Like other big cities, Paris has also a traffic problem: lots of cars, traffic jams and traffic pollution. So since 2007, the city     1    (start) a plan to improve the situation.

Under a project, people can take a bicycle, use it as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour is free,     2     if you don’t return it after 30 minutes, you have to pay. It’s only $1 or $29 a year. The bicycles are as heavy as 25 kilograms, and they’re all grey and have baskets. There’re a large number of     3    (they) in the city, and the bicycle stations are more than the subway stations!

Paris isn’t the first city to operate a project like this. One Parisian said, “These bicycles are only suitable for short     4    (journey). If people want to travel across the city, they won’t use a bicycle — they’ll still use their cars.”

A city spokesman said, “The bicycle project won’t solve all our traffic problems, but it might work in     5    (reduce) air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes,     6    (be) a big problem. Everyone knows about global warming and dramatic climate changes — we know this is partly because rainforests are     7    (gradual) disappearing. And it’s also because there’s so much pollution. There aren’t any simple answers     8     traffic problems and pollution in cities, but the bicycles might help people lead     9     healthier life. Unless we do something now, there’ll be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get even     10    (bad).”

When meeting people at the airport, most people smile and shake hands with people they meet. We know that a smile is usually a sign that people feel friendly and happy,     1    what if we don’t know who the new person is? What if we are not     2    (introduce) by a friend? Sometimes people are dangerous and humans have to find ways to protect     3     (themself). We have to make sure we can trust people we do not know, and we have to show that we are not dangerous, showing our hands means that we are not armed. In many cultures today, the Western custom of    4     (shake) hands is used. We use our right hand, which is usually     5     (strong) than the left one. If we are using our hand this way, it cannot be holding a knife or a gun.   It shows that we can trust each other.

Not all cultures use the handshake, and people in many Asian cultures do not always touch another person. Japanese people might cover one hand with     6     other hand, depending on     7    they are greeting, bow     8    (slight) or quite low. A Muslim will touch his heart, mouth and forehead     9     (show) respect. They are all keeping their hands busy. In almost all cultures, to smile and show an open right hand     10     (mean). "Welcome, you are safe with me."