Sharrie's face

A good book is a best friend who never turns his back upon us.

Books and friends should be few but good.

A book that remains shut, is but a block.

A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever.

By Martin Farquhar Tupper

That is a good book which is opened with expectation, and closed with delight and profit.

By Amos Broson Alcott

Some books are lies frae end to end.

By Robert Burns

Some books are to be tasted,others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.

By Francis Bacon

Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, bor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.

By Francis Bacon

Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man; and, therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit; and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not.

By Francis Bacon

Books must follow sciences, and not sciences books.

By Francis Bacon

Reading is not a virtue, unless the enjoyment be virtuous.

By H. Jackson

To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.

                                                         By Edmund Burke

To expect a man to retain everything that he has ever read is like expecting him to carry about in his body everything that he has ever eaten.

                                                                                            By Arthur Schopenhauer

Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst.

                                                                                            By Ford Madox Ford

I can’t think of any one film that improved on a good novel, but I can think of many good films that came from very bad novels.

                                                                                      By Gabriel Garcia Marquez

A good book is the purest essence of a human soul.

                                                                                            By Thomas Carlyle

I would rather be a poor man in a garret with plenty of books than a king who did not love reading.

                                                                                            By Thomas B. Macaulay

In the highest civilization, the book is still the highest delight.

                                                                                            By Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have always come to life after coming to books.

                                                                                            By Jorge Luis Borges

To read a writer is for me not merely to get an idea of what he says, but to go off with him, and travel in his company.

                                                                                            By Andre Gide

By reading we enrich the mind, by conversation we polish it.

                                                                                            English Proverb

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book!

                                                                                            By Henry David Thoreau

Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read at all.

By Henry David Thoreau

The time to read is any time: no apparatus, no appointment of time and place, is necessary. It is the only art which can be practiced at any hour of the day or night, whenever the time and inclination comes, that is your time for reading; in joy or sorrow, health or illness.

By Holbrook Jackson

Some read to think, these are rare; some to write, these are common; and some read to talk, and these form the great majority.

By Charles Caleb Colton

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

By Sir Richard Steele

The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.

By Oscar Wilder

As for reading books, this contains two different delights. One is the pleasure of apprehending the unexpected, such as when one meets a new author who has a new vision of the world. The other pleasure is of deepening one’s knowledge of a special field.

By Gilbert Highet

These are not lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves. From each of them goes out its own voice, as inaudible as the streams of sound conveyed by electric waves beyond the range of hearing, and just as the touch of a button on our stereo will fill the room with music, so by opening one of these volumes, one can call into range a voice far distant in time and space, and hear it speaking, mind to mind, heart to heart.

