Every country shares things {#blank#}1{#/blank#} common: we value family and laughter, cherish food and health, and celebrate large {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(festival) and traditions. Yet within the similar things we share, there are unique parts of each country. One of characteristics that are famous of British people {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(be) their sense of humor, particularly self-mockery (自嘲). This is a type of humor that criticizes and undervalues oneself. For example, a fat person may joke: “I am on a new sea food diet. If I see food, I eat it.” This is {#blank#}4{#/blank#} well-known self-mockery joke. It's difficult why self-mockery {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(tie) to the British people. But every nation's sense of humor comes from its culture and history. It could come from another British characteristic, modesty, {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(mean) not talking openly about your skills. This seems to be something that is similar to people in China, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} modesty plays a big part in daily life. It also acts as a defense of our self-respect by playing down our skills, this can {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(less) the chance of people criticizing us. Another possible reason is {#blank#}9{#/blank#} the British people do not take themselves too {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(serious).

    I have even wondered if money buys happiness. It seems that money will allow me to buy the things {#blank#}1{#/blank#}make me happy. But one day I sat down and made a list of the things I wanted{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(do) in my life. I realized I'd never put much thought into it. I'd written down these things —like taking a photo on the mountain and staying at a hotel in Dubai, but I didn't really plan to do it, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (simple) because I didn't have the time.

    My life consisted {#blank#}4{#/blank#} heading to the office, running on the road, working some more …It didn't matter if my salary doubled; the life would stay {#blank#}5{#/blank#}same. Sure I'd probably drive a {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (nice) car, move into a bigger place, and have a bigger TV than my friends, but that wasn't helping me realize any of my goals. Six months after{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (create) that list, my belief has changed. I'd keep working on my list, for {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (experience) were much more important than any of the material items. It's not hard to create opportunity for {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (you). All it {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (take) is a little creative thinking.

    Many teens in high school want to try out for sports because they think playing sports will make them more popular. But there are lots of other {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (benefit)of sports that teens may overlook(忽视).

    With TV, movies, computers, and video games {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (become)more and more popular, it has become much {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (easy)for teens to be home by themselves rather than going out with friends. Teens used to hang out at the mall or drive around the town; now they just sit at home. Getting teens into a sport {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (give)them an opportunity to go out and socialize. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}  they may not find a new best friend，they will learn how to interact and work as {#blank#}6{#/blank#} team, something that they'll find {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (use)later in life.

    More and more teens are becoming overweight. If teens see that their physical condition is causing them to perform {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (bad), they may be motivated to do other activities {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (get)healthy. When your children reach their youth, part of good parenting will provide them {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the direction and encouragement and continue to help them develop a healthy style of living.

With the improvement of life standards, there are a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (grow) number of people traveling each year, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} is a good way to enjoy life. Some people would like to take a package tour (跟团游), {#blank#}3{#/blank#} others would rather travel on their own. I prefer the latter, because I feel that it's much more convenient and cheaper than taking a package tour as I {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (do) before.

First of all, traveling on my own, I can arrange my time and route {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (free). For example, when I get to someplace I like, I choose to stay longer and don't have to think about others. Secondly, the schedule is relatively tight joining package tours, and tourists can only stay very short time in tourist attractions. {#blank#}6{#/blank#} is difficult to enjoy every landscape carefully. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (three), in order to earn money, some travel agencies force tourists {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (buy) things. In the meantime, traveling on my own is much cheaper. Finally, the trip is designed to relax. However, many people say that package tours are not to make them feel really {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (relax), but even more tired.

On the whole, I feel like {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (travel) on my own, which is more convenient.