The USA is the fourth largest country in the world in size after Russia, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (Canadian)and China. The population of the USA is the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (three) largest in the world.

    The Mississippi River is the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (long) river in America. It's over 6,000 kilometers long.

    The Mississippi River {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (call) the "Father of Waters" or "Old Man River". The most important lakes in the United States {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (be) the Great Lakes. They are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} of them are between Canada and the USA except Lake Michigan.

    Let us talk {#blank#}7{#/blank#} American education. There are two kinds of schools in the USA: public schools and private schools. Most children go to public schools. Their parents do not need to pay for their education. {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a child goes to a private school, his parents then have {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (spend) a lot of money on their schooling. Children start school at the age of five. Most students are eighteen {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (year) old when they leave secondary schools.

    Great changes {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) place in people's life in the past 20 years. In the past, people kept in touch with {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (relative) or friends mainly by sending letters. They would listen {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the radio for news and other information. Children used {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (go) to school by bicycle. Big families {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (have) to share small rooms. Now people can talk to others by telephone {#blank#}6{#/blank#} on the Internet at home.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} they are free, they watch the news and other programs on TV. Some families are rich enough to send their children to school in {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (they) own cars. More and more people live in big and bright apartments {#blank#}9{#/blank#} several rooms. In a word, people live {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (good) than before.