【推荐1】When I entered college, I took Professor Black’s poetry class. Even though I finished every task and _______ no classes, I earned a “C” at the end of the term. Frustrated, I went to his office and asked in a low voice, my knees _______, “Do I have any talent?” He was a kind person. He pushed his hair behind his ears _______ he was thinking. “Probably not,” he said _______. “Thank you,” I said, feeling like a grafted (嫁接的) apple tree: part of me discouraged, another part _______ to accept it.

The latter part led me to another poetry class by Professor White. This time, I earned an “A”. Professor White told me that _______ in his class earned an “A”. I was shocked. His _______ approach reminded me of Professor Black, from whom I learned teachers don’t hold the keys to their students’_______.

Every human being is _______ born with talent. Some __________ souls are born with many talents. People are __________ to subjects they have a gift for,__________ nearly everyone in the writing class has writing talent.

But