—Yes, his works are very popular all over the world.

—You shouldn't ask me. You need to get your mother's agreement.

—Thank you! I will keep on trying my best to work.

—I think it is worth reading.

—Don't worry. The chance for you would soon come along.

—He must drive his parents mad.

—Because I can't ________ the problem. I am afraid can't pass the exam.

—Don't worry. The date is quite right.

—Oh, I _________ this morning and I'm very worried about my health.

—Nothing. I just had a _______.

    An old man lived with his little grandson. Every day the old man got up early to read books. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every 1 he could.

    One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa, I want to read books as you do. But I don't understand it, and I always forget 2 I close the book. What good does 3 do?"

    The grandfather quietly turned back from putting 4 in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

    The boy did as his grandpa said, but all the water leaked (漏) out before he got back home.

    The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to walk faster next time."

    The next time the boy ran faster, but the basket was still empty before he 5 home. The boy said, "see, Grandpa, it's 6 to do the work!"

    "Is it of no use?" the old man said. "7 the basket."

    The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was 8. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was 9 inside and out.

    "My child, that's what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but the 10 will change you inside and out. That is the work of reading in our lives."

The Palmetto Expedition

    The Palmetto Expedition is a walking event that challenges participants (参与者) while giving back to our community. It's made of two parts. One is Palmetto Expedition Marathon (26.2 miles) that's completed within 10 hours and the other is Palmetto Expedition Ultra (50 miles) that's completed within 20 hours.

    Location: The Palmetto Trail's Lake Moultrie Passage

    Date: Saturday, May 12, 2018.

    Starting time:        ▲       

    Attention: On-site registration (现场注册) starts at 8: 00 a. m.

    Ending time: 8: 00 p. m. on May 12 (Palmetto Expedition Marathon)

    6:00 am on May 13 (Palmetto Expedition Ultra)

    Cost: ▶Palmetto Expedition Marathon

    ·$40: before January 1, 2018

    $50: January 1—March 30

    ·$60: April 1—Day of Event

    Palmetto Expedition Ultra

    ·$60: before January 1, 2018

    $80: January 1—March 30

    ·$100: April 1～Day of Event

    Attention: For those who register on April 1 or later, we will try to have enough T-shirts and medals.

    Age: Participants must be at least 16 years old. Parents should understand that we cannot be responsible for their teenagers. If parents are not walking with their kids throughout the event, the kids might find themselves alone on the way at times.

    For more information, call 400-841-0328.

    There was once an ugly fairy living in a fairy country. She was the kindest and cleverest of all fairies. However, no one liked her, because they strongly believed that the most important thing about a fairy was her beauty. Every time she was ready to help a child or anyone else in trouble, before she could say a word they were already shouting at her, "Ugly! Get out of here!"

    Although she was little, she had great magic power. More than once she thought about using it to make herself beautiful. But she remembered what her mother had always told her, "My dear, you are what you are."

    One day, the witches (女巫) came and caught the fairies, putting them in prison. The ugly fairy, just before being caught, put a spell (咒语) on her pretty dress. Helped by her ugly face, she succeeded in making herself look like a witch. That way she was able to follow the witches back to their country.

    The fairy used her magic power to prepare a big party for everyone there. While they were enjoying themselves, she left quietly and let free other fairies. When all of them got out of the prison, they worked together on one big spell and succeeded in putting the witches inside the mountain for the next hundred years.

    From that day on everyone remembered the brave and clever fairy. And for the next hundred years, and more, when someone ugly was born in that country, everyone was filled with joy.

    SoFi is a special "fish". It is 47 centimeters long. It is all white. It has a small round head. What kind of fish is it? Actually, SoFi is a soft robotic fish. Scientists from MIT made it look like a real fish. They want to use it to study sea animals when the ocean environment changes.

    SoFi's skin is made of a kind of rubber. It's soft. The robotic fish's head is 3D printed. There is a camera in its nose and it can take photos and videos underwater. SoFi can swim among real fish. It is quiet. It doesn't scare other fish. It can also turn left and right, and even change its speed.

