1     12: 30p. m., I found my maths class really difficult,     2     the teacher was kind and     3     (friend). He even told us a funny story, and everyone laughed so much. At 5: 32p. m., I was doing a chemistry experiment. But a guy always tried to speak to me, which made me     4    (annoy).

Dogs are often called “man’s best friend” and make ideal pets.     1     most attractive quality of a dog is its faith in its owner. They always greet us when we come home and they will never leave us when we are     2     danger. For example, there was a very sick man and his dog barked and barked until the rescue team     3     (arrive).

Furthermore, dogs are strong animals     4     will protect us. Houses with dogs are considered much     5     (safe) than those with burglar alarms (防盗警报器). Not only will they stop thieves,     6     they will also guard against fire. For example, there was a serious fire and a dog managed     7     (pull) its owner out.

And     8     (final), dogs can be trained by people. Dogs can do a number of things that people can not. For example, they can find drugs, bodies, illegal DVDs and hunt down prisoners with     9     (they) nose. They’re also used to help the elderly and disabled.

To sum up, dogs are really friendly, civilized (文明的) and loyal     10     (partner) .

Learning Chinese calligraphy     1     (list) as one of the must-do things when I came to China. Now, I’m in the course of learning this unique art,     2     value is considered very high in China, even across East Asia today. It is not only     3     ancient artistic form of human language, but it also reflects Chinese traditions.

As someone who paints, draws, and loves all     4     (create) things, at first, I assumed I would be rather good at Chinese calligraphy. I was     5     (total ) wrong. Using thick brush tips to produce awkward brush strokes (笔画)     6     (be) very difficult for a beginner. I have no idea about the different types of calligraphy and the meanings     7     ( hide) behind each one. Also, I have to hold the paintbrush     8     a very specific way; unlike a pen or pencil, the paintbrush is held upright in the hand. I need to be extra careful when changing the angle or     9     (direct) of the brush, especially if I press too hard on the paper.

After taking the lesson, I now understand the difficulty of calligraphy and that it will take efforts and commitment     10     (master) this art form. Yet, I am grateful to learn such a special Chinese tradition.