters, I intend     1     (learn) it well. However, I am often     2     (confuse) about the dialects which are unique     3     some local places, and it is rather hard for me     4     (understand ) what the natives of Chinese say. However, never will I give up. Whenever I come     5     a new character, I always refer to the dictionary. Gradually, I can communicate with Chinese.

In my view, when having trouble     6     (learn) a foreign language, never think     7     (negative). In addition, the harder one works, the better one will be likely     8     (learn) it.

It is obvious     1     Mom-­daughter relationships are very important and special in your life. Here are approaches to     2     (settle) conflicts with your mom.

It is natural to tell your mom     3     range of things about your life, to complain and unload your stress on her.     4     the fact that she has her own worries, fears and anxieties, that doesn’t mean you can’t share a series of things with her. It just means showing respect     5     her feelings.

It’s never too late     6     (apologize). Never make the other person     7     (responsibility) for your behavior. Keep it simple and to the point. Most importantly, make sure your     8     (apologise) is genuine!

Go     9     (jog) or shopping together. These little things will not only help     10     (strength) your relationship, but show how much you love your mom.

As students, what can we do to prevent natural disasters     1     happening and reduce the loss to the minimum? First of all, we should do our part to protect the environment. At the same time, measures must be taken     2     (raise) the public’s environmental awareness. We can give lectures, hand out booklets specially     3     (design) for the public or hold photo exhibitions of natural disasters. Secondly, in view of our     4     (limit) knowledge, it’s very practical and helpful to have more knowledge about natural disasters. Having some basic first­aid knowledge and survival skills, which will be     5     (benefit) to us all, is also essential. Last but not least, we hope the government should pay more attention to forecasting technology and allocate more funds for related research. I am convinced that if everyone does his best, we can live in harmony     6     nature.

Yao Ming was born in 1980. When he was young, he ate a lot, so most of his parents’ salary (工资)     1     (spend) on food. He was already 1.47 meters tall when he attended primary school. Yao Ming was a student,     2     liked reading, but because of his height,     3     (play) basketball became his first choice. In 1989, at the age of 9, Yao Ming began his part-time basketball training at the youth sports school.

In 2002, he entered the NBA Draft and     4     (select) by the NBA Houston Rockets     5     the first pick. On July 20, 2011, Yao Ming     6     (official) announced his retirement due to injury. He is modest and persistent, loyal and hard-working, and has the spirit of     7     (cooperate). And we all know he is a     8     (remark) player. We can find almost all the characteristics used     9     (describe) the advantages of a traditional Chinese man in Yao Ming.

If Jordan is regarded as the founder of basketball in the United States and the world, then Yao Ming is undoubtedly the     10     (influential) player in the world after Jordan.

Many people think that money brings happiness. However, according to Professor Michael Argyle, this is not true. In Britain, we are     1     (rich) but unhappier than fifty years   ago. The USA is the richest country in the world but Americans are not the happiest people in the world.

Professor Argyle has found that very poor people and very rich people are unhappier than those in between. For example, very poor people in     2    developing world live in overcrowded houses without any running water and     3    no electricity. However, there are many millionaires (百万富翁) with     4     (person) problems. A lot of young people     5    get rich very quickly are at risk.

Because of this, a few young millionaires are changing their life styles. Richard Cross, a multi-millionaire computer analyst ( 分 析 师 ) from California is an example. His house     6     (show) no signs of his wealth. There is a small garden   and there only two   cars     7     (park) outside the house. “I want my kids     8     (live) a normal life,” says Richard.

So what can make     9     (we) happy? According to Professor Argyle, you should have one close relationship and some close     10     (friend). You should do a little sport and have a lot of contact (联系) with other people. Other people make you happy, not money!

Word came that the annual school sports meet would take place next Friday through Saturday. At the exciting news, the whole class burst into cheers. Without any hesitation, we set about making     1     (arrange) for the grand gala for us students.

With the sports meet approaching, we could hardly concentrate on our daily routine. Every day, we spent much of our spare time     2     (talk) about the weather for fear that the sports meet might be postponed again. Then finally came the big day, when the sports meet was held as     3     (schedule). The sports meet was pretty impressive. One of the highlights     4     (be) the parade before the start of the race. Students were marching past the podium with slogans high up in their hands, while spectators were screaming    5    (crazy). Shortly after the parade was over, the race started. Well known for running in junior high school, I     6     (recommend) to enter for the 3000-meter running race, representing my class.

Time was ticking away. Before I knew it, it was my turn to step onto the track. But all of     7    sudden, I felt a bit panicky. As I hadn’t received any training recently, I puffed and panted halfway. I was about     8     (quit) when my classmates cheered me on all the way. Anyway, I made it to the finishing line. Unable to earn a single point for my class, I was     9    low spirits. However, my friends came over and encouraged me to cheer up. It was their encouragement    10    helped heal the pain of failure.

Now two weeks have passed, but the memory still stay fresh in my mind. Disappointed as I am, I never regret taking part in the race. After all, being part of the sports meet is what I really care about.