    Although SoFi is not the first lifelike robotic fish, it is the most advanced of its kind, according to MIT scientists. Many other countries have also made robotic fish, including the UK and China. Scientists said these robotic fish can easily get close to other fish. And other fish can even interact (互动) with them.

    Eating food is enjoyable, but cooking can be challenging. For those who don't have basic cooking skills, or are too busy working or travelling, one thing can save them—instant noodles.

    This year (2018) marks the 60^th anniversary of the invention of instant noodles. Ever since they were created by Japanese businessman Momofuku. Instant noodles have been popular around the world. In China, the product has almost become a necessity for those who travel by train. Japanese people even voted (投票) instant noodles as one of their best inventions of the 20^th century.

    Food trends reflect changes in society. For instant noodles, as many as other "instant" foods, such as compressed biscuits, mashed potatoes and canned meat. Convenience is the key selling point. They are supposed to make our life easier.

    In recent years, however, online meal order services have become a rival to instant noodles. Uber Eats is a popular app of this kind in the USA. In China we have Ele, me and Meituan. These services offer not only convenience but also more choices and tastier food. According to the World Instant Noodle Association, instant noodles sales dropped by 17 percent in China as of 2016.

    Gary Oldman is like the English version of Leonardo DiCaprio. They are both actors who are "underappreciated (未受到充分赏识的)", as GQ magazine said. DiCaprio didn't win his first Oscar until 2016 at the age of 42. In 2018, Oldman finally got his first Oscar at the age of 59 on March 5.

    He took home the Best Actor award at the 90th Academy Awards. He won the award for his performance as former British prime minister Winston Churchill in the movie Darkest Hour. Many believe that Oldman accurately reproduced Churchill's appearance and personality, such as his round body, large jowls and cigars (雪茄). Reporter Brian Truitt wrote in USA Today that after watching the movie for just 10 minutes, you forget that you're seeing Gary Oldman—there is just Winston Churchill.

    Oldman was already seen as an excellent actor even before winning his Oscar. In a 2015 survey, he was voted Greatest Actor to Never Win an Oscar, according to Ranker.com. He is known for his versatility (可塑性). His acting style is expressive due to his theater training. He has played many classic roles: the vampire (吸血鬼) Count Dracula in Dracula (《惊情四百年》), the corrupt (腐败的) policeman Norman Stansfield in Leon (《这个杀手不太冷》), and Harry Potter's noble godfather (教父) Sirius Black.

    Oldman said he acts not in order to win awards, but simply for the pleasure of acting. "Acting was my way out," Oldman told Interview magazine. "The fun of it was getting away from myself and stepping into the characteristics and the behavior of someone else."

    The Chongyang Festival is a Chinese traditional festival. It is celebrated        the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. That is        it is called the Double Ninth Festival, too.

    The festival started as early as the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). It has a history of more than 1, 700 years. Among the numbers from zero to nine, nine is the        (high) odd number (奇数). People believe that two "nines" meeting together stand for a long life. So it is a special holiday for Chinese people        (show) love and respect for their elders. They hold many kinds of        (act) in honor of old people, wishing        (they) good health and a long life.

    The festival comes during the        (gold) time of foil. On the day, people traditionally drink chrysanthemum (菊花) wine, eat Double-Ninth Cakes        climb mountains. They also carry a kind of plant named dogwood. People in ancient times believed that        plant could drive away evil (邪恶的) spirits and prevent them from        (catch) an illness in winter.

写作要点：①垃圾食品尽管美味，但对健康无益，而且其过多的包装会产生更多的垃圾；②远离垃圾食品，还应选择正确的生活方式，如：A三餐要有规律，少吃快餐；B多吃蔬菜水果等健康食物，以提供身体必须的营养；C多参加户外活动......

写作要求：①词数: 80左右，开头已给出，不计入总词数；②内容必须包括上述所有要点，可适当进行发挥。

参考词汇：过多包装over packing; 有规律地regularly; 营养nutrition

Say no to junk food

    Nowadays, more and more attention has been paid to food safety and health. As far as I am concerned, we should say no to junk food.