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).

    Researchers from the University of Michigan have found that astronauts' brains change shape during spaceflight. It is the first study {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (look) into how the brain changes in space. Researchers looked at high-tech MRI(磁共振成像)pictures of the brains of 26 astronauts who spent time in space. Twelve of the {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (astronaut) spent two weeks on the Space Shuttle, and 14 spent six months on the International Space Station. All of them {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (experience) increases and decreases in the size of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (differ) parts of the brain. The longer an astronaut spent in space ,the {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (big) the size differences were.

    The research produced some {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (interest) findings. One was that on gravity means fluids do not drop in the body, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} there is a shift in the brain's position inside the skull. The brain becomes either smaller or bigger. The findings could help doctors to treat problems that affect the brain's function. They could treat people with problems {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (cause)by long-term bed rest. They could also help those who have a build-up of fluid in the brain, which can lead {#blank#}9{#/blank#} brain damage. We will understand more about {#blank#}10{#/blank#} neurons(神经元)in the brain connect. The findings will also help future trips to Mars.

    New research has found that eating regular balanced meals is more effective(有效的) in managing a healthy weight {#blank#}1{#/blank#} dieting.

    Carried out by researchers at the University of Helsinki, the study looked at 2,452 women and 2,227 men, who {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(ask) to answer surveys which looked at factors(因素) influencing weight changes at age 24, and ten years later at age 34.

    The researchers found among both men {#blank#}3{#/blank#} women, irregular eating and dieting in order to lose weight were two of the main factors that led to weight increasing. A woman's risk of putting on weight was also increased by giving birth to two or more {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(child), regularly drinking sugary drinks and feeling {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(disappoint) with life. For men, smoking was another important factor for putting on weight.

    {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(usual), people try to prevent overweight by dieting. In the long term, it seems to make people {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(get) fatter, rather than prevent it.

    Besides eating regularly and avoiding diets, physical activity was a main factor in {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(help) to protect women from putting on weight, while for men a higher level of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(educate) and having a greater weight at the beginning of the study appeared to have a protective effect.

    The researchers suggested that those {#blank#}10{#/blank#} want to keep a healthy weight long-term should now consider eating regular meals.

    Barbara Jordan was a lawyer, educator and member of Congress. As a politician, Barbara Jordan worked for social change. She {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (seek) to make a difference for all Americans using her {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (politics) influence.

    Barbara Jordan became the first African-American woman {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (elect) to the United States Congress to represent Texas. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} helped Barbara gain her national {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (recognize) was that she became a member of the congressional committee investigating President Richard Nixon in 1974.

    Barbara Jordan was born in the southern city of Houston, Texas in 1936. She was {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (young) of the three daughters in her family. Her father was a Baptist minister. When she was a child, Barbara's parents pushed her to succeed. Barbara Jordan said her parents would criticize her for not {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (speak) correct English. They urged her to become a music teacher, because they said that was the only good job for a black woman at that time. Her sisters did become {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (teacher). Barbara Jordan, however, explained later that she wanted to do something unusual.

    At first she thought about being a pharmacist, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} scientist who is an expert in medicines. After she became the first African-American state senator(参议员), her career in politics took {#blank#}10{#/blank#}.