Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

In 1969, the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River Cleveland, Ohio. It       1     (be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up. The river was so polluted that it     2     (actual) caught fire and burned. Now, years later, this river is one of       3     most outstanding examples of environmental cleanup.

But the river wasn’t changed in a few days     4    even a few months. It took years of work     5    (reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is     6    (clean) than ever.

Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you leave a habit    7     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 amazing     8     ( story) of instant transformation, for most of us they are gradual and require a lot    9    effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be     10     (patience).

You are never too old to go after your dreams. Many people don’t let age stop them. If they want to do something, they just do it. For example, Gladys Burrill ran her first marathon at 86. She became famous when she     1     (finish) the Honolulu Marathon (檀香山马拉松). She was 92 then. Life is about change, so don’t be afraid to take your     2     (one) step. It is easy after you do that. So, stop     3     (think) about your dreams, and start doing something about them.