Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

    In 1969, the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River Cleveland, Ohio. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up. The river was so polluted that it {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (actual) caught fire and burned. Now, years later, this river is one of {#blank#}3{#/blank#} most outstanding examples of environmental cleanup.

    But the river wasn't changed in a few days {#blank#}4{#/blank#} even a few months. It took years of work {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (clean) than ever.

    Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you leave a habit {#blank#}7{#/blank#} is driving your family crazy. Possibly you drink too much or don't know how to control your credit card use. When you face such an impossible situation, don't you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?

    While there are {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (amaze) stories of instant transformation, for most of us the {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (change) are gradual and require a lot of effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (patience)

— Of course. After all, it has paid off.

    I was driving home late {#blank#}1{#/blank#} my car lost momentum (动力) and got slower and slower. Nothing I did seemed to make any {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (different). “It can't be fuel,” I thought. The petrol gauge (汽油标量) was showing I had plenty {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (leave). Then my car died completely after I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (manage) to roll to the side of the road. It was an extremely dark, lonely country road. Neither a single person {#blank#}5{#/blank#} any traffic was in sight at all. I felt like an idiot. I should not have left without charging my cell phone. The battery was dead and I was alone without any way {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (contact) my family. Time dripped slowly like a leaking tap.

    “God, help me!” I begged anxiously. “Is there someone who will be kind enough to stop and help me out?” {#blank#}7{#/blank#}, there was no sign of anyone. I was starting to panic, {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (feel) completely abandoned. Suddenly I saw a faint light {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the distance. I waved my white scarf as hard as possible. It was a huge lorry. The driver stopped and kindly drove me to the nearest hotel, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} I had a rest, and I called my family and explained what had happened. How lucky I was! When he stopped for me, I felt as if I had just found a million dollars.

    Rivers are one of our most important natural resources. Many of the world's great cities are located on rivers and almost every country has at least one river {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (flow) through it, which plays an important part in the lives of {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (it) people.

    Since the beginning of history, people {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (use) rivers for transportation. The Yellow River and Changliang River play a large role in China. The Mississippi, the {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (long) one in the United States ever influenced the American people {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (great) in history. The lifeline of Egypt is the Nile. Rivers provide fresh water {#blank#}6{#/blank#} drink, grow crops, make electricity and chances to have fun for those {#blank#}7{#/blank#} live along their banks.

    {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the cities grow in size and industries increase in number, the river water is severely being polluted. It urges all countries to make {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (decide) and take immediate action to stop it from {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (pollute) any more.

    Chinese art is a visual art that is practiced in China or by Chinese artists. The Chinese art of overseas Chinese can also be viewed {#blank#}1{#/blank#}part of Chinese art, because it is based on Chinese culture.

    Early" stone age art" dates back to 10,000 BC, mostly {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(consist) of simple pottery and sculptures. After that, Chinese art, like Chinese history, is typically classified by dynasty, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}probably lasted several hundred years.

    Chinese art has the oldest continuous tradition in the world. Since the Renaissance, the decorative arts have been{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(extreme) important in Chinese art, especially in Chinese ceramics(陶器).

    Different forms of art have changed under the influence of great philosophers, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(religion) figures and even political figures. Early Chinese poetry {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(influence) by the Book of Songs, and the Chinese poet and statesman Qu Yuan.

    Chinese painting became a highly {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(appreciate) art, including a wide variety of {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(style) such as Ming Dynasty painting. Early Chinese music was based on percussion (打击乐器), which later gave way to stringed instruments. In the Han dynasty paper cutting became {#blank#}9{#/blank#}new art form after the invention of paper. Chinese opera would also be introduced and branched regionally in addition to other {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(perform) formats such as variety shows.

    Beijing Opera roles require performers to paint{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(they) faces in patterns and colours to represent different character types and{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(quality).

    In Beijing Opera, facial painting can be quite complex. However, in the{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(begin), only three colours were used-red, white, and black. Now, many other colours, such{#blank#}4{#/blank#}yellow, purple, blue and green, are used for facial painting.

Red is a colour for brave and loyal characters. Guan Yu, a general from the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220-280), is a good example of this kind of character. He is famous{#blank#}5{#/blank#}being very loyal to his emperor, Liu Bei.

    White highlights all{#blank#}6{#/blank#}is bad in human nature. It{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(suggest) dishonesty and betrayal(背叛). One of the typical white-faced characters is Cao Cao, a{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(power) and cruel prime minister from the Three Kingdoms Period.

    Black face paint is{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(usual) used for someone who is fierce and violent. One typical example is General Zhang Fei from the classic novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

    All these different colours are used in Beijing Opera facial painting {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(provide) a clear picture of each character.