Yours,

Li Hua

Gansu, with its abundant sunshine and big temperature difference between day and night, is a major apple producer. Its fresh apples are exported to more than 20 countries and regions. Gansu     1     (export) fresh apples valued at 190 million yuan ($26.2 million) from January to March, with 37 percent going to Vietnam,     2     (make) it the biggest overseas market. Some of the apples exported to Vietnam are sold in that country,     3     others shipped on to other Southeast Asian markets.

Jiang Yubao, head of Pingliang customs, said many fruit companies     4     (explore) new markets in recent years as major foreign markets are saturated (饱和的)     5     the competition among similar producers is fierce. He added that customs is helping companies make good use of preferential     6     (policy) under free trade agreements to boost foreign trade and the high-quality development of local specialties.

The guidance and help of customs personnel has     7     (significant) reduced the customs clearance costs “As a result, we now have more bargaining power in foreign trade and have more advantages     8     (expand) our market.”

Jingning apple,     9     national geographical indication product in China, is brightly colored, large and well-shaped, with abundant juice, moderate     10     (sweet) and sourness. According to the China Council for Brand Development, its brand value has reached 16.1 billion yuan.

7 . The International Energy Agency (IEA) says many world electrical grids (电网) will need major improvements to support international climate change goals. In a new report, the IEA calls on nations to invest in aging electrical grid systems. The Paris-based organization works with member governments to help them shape energy policies.

The IEA examined electricity grids in countries across the world to produce its report. The report found that, for the most part, electrical grid systems have not kept up with clean energy technologies like solar, wind, electric cars and heat pumps. One of the main findings is that to meet all national climate and energy goals, about 80 million kilometers of power lines will have to be added or replaced by 2040. The report noted that this amount is equal to the whole existing worldwide electricity grid.

The 2015 Paris climate agreement has set a goal to limit warming worldwide to 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. Climate scientists believe the way to meet that goal is to reduce the use of greenhouse gases.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol spoke to reporters from The Associated Press about the report. He said there are many renewable energy projects waiting to connect to electricity systems. But currently, most grids are not equipped to work with the greener technology. If grid changes could be completed, the projects could produce about 1,500 gigawatts of power. This is about five times the amount of solar and wind capacity added worldwide last year. If investments do not increase, the chance of reaching the Paris agreements goal drops sharply.

However, The IEA notes that it is not uncommon for a single high-power overhead power line to take five to 13 years to get government approvals in developed economies. One project in Germany, first planned in 2014, was delayed after political opposition to an overhead line meant it was buried instead. Completion of the project is now expected in 2028 instead of 2022. Other important projects are delayed, including the 400-kilometer Bay of Biscay connector between Spain and France. Officials expect to finish the work in 2028 instead of 2025.

9 . Mary led a fairly sheltered life and was quite shy. One day, she heard about an upcoming storytelling event and decided to take part in it. As the storytellers told stories on stage, the audience laughed, cried and sang. Like everyone else, Mary was also attracted by their ________. An exciting idea suddenly ________ her, I want to be a storyteller!"

Mary knew that storytelling requires getting up on a stage under bright lights and ________ strangers. Besides, it requires self-confidence and tons of memorization. She thought, "Public speaking is my greatest ________. I'm already sixty years old and my ________ isn't that great. What if I get up there and forget my story?" But she had never felt so ________ before that she decided to challenge herself. So when Mary knew there would be storytelling training courses, she registered.

The courses would train learners to tell stories fluently and confidently. Mary arrived early before the first course began. She was quite nervous, beginning ________ her decision. When the course began, the teacher asked everyone to introduce themselves, which made Mary more ________. With the encouragement of the teacher, she introduced herself ________. Weeks later, she became ________ storytelling.

After all the courses finished, Mary ________ to tell a story on stage. After selecting a story, she made a(n) ________ to memorize it and practise telling it. Finally, Mary was able to perform ________ on stage. After that, Mary's confidence continued to grow and her ________ just faded away. She also realized that one was never too ________ to challenge oneself and learn new things.

10 . Guide dogs do an amazing job of being the eyes of people who are blind or have low eyesight. Just how amazing they can be is something Dan Shepherd likes to point out. As Blind Low Vision New Zealand’s (BLV) Head of Community Engagement, Shepherd often shares his experiences with his own guide dog, Ezra.

Their heartwarming story comes as pet nutrition (营养) company, Royal Canin, has announced a partnership with Blind Low Vision NZ to promote the nutrition and wellbeing of guide dogs. Dean Richardson, Manager at Royal Canin, says the company will provide high-quality nutrition personalised for the unique needs of guide dog puppies and trainees within the BLV programme. “We are excited to be on this beneficial journey,” he says. “This will help to improve the wellbeing of guide dogs and their handlers, eventually enabling more Blind Low Vision individuals to lead satisfactory lives.”

Shepherd couldn’t imagine life without Ezra. “Ezra not only keeps me mobile and safe, but does a huge amount for my confidence and independence.” While Ezra’s job is to make life easier for him, Shepherd also has a responsibility to make sure Ezra is in tip-top condition so he can maintain the high levels of concentration and fitness needed to do his job. That means having regular checks and vaccinations (接种疫苗), getting plenty of exercise and feeding him a nutritious diet.

“Royal Canin’s approach to puppy nutrition addresses the specific needs of guide dog puppies during their key growth periods. Their diets are carefully made to provide essential nutrients for healthy development,” says Richardson. “It’s the same as with humans. If we want guide dogs to perform every day, we need to look after what we are putting in their bodies. We have a duty of care to them, and that in turn helps us.”