Over the past several decades, many different benefits of humor     1     (explore). Few people know that humor plays an important role in social interactions with peers, and ultimately in school success. School entry is the time     2     parents fade into the background and social interaction with peers becomes increasingly important. The use of humour that is socially acceptable leads to a lower likelihood of being bullied, while the use of self-disparaging (自贬的) humour leads to a     3     (high) likelihood of being bullied.

What made my childhood truly special was our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Greene, who was a retired schoolteacher then. Every weekend, I would     1     (eager) visit her. Sitting in her living room filled with books from floor to ceiling, and     2     (listen) to her tales were the best part of my week. The stories were her adventures during her younger days. I still remember the way her eyes     3     (light) up with every memory, the passion in her voice, and the life lessons. It was evident that her     4     (teach) days might have ended, but her wisdom hadn’t.

Buster Keaton, often overshadowed (使黯然失色) by the fame of Charlie Chaplin, was a comedic talent in his own right. Born in 1895, he entered show business at a young age and quickly became known for his unique brand of physical comedy. Films     1     (produce) by him are considered timeless classics.     2    , what distinguishes (区别) him from other comedians is his ability of humor, a talent     3     depth is immeasurable. He was not just a performer; he was an artist whose works continue to influence modern comedy.

In the ever-evolving (不断进化的) landscape of modern education, the value of critical thinking skills cannot be overstated (过分强调). Generally     1     (speak), students today are expected to not only memorize facts but also think critically and apply their analyses in real-world     2     (situation). Schools now have made it mandatory (强制性的) to put problem-solving exercises in their courses. Many students, having been studying in these newer systems, have made significant improvements in their analytical abilities. This transition, given the strong emphasis on learning in the past,     3     (mark) a super change in educational methods.

Go to kindergarten, elementary school, high school, and finally, college. Most American kids     1     (expect) by their parents to get an education and have a good life. For Tara Westover, the outlook was quite different.     2     (raise) in a poor family in Idaho, Tara was not allowed to have a proper education. Her father     3     (keep) her out of school, believing a woman’s best place was in the home. How did Tara fight     4     the right to get educated? Find the answer in the bestseller Educated.

Paper money, much more convenient than metal coins,     1     (be) a Chinese invention. It first appeared in China more than 1,000 years ago. The wooden printing blocks still exist for a type called jiao zi, believed to be the earliest kind, but not the paper money itself. The world’s oldest paper notes     2     (print) between 1260 and 1269 and used so     3     (wide) that even today such notes are still found in many parts of China.

The train left Beijing Railway Station,     1     (make) its way to Hainan Island. I was 20 years old, but it was the first time that I had traveled so far. I     2     (long) for the adventure before I set out on it. Like many other college students, I wanted to make use of a summer vacation to see life away     3     my home and parents. It was a good beginning, and no matter what happened, I was determined to prove my ability to survive.

There is a place     1     (name) Dahailin (Huge Sea Forest) in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province. Deep in Dahailin is a magic al place,     2     it snows from October until March. There lies a small snowy village. In the snow, the old wooden     3     (house) look like white mushrooms (蘑菇). Bright red lanterns stand out upon the village’s white-washed background. The villagers there enjoy     4     (live) a free and pleasant life.

John Augustus Roebling was a pioneer in bridge building in the 19th century.     1     (inspire) by an idea to build a great bridge connecting New York with the Long Island, the creative engineer worked out a blueprint for his dream in 1883. However, this would be no ordinary bridge, which would have to go over the East River     2     (flow) in more than one direction and be tall enough for ships to pass under. Though having been told the idea was not practical and impossible, John couldn’t ignore the vision he had in his mind. Despite all the hardships, Roebling finally drew up plans for world’s     3     (long) suspension bridge at that time.

Over the last 50 years, the U.S. and Canada have slowly but surely lost 29% of their bird populations. Even common birds such as sparrows and blackbirds     1     (face) declines in North America since 1970. One major cause is that humans have expanded their footprint greatly,     2     (result) in habitat loss for birds. Less habitat means less space     3     (find) food, mates, nest, and raise young. Since birds play an essential role in the functioning of the world’s ecosystems, we need spare no effort to protect them and take these beautiful creatures under our wing.