1 . As a college student in Boston, I formed the habit of buying used books. I enjoy the hunt, the good price and the unrecognized treasures. I find old textbooks, ex-bestsellers, and books on subjects I’ve never heard of and now must learn all about. I don’t search for rare books, first editions, or leather-bound editions but books that are worth reading.

Rereading, for me, is a pleasure during retirement. The theater and the concert hall become less appealing to me, along with crowds. Staying alone and reading books have become extremely important to me. Literature needs the flesh of experience to have its full effect. Different books offer me insights and ways of expressing that stuck in my mind as grains of sand in an oyster now shine like pearls. My taste in books improves with age.

While packing for a move, which occurs at intervals of five to seven years, I clear my shelves and pick my books. I abandon a few, later regret my decisions, and look for them again. Several years ago, I got rid of books related to my job-architecture. Some were design guides, reference books, product catalogs, and things that went out of date. Some were historical or centered on a period or an architect. These had given me many hours of pleasure. Will I ever open their covers again? Certainly. I held on to the red bulk of Sir Banister Fletcher’s A History of Architecture and books on Paris, Rome, and Boston.

I gave away drafting equipment and instruments. I threw out rolls and rolls of paper, and old drawings of projects completed long ago, some of which had even been damaged. This time, I stay put in a cottage that suits my status and I’ve moved on in spirit. No doubt I will acquire more used books and throw away more books as passions grow and fade, like feathers changing with the seasons.

7 . How did the ancient Chinese keep food warm in winter? In fact, ancient Chinese people used their own methods of heat preservation as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

● “Wen Ding”, ancient rice cooker

One of the major functions of an electric rice cooker is to keep food warm. The “Wen Ding”, an ancient cooking container, served the same purpose. The “Wen Ding” unearthed in Nanjing in 1989 is thought to be the oldest of its kind discovered in China, dating back to the Stone Age. The craftsmanship of making the “Wen Ding” was developed in the Bronze Age. The bronze Ding from Shang and Zhou dynasties took on different shapes and structures.

● “Ran LU”, ancient small hot pot

The “Ran LU” is a small size cooking vessel (器皿) made of bronze, which can be divided into three parts. A charcoal stove forms the main structure, with a bottom tray to hold charcoal ashes, and a movable cup at the top. Some experts have concluded that the vessel’s structure suggests it may have been used as a small hot pot and that these vessels became popular in the Warring States Period (475—221 BC).

●Bronze You, ancient kettle

The Bronze You was one of the most common wine containers during the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The Bronze You can also be used to warm wine. For example, the Bronze You with beast mask design, unearthed in Jiangxi province, has an opening where charcoals could be placed. Just as people today can’t do without an electric kettle, the Bronze You allowed people to enjoy a hot drink

●Bronze Yan, ancient steamer

Although the “Wen Ding” was effective at keeping food warm, the ancient Chinese people later found that its burning produced pollution. As a result, the Bronze Yan was made with a two-tier structure and used to steam rice and other grains. After the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-AD 220), further improvements to the Bronze Yan led to the modern-day steamer.

8 . A Journey to the Yosemite Firefall

Each year, thousands of people are attracted to the Yosemite National Park in California for a chance of seeing —and photographing ——the unique “firefall”. The amazing “firefall” comes to life only when there is enough water from the melting（融化）snow to keep the Horsetail Fall flowing and when the light of the setting sun hits the waterfall at the right angle. It can only be seen for a short time in February on clear sunny days.

This year, the weather isn’t stopping the “firefall” from happening, but it is making the journey to see it more difficult.

“What would have been a 10-minute walk turned into a two-hour hike through deep snow,” photographer Ryan Fitzsimons said about his recent trip to see the phenomenon. “Our clothes were all wet by the time we got to a viewing site. But the heavy snow made the sight much more beautiful since the waterfall is much bigger this year.”

Another photographer Andy Heitz was making his first trip to see the “firefall”. He had to wait five hours in the extreme cold for his turn to take a picture.

“I got to the site at about 12:00 at noon. The place was already filled with hundreds of people waiting to see and photograph the ‘firefall’. I was so lucky that I shot a really wonderful burner! I was completely amazed with what I saw,” he said. “You know, only on a couple days of the year in February and when the sun sets down at the perfect angle to shine on Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can we see the ‘Fire Fall’. I’ll never forget what I have seen.’’

The “firefall” should continue to be there from 20 to 24 February. But park officials said that there’s no guarantee（保证）that visitors will see it on any given day.

As everyone knows，it is Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province where the local porcelain(瓷器) is highly desirable     1     is the center of world porcelain. Last year, my school held a two-day research activity,     2     (guide) by the slogan,“Exploring ceramic(陶瓷的) culture, traveling through ancient and modern times”. The aim was     3     (build) students’ awareness of traditional culture.

On our way to Jingdezhen，our guide introduced us to the basics of porcelain production. Our first stop was the Museum of Chinese Ceramics, which has     4     unique and exquisite collection of porcelain made from materials such as clay(陶土) and stone.

The guide told us of the great achievements in ceramics from ancient times until today. I listened carefully to everything.     5    (date) back to Neolithic(新石器时代) period, clay was used to make pottery(陶器)，    6     people used to carry water and food. Today, we still use porcelain but our pottery is     7     (real) far more beautiful than the products of those times.

On the second day, the team leader took us to a small DIY porcelain factory.     8     the guidance of the teacher, we     9     (give) some clay and the chance to design a piece of pottery. Although our efforts were not as beautiful as the articles in the museum, they were our own work. The two-day activity was     10     (enjoy) and meaningful. I learned a lot about porcelain and made an item on my own. It meant a lot to me.

10 . I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn't like attention drawn to myself. And _________ otherwise assigned(指定）a seat by the teacher, I always chose to sit at the back of the classroom.

All this _________ after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy idea because I didn't have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the _________ to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on _________ for it, I would not have decided to give a try.

Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the _________ of it! When I first started _________ the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much _________ what I was doing. Sometimes I'd get _________ and take a shot at the wrong direction----which made me feel really stupid. Fortunately, I wasn't the only one "new" at the game, so I decided to _________ on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t know “just yet”.

I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the __________ and the" moves". Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive __________ in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the __________—— friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!

With my __________ self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from "__________ " in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, to raising my hand----even when I sometimes wasn’t 100 percent __________ I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.