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).

    When kids in parts of the world want to play, they often make soccer balls out of trash tied together with string. “{#blank#}1{#/blank#} the areas used for playing fields are often rough and rocky, millions of real balls go flat (变瘪){#blank#}2{#/blank#} 24 hours,” says Tim Jahnigen, a California businessman. Determined to solve this problem,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} created an indestructible ball called the One World Futbol.

    The ball is made of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} special material, ethylene-vinyl acetate foam. It's lightweight, it's flexible, and—{#blank#}5{#/blank#} important—it holds its shape.

    The One World Futbol needs no pump {#blank#}6{#/blank#} won't wear out, even on rough surfaces. When tested,{#blank#}7{#/blank#} withstood (经受住) being crushed by a car, and even being chewed on by a lion.

    Although it costs more to produce {#blank#}8{#/blank#} a typical soccer ball, Jahnigen estimates the One World Futbol can last 30 years. So far, it's been given to kids in 143 countries. 

    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（杰出的）examples of environmental cleanup.

    But the river wasn't changed in a few days{#blank#}4{#/blank#}even 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 leave 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).

    The man who is going to fix our roof must be {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(honest) person my husband and I have ever met.

    My husband knew the back roof of the porch was fine and wanted {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(see) what this roofer would say when he gave his estimate. He told my husband that the back roof was just fine and then gave the estimate for the rest of the roof:$2,400.

    He called last night to tell us he could do the roof on Monday but {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(tell) us he had measured the roof {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(correct) by forgetting to add on the front part of the roof.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} instead of giving us a new estimate, he told us he {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(go) to do the roof for what he quoted us.

    My husband asked him what the correct estimate would {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(be).He said,"$3,000."Well, that's what I had thought it would be so that's {#blank#}8{#/blank#} I set aside. My husband was simply {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(amaze) at this roofer.

    The roofer doesn't know our decision that he'll get the $3,000.He's honest and is planning to be responsible for the mistake. My boss was kind to me when I made some {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(mistake) in the past and now I get a chance to pass this on to others.