—____.You are the boss.
—____! Your efforts have paid off.
It was a cold December, at the end of the Great Depression, and things were tough. Mum had a 1 time raising us kids on her own. Looking back, I realize what Mum 2 sending us to school. Constant 3 was typical for my family, and it didn't look like we'd be in our current house much longer. Rent was $25 a month, but Mum couldn't pay it.
The holidays were fast 4 , and we received S25 for Christmas from social services. Mum said instead of buying food and Christmas gifts, she was going to pay back our 5 with it. That way we'd have a roof over our heads for a little while longer.
Unknown to Mum, I had been 6 Christmas trees, shoveling (铲) snow and doing odd jobs to earn enough money to buy a new pair of boots.
The 7 day came on Christmas Eve afternoon. I was very 8 as I hurried to catch the bus into town. On the way a house with Christmas decorations reminded me that at our house, we had no such things and no 9 for Christmas goodies. Suddenly, I felt a sense of 10 . Here I was going to spend S23 on a pair of boots, while Mum was probably home 11 , wondering how to explain why there were no 12 . As I arrived at the bus stop, the driver opened the door. I stood there for what seemed a century, until 13 the driver asked, "Son, are you getting on this bus or not?" I finally blurted out, "No thanks, sir. I've 14 my mind."
The bus drove off and I stood alone, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I went into a 15 across the street, with 16 and excitement. I bought a turkey, ham and all the Christmas trimmings. I spent every dime of my 17 money.
Two boys with carriers on their bicycles ran those groceries to our house. After we 18 piled (堆) the groceries against the door, I 19 the door. I could hardly wait to see my mother's face! When Mum opened the door, some of the groceries fell inside onto the floor, and she just stood there, extremely 20 . Holding back the tears, I yelled, "Merry Christmas, Mother! There really is a Santa Claus!"
The Chong Yang Festival has a history of over 2,000 years. It comes on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, so it is called the Double Ninth Festival.
There are many kinds of activities on the Chong Yang Festival. It is a time when it's getting cold, so Chinese people make the festival a time for sending winter clothes for the dead family members. Because autumn has a clear sky and fresh air, it is a very good time to climb a mountain. Climbing a mountain has been the tradition of the Chong Yang Festival since the Western Han Dynasty. Also, it is good for our health. On the Chong Yang Festival, people also eat Chong Yang cakes, enjoy chrysanthemum(菊花) flowers, and drink chrysanthemum wine.
Today, the Chong Yang Festival has got its new meaning —a day for showing respect to the old. On the festival day, people show their respect, care and love to old people, and they also do lots of things to help the old. Many parks, communities and organizations plan the activities for old people, such as an autumn trip, singing songs or sending presents to them. We hope the old are happy and stay healthy by taking part in these activities. Many young people accompany(陪伴) the old on outings, or make some delicious food for them.
At present, there are over 36,000 McDonald's restaurants around the world, but it started out as a small one. The McDonald brothers, Dick and Mac, opened the first McDonald's in San Bernardino, California in 1948. The menu included hamburgers, soft drinks, pie, French fries, milk, coffee and milkshakes. Ray Kroc, a travel salesman, visited the store and became interested in it. The brothers said that they wanted to open stores in the whole country, and then Kroc became their first franchise agent (特许经销商) in 1954. Kroc opened up a restaurant for McDonald's on April 15, 1955. That store came with a lot of difficulties in the beginning.
After dealing with the difficulties, McDonald's started to spread to all over the United States. The McDonald brothers wanted to show their Speed Service System-what we call fast food. Customers were served at large windows in the front of the building. The houses of the first restaurants were red and white with two golden arches(拱)on the side to make the roof look less flat.
The McDonald's menu in 1977 shows how different its food choices are from today. What's more, today McDonald's have digital screens to show menus again and again.
In 1969 McDonald's changed the style of restaurants. This change is found on the first McDonald's in Moscow, Russia in 1990. Crowds line up outside to get their first taste of a Big Mac.
With billions of people served, McDonald's has played an attractive role shaping international culture since its first restaurant opened.
If you are someone who suffers from exam anxiety, you are not alone. Some levels of stress are normal, and they do serve a purpose. Stress can improve your school performance, encourage you to think more quickly and get you to study more efficiently. However, high levels of stress and anxiety have harmful effects on both your mental health and performance. Fortunately, there are things you can do to try and relieve exam anxiety.
Simply being aware of what is causing your anxiety can help you reduce exam anxiety. Take some time to think about what could be causing your anxiety. Once you know the causes, you will be clear about how to treat it.
Revision is about revisiting things you have learned before, not teaching yourself a new topic. If you feel you are really behind, you could turn to a private teacher. For example, you are struggling with English, and you have no idea how to begin your revision, then an English teacher is advisable.
Maybe you have been fine the whole time, and you haven't felt any anxiety. Then you walk into the exam hall, and it rushes over you. Firstly, make sure that you do everything to keep you physically comfortable. Have you been to the toilet? Are you too hot or too cold?
Then take some deep breaths. Remember that most people will be nervous; it's natural. So just focus on your exam.
The Cheongsam, also known as Qipao, evolved from the Manchu female's changpao of the Qing Dynasty. The Manchu ethnic people were also called the Qi people by the Han people in the Qing Dynasty, hence the name. The history of this clothing reflects the rise of the modern Chinese women in the twentieth century.
In 1920s, the cheongsam flourished in Shanghai. Through the 1930s and 1940s it constantly changed, highlighting the femininity（女子气质） of Chinese women in metropolitan cities. The dress got more fitted and body-hugging, with some daring designs featuring side slits （开衩） that reached up to the thigh. It's customary to pair the dress with high heels. Women tried different fastenings, pipings, and collars, as well as short sleeves, long sleeves, and sleeveless cheongsams. Traditional silks were replaced with cheaper, contemporary textiles. In terms of design, the traditional flower patterns remained widespread, but geometric and art deco patterns also gained popularity.
The cheongsam has heavily influenced designers in high fashion. The Metropolitan Museum of Art did a whole exhibit in 2015 on how Chinese culture influenced world fashion called "Through the Looking Glass". Elements of cheongsam were even seen in the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Celebrities such as Anne Hathaway and Grace Kelly have been seen wearing a cheongsam.
Today Chinese people seldom wear a cheongsam in their daily life. It is used as a uniform at restaurants and hotels and on airplanes in Asia. Formal occasions such as weddings, parties or banquet dinners, and seasonal celebrations such as Lunar New Year are appropriate times to wear a cheongsam. And the dress is a frequent choice of wear during diplomatic visits.
In 2018, a white girl in a high school in Utah wore a cheongsam to her ball and posted photos online that caused an uproar in the US for cultural appropriation （文化挪用）, opening a huge debate on cultural appreciation versus appropriation. However, netizens in China had a different viewpoint. "I am very proud to have our culture recognized by people in other countries," said a user on WeChat, "She looks beautiful in it!" they said.
注意：1.词数80左右；2.题目已给出，不计入总词数;3.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
My Favourite Festival
