Many typically "American" characteristics are a result of value. 【M1】______ There is a remarkable ethic diversity in the US. Among its population 【M2】______ of 300 million, 73% is White, 12% African American, 8% Hispanic. Many Americans dont like generalizations being made about them because they see themselves as very unique. Individualism is probably the most highly esteemed value in the American culture, and Americans may feel comfortable when given more help than they need, because 【M3】______ they see dependency as weakness. The focus on the individual has led to a more informal society. For example, phrases like "drop by any time" are other ways of saying goodbye. Honesty and frankness is more【M4】______ important to Americans than "saving face", and they may bring up impolite conversation topics which you may find embarrassed, 【M5】______ controversial or even offensive. This encourages them to dissolve misunderstandings themselves. Some behaviours have culturally associated to straightforwardness. For example, a firm handshake is 【M6】______ often interpreted as sign of sincerity, so is direct eye contact. To most【M7】______ Americans, honesty is always preferred for politeness. Punctuality is 【M8】______ considered an important attribution, and you will need to offer an 【M9】______ apology and explanation if you are more than 15 minutes late. Americans also value achievement and competition, but sports awards【M10】______ are often displayed in their homes.
【M1】
The groundwater system is similar to a river system. Therefore, instead of having channels that 【M1】______ connect different parts of the drainage basin, the groundwater system has connecting pores. Some soils and rock have connecting pores where water can move 【M2】______ through. Soils and rock are permeable and water can 【M3】______ pass through them this way. Sandstone is a common permeable rock. Soil or rock that have many large connected pores 【M4】______ is very permeable. Water can pass through it easily. Soil or rock that has few or small pores is not permeable 【M5】______ because water cant easily pass through. Some material, such as clay, has very small pores or no pores at all. Water cant pass through this impermeable material. How deep into Earths crust do you suppose groundwater can go? That depends on the permeability of soil and rock. Groundwater will keep going to lower 【M6】______ elevations until it reaches a lay of impermeable rock. 【M7】______ When this happens, the impermeable rock acts like a dam and the water cant move down any deep. So, it 【M8】______ begins filling up the pores in the rocks over the 【M9】______ impermeable layer. A layer of permeable rock that transmits water freely is an aquifer. The area where all of the pores in the rock are completely filled in water is 【M10】______ the zone of saturation. The upper surface of this zone is the water table.
【M1】