Good morning! My name is Sarah Williams. It’s     1     honour to be here and to share     2     you the story of how music has had an impact     3     my life.

Have you ever faced a time     4     things looked dark and you had no hope at all? Two years ago, I was told I had a serious disease     5     was difficult to cure. My body     6     (ache) all the time and thus I thought I didn’t have much longer to live. I was very afraid and I felt so alone and     7     (discourage). Then one day, I had to go through a two-hour medical     8     (treat). The doctor wanted me     9     (relax), so he had me listen to some music, and one of the songs was “Happy”. The song made me feel so much better     10     from then     11     I began to listen to music all the time. John A Logan said, “Music is the medicine of the mind.” And it’s true. Music     12     (help) me recover.

Music gave me     13     (happy). When I listened to music, it made my     14     (spirit) fly like a kite in the wind. Music gave me     15     (strong) and     16     (bring) me relief. It was the rock I leant     17     to become strong and     18     (get) through those hard times. Moreover, music gave me hope and a sense of     19     (satisfy). It     20     (become) my best friend. It spoke words of     21     (encourage ) to the deepest part of my being. Of course, I hope none of you have to go     22     the same kind of suffering     23     I did.     24     the same time, we all go through various     25     (period) when we feel sad or alone. During those times, music can help you in the same way     26     it helped me. I hope all of you will somehow begin to treasure music and make it     27     part of your life.

Imagine     1    (have) the opportunity     2    (sing) together with hundreds of other people while you are at home alone. You can do this in a virtual choir. Virtual choir members record     3    (they) while they perform alone on video. These videos are uploaded     4     the Internet, and then they     5    (put)together into one video     6     you can see online — a virtual choir. Anyone can take part     7     a virtual choir from anywhere — all you need is a video camera and an Internet     8    (connect). You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect ordinary people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts     9     have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance     10    (join) a local choir. A virtual choir enables them     11    (add) their voices     12    those of other     13    (individual) and become part of the global community. It has proved     14    (be ) a positive influence on the lives of many people.     15     one virtual choir member said, “Music     16    (help) me to…forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.”

The virtual choir was the idea of award-winning     17    (compose) and 18    18    (conduct) Eric Whitacre. Born in the USA on 2 January 1970, Whitacre began studying music at the University     19     Nevada in 1988. He fell in love     20     Mozart’s     21    (classic ) music when he sang for the university choir.     22    (move) by this music, he said, “It was like seeing color for the first time.” He graduated     23     university in 1995, and then     24    (receive) a master’s degree in musical     25    (compose) from the Juilliard School in New York in 1997. Over the next 10 years, Whitacre’s     26    (origin) compositions began to become quite popular     27     choirs and singers. This led to the     28    (create) of the virtual choir.

In 2009, Whitacre received a video of a girl     29     was singing one of his works.     30    (inspire), he asked his fans to make videos,     31     he then joined together into one     32    (perform). His first virtual choir, “Lux Aurumque”, had 185     33    (singer) from 12 different countries. It has received millions of     34    (view) on the Internet. Since then, the virtual choir     35    (become) a worldwide phenomenon. Whitacre’s next effort was the Virtual Youth Choir for UNICEF,     36     was first seen on stage on 23 July 2014in the UK. Altogether, 2, 292 young people from 80 countries joined in to sing Whitacre’s song “What If”.

The virtual choir is a     37    (wonder ) way for people around the world     38    (sing) with one voice and thus make the world a better place.

Today I thought I’d blog about a question     1     has been asked many times—how do you stay safe online and avoid bad     2     (experience) on the Internet? I’m not an expert, but many years as a     3     (blog) have taught me a thing or two.

First     4     all, there’s the golden rule of the Internet: If you see or read something     5     makes you feel uncomfortable, leave the site     6     (immediate). Don’t post     7     (comment) or click     8     anything. Second, protect your privacy. Don’t give     9     your address or phone number. Someone might use the information     10     (steal) your identity. Identity theft is a common and serious problem. Third, be polite.     11     (be) online is no excuse for     12     (be) rude, and you don’t want to become     13     target for a troll or cyberbully. A troll is a person     14     posts comments or questions in order to stir     15     trouble online. Trolls often use several false names so that they can stay on a site. A cyberbully uses the Internet to be mean     16     others. Like a troll, a cyberbully will also write something mean but it is usually directed     17     particular people. He or she may also post     18     (embarrass) photos and information about those people. However, the more polite you are, the less likely     19     is you will be attacked.

Have you had any bad     20     (experience) online, or do you have some good advice for     21     (stay) safe? Post your comments below!

Boy 579: Last year, we were having     22     (problem) in our chat room. Mean     23     (comment) were being posted by someone we didn’t know. I think he or she was only trying     24     (make) trouble.

Amy: A girl at my school had a very bad experience online. A photo of her had been posted online and she was being made fun     25    . It seemed like a joke at first,     26     the girl was very upset.

BEAUTIFUL IRELAND AND ITS TRADITIONS

Ireland’s beautiful countryside has always had a great influence     1     its people and traditions, history of     2    (produce)great writers and     3    (poet). Its beautiful countryside excites and     4    (inspire) all,     5    (offer)something for each of the senses. The peaceful landscape of the “Emerald Isle” and its many green counties is a true feast     6     the eyes, with its     7    (roll)green hills     8    (dot)with sheep and cattle. And down by the sea, the roar of the ocean waves and cries of the seabirds make     9     the music of the coast.     10     a quiet morning in the mountains, feel the sun on your skin, and breathe in the sweet scent of fresh flowers while birds greet the new day     11     their morning song. With all this beauty, it is not surprising     12     Ireland has developed strong traditions     13     include music, dancing, and dining.     14     have a chance of experiencing this, stop by a village pub and relax with a glass of wine or a local beer. Better yet, enjoy a delicious     15    (tradition)Irish Beef Stew. If you’re     16    (luck), you might be able to enjoy some traditional music and dancing, too. And if you introduce     17    (you)to a friendly face, you are more than likely to     18    (experience)local culture and customs first-hand.