By Gilbert Highet

1. Typical of the grassland dwellers of the continent is the American antelope, or pronghorn.2. Of the millions who saw Haley’s comet in 1986, how many people will live long enough to see it return in the twenty-first century. 　　3. Anthropologists have discovered that fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise are universally reflected in facial expressions. 　　4. Because of its irritating effect on humans, the use of phenol as a general antiseptic has been largely discontinued. 　　5. Insgroupsto remain in existence, a profit-making organization must, in the long run, produce something consumers consider useful or desirable. 　　6. The greater the population there is in a locality, the greater the need there is for water, transportation, and disposal of refuse. 　　7. It is more difficult to write simply, directly, and effectively than to employ flowery but vague expressions that only obscure one’s meaning. 　　8. With modern offices becoming more mechanized, designers are attempting to personalize them with warmer, less severe interiors. 　　9. The difference between libel and slander is that libel is printed while slander is spoken. 　　10. The knee is the jointswheresthe thigh bone meets the large bone of the lower leg. 　　11. Acids are chemical compounds that, in water solution, have a sharp taste, a corrosive action on metals, and the ability to turn certain blue vegetable dyes red. 　　12. Billie Holiday’s reputation as a great jazz-blues singer rests on her ability to give emotional depth to her songs. 　　13. Essentially, a theory is an abstract, symbolic representation of what is conceived to be reality. 　　14. Long before children are able to speak or understand a language, they communicate through facial expressions and by making noises. 　　15. Thanks to modern irrigation, crops now grow abundantly in areasswheresonce nothing but cacti and sagebrush could live. 　　16. The development of mechanical timepieces spurred the search for more accurate sundials with which to regulate them. 　　17. Anthropology is a science in that anthropologists use a rigorous set of methods and techniques to document observations that can be checked by others. 　　18. Fungi are important in the process of decay, which returns ingredients to the soil, enhances soil fertility, and decomposes animal debris. 　　19. When it is struck, a tuning fork produces an almost pure tone, retaining its pitch over a long period of time. 　　20. Although pecans are most plentiful in the southeastern part of the United States, they are found as far north as Ohio and Illinois. 　　21. Eliminating problems by transferring the blame to others is often called scapegoating. 　　22. The chief foods eaten in any country depend largely on what grows best in its climate and soil. 　　23. Over a very large number of trials, the probability of an event’s occurring is equal to the probability that it will not occur. 　　24. Most substance contract when they freeze so that the density of a substance’s solid is higher than the density of its liquid. 　　25. The mechanism by which brain cells store memories is not clearly understood. 　　26. By the middle of the twentieth century, painters and sculptors in the United States had begun to exert a great worldwide influence over art. 　　27. In the eastern part of New Jersey lies the city of Elizabeth, a major shipping and manufacturing center. 　　28. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman medical doctor in the United States, founded the New York Infirmary, an institution that has always had a completely female medical staff. 　　29. Alexander Graham Bell once told his family that he would rather be remembered as a teacher of the deaf than as the inventor of the telephone. 　　30. Because its leaves remain green long after being picked, rosemary became associated with the idea of remembrance. 　　31. Although apparently rigid, bones exhibit a degree of elasticity that enables the skeleton to withstand considerable impact. 　　32. That xenon could not form chemical compounds was once believed by scientists. 　　33. Researchsintosthe dynamics of storms is directed toward improving the ability to predict these events and thus to minimize damage and avoid loss of life. 　　34. The elimination of inflation would ensure that the amount of money used in repaying a loan would have the same value as the amount of money borrowed. 　　35. Futurism, an early twentieth-century movement in art, rejected all traditions and attempted to glorify contemporary life by emphasizing the machine and motion. 　　36. One of the wildest and most inaccessible parts of the United States is the Evergladesswhereswildlife is abundant and largely protected. 　　37. Lucretia Mott’s influence was so significant that she has been credited by some authorities as the originator of feminism in the United States. 　　38. The activities of the international marketing researcher are frequently much broader than those of the domestic marketer. 　　39. The continental divide refers to an imaginary line in the North American Rockies that divides the waters flowingsintosthe Atlantic Ocean from those flowingsintosthe Pacific. 　　40. Studies of the gravity field of the Earth indicate that its crust and mantle yield when unusual weight is placed on them. 　　41. The annual worth of Utah’s manufacturing is greater than that of its mining and farming combined. 　　42. The wallflower is so called because its weak stems often grow on walls and along stony cliffs for support. 　　43. It is the interaction between people, rather than the events that occur in their lives, that is the main focus of social psychology. 　　44. No social crusade aroused Elizabeth Williams’enthusiasm more than the expansion of educational facilities for immigrants to the United States. 　　45. Quails typically have short rounded wings that enable them to springsintosfull flight instantly when disturbed in their hiding places. 　　46. According to anthropologists, the earliest ancestors of humans that stood upright resembled chimpanzees facially, with sloping foreheads and protruding brows. 　　47. Not until 1866 was the fully successful transatlantic cable finally laid. 　　48. In his writing, John Crowe Ransom describes what he considers the spiritual barrenness of society brought about by science and technology. 　　49. Children with parents whose guidance is firm, consistent, and rational are inclined to possess high levels of self-confidence. 　　50. The ancient Hopewell people of North America probably cultivated corn and other crops, but hunting and gathering were still of critical importance in their economy. 　　51. Using many symbols makes it possible to put a large amount of information on a single map. 　　52. Anarchism is a term describing a cluster of doctrines and attitudes whose principal uniting feature is the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary. 　　53. Probably no man had more effect on the daily lives of most people in the Untied States than did Henry Ford a pioneer in automobile production. 　　54. The use of well-chosen nonsense words makes possible the testing of many basic hypotheses in the field of language learning. 　　55. The history of painting is a fascinating chain of events that probably began with the very first pictures ever made. 　　56. Perfectly matched pearls, strungsintosa necklace, bring a far higher price than the same pearls told individually. 　　