One Friday evening in December, two weeks before Christmas, I lost my job without any warning. I was ________ for the weekend, when my daughter Kristil and I ________ to get our Christmas tree. Then I listened to my voicemail: “We’re sorry but your work assignment has ended as of today.” My heart ________.

I wasn’t just a single parent; I was the only parent. My paycheck was ________.

The next day as we searched for our tree, I struggled to be cheerful as I ________ each price tag (标签). Over the next week, I ________ applied for jobs as my bank account grew smaller. On a weekend afternoon, I dropped Kristil in a ________ gated community for a birthday party. I watched as she went in, surrounded by all the nice things we couldn’t afford. I drove home ________.

Back at home, I glanced out the window. It had been snowing on and off all morning. I _________ a small elderly woman with short white hair struggling to open her car door _________ the wind. As she got out, I realized it was my old professor, Sister Esther Heffernan, whom I hadn’t seen for about six months.

“What are you doing out in this weather?” I asked as we hugged. “Well, I tried to call last week but couldn’t ________. Then I called your job and they said you weren’t working there anymore, so I thought I would come by.”

Just being in Sister Esther’s ________ gave me hope that things would be all right. As she got up to leave, she handed me a Christmas card and kissed me on the cheek. I walked her to her car and ________ as she drove away.

When I opened her card, I gasped (喘气) in ________. Hundred-dollar bills fell onto the table. Tears of ________ welled up in my eyes as I counted. I silently thanked her in my heart.

Ryan’s charity work is not unusual. Many kind-hearted people who give Ryan much support donate money for charity     25     (activity), and others volunteer to help run charities. On most UK high streets, for instance, you will often come across people    26     (raise) money and looking for volunteers for Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation and many     27    (much), one of     28     many public-spirited citizens are willing to take an active part in.     29     the help of the organizations, the poor or the     30     (disable) can improve their lives or even realize their dreams.

In china, volunteers are also playing an    31     (increasing) important role in environment protection, disability    32     (assist) and many other fields. As a matter of fact, it is easy for you to be a volunteer. If you have     33     opportunity, you can visit old people houses to do some cleaning. Also, you may help sick kids in hospital so long as you put love to good use. It     34     (hope) that you can be involved in voluntary work to help others in need.