The first Black Woman in the Congress

Being the first black woman    1    (elect) to Congress has made me some kind of phenomenon. There are nine other blacks in Congress; there are ten other women. I was the first     2    (overcome) both handicaps(障碍)at once. Of the two handicaps,     3    (be)black is much less of a handicap than being female.

If I said that being black is a    4     (great)handicap than being woman, probably no one would question me. Why? Because "we all know" there is prejudice against black people in America. That there is prejudice against women is an idea    5    still strikes nearly all men-and, I am afraid, most women-as strange.

Prejudice against blacks was invisible to most white Americans for many years. When blacks finally started to "mention" it, with sit-ins and freedom rides, Americans could hardly believe it."Who, us?" they asked     6     injured tones. "We     7    (prejudice)?" It was the start of a long, painful reeducation for white America. It will take years for whites-including those     8    think of themselves as liberals-to discover and eliminate the racist attitudes they all actually have.

How much harder will it be to eliminate the prejudice against women? I am sure it will be a longer struggle. Part of the problem is     9    women in America are much more brainwashed and happy with    10    roles as second-class citizens than blacks ever before.

Eating out increases levels of phthalates(酞酸盐)in the body, study finds US research    11    35% increase in levels of chemical linked to disease in those who dined at restaurants the previous day.

Burgers and sandwiches were    12     to higher phthalate levels in the research, but only if     13    at a restaurant or cafe.

Eating at restaurants and fast food chains may increase exposure to    14     harmful chemicals used to increase the flexibility and durability of plastic, a study has found.

Researchers investigating levels of phthalates in the human body, which have been related to breast cancer, asthma, type2 diabetes(哮喘，二型糖尿病)and fertility issues in the past few years, were found to be nearly 35% higher in participants who had eaten out the previous day compared with those who stayed at home. The     15    was especially strong for teenagers, researchers found. Adolescents who frequently ate at fast-food    16    while out with their friends had 55% higher levels of the chemicals than young people eating at home.

Pathalates are building agents frequently used in food    17    as well as a number of other products including flooring, soaps and shampoos, and some forms of the chemical, have been     18    from children's products in the US.

Pathalates are everywhere, and the health     19    are worrying. The feelings suggest that dining out may be an important, and previously under    20    source of exposure to phthalates for the US population.

Bhutan(不丹)is one of the few places in the world where you can experience unbroken Buddhist(佛教徒的)culture. Spirituality is in daily life here. I came because I wanted to witness firsthand what it might mean to devote your life to________practice as a Buddhist.

Although this is the Himalayas(喜马拉雅山)，you don't come here to climb mountains. Mountains are________in Bhutan, as are rivers and the earth. The relationship between nature, animals and people is ________. The population is small (around 750,000) but the________of the mountains and nature is enormous. This puts humans in their place; we are not________, but a small part of a whole. Respect for nature here is not just lip-service, you see it________every day. If you want to build a house, you have to ask permission of the earth, and the government ________that the country maintain 60% forest coverage. You'll see prayer flags on mountains and on bridges, from where the wind carriers the prayers across the country.

You don't have to tip your head back to look at the sky; you can stare________at it. For me, the finest view in Bhutan is from 3,100 metre   Dochu-la. From this mountain pass I can________the view, look directly at the sky, and see the stairs to my lama's temple. I especially like the way the stability and peace of the mountains________with the clouds moving high above.

Make a ________of meeting monks(僧人) if you go to Bhutan. Visitors tend to emphasize the wow factor of the buildings, and ________the human element. Real Buddhist culture, and what it means in daily life, is in the________.

Make visitors come in autumn or spring, when the views are best and the weather is dry, but come off________for a quieter, more reflective experience. Winter is not depressing and grey; it's all about fresh, clean, sharp air and beautiful blue skies. If you don't like Christmas, consider Bhutan: there 's really no________of it.