This reminded me that both in China and Britain, when something strange happens around you or when you are in an embarrassing situation, (C) people tend (倾向于) to use this common way to not catch other peopled attention.

 A lot of the time, Britons use self—depreciating humor (自嘲式的幽默). This is a well-known British characteristic. For example, imagine walking (D) ______ your friends and you fall over. Your friend may just say (E) “旅途愉快!” Or you may just laugh about how clumsy (笨拙的) you are. For many Britons, making fun of yourself is a way of showing your strength of character.

Also, British are considerate when it comes to embarrassing others. For example, students (F) usually have a birthday party every year. So during the school day, a student will give out invitations to the class. If one person doesn't get an invitation, but the rest of the class does, he or she will feel embarrassed. To avoid it, it's common for students to even invite people who aren't (G) their friends.

My friend gang (我的朋友帮)

    I study in an international school. The students in my school come from different countries. Amy, Kathy and Joe are all my good friends.

    On my weekly math exam, I made a big mistake. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Even worse, in front of all my classmates he criticized(批评) me! I was angry.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}I thought I must be called for more punishment. But to my surprise, he said, Do you get your mistake now? I believe a clever student like you would have never done that except by accident.

    Next, he carefully read both the question and the answer. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    He was so kind that I was deeply moved. My anger went away.

    But it wasn't the end. He called me again and gave me some papers that afternoon. They are especially designed for me. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    In my heart I had nothing left to say, only thanks and sorry. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}I should thank him for he was such a good teacher.

    There was a little boy with a bad temper(脾气). His father gave him some nails(钉子)to drive into the fence(栅栏)when he lost his temper.

    The first day the boy drove 37 nails into the fence. Then it began to become less. He found it was easier to control his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

    Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy should now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to control his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

    The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but you look at the fence. It will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar(伤痕)just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound(伤口)is still there. A verbal(言语)wound is as bad as a physical one. It is important to practise self-control.

    Eileen Collins is the first woman ever chosen to be a spaceship pilot. She is also the first woman to command(指挥) a spaceship. Today she has flown more than 5,000 hours in more than 30 kinds of airplanes.

    Talking about high school, she said, "I have been reading all kinds of books about famous women pilots. These women went and flew into dangerous places. Their stories encouraged me." In 1977, Eileen got a pilot's license and the following year she graduated from university. She went into space in 1999 at the age of 43. She took with her the hopes and dreams of a nation of young people on the earth.

    Eileen is not only an astronaut but also a wife and the mother of a young daughter. She has short curly hair and friendly brown eyes. She met her husband, Pat, while they were together in the air force(空军).

    When she was named as the First Woman Spaceship Commander in 1998, Eileen smiled and said, "When I was a child, I dreamed about space. It was only a dream that I would be one of the astronauts someday. I hope all children will be encouraged to reach for their dreams, when they see I go into space. I believe dreams do come true!"

    There were two fishermen who were close friends. Since they were busy in their personal work and family, they hardly spend time together. It was a Saturday and they decided to drive to a nearby pond to enjoy their day in fishing. Also, they wanted to have some feast with the fish they caught.

    After they reached the pond, they sat at a distance and started hunting for fish. The first fisherman got a big and beautiful fish in a few minutes. He decided to cook the fish as a whole fish at noon. He spent some more time and caught a few more fish. He decided to make a grand meal with the fish. Also, he froze a few fish to take them back home.

    It was almost more than an hour since they fished. He then went to the second fisherman and asked him if he needed any help. The second man said no. In a few minutes, the second fisherman caught a large fish. However, he put that back into the lake.

    The first man was surprised at his act. He remained silent. The second man caught many big fish, but he just put back all those fish into the lake.

    Very annoyed by his act, the first fisherman angrily asked him, “Are you mad? Why do you put your fish back into the water? They were beautiful and big!”

    The second fisherman replied, “I know they were big, but I don't have the big pan to cook the big fish! So I'm looking for a smaller fish that fits my cooking pan! God is troubling me today.”

    By hearing this, the first fisherman was surprised. He advised the second fisherman to cut the big fish into small pieces to suit in the pan and cook them properly.

    Many people are just like the second fisherman. We are provided with handful of big opportunities, chances and even fortune that we many times overlook. We need to work out just the same like the big fish fit into a small pan!