Learning to speak English well may be the best thing you can do to improve your life. That's right. If you can communicate in English, you can do the following things:

    Contact (联系) people from all over the world. Talk about your ideas and opinions on Internet discussion groups. Send e-mails to interesting people. Learn about their life and culture.

    Travel more easily. Communicate with people wherever you go—English is spoken in more than 100 countries. Ask directions, have a conversation, or ask for help. Maybe English will save your life some day!

    Push your career forward. If you want a good job in business, technology, or science, get out of that armchair and start learning English now! If you already have a good job, start learning before you lose it! Knowing English will let you do the following things:

    Put “excellent knowledge of English” on your CV (履历). Get your dream job, and earn more money.

    Gain technical knowledge. English is the language of technology, especially high technology like computer science, and medicine. If you're going to read about technology, you'll probably have to do it in English.

    Be a world-class businessman or woman. It's simple. International business is done in English. And all business today is international. So if you want to play, you have to know English—to contact other business people, go to conferences, and read international business newspapers and magazines, ect.

    Become a better scientist. Contact scientists from other countries, go to international conferences, and visit research centers abroad. Learn about new scientific discoveries by reading papers, books, and magazines.

    Use your computer more effectively. Most computer applications are in English, so you will understand them better—and become a better employee.

阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

    Several countries in Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year in their own way. But dragon and lion dances in Chinatowns all over the world have helped to make China's New Year the most famous. These days growing (number) of people who are not of Chinese origin are joining in. In Tokyo window cleaners dress up like the animals of the Chinese Shengxiao. America, Canada and New Zealand have published memorial stamps for the year of the rooster. Last year New York City made the Lunar New Year school holiday for the first time.

    The spread of the Spring Festival is (part) due to recent immigration from China: 9.5 million Chinese people (move) abroad since 1978, many of are far richer than earlier waves of immigrants.

    Aware China's growing economic and political influence, foreign leaders have noticed the occasion. Britain's prime minister, Theresa May, has given a video address, a tradition (start) in 2014 by her predecessor (前任) . This year's World Economic Forum in Davos was held a week earlier than usual (avoid) conflicting with China's New Year.

    China hopes the festival will promote  (it) cultural “soft power” abroad. It may give the Chinese people (satisfy) to see foreigners enjoy such festivities.

    For several years, we lived at the end of a long Texas country road. Every evening when I was away from home on business, my little boy would ask 1 of his mother to take his black2 and my walking stick, to make the half-mile 3from the house to the fence (栅栏) which 4 the beginning of the avenue to home.

    One day, I was busy with my business and was 5 for about an hour, completely forgetting about the 6 little boy down the road who might be 7 for his daddy.

    On my way home, the rain was so thick that I could not8 ten feet in front of me. All I could 9was finishing my journey and getting out of the rain.10 the downpour began to become weak. It was only a drizzle (细雨) by the time my car turned the last11 and approached the final street between me and a warm home and nice meal.

    12 I caught sight of my little boy, who was 13 an umbrella in one hand, a walking stick in the other, and was wearing the biggest and most beautiful smile ever to lighten the14 of a little boy.

    As I stopped the car and 15 the door, he ran into my arms and held me. He was wet and 16 with cold, but he never 17the rain, nor the hour-long wait. He simply said, “Daddy, I am so glad you are home.”

    Last year, we 18 to a wonderful new home provided for a special season in our lives. We no longer have a long country road.19 I have never forgotten the rainy day and the little boy and his black dog. Often, perhaps a thousand times, that 20has appeared in my mind. Like all events in our lives, it happens once, and must be treasured.