Rivers are one of our most important natural resources. Many of the world’s great cities are located on rivers, and almost __1_______ country has at least one river __2_______(flow) through it that plays __3________ important part in the lives of its people.
Since the beginning of history, people _4______________ (use) rivers for transportation. The longest one in the United States is the Mississippi, and the lifeline of Egypt is the Nile. __5_____________ transportation, rivers give water to drink, water for crops, and chances for fun and recreation （消遣，娱乐活动）for the people __6________________ live along their banks.
However, large cities and industries that are located on rivers often make problems. As the cities grow __7____________ size and industries increase in number, the water in the rivers becomes __8_____________ (pollute) with chemicals and other materials. People come to kwon the __9_____________ (important) of doing more to keep their rivers clean __10_____________ they want to enjoy the benefits of this natural resource.
We may be very 31 (please) with the rapid progress we have made in every field of study, but we have almost done nothing to improve our present examination systems 32 focus on testing the students’ memory instead of their 33 ______ (able). As soon as a child begins school, he enters a world of examination 34 _________ will decide his future of job. In fact, a good examination system should encourage students to think 35 _________ themselves. But the examination now does nothing but that. It forces the students to remember 36 is taught to get high marks. Thus the students who come out first in the examination often many be the 37 (good) in their studies. In addition, such an examination system often 38 _____ (drive) teachers to cram all the time and forces them to train students what to do with the 39 ____ (come) examination.
There must be a better way to test a 40 (student) true ability as well as their knowledge.
Recently, a website has carried out a survey (31)________ the common view on graduates from Beijing University.
28% of the (32)__________(interview) companies think that they are quite (33)_______(satisfy) with the graduates from Beijing University. The graduates (34)______ their companies have a wide range of (35)________(know) and they learn things very quickly and easily.
(36)_________, most of the companies don’t think much (37)_________ graduates from Beijing University. In their eyes, the graduates always stick to their own opinions and lack the teamwork spirit (38)_________ working. Besides, they may not be satisfied with their jobs, even with big companies, and they usually ask for too much. (39)_______ a result, 34% of the companies insist that they will not employ graduates from Beijing University.
In brief, society and (40)________ the students themselves expect too much from graduates from Beijing University. That’s why a graduate claims that he is rubbish.
Many people keep small fish _31_______ pets. They keep them in a tank of water. The tank is made of glass. People can _32________ through it. They can see inside the tank and watch the fish.
The fish need room. They mustn’t be crowded. They need _33_______ to breathe.
__34_____ must be enough water for all fish. So the size of the tank is very important.
In the tank people put small plants __35________ are good for fish. They give oxygen to the water. Plants help in other ways, too. They can hide __36_______ the plants and sleep, lay eggs there.
The fish __37______ be kept in water all the time. Some can jump high. So the tank should be covered. This keeps the fish __38________ (jump) out.
The fish need food and should be fed every day. But __39____________ you give them too much food, it is very bad, for the extra food will fall to the bottom and make the water dirty. So the fish should get just enough food and finish __40___________ in ten minutes. Nothing should be left.
In North America, people are always in __31______ hurry. Children have special lessons or sports activities __32________ school. Parents often work late and ___33________ get home until 7 or 8 o’clock at night. Most North American families don’t have time to prepare a meal. That is __34_________ fast food is so popular in North America. People _____35_____ about 40% of their dollars on fast food.
People usually buy fast food from restaurant chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, or KFC,__ 36______ they can enjoy pizza, sandwiches, fried chicken, and so on. Fast food saves work and time, but it is not __37_________ (nutrition).
Fast food is popular in many countries. American fast-food companies now have restaurants all over the world. But not __38________ is happy about the spread(扩展) of North American fast food. A group of people in Italy want to fight __39_______ the spread of American fast food. They don’t like the idea of more fast food chains __40__________(open) restaurants in their country.
I asked my uncle, who plays __31_______ piano well, __32_______ he would assess (评定) the tone of a second hand piano I was hoping to buy. We arrived __33_______ the house and Uncle Frank looked the piano over, then __34_______ (sit) down and played a mixture of honky-tonk numbers and classical pieces. When he finished, we told the family that we would call ___35_______ in 15 minutes.
Outside, Uncle Frank said that ___36________ the wood was battered (坏掉的)，the sound was good and we should buy it.
When I phoned the woman back, she sounded as if she was crying. __37____ (concern), I asked, “What’s the matter?”
“We didn’t know the piano_38______ play like that,” she replied. The piano wasn’t __39_______sale, and her daughter had to resume(重新开始) taking piano __40___________.