Do these two sentences *sound* natural? *He had died before the dramatic events occurred. or *He died before the drama started. *If you could persuade my dad we will it it soon/immediately/right away.

Tom's answers look good below except for #3 I might say "I know some of your friends (can) speak English"

These beautiful white flowers along the roadside in my city are called oleanders. Their name in Chinese is 夹竹桃. I learned about them when I was a child and I think they are the kind of flower I learned the most about when I was young. Back in the old days, my father planted a few oleanders in our front yard and told me they were named oleanders, and they are used in Chinese medicine. But when I look back, it seems I have never seen them blossom. But now, as you see, they are blossoming brightly and densely and they add brightness to the city's scenery.

That cursed fish seller...

I'm studying new words and phrasal verbs (in capital letters), so forgive me my repetitions.
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Some days ago I was LOOKING FOR something tasty to eat. So I went to the market and I moved close to the fish seller. I was impressed by him. He HAD THE LOOKS! He LOOKed LIKE George Clooney and he really HAD THE LOOK OF an actor.

However, he wasn't as kind as he was handsome. Although I had never seen him, he LOOKED DOWN at ME and I was very disappointed.

When I was LOOKING AT his goods, he suggested I buy a piece of swordfish. I was ON THE VERGE of getting angry but, instead of disagreeing, I accepted and I asked him to CUT the fish UP. The fish seller didn't LOOK at(or look me down) me as before and, after paying, I returned home more relaxed.

I was very hungry and I LOOKED FORWARD TO eating that fresh piece of swordfish. But, while I was weighing it, I realized that there was something strange. I LOOKED the label OVER and it was impossible to understand what was written there. Anyway, I cooked the piece of swordfish and it smelled very disgusting. In addition, it LOOKED AS IF the fish floated(had been in?) on SEWAGE.
How was that possible! I bought the fish that morning. I WAS BEING crazy...

But I was very hungry and so... I ate it all!
After few minutes, I screamed my head off ALARMINGLY. I had a dreadful stomach ache and I wanted to slap that fish seller.

When  things LOOKED UP, I began LOOKing forward to my revenge.
I returned to the market to QUESTION the fish seller.
I made the fish seller 's shop a FILTHY place TEEMING WITH hungry seagulls.

Don't ask me how I did it, but I'm UNFAZED when someone tells me about the mess in market.

With these sentences the second one sounds much more natural and makes more sense.

It depends "what" is too crowded? The trains, going by car (the roads), the buses? Depending on your answer I'd rephrase it as: I go to school by bike because the _____ are too crowded.

Not 100%, although the meaning here is similar, in another context would is connected to probability and willingness, and could is just ability For example: I wish you would cook dinner more often (person is not as willing) I wish you could cook dinner more often (person is not able to)