In ancient China lived an artist    1     paintings were almost lifelike. The artist’s reputation had made him proud. One day the emperor wanted to get his portrait (画像) done so he called all great artists to come and present their     2     (fine) work, so that he could choose the best. The artist was sure he would    3    (choose), but when he presented his masterpiece to the emperor’s chief minister, the old man laughed. The wise old man told him to travel to the Li River～perhaps he could learn a little from the greatest artist in the world.

Filled with     4     (curious), the artist packed his bags and left.     5     he asked the villagers on the banks of the river where he could find the legendary (传奇的) artist, they smiled and     6     (point) down the river. The next morning he hired a boat and set out     7     (find) the well-known painter. As the small boat moved,     8     (gentle) along the river he was left speechless by the mountains being silently reflected in the water. He passed milky white waterfalls and mountains in many shades of blue. And when he saw the mists rising from the river and the soft clouds    9     (surround) the mountain tops, he was reduced to tears. The artist was finally humbled (谦卑) by the greatest artist     10     earth, Mother Nature.

Zhang Lanping has been teaching for 33 years now, but     1     makes her special is her pair of crutches(拐杖). The courageous teacher from Gansu province     2     ( suffer) from poliomyelitis,   an infectious disease, when she was only one year old.

Zhang is not able to     3     ( full) recover and therefore has to use crutches for the rest of her life. This condition, however, has not weakened Zhang's spirit. As a student, Zhang devoted     4     (she) to acquiring knowledge, which she believed would make her a     5     (success) teacher.

After graduation, Zhang applied as a college teacher but she was turned down because of her physical     6     (disable). Zhang did not give up and     7     (accept) as a primary school teacher in her hometown in Gansu province,     8    then experienced a shortage of teachers. For able-bodied people, it takes only six minutes     9     (reach) school, but Zhang has to spend one hour from home to her work place     10    (use) crutches. Zhang's efforts have not been in vain. The academic performance of her students is among the best in the district.