57. During the eighteenth century, Little Turtle was chief of the Miami tribe whose territory became what is now Indiana and Ohio. 　　58. Among almost seven hundred species of bamboo, some are fully grown at less than a foot high, while others can grow three feet in twenty-four hours. 　　59. Before staring on a sea voyage, prudent navigators learn the sea charts, study the sailing directions, and memorize lighthouse locations to prepare themselves for any conditions they might encounter. 　　60. Of all the economically important plants, palms have been the least studied. 　　61. Buyers and sellers should be aware of new developments in technology can and does affect marketing activities. 　　62. The application of electronic controls made possible by the microprocessor and computer storage have multiplied the uses of the modern typewriter. 　　63. The human skeleton consists of more than two hundred bones bound together by tough and relatively inelastic connective tissues called ligaments. 　　64. The pigmentation of a pearl is influenced by the type of oyster in which it develops and by the depth, temperature, and the salt content of the water in which the oyster lives. 　　65. Although mockingbirds superbly mimic the songs and calls of many birds, they can nonetheless be quickly identified as mockingbirds by certain aural clues. 　　66. Not only can walking fish live out of water, but they can also travel short distances over land. 　　67. Scientists do not know why dinosaurs became extinct, but some theories postulate that changers in geography, climate, and sea levels were responsible. 　　68. The science of horticulture, in which the primary concerns are maximum yield and superior quality, utilizes information derived from other sciences. 　　69. Snow aids farmers by keeping heart in the lower ground levels, thereby saving the seeds from freezing. 　　70. Even though the precise qualities of hero in literary words may vary over time, the basic exemplary function of the hero seems to remain constant. 　　71. People in prehistoric times created paints by grinding materials such as plants and claysintospower and then adding water. 　　72. Often very annoying weeds, goldenrods crowd out less hardy plants and act as hosts to many insect pests. 　　73. Starting around 7000 B.C., and for the next four thousand years, much of the Northern Hemisphere experienced temperatures warmer than at present. 　　74. When Henry Ford first sought financial backing for making cars, the very notion of farmers and clerks owning automobiles was considered ridiculous. 　　75. Though once quite large, the population of the bald eagle across North America has drastically declined in the past forty years. 　　76. The beaver chews down trees to get food and material with which to build its home. 　　77. Poodles were once used as retrievers in duck hunting, but the American Kennel Club does not consider them sporting dogs because they are now primarily kept as pets. 　　78. As a result of what is now know in physics and chemistry, scientists have been able to make important discoveries in biology and medicine. 　　79. The practice of making excellent films based on rather obscure novels has been going on so long in the United States as to constitute a tradition. 　　80. Since the consumer considers the best fruit to be that which is the most attractive, the grower must provide products that satisfy the discerning eye. 　　81. Television the most pervasive and persuasive of modern technologies, marked by rapid change and growth, is movingsintosa new era, an era of extraordinary sophistication and versatility, which promises to reshape our lives and our world. 　　82. Television is more than just an electronics; it is a means of expression, as well as a vehicle for communication, and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings. 　　83. Even more shocking is the fact that the number and rate of imprisonment have more than doubled over the past twenty years, and recidivism------that is the rate for rearrest------is more than 60 percent. 　　84. His teaching began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but William Rainey Harper lured him to the new university of Chicagowhereshe remained officially for exactly a generation andswhereshis students in advanced composition found him terrifyingly frigid in the classroom but sympathetic and understanding in their personal conferences. 　　85. The sloth pays such little attention to its personal hygiene that green algae grow on its coarse hair and communities of a parasitic moth live in the depths of its coat producing caterpillars which graze on its mouldy hair. Its muscles are such that it is quits incapable of moving at a speed of over a kilometer an hour even over the shortest distances and the swiftest movement it can make is a sweep of its hooked arm. 　　86. Artificial flowers are used for scientific as well as for decorative purposes. They are made from a variety of materials, such as way and glass, so skillfully that they can scarcely be distinguished from natural flowers. 　　87. Three years of research at an abandoned coal mine in Argonne, Illinois, have resulted in findings that scientists believe can help reclaim thousands of mine disposal sites that scar the coal-richregions of the United States. 　　88. When the persuading and the planning for the western railroads had finally been completed, the really challenging task remained: the dangerous, sweaty, backbreaking, brawling business of actually building the lines. 　　89. Because of the space crunch, the Art Museum has become increasingly cautious in considering acquisitions and donations of art, in some cases passing up opportunities to strengthen is collections. 　　90. The United States Constitution requires that President be a natural-born citizen, thirty-five years of age or older, who has lived in the United States for a minimum of fourteen years. 　　91. Arid regions in the southwestern United States have become increasingly inviting playgrounds for the growing number of recreation seekers who own vehicles such as motorcycles or powered trail bikes and indulge in hill-climbing contests or in caving new trails in the desert. 　　92. Stone does decay, and so tools of long ago have remained when even the bones of the man who made them have disappeared without trace. 　　93. Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world; they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals. 　　94. It is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought, but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. 　　95. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and old one has a splendid future behind him: and maybe that isswheresthe rub is. 　　96. I find young people exciting. They have an air of freedom, and they have not a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love comfort. They are not anxious social climbers, and they have no devotion to material things. 　　97. I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. 　　98. It is impossible to say simply for the fun and exercise: as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are around. 　　99. It has been found that certain bats emit squeaks and by receiving the echoes, they can locate and steer clear of obstacles------or locate flying insects on which they feed. This echo-location in bats is often compared with radar, the principle of which is similar. 　　100. As the time and cost of making a clip drop to a few days and a few hundred dollars, engineers may soon be free to let their imaginations soar without being penalized by expensive failure.

