【推荐1】Perseverance is what helps us persist through challenges and difficulties with determination and resilience. It is this ______ that often separates successful people from those who give up at the first sign of trouble.

I remember a time when I ______ with the concept of perseverance. It was during my first year of university when I ______ a difficult course in my major. I had always been a good student and had never had trouble with my academics before. However, this ______ seemed impossible to me. The material was challenging, and I didn’t ______   it as quickly as I hoped to.

I almost gave up. I considered changing my major and even dropping out of college altogether. Yet, I had a long conversation with my professor, during which he told me that everyone struggles with something at certain ______ in their life. He inspired me to trudge (跋涉) through the difficulties and to keep ______ because success only comes to those who never give up.

I took his advice and decided to keep pushing myself ______ my doubts. I ______   every class, read each book, and studied late at night. It wasn’t easy for sure, I persevered, ______ . And in the end, I was able to pass the course and ______ in my major.

That experience taught me the ______ of perseverance. It’s not just about ______ challenges; it’s also about the growth that comes alongside with the experience. When we persevere through difficulties, we ______ strength, resilience, and ______ .

【推荐2】I believe we can have a big effect on anyone with whom we come into contact. Some acts that we think ________ can shape others’ future. The simple words can sometimes ________ change someone’s life.

Years ago, that was what happened to me. I was the only ________ child at Blue Elementary School. From almost the first day there, I was ________ by other kids mainly because of my hearing aid. And I also had ________ with my school work. When others laughed at me, I thought of myself as a ________ boy who wasn’t smart enough to keep up with the class.

Mrs Jordan, my 5th grade teacher, ________ all of that with a simple sentence. One morning, she asked the ________ a question. I read her lips from my front-row seat and immediately raised my hand because I knew the answer. But when she called my name, I was ________. Here was an opportunity to ________ the teacher and showed her I was worthy of her love. Maybe I would even impress my classmates a little. I didn’t want to blow it. Despite my fears, I took a deep ________ and answered her question.

I will never forget what ________ next. “THAT’S GREAT, STEPHEN!” Mrs. Jordan ________ with sparkling eyes and a wide smile. I regained confidence and ________ a little taller in my chair.

From that day forward, my grades and speech ________ greatly. My popularity among my peers increased. It was all because the praise and encouragement Mrs Jordan gave me.

【推荐3】I often recall those good old days. At that time life was relatively ______ , and people were much more friendly and gentler. Recently, to my surprise, I got the opportunity to experience that same ______ that I thought had ______ from the fast-moving world.

I was out shopping the other day with my______, two daughters and one granddaughter. It was a burning hot day, and we were all visibly tired and ______. We entered a restaurant, looking for some food and______. To our disappointment, all the tables were ______ and no one seemed in a hurry to get up. We______, tired and impatient. After quite some time, one table was vacated(空出)，but that could seat only two of us. My daughter made me sit along with her father, while she and my other daughter ______ alongside. My granddaughter sat on my lap as we looked all around us, waiting for another table to be ______ soon.

At the next table, two young girls were sitting at a table for ______ and enjoying their meal. We decided to move to their table, ______ they were finished with their lunch. Since the girls had just got their______ , I knew it would be a(n) ______ wait. As we were deciding on what to eat, one of the girls got up and ______ their table to us. She said they would move to our table so that my family could sit together.

We were very appreciative of their kind______. We thanked them ______ and moved to their table. The girls quickly ______ their plates and glasses and went to sit at our table.

That day, I thought to myself there still were some kind, civil and ______ youngsters in this non-caring world, and my faith in humanity was______ .

【推荐1】I first played tennis when I was 5 years old. I went to my local community center to ______ a tennis camp there. It was so much fun because I learned about tennis and got to spend a lot of time with my friends. Learning to play tennis was a bit ______ at first and it took a lot of ______ before I was able to even hit the ball ______ . Even though I loved playing tennis at the ______ ,I decided to take a break from it to do other ______.

When I was ten years old,I ______ to start playing tennis again. This time I ______ more often. I've been playing tennis ever since. When I was 10,I took ______ to learn how to score and get the ball in the lines and I even joined an actual tennis ______.

When I was in the 6th grade, I ______ both doubles and singles in the tournaments（锦标赛). Doubles is when two people play together against two other people ______ singles is when one person plays against the other person. Playing tennis tournaments helped me become a ________ tennis player because being competitive showed how to focus. Learning how to fix my ________ has helped me with things besides just tennis such as homework and volunteer work.

I'm so ________ I tried tennis when I was five. If I hadn't,I may ________ have met all the amazing people on my team and I wouldn't have ________ all that tennis has taught me. Playing a sport has kept both my mind and body ________ and is really fun. That's why I ________ everyone to go out and do something you love;it can ________ you in the long run!

【推荐2】More than anything else in the world, Jayden Hairston wanted to learn how to sing. _________, his elementary school in Yonkers didn't _________ the music instruction he needed. So he begged his parents to sign him up for after-school lessons.

His mother said, ''Ever since I could _________, he has been singing and dancing for the family. '' She wanted to help her son to do whatever he loved, but private lessons were too _________ for the family where there was only one breadwinner.

Then Jayden began researching after-school arts _________ on the Internet. Luckily, he soon _________ the website of Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) in New York City. There, he could _________ singing and dancing lessons. It was a bit far from Yonkers. But he _________ his parents to take him for a visit.

That was three years ago. Now Jayden is one of HSA’s most _________ students. He takes singing, dancing, or theater lessons almost every day after school. Last year, he performed in seven productions. ''When I'm at HSA, I don't want to leave, '' he says. ''It's made me more __________. I feel better about myself, '' Jayden says.

Like Jayden, many poor students across the United States have __________ access to arts instruction in schools. HSA is one of many nonprofit groups that __________ this gap (缺口) by offering cheaper online arts classes which most families can __________. These groups are usually funded by donations.

A Harvard University study found that arts instruction does not straightly raise students' __________ in math and English. However, that doesn’t mean arts education isn’t __________. Arts train a set of thinking skills __________ those measured by test scores. It can also offer another __________ for children who may not __________ good scores in such exams. Without it, students might never __________ their strengths and possibly their future occupations.

Jayden Hairston knows this firsthand. He says Harlem School of the Arts has __________ him to go after his professional goals.

【推荐3】Just several days ago, a violent storm hit our community. I looked out of the window and witnessed a tree being abused by the ______ wind. The branches bent, thanks to their ______ to avoid breaking. The leaves desperately stuck to the branches because their life depended on the tree.

After the storm had passed, the tree gracefully returned to its ______ position standing tall among the chaos. It managed to ______ the storm, and what ______ is that the tree won the fight for its life.

For a long time, I couldn’t understand why this tree caught my attention the way it did. As time passed, it became clear that it wasn’t just about the tree but about the ______ roots which are deep into the soil providing water and nutrition. The roots allow the tree to be able to take a_______ because they are there to support them.

____, the next time you catch your kids ______, when you are underpaid and the _____ is tight, and when the storms of life are blowing, go back to your roots. Life is full of ______. They will make you ______ and make you lose some leaves, but the ______ your roots the stronger you stand. However hard the wind blows don’t let life ______ you into an uncomfortable position. Your ______ lies in your roots.