In many countries, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} is not unusual for families of different backgrounds to live together in the shared space. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, in the United States, this idea may still be considered strange.

    But this type of housing, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (call) co-housing, is getting its {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (popular) in the United States, too. Co-housing complexes (综合设施) appear across the country. For many people, this way of life is a good {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (choose) in the busy modern society. A co-housing community has {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (private) owned houses and shared land. There is often a “common house" with a kitchen and dining room, meeting room, and maybe a workshop of library or music room. About 25 co-housing communities {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (build) in recent years, and 150 more are planned.

    A co-housing complex is a place {#blank#}8{#/blank#} citizens shop, cook, and eat together. Citizens of a co-housing complex like its sense of shared community. Children have other kids to play {#blank#}9{#/blank#}, which many families like. Other citizens like the feeling of living in a “village”. Citizens also say that they can live in co-housing for {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (little) money than they would pay for nearby apartments.

    Switzerland is famous{#blank#}1{#/blank#}its watches. However, this country didn't invent the watch. It was the British who did it. Here is a story of how the watch{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (bring) to Switzerland.

    Many years ago,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Englishman traveled to Italy and on his way he stopped in a small town{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(call) Geneva in Switzerland. This Englishman traveled in a carriage(马车) inside which there was a carriage watch. This was the{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(early) kind of watch. A native shop assistant(售货员) happened to see the watch. He wondered what it was{#blank#}6{#/blank#}asked the Englishman about it. “It is a carriage watch.” answered the man. “This machine can tell the time but now {#blank#}7{#/blank#} isn't working.” At once the shop assistant offered to try repairing it. So the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (travel) handed him the watch. The man was very clever. It was easy for him {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (repair) it. He even remembered{#blank#}10{#/blank#} it was made. And he made a watch of exactly the same type.

Gift from A Stranger

My local supermarket is always busy. The first parking space I found was convenient. but I'd noticed a woman in a blue car circling for a while. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}I was in a good mood, I let her have it. On the edge of the car park I backed into the next available spot——it was a tight fit. Pretty soon I'd made my way through the supermarket and was back in the flesh air. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(feel)good, I emptied my purse change into the hands of a homeless man and{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(help)a struggling woman reverse park.

    Just as I approached my car, I saw the woman I'd let have my car spot earlier. She was giving me {#blank#}4{#/blank#}odd look——half intent(热切的), half puzzled. I smiled and wished her a pleasant day. As I squeezed back into my car, I saw the same lady{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(look)in at me. "Hello, "she said, hesitantly. "This {#blank#}6{#/blank#}sound crazy but I was on my way to drop some of my mother's things off at the charity bins. You are just so much {#blank#}7{#/blank#}her. You helped those people, I noticed, and you seemed so happy. "She looked at me{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(meaning)and passed a box in through the window. "I think she would like you to have it. "{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(shock), I took it from her automatically. She smiled and walked away.

    After a pause. I opened the box. Inside was a beautiful gold necklace with a large grey pearl. It was the {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(nice)gift I'd ever received, and it was from a complete stranger. The necklace was around my neck, a warm reminder of human kindness.

    Almost all the ice covering the Bering Sea has melted(融化), scientists have confirmed, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (throw) communities living around {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (it) shores into disorder. The region's ice cover {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (normal) lasts for at least another month, and this year it has disappeared earlier than any other year except 2017.

    Living in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} northern Pacific Ocean between Alaska and Russia, the Bering Sea is experiencing the climate change and has drawn attention this year for record-breaking levels of winter melting. In February, rising Arctic temperatures {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (lead) to around half the region's disappearing in the space of two weeks.

    A report {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (send) by the International Arctic Research Centre at the University of Alaska Fairbanks has outlined the real-world effects of these surprising environmental {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (change) on the many communities {#blank#}8{#/blank#} live in the Bering Sea region.

    In their report, the International Arctic Research Centre scientists wrote that while not every year will be as bad as this one, ice {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (form) is likely to remain low if the Bering Sea's waters remain warm. They also warn that communities will need to "prepare for more winters {#blank#}10{#/blank#} low sea ice and stormy conditions".