4 . An ice boat, or iceboat, is a boat fitted with skis or runners and built to travel over ice in much the same way that sailboats do on the water.     1    . Today, used mainly as racing vehicles, modern iceboats are supported by skate-like steel runners which enable them to hold the ice at high speed.

Traveling over ice by boat was firstly undertaken for the purpose of transporting goods and equipment. The first recorded ice sailing for pleasure or sport took place in Europe, and the use of iceboats for commercial purposes soon died altogether.    2    .

    3    . However, there are larger boats designed for two or more. There are different classes of the iceboat, the most well-known being the International DN class and the Skeeter class. Distinctions between classes are determined primarily by size and mast height.

As the result of significantly reduced friction(摩擦), the newer, aerodynamically(空气动力地) designed iceboat can reach extremely high speeds. The runners are angled in such a way as to counter the lateral force of the wind on the sails.     4    , the iceboat is pushed forward with such force that it actually goes faster than the wind.

High speed and cruel weather can combine to create a dangerous environment.     5    . This led to the adoption of a set of strict rules and guidelines that all who engage in ice yachting, sailing, or racing are required to be familiar with and follow at all times.

6 . Last June I worked as a volunteer in a remote Aboriginal community. The residents there are short of the many material _______that most of us in big cities have, but their outlook on life is not even comparable to ours.

This community was hard hit by a _______ about two years ago.Many people became _______and multiple families had to live under one roof in houses that were_______ for just one family.However, people felt more of a sense of _______ when families had to live together in such conditions. They _______together to help each other in rebuilding their lives after the hurricane.

Family took _______ over everything in this community. If someone is in need, the extended family will provide any_______ needed. Children are taught from an early age that family is worth more than any material possession they will _______.They pass that value to the next ________,and the cycle continues in ________ solid family values.

On my third day in this community, two elders said they had felt a strong ________ with my spirit, and wanted to adopt me into their tribe. It was beyond my ________ as to how an outsider could be ________after just three days! One of the elders explained that no one was a stranger there.

Leaving this community was challenging indeed. Not only did my outlook change, my understanding of how life can be defined took a ________for the better.

7 . The day I heard that the Rainbow Bookstore was closing after 50 years of business, I was heartbroken. The bookstore, which was a legendary_______in the neighbourhood, was a place where anyone could _______ and connect through their love of books.

When I hurried to the store , I saw that the books were already being_______ into boxes. I had a long chat with Casey, the store’s elderly owner. _______ deeply, he told me how it was becoming_______to run an independent bookstore. Most young people_______ reading e-books on tablets. More and more customers were being _______by chain stores and online discounts. I tried to think of some words of _______ ，but I had to admit that the Rainbow Bookstore couldn't stay in _______much longer.

Childhood memories came back to me so ________ ，as if the events had happened only yesterday. A bunch of us________would frequently drop by the store after school. We’d look at the new books, or just ________Old Casey. He knew every ________in the store and would always pick the perfect one for us from a ________shelf. We spent hours reading, seated on the store’s old, but ________furniture. Casey encouraged us to ________our ideas and comments on the books, by writing them on a large board in one corner of the store. When I left the bookstore, it was becoming cold and ________ outside. I turned to ________ Casey, but both he and his bookstore were already________in a thick mist. It made me realise that the bookstore and all that Old Casey had given to the community could soon ________for good.

9 . America’s holiday shopping season is the busiest shopping day of the year. After some shopping in a store, my family and I were going to have a meal in one of the food area where fast food is sold. It’s_________ to find a seat. People were standing waiting for_________ to free up.

When we found one, I sat down watching a waiter ___________ clearing and cleaning tables as soon as they became ___________. What’s more, he was not a _________ man, probably in his late fifties and a bit fat, but_________ of that slowed him down a little.

_________ I watched I was disappointed with people who didn’t clean up the rubbish themselves. They would just _________ their spilled (溢 出) drinks, bread and some other rubbish on the table. _______ the waiter never ________ smiling and saying “Enjoy your day!” to everyone he met. I was almost moved to tears.

After my family __________ our meals, we cleaned up the table so he would have __________ things to do. On the way out, I__________ his hand and said, “Thank you for how hard you work.” When I tried to give him a $10 bill, he said, “No, I can’t ________ this. It’s my job.” I said I wasn’t__________ it to him for payment or for a tip. I was giving it to him because I knew he had a good heart —and it can be hard to find these days! The man’s eyes turned red, said thank you, and went right back to clear and clean tables.

It was a great day and he was a great person that I had ever met.

10 . When Carson Palmer, a professional American football player, hurt his arm a few years ago, he took a week off from throwing the football. But in his head, Palme practiced every day. The following weekend, Palmer had the best game of his life.

For more than a century, scientists have been trying to understand how this mental training works. In the 1930s, researchers proved by experiment that when you’re imagining an action, your brain sends signals to your muscles which are too weak to tighten the muscles but might help train the body to perform. In other words, mental practice might create a pattern in your head, like an inner how-to guide for a particular skill.

Sports psychologists have conducted hundreds of studies comparing imagined and physical practice for actions. On the whole, the research shows that mental training works. A 2012 study, for example, compared 32 amateur golfers who practiced hitting the balls to another 32 who merely held a golf club in their hands and visualized (想象) their swings.

Under the same training rules, both groups improved their skills by getting the ball about 4 inches closer to the hole.

Visualization has advantages over the real thing: You can do it anywhere, even when injured. It is safe — a major plus for high-risk performers such as gymnasts and surgeons. And you can practice for longer periods of time because you’re not restricted by physical tiredness. That’s not to say it’s easy. “We’ve had Olympic-level athletes sitting in our lab, visualizing the movements for two hours,” says Tadhg Macintyre, a sports psychologist at the University of Limerick in Ireland. “When we’re done, they’re absolutely tired.”

It doesn’t work for everyone, though. “If you’re a novice, the effect can be harmful,” warns Macintyre. “If you’re trying to visualize a free throw, and you don’t even know the proper movement, then you’re probably going to mentally practice the wrong skill.”