— She ________ for the driving test due to take place next Monday.

—Well, you know, I hate to be __________, but I'll have much homework to do then.

    Devon Gallagher, a college graduate from Philadelphia, wants the world to know where she's been during her great worldwide vacation in a(n) 1way.

    The traveler, who was 2 with a bone disease, had her right leg 3 at the age of four. 4 the amputation (截肢) caused hardships for Gallagher early on, she, at the age of 22 now, 5 it as an inspiration for making the 6 of her life.

    To spread that 7, Gallagher has 8 to social media, 9 she shares photos of her travels across the world, but instead of 10 using a geotag (地理标签), she draws her location across her artificial leg before taking a picture.

    Now she has been taking pictures 11 Europe. “I get a new leg every two years and I can choose the design on it. One day I had a sudden 12 that my new leg could be used as a blackboard,” Gallagher said. “My mum and grandmother weren't too 13 the idea, but my friends thought it was great and told me to go for it, so I did.”

    Gallagher said people often stare when she's 14 on her leg, but once she shares the photos, she 15 only praise and encouragement. “My leg hasn't 16 me from doing anything I've wanted to do,” she said. “I don't know 17 it is my determination to prove to myself that I can do it, but anyhow, I've been able to 18 up with my peers and lead a pretty great life.”

    Gallagher shows us that you should never let anything stand in the 19 of your dream. And if you meet with an obstacle (障碍), get 20 with it— if life gives you an artificial leg, make art.

    Lily went to London with her parents for a two-week vacation. She sent postcards to her friends.

    Imagine a relay race. During this race, an athlete holds a stick as he runs a certain distance. Then he passes the stick to the next runner. That person runs faster, and then passes the stick to a third runner. Now imagine that the runners do not pass a stick. Instead they pass shiny silk, as well as gold, fruit, and glass. Imagine that the race does not move forward in just one direction. Instead the runners go back and forth along a road. They trade goods all along this route (路线) and at each end of it. Now imagine that the runners are businessmen. They lead caravans (商队) or lines of camels that carry things to sell. They travel on the ancient Silk Road to earn their living.

    The Silk Road was a complex trade network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It stretched from eastern China, across central Asia and the Middle east, to the Mediterranean Sea. Businessmen traveled on the Silk Road from about 200 B.C. to about 1300 A.D. Then sea travel began to offer new routes. Some people called the Silk Road the world's longest highway. However, the Silk Road included many routes--not just one smooth path. The routes ran through mountains and across deserts. They passed through an area that now includes 18 countries. The Silk Road had many dangers. These dangers ranged from hot sun and deep snow to thieves and wars. Only expert traders could survive.

    The Silk Road got its name from its most prized goods. People used silk as money. They could pay taxes or buy goods with it. Traders carried more than just silk, though. They had gold, silver, and glass from Europe. People in the Middle East and Asia wanted these things. Businessmen also took horses from flat, grassy areas in central Asia and brought them to China and other areas. The horses changed the way people farmed and ran their armies. Indian businessmen traded salt and rare, beautiful stones. Chinese merchants traded medicine and china. They also traded paper, which quickly replaced animal skins in the west. Businessmen carried apples from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to combine different trees to create new kinds of fruit. They taught this science to others, such as the Romans. The Romans began to grow apples for food. The Silk Road led to worldwide commerce 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.

    The people along the Silk Road did not share only goods. They also shared beliefs. Monks, priests, and other faith leaders taught their religions to others. The Silk Road created pathways for knowledge, diplomacy, and religion.

    According to the Associated Press (AP), a Chinese scientist claims he successfully created the world's first genetically-edited babies.

    Chinese researcher He Jiankui, a research professor at China's Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, said he had edited DNA of twin girls born a few weeks ago. ①

    He's claims were immediately criticized by some scientists as unsafe and unethical. This kind of gene editing is forbidden in the United States and many other countries. ②Such changes to a person's DNA can pass to future generations and risk harming other genes.

    In interviews, He Jiankui defended his work. He said he had performed the gene editing to help protect the babies from future infection of HIV, the virus responsible for the disease AIDS. He said the process had “worked safely” and the twin girls were “as healthy as any other babies.” He told the AP he felt a strong responsibility “not just to make a first, but also to make an example” for future research. “Society will decide what to do next,” he said.

    When He's claims became public, the university made a statement saying his work had “seriously went against academic ethics and standards.” University officials said they had no knowledge of his research and had looked into the case. ③

    China's National Health Commission was “highly concerned” about the claims and ordered local health officials “to immediately look into” He's activity. “We have to be responsible for the people's health and will act on this according to the law,” the commission said.

    Scientists discovered in recent years a new way to edit genes that make up a person's DNA throughout the body. The tool, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to change DNA to supply a needed gene or take one away that is causing problems. So far the tool has only been used on adults to treat deadly diseases, and the changes only affected that person.

    ④Kiran Musunuru, a scientist from University of Pennsylvania, told the AP that if such an experiment had been carried out on human beings, it could not be “morally or ethically reasonable.” Julian Savulescu, a medical ethics expert at Britain's University of Oxford, agreed. “If true, this experiment may cause disasters,” he told Reuters.

    However, one well-known geneticist, Harvard University's George Church, defended the attempt to edit genes to prevent infections of HIV. He told the AP that since HIV is “a major and growing public health threat” he finds such experiments “valuable.”

