I hesitated to join the new Tai Chi Club because I     1     (think) tai chi was for old people. In fact, it was really     2     (amaze) and had a huge effect on me physically and mentally.     3     is said that a 13th-century Taoist, named Zhang Sanfeng, invented tai chi     4     is deeply rooted in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang.

While learning the basics of tai chi, I found myself     5     (bore) and aching.     6     (lucky), my coach taught me how to relax my     7     (muscle) and focus on peace of mind. With this requirement, I found that my balance and flexibility slowly improved     8     I also found my love for tai chi returned stronger.

A year of practicing tai chi has had a positive effect     9     my everyday life. I feel     10     (happy) and more confident. I will continue to practice tai chi and enjoy the benefits it has brought me.

The Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world, plays an     1     (importance) role in maintaining the balance of the Earth’s ecosystem. It     2     (cross) into eight countries, including Brazil and Peru. With an area of about 6 million square kilometers,     3     rainforest is more than half the size of China.

More than 40,000 species of plants can     4     (find) in the Amazon. The forest’s different levels provide food and shelter for an unbelievable     5     (vary) of wildlife. More than 1,300 species of     6     (bird) and over 400 species of mammals hide in the jungle.

The Amazon rainforest breathes life into the planet by     7     (fix) carbon and producing over 20 per cent of all the Earth’s oxygen. This is why it is known as the “lungs     8    the planet”. Moreover, the rainforest is a treasure house of species     9     can be used for food or medicine.     10    , over the past 50 years about 17 per cent of the rainforest has disappeared due to human activities such as agriculture and cattle farming.

When we think of paper, we think of newspapers and books. But there are many other uses. Only half of the world’s paper     1     (use) for books and newspapers.

Paper is very good for     2     (keep) you warm. You have perhaps seen homeless men     3     (sleep) on large numbers of newspapers. In Finland, it is sometimes -40℃ in winter. The farmers wear paper boots (靴子) in the snow. Nothing could be     4     (warm).

Each year, more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups     5     plates for a long time. But now we hear     6     chairs, tables, and even     7     (bed) can be made of paper. Besides paper boots and shoes, you can wear paper hats, paper dresses, and paper raincoats. When you have used them once, you may throw them away and buy new ones.

The latest use of paper     8     (seem) to be paper houses. These are not small houses for children to play in, but real, big houses for people to live in. You can buy     9     house with three rooms for about 500 dollars. You can put it up by     10     (you) in a few hours, and you can use it for about five years.

The Internet has the power to connect people across the world to a single shared community. We can gain almost anything online — with access to the Internet come some     1     (true) life-changing advantages. One of the greatest advantages of the Internet lies in the quick and easy access to     2     huge amount of information. Now the Internet     3     (become) the first place that the majority of people turn to for information. Meanwhile, it has also made our lives unbelievably     4     (convenience), as all sorts of goods and services     5     (provide) by e-commerce. Above all else, the Internet helps us establish and maintain social ties. No matter where we are, we are able to keep in touch with loved ones     6     share our hobbies. Though the Internet brings many valuable advantages, being connected has     7     (it) problems. We must be aware     8     these problems and be careful     9     (use) the Internet properly and responsibly. Only in this way can the Internet be a place of discovery, wonder and     10     (inspire) for everyone.

Who is the greatest teacher in Chinese history? Many people would say: Confucius.

Confucius lived in the kingdom of Lu, part of today’s Shandong Province, during the Spring and Autumn Period. His father died when he was only 3 and he had to work     1     (help) his mother. But young Confucius didn’t give up     2     (study). He visited many famous teachers and learned music, history, poetry and sports.

Later, he became a teacher and started the first public school in Chinese history. At that time only children     3     rich families could go to school, but Confucius believed everyone should go to school if they wanted to learn.

Today, people still follow Confucius’ lessons. He told us that everyone has something     4     is worth learning and teaching. “When I am with three people, one of them is     5     (probable) better than me in some areas. I select their good qualities and follow them. I take their bad qualities and change them in myself.” He also taught     6     (we), “All study but no thinking makes people     7     (puzzle). All thinking but no study     8     (make) people lazy.”

Confucius is not only a great teacher,     9     also a famous thinker with wise thoughts about the world and society. His most important teachings are about     10     (kind) and good manners (礼仪).

Through travelling you can enjoy beautiful views and     1     (broad) your horizons. In summer, you’d better get on a cruise (乘船游览) ship in the city of Chongqing which will take you to the Three Gorges, for those ordinary ships are usually too     2     (crowd). Near Yunyang, at the steep edge of the hills     3     (stand) the famous Zhang Fei Temple     4     (surround) by trees. Because smoking     5     (forbid) in the cabins, you have to go to the deck to smoke,     6     you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. You can see some fishermen     7     the distance. First, you will go through the Qutang Gorge, which narrows to 350 feet. Then you will sail through the Wu Gorge and the Xiling Gorge. However,     8     impresses you most may be the Daning River in Wuxi County. There is immense     9     (mountain) land on both banks of Yangtze River with only small areas of flat     10     (plain).

There was a state     1     (call) Zhou (周) in the Chinese history. One day, the king of Zhou asked his officials for advice on     2     (deal) with prisoners of war. An official said, “If you love someone, you     3     (suppose) to love even the crows on the roof of his house. The prisoners of war are enemies fighting     4     us. In my opinion, we’d better kill them all.”

But the king didn’t agree with him. “I think we should treat the prisoners of war     5     (different) by differing them into those     6     are guilty or not. The guilty ones will be sentenced to death in order to avoid future disasters.”

Then another one said, “Your majesty, I think all the prisoners should be set free and sent back home to work in the fields and support     7     (them) by their own labor.     8     , you should keep strictly the rules for reward and     9     (punish). The people are sure to believe in you if you govern our country by morals and laws.”

The king thought the official’s proposal was quite reasonable so he accepted and followed it. As a result,     10     domestic situation soon settled down and gradually the country became stronger.

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal.” I couldn’t agree more     1     Albert Einstein.

Goals are important in many     2    (way). Setting goals gives you     3     focus in life. By setting goals, you are deciding what you want     4    (achieve) in the future. Setting goals also     5    (encourage) you to develop good habits. To realize your goals, you need to have a good plan, manage your time well and pay attention to details, all of     6     will be helpful. Finally, setting goals makes you     7    (confident) than ever before.

When you achieve a goal, you see the result of     8    (you) hard work and know how much progress you     9    (make) so far. A goal is a dream that needs action. As a result of your action, your dream will come true and     10    (hopeful) you will live a happy life.