With the development of modern technology, people can stay     1     (connect) with their families and friends easily, however far apart they are from each other. WeChat is one of the most     2     (frequent) used means of communication in China. It is reported that the number of the WeChat users     3     (reach) over 1.1 billion so far.

Once joining the WeChat, people can find more and more people start to add them     4     fiends. They don’t have to consider time     5     (zone) when communicating. Another reason why it is so popular is that it costs nothing. It’s also very convenient for people to immediately update     6     they are doing by WeChat.

However, addiction to WeChat will rob people of the time that should otherwise     7     (spend) on something more important. And the many so-called friends on it are not really friends at all, who simply want     8     (put) ads or sell items on Moments. Besides, people on the WeChat are more likely to compare     9     (they) with others, which will make them feel bad when finding some people seem to be     10     (success).

Each time I take the underground I find myself     1     (surround) by dozens of passengers playing smartphones. They almost won’t even give a glance at the outside world. You may think it is normal to play smartphones     2     (kill) time. What’s worse, when I talk with some of my     3     (friend), they talk as playing, which is really an annoyance.

I really miss the old days when I chatted with some passengers on the train. Now things are     4     (difference). Everyone just concentrates     5     their smartphones. When talking with them, it seems that you are disturbing their playing smartphones. I could not just blame them for I am moving to be one like them. Sometimes I just feel we     6     (large) ignore our neighbors and want to keep in touch with distant strangers through the Internet. We care about the things far away     7     pay no attention to the needs nearby.     8     ridiculous the situation is! In a way we     9     (control) by smartphones. Are you     10     (experience) the same situation like me? Do you have any ways to avoid that?

Clowns (小丑) are almost everywhere in popular culture. But what they represent     1     (change) a lot over the past 400 years.

Clowns began appearing in the form we recognize today in European theaters in     2     17th century. With brightly colored clothes, big red noses and colorful faces, clowns tried every means to act foolish or play tricks     3     (make) the audience laugh.

Clowns became popular in the US in the 1960s. A happy clown     4     (choose) by McDonald’s to appear in its advertisements. Today, as we know, that company mascot (吉祥物) Ronald McDonald, is world famous.

However, the image of a happy clown is largely an American creation. In other cultures, the clown character is not     5     (necessary) good. One example is “Mr. Punch”, who was popular in British and French theaters curing the 1700s. While Mr. Punch was funny, he was also violent, often     6     (hit) his wife during the show,     7     gave rise to the name of “bad clowns”. Even today, in the eyes of some people, clowns are evil (邪恶的) and     8     (frighten).

Of course, there are different voices. Some people think clowns are positive, creative and imaginative. They bring people     9     (please) and laughter. That’s     10     attracts people, especially children, to clowns. They believe that as long as there are children in the world, there will be a future for clowns.

Around twenty years ago, I was     1     (go) through hard times. I couldn’t find a satisfying job. To my shame, I had to drive a school bus     2     (make) ends meet.

One afternoon, while driving though a suburban neighborhood, I was so sad that I kept     3     (ask) myself, “Why has my life become so hard?” “What’s wrong with the world?” Then I pulled over the bus to drop off     4     little girl. As she passed, she     5     (hand) me a pretty earring, saying she found it on the floor and I should keep it in case the owner came to look for it.

In the evening, the owner did come to look for     6     (she) earring. When I gave it to her, she got excited and said, “Thanks, you are a     7     (really) gentleman.” I told her that she should thank the little girl     8     had found it. She said, “Yes, and you are a good driver, too. What a lovely world it is!” Then she left with satisfaction. I     9     (touch) by her words. I had thought something was wrong with the world just because     10     my poor condition. In fact, nothing was wrong with the world. I should change my attitude towards life.

My time in China was a (n)     1     (enjoy) experience. Every day was a new adventure. I worked out regularly and made     2     (prepare) for Chinese material arts. While I was in Beijing, I climbed the Great Wall of China,     3     visited Tian’anmen Square, the Palace Museum and the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium. I also     4     (have) the opportunity of being stuck in a Beijing thunderstorm, bargaining in the market, and     5     (ride) the high-speed train. While I was in Tianjin, I studied at Nankai University. I was taking the Chinese language and culture courses.

What I enjoyed most is that whatever I learned in class, I would use it outside     6     (communicate) with people. Having the opportunity to speak Mandarin every day     7     (real) improved my learning. In the afternoon I would have culture classes     8     I would learn about Chinese calligraphy, Beijing opera, Chinese martial arts, Chinese cooking and many other subjects. The mix of learning about the language and culture made each day of class     9     (amaze). I believe that the key     10     studying abroad successfully is the attitude you carry. Going to China, I was open-minded and had a very positive attitude.

What do Richard Branson, Jack Dorsey, and Michelle Obama all have in common? Besides being     1    (great) successful, each of them is known for     2    (wake) up very early. The three famous persons’ examples tell us how this habit can make     3     difference in life, and     4     can help you, too.

Early rising is helpful in more than one way. As is reported, people     5     health is always in good condition tend to get up early in the morning, due to the fresh air     6    they breathe in. And early rising allows us enough time to take exercise. Besides, early rising helps us in our studies. In the morning we learn more quickly and find it easy     7    (learn) things by heart. At last, early rising makes us able to plan the work for the day. We can’t work well     8     a good plan. Just as a year’s plan     9    (start) with spring, the plan for the day ought to be made in the morning. Therefore, if you want to     10    (success), it’s a good idea to jump out of bed earlier.

Curiosity drove Wang Peng inside. It was full of people. The hostess, a very thin lady,     1    (come) forward. “Welcome,” she said. “My name is Yong Hui. I’ll help you lose weight and be fit     2     two weeks if you eat here every day.” Then she gave a menu to Wang Peng. There were few     3    (choice) of food and drink on it: just rice, raw     4    (vegetable) served in vinegar, fruit and water. Wang Peng was     5    (amaze) at this and especially at the prices. It cost more than    6     good meal in his restaurant! He could not believe his eyes. He threw down the menu     7     hurried outside. On his way home he thought about     8    (he) own menu. Did it make people fat? Perhaps he should go to the library and find out. He     9    (can) not have Yong Hui getting away with     10    (tell) people lies! He had better do some research!