    Little Women is the story of four sisters growing up during the Civil War. Each March (马奇) sister has a different personality. Meg, the oldest, is dignified (端庄) and proper. Jo, next in age, is energetic and wants to be a writer. Beth is shy and quiet and loves music. Amy, the youngest, is spoiled (被宠坏的), a little conceited (自负), and enjoys art. In the following passage, an excerpt(节选)from Chapter 14 Secrets, Jo has a secret surprise to tell her sisters. Laurie is the boy who lives next door, and Hannah is the March's servant. The Spread Eagle is a newspaper in the town.

    In a few minutes Jo bounced (蹦跳) in, laid herself on the sofa, and pretended to read.

    "Have you anything interesting there?" asked Meg, with condescension (屈尊).

    "Nothing but a story, won't amount to much, I guess," returned Jo, carefully keeping the name of the paper out of sight.

    "You'd better read it aloud. That will amuse us and keep you out of mischief (恶作剧)," said Amy in her most grown-up tone.

    "What's the name?" asked Beth, wondering why Jo kept her face behind the sheet.

    "The Rival Painters."

    "That sounds well. Read it," said Meg.

    With a loud "Hem!" and a long breath, Jo began to read very fast.

    The girls listened with interest, for the tale was romantic, and somewhat pathetic (哀婉动人), as most of the characters died in the end. "I like that about the splendid picture," was Amy's approving remark, as Jo paused.

    "I prefer the lovering part. Viola and Angelo are two of our favorite names, isn't that strange?" said Meg, wiping her eyes, for the lovering part was tragical (凄婉).

    "Who wrote it?" asked Beth, who had caught a glimpse(瞥) of Jo's face.

    The reader suddenly sat up, threw away the paper, displaying a red face, and with a funny mixture of solemnity and excitement replied in a loud voice, "Your sister."

    "You?" cried Meg, dropping her work.

    "It's very good," said Amy.

    "I knew it! I knew it! Oh, my Jo, I am so proud!" and Beth ran to hug her sister, wild with joy over this splendid success.

    Dear me, how excited they all were, to be sure! How Meg wouldn't believe it till she saw the words. "Miss Josephine March," actually printed in the paper. How politely Amy criticized (批评) the artistic parts of the story, and offered advice for a sequel (续集), which unfortunately couldn't be carried out, as the hero and heroine were dead. How Beth got excited, and skipped and sang with joy. How Hannah came in to shout in great astonishment at 'that Jo's doin's'. How proud Mrs March was when she knew it. How Jo laughed, with tears in her eyes, as she declared she might as well be a peacock(孔雀) and done with it, and how the 'Spread Eagle' might be said to fly his wings proudly over the House of March, as the paper passed from hand to hand.

    "Tell us about it." "When did it come?" "How much did you get for it?" "What will Father say?" "Won't Laurie laugh?" cried the family, all in one breath as they gathered around Jo, for these foolish, affectionate (痴情的) people had a celebration of every little joy of family.

    It's difficult to find true friends these days.        How? Here are some tips on how to make your friendship last forever:

    Call for no reason. Call just to say "Hi" or just to ask "What's up?" If you can't call, just send an e-mail.       

    Know when to say "I'm sorry." and "Thank you".       Show appreciation for the things, big or little that your friend does for you. Say thank you. It's that easy.

           If you have nothing good to say, don't talk at all. Don't risk hurting your friend's feelings by saying hurtful words that, most of the time, you don't really mean.

    Be honest. Don't lie to friends. Trust is the foundation of true friendship. Write them a note from time to time. Also, try to be thoughtful. Give simple gifts that will make their day.

    Never be mean with your time. Spare some time to see your friends however busy you are. You can always spare an hour or two after school or work to visit them.       

    If you are the type of person who knows how to take care of friendship, you definitely are a keeper!

A. Avoid hurtful words.

B. Action speaks louder than words.

C. Some are never there when you need them most.

D. Don't let pride get in the way, especially when you're at fault.

E. Weekends are a great time, too, to bond and hang out with your friends.

F. This would send a message that you remember your friends at a random (任意的) time of the day.

G. Once you find a friend who is worth keeping, make sure to take care of what you have with that person.

    In northeastern Liaoning Province, winter can be very cold. For months, almost nothing grows on these frozen areas, except for one        (surprise) product—grapes, which make something special, ice wine. Ice wine        (make) from frozen grapes. The freezing process gives the wine a sweet flavor. It's so much        (strong). It tastes like a raisin (葡萄干).

    Here, conditions for making ice wine are so perfect        a third of the world's ice wine is now produced here. Strict rules mean that the temperature must be at least -8℃ for hours. While they wait, the grapes could go bad. So,        (prevent) this from happening, they need to be picked as soon as the conditions        (be) right.

    In the early morning, the villagers are all        (die) to help. The grapes planted here are called Vidal. As soon as the grapes are picked, they are transported to the wine company—the largest        (produce) in China. Two years later, the wine is ready to be in the bottles, each of        contains the juice of a 2.5 kilograms of grapes. These bottles will be       the dinner table across China and even the world.

【写作要求】

1）词数：120左右。开头已给出，不计入总词数；

2）文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

    From our recent survey of students, we have found that