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#}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 are leaving 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).

    In 1850, an American lawyer, Bethune, bought a slave to work in his home. The slave, a woman, had a small child{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(call) Tom, who was blind.

    One day, Bethune {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(walk) around his garden when he heard music coming from the house. He went inside and found young Tom playing on the family piano. Bethune {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(immediate) realized that the boy, who was only four, had special abilities. He asked a band of {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(music) to come to the house and play in front of {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (he). Tom reproduced perfectly the music he had heard. Tom was indeed an unusual boy.

    In 1857, "Blind Tom" took part {#blank#}6{#/blank#} his first public performance. The reviews were so good {#blank#}7{#/blank#} Bethune took him on a tour of the US. Three years later, Blind Tom {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (invite) to the White House to perform for the president. Over the next forty years, Tom performed {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(enjoy) shows all over the US and other countries. His concerts were {#blank#}10{#/blank#} mixture of classical music and his own compositions.

    The earth, the planet on {#blank#}1{#/blank#} we are living, is the third planet from the sun. It came from the shrinking (收缩) of a vast cloud of dust and gas in outer space. Many scientist believe that the earth, as well as the sun and the other planets in our solar system, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (form) at least five billion years ago. The earth is slightly flattened at the North and South Poles, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} it would look like a perfect ball if you were far out in space.