Everyone has a childhood. And childhood {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (experience) are often very funny. Children often make us laugh. It's true that children brighten up a home. They never turn off the lights.

    I often recall my childhood, the years {#blank#}2{#/blank#} many interesting things happened. When I was a two-year-old child, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} my parents were always very busy with their work. My mother worked {#blank#}4{#/blank#} a sales manager in a company {#blank#}5{#/blank#} my father served in the army. So I lived with my grandma in a village. I was always waiting for my parents at home. Once my father sent us a photo of his {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (dress) in a soldier's uniform {#blank#}7{#/blank#} was posted on the table reminding me of him.

    Once my mother came to see me and we went {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(shop) together. On the way we saw a group of soldiers. And when I saw them, I became{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (excite). I said in a ringing voice pointing to {#blank#}10{#/blank#}, “This is my father, and this is my father, and that is my father, too!”

    My mother said she would remember that moment all her life.

    Success never comes easy. How many of you have heard of successful people who haven't made any effort? People often have to overcome failures {#blank#}1{#/blank#} they can accomplish something great. They usually don't find success from the very beginning.

    Van Gogh sold only one painting during his lifetime, but this didn't stop him from completing over 800 painting. Thomas Edison {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(fire) from his first two jobs for lack of competence. Later, as an inventor, he tried 1,000 times {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create) the light bulb, without success. He was confident in {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (he), and{#blank#}5{#/blank#} (eventual) he did success. When{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (ask), “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was {#blank#}7{#/blank#} invention with 1,000 steps.

    These successful people have set good{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (example) to us. They wouldn't have achieved their success if they{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (abandon)their dreams. Believe in yourself and try your best, and success will not be far {#blank#}10{#/blank#} you.

    On arriving in the United States, I felt everything was different. There were many new things I had to adapt to. One thing that really {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) me a long time to adapt to was speaking the language.

    I remember {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (clear) that I had to struggle to learn English because I couldn't even write a short paragraph to introduce myself at the first day of my English class.

    The teacher asked me {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it was difficult for me. If it was, I could change to level one! However, I was stubborn and swore that I was going to succeed.

    I started to spend many {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (hour) per day, even though it was stressful, because I wanted to take advantage {#blank#}5{#/blank#} this special chance to study English in the U.S.A.

    I felt depressed because I couldn't understand {#blank#}6{#/blank#} people were saying even though I studied hard. However, I still kept {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (try) and never gave up.

    Now, I can tell you that I have improved a lot, but sometimes it is still easy for me to get {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (lose) if I don't know what topic people {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (talk) about. To adapt to this new language, I had to tell {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (I) that I could do it. I really believe I can!

    NASA has a new job listing, and it's no joke. The US space agency is looking for a "joker" to join their {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (plan) mission to Mars.

A mission to Mars is no laughing matter. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is known that Mars is 225 million kilometers away from Earth. A trip there would take around eight months in a small spacecraft. "When you're living with others in a confined (封闭的) space for a long period of time, such as on a mission to Mars, problems are likely {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (happen)" Jeffrey Johnson, a scientist at the University of Florida, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (say) to the Guardian. This is probably {#blank#}5{#/blank#} NASA wants an astronaut with a sense of humor. "These are people that have the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (able) to pull everyone together." Johnson said.

    In {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stress) situations, perhaps humor is a way to know we aren't alone. We can share our stress by {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (laugh) together. Then we can focus on our jobs instead of just worrying.

But if you're hoping that your favorite TV comedian will fly to Mars, that {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (possible) won't happen. "Being funny won't be enough to land somebody the job," Johnson said, "They also need to be an excellent scientist and engineer." Besides, it's required that they {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (be) in top physical condition.