1 . Choose a word below in its correct form to replace the words or phrases highlighted in italics.

sob   amaze   investigate   dive   orphan   reveal   curtain   freeze   bare

When I was a young boy, I lost my mother and father. As     1     a person without a father or mother life was difficult for me and I was often lonely. l lived in a home with other children and my bedroom was     2     empty with few toys or things to enjoy.

Although I married eventually and had my own children, I always felt sad thinking about my parents. One day I got a letter in the post. It said it was from my sister! I was     3     shocked to read this and as it had never been     4     told to me that had other family members. The letter said my sister would like to meet me and told me the time and place to go.

On the day I met her, l arrived at her home. It was a beautiful old house with blue walls and white     5     window coverings. As I went up the garden path, the door was flung open by a woman who looked just like my mother! At first I was     6     stuck in one place with shock but she     7     jumped into my arms and we hugged. It was such a special moment that I found myself     8     crying with joy.

My sister said she too was unaware that she had a brother but that she had     9     looked into our family history in the past year and found my name. Knowing that I have a sister gives me so much comfort as I have a connection to the past.

3 . Choose words from the box to complete the phrased. Then make sentenced with these phrased.

bat     belongings     blanket     comic     corporate     entry       hidden     thorough     wage

1. ________increase
2. ________ actress
3. ________ motive
4. diary ________
5. baseball ________
6. ________investigation
7. ________ image
8. a ________ of snow
9. personal ________

4 . Read the letters again and then use the connectors in the box to rewrite the sentenced below.

as a result             besides            for instance          that is to say

1. Students who want to study abroad must consider their parents’ budget. They should think about whether they can afford the costs of studying overseas.
2. Studying abroad can put great pressure on young people. They may feel lonely and miss their families.
3. Studying abroad will give students a good education. It also helps them to gain a global perspective.
4. Global development strategies help to make connections between China and the rest of the world. Young people with language skills and strong cultural awareness are needed.