My father is the one in my family who has influenced me most, it's he who taught me how to be punctual and optimistic. The first reason is that my father was once served in the army for 30 years, he told me that one minute even a couple of seconds seems to be a serious matter to a person in the battlefield. I’m seldom late for any appointments even it’s a dating with my boyfriend. And my father is always optimistic when facing ups and downs in life. once I lost confidence when facing competitors in a debating contest, my father encouraged me and I finally won the championship. That’s why I think my father is the one in my family who influenced me most.

Among all the musicians, I am especially attracted by Lina Yu, a female violinist from China. I love her first because she is a Chinese, China is where I was brought up, I’m glad to see that she is bringing some beautiful Chinese melodies to the international stage, such as the famous Liangzhu, she plays this piece in such a skillful way that every time I hear it, I am moved to tears. And also, when I was a child, I had been dreaming of becoming a successful woman violinist. Lina Yu is such a prestigious woman violinist. That’s why I admire her.

 I’d like to regard punctuality and optimism as the two most important characteristics of my partner. First because I work as a tutor on international English tests and sometimes as a broadcaster, I’m always having busy schedules, I can’t afford to waste time on waiting for unpunctual partners. help create a relaxing atmosphere when we are faced with serious tasks. My friend Tom kept smiling and encouraging me in a debating contest, finally we won the championship. Therefore punctuality and optimism are the characteristics that I’d like to find in good partners.

The place I want to live in is my hometown YunNan province, a south western province in China. The most special thing living there is that I really enjoy the wonders brought by the interesting customs, interesting dressing styles, and the beauty of languages. And the nice weather makes me feel in heaven, flowers are in bloom all-year around, girls can wear man-killer skirts there. There’s no doubt that I can enjoy different fruits like pomegranates, pears in almost any season. (Furthermore, Yun Nan is a traveling paradise, travelling is my hobby, if I live there I can go to the places I like very easily.) Therefore I wanna live in Yun Nan Province if I can choose.

The favorite book of mine is Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”. I am particularly interested by this novel first because Hemingway is my favorite writer, his experiences as a soldier in the World War attracted me a lot. And also the hero in this novel San Diego inspires me a lot, who lets me know how important it is to be persevere in life and work. Every time I am faced with difficulties, I would think of Hemingway’s words like “Man is not made for defeat”, which encourages me to get things moved. That’s why I love this book best.

When I was 7 years old, I received a Barbie Doll as a birthday gift, and that’s my favorite toy. I especially like it first because it’s from my youngest aunt living in California. She really adores me. Meanwhile, I like DIY style, and changing the dressing of my Barbie is a nice thing I ever did. I could dress her to my liking, sometimes, I still think she can dress the beautiful dresses that I dare not in reality. In addition, she can greet people when I push the magical button in her, and I can also record my own voice. That’s cool.

Among various kinds of colors, I especially like green. I like green first because it symbolizes peace, Oliver leaves in the Bible are also of the green color, and I think peace is the most important thing in the world; meanwhile, traveling is my hobby, and I can relax myself by climbing the green hills and lying in the grassland, it’s a total therapy. Besides, my father likes green very much, and I admire my father, therefore I have a very special feeling towards this color.

I love rock and roll most among music of different styles. First because it’s cool with the strong beats and rhythm, that’s exciting which makes feel relaxed. Secondly I’m especially impressed by the direct, rebellious style of rock and roll music, this is the most attractive thing to me. I can get to know some social problems through listening to rock. Besides, many of my favorite artists or bands like Sheryl Crow, Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi and U2, they are all rock and roll singers or bands, I love their music. You know, my favorite song is “Knock on heaven’s door”. Therefore rock and roll is the type of music I enjoy most.

The website I wanna introduce here is netease, which is quite popular in China. I recommend this website first for it has variety of functions, I got my first mailbox on this website, you know the large, speedy mailbox is really fascinating, my mailbox is seldom clogged up. And also, I love its entertainment forum, there are a lot of songs and music videos links listed in the bulletin board systems, some of them are quite popular among music fans of my age. Besides, netease spares amazing space for uploading the users’ photos and favorite pictures, I can share my happy hours with my families and friends even we are in different areas.

The newspaper I often read is China Daily, I read it frequently first for it is quite useful for my English study, since I’m preparing to go abroad. And it provides us with the latest information on wide range of areas, such as the technology things, cultural differences and archeological discoveries. Besides, I don’t have to buy every piece of paper newspaper, sometimes, I choose to go to the official website of china daily to go through the news, that’s quite convenient. That’s why I like reading China daily most.

I remember when I was a sophomore, some colleagues in the students’ council and I held an academic salon on campus together. The salon was quite meaningful, for it aimed to help the undergraduates, especially English majors on their literature studies. We invited some prominent professors to come by to give instructions to us, we had a lively discussion on some female novelists of the 19th century, such as Jane Austen and her famous novels like Pride and Prejudice, Emma, ect.. And as the team leader, my responsibility covers from invitation, making ads, colorful posters to the setting up of the meeting room. We spent 2 weeks preparing for the salon, and it was everybody’s pride.

 I think the most important thing which should be done in my hometown is to improve the environmental conditions. Because the air and the river in the city are polluted, the water is not clean, and the air is not fresh anymore, besides people litter garbage everywhere. In this case, we really need to do something to stop this, otherwise, nature will take even more revenges on human. Therefore I suggest that the city government establish strict laws; we can build more green belts while increasing the number of garbage cans; and of course, more advertisements on environment protection will be helpful.

 I think it’s necessary for the officials to think of some way to enlarge the municipal library. First because it’s the information age, knowledge is power, if we don’t have a modern library, people in my hometown will find themselves less competitive in the current society. Therefore I strongly suggest that the municipal government invest more on purchasing the latest magazines, journals, periodicals, and undoubtedly E-books will be greatly helpful, we can source the information for our paper on the internet more easily I think the city government in my homework can do something to improve the traffic status. First because the current situation in beijing is really chaotic. People feel exhausted in the traffic jams, especially during the rush hour. A lot of people get stressful, for they are usually stuck in the way to their offices at that time, being late for work and bad mood lead to low efficiency on working. The best solution is to build some more cloverleaf junctions, and subway should be expanded. The shopping center of my favorite is Zhongguancun Plaza. First because it’s near my working place, it’s located by the Zhongguancun Square which is quite convenient for me. And also there are some world-class brands I really like, such as Orchirley, Chanel, Gucci. Besides clothes, it sells various merchandise like watches, sunglasses, shoes and furniture, so I don’t have to go to different places for different goods. Furthermore, I can order Pizza, beef or Taifood there when I need a rest, the atmosphere of dining there is usually quite attractive, it caters to different customers. Enjoying live performance is a better idea for me. First because I can find the live performance is usually spectacular, there will be hundreds of thousands of people gather together I like staying with that many passionate people. and the great sound effect is attractive, which gives me more enjoyment. Besides, perhaps I will have the opportunity to see the singers in person, that’ll be exciting. For examples, Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, and ect.. Moreover, there might be some varieties in the singers’ singing techniques, which can bring a lot of enjoyment to the audience. Therefore I’d like to choose to enjoy the live performance instead of the recorded music. I’d rather stay home and enjoy recorded music. The main reason is that I can’t afford to buy tickets to the live performance, albums are much cheaper, I can even download some free music I like and listen to them; Also, re’corded music can be played repetitively without paying extra fees, I can learn how to sing the songs if I love them. Thirdly, I can change the songs if I get tired of listening to a certain one. Sometimes it would be Mariah Carey, and sometimes Sheryl Crow is better. That’s why I’d like to choose enjoying recorded music. On one hand, the fast service can help me have my meals more efficiently, I’m able to have a meal there in 15 minutes, sometimes I can even grab something to eat from a fast food restaurant. On the other hand, some fast food taste good, my favorite are cheese burgers, fried chicken. Every time I go there, I would have fried chicken. Besides, I think it’s a good change to go to the fast restaurant to enjoy the different style. Most of the time, I stay at home enjoying ordinary Chinese food. Therefore I would choose to go to western-style fast food restaurants to have meals. Chinese restaurants would be a better choice to me. Firstly, I’m familiar with Chinese restaurants, where I can enjoy the crowded environment, and that makes me easy. I don’t have to think about so much about table manners. And also, Chinese food are cooked the way which seems to be more appropriate for my health, the ways of making the soup and other dishes are so different. Finally, there will be variety of choices when I get to Chinese restaurants. I can order whatever I think of, such as the thousand-year egg, the hot pot and the smelly tofu. I can’t find them in western-style restaurants. I would rather live in the country than in a big city. Firstly, in the country the air is fresh and the water is clean. I can’t stand city pollution. I hate it. To live a long life, go and live in the country. You’ll drink a lot of fresh clean water. Your children will breathe fresh air. Meanwhile, I can start an Internet business to support my living even when I live in country. It’s true that people say where there’s a will, there’s a way. And you’ll enjoy a simple and quiet life. You’ll spend more time with your husband and kids, and your neighbors will be friendlier. Besides, all that noise and excitement in the city drive me nuts. I don’t care for the city’s social life. Not at all. I’ll certainly choose to live in the city instead of the country. On one hand, the country is too quiet for me. I love the city’s noise and excitement: all kinds of parks, parties, movies, concerts, museums, and holiday parades. You name it, the city has it. On the other hand, cities have more opportunities. There are only a few good jobs in the country. Furthermore, city is where I am brought up, I have my families and relatives there, it’s easier for me to visit them often. I think it’s better for me to live in the country area. First because it’s quiet, I can enjoy the tranquil life there, which can make me feel relaxed, no traffic, or loud noise. Also, the natural environment in the country are less polluted than in the city areas. Living there can help me live longer. Finally, I’m interested in horticulture; if I lived in the country, I will have more opportunities to get to know different plants or other things. So country is a better choice.

Question I (10 items speaking samples made by Selina. Dong)

 v 1. Describe qualities of a good leader. I think a good leader should first be frank, so that he and I can talk about things on our work very often, and we can complete our work more efficiently; and also he’d better be punctual, I don’t like a leader respect no time, for example, if he’s often late for the meeting or discussion, the others will feel upset about that. Meanwhile, a good leader should be sensitive to the latest technology, you know, it’s the information age, suppose he doesn’t know the internet skills, how can he get to the internet and know some latest news very quickly… v 2. What place do you and your friends often go to play and why? The place my friends and I often go to is a coffee bar near my apartment. We really like to go that first because it’s quite convenient for us, it’s like 10 minutes’ walk, you don’t have to even take a bus. And we usually go that to enjoy the quiet time for a cup of coffee, cappuccino is one of my favorite, when I drink coffee and chat with my friends, we can also listen to the light music. What’s more, in the coffee shop, we can enjoy some unique pictures by the shop owner, who used to be professional painter, sometimes, we can draw some pictures on our own and stick to the wall so that the other guests can share the things by us, this is rather interesting. v 3. Describe the most efficient transportation in your city. In beijing, I think the most efficient transportation vehicle is bicycle. First it’s congested in a lot of cities, which means it’s even faster to ride a bike to work or to the school; and also it’s more economic to ride a bike instead of the car, many people can’t afford to buy the cars. Furthermore, the Olympic games will be held in Beijing in 2008, citizens are encouraged to ride the bicycles rather than driving the cars, because it can help improve the environment, you know cars can produce a lot of exhausted gas, which is quite bad to people’s health/ v 4. Describe your favorite way to relax yourself and why? The favorite way to relax of mine is surfing on the internet. First, it’s not expensive, like traveling, which will cost you a lot of money. And also, I can find a lot of interesting things on the internet, such as some online videos of the latest news, and I can also download the music from some website. Besides, I’m a blogger, and I like to share my thoughts with my friends, you know, even when we are living in different cities, we can still read from the blog to know what happened to us recently. v 5. Describe the person you admire most and explain why. The person I admire most is Andy Lee, he is a well-known director in Hollywood now. I admire him first because I am a super fan of his movies like crouching tigers and hidden dragons. His movies won several Oscar awards, and when he made his speech when winning the award, he emphasized in his words that he’s from China, so I’m quite proud of him. Besides, he is really modest, I’ve seen some of the interviews of him, he always keeps himself low even when he’s won such important prizes in the international stage. v 6. Describe a school which is very impressive to you. My college is the one I take as the best one I’ve ever studied in. Although it’s not well-known, yet in there I’ve known so many close friends, such as Cissy, who helped me a lot when I was in trouble, we had a lot of happy hours in this college. We often studied in the library and go to the gym in the school to relax. Also, I really like the teaching styles in there, I was trained to be teacher, and there were a lot of practice on this provided, and the teachers there gave me a lot of instructions in class, and we still keep in touch till now. v 7. Describe a book that you think is useful. I think the most useful book I’ve read is an itinerary on traveling in Europe. It’s really useful because it helped me learn a lot of things about traveling to Europe, such as the highlights of every country, the most convenient way of traveling and the ways to find different rates of hotels and etc.. what’s more, it has a lot of well-printed pictures through which, I get some vivid impression of each country, the beautiful beaches in the south of France, the relics in Rome and so on. v 8. Describe an object that is very important to you and why it is important. Actually there have been a lot of objects which are important in my life, yet a laptop might be of it. First, I need to have one because it can help me source a lot of information from the internet quickly, so that I could write a paper or finish some certain kinds of projects in school. And it is portable, I can take it even when I am in the middle of a trip. Besides, when I do some presentation in some occasions, a laptop can help me finish it more efficiently, I can use some pictures explain the things more clearly. v 9. Describe the job/career/profession you wish to pursue. The dream job of my life is to be a successful actress, I like this job first because it can bring me a chance to keep up with the fashionable things, the dressing, make-up things. What’s more, I can experience different kinds of roles in my life through acting various kinds of people, rich or poor, well-educated or street smarts, or even someone with super power in some fictional stories. Besides, it’s a job for me to get to know some very talented people of wonderful acting skills, like Juliet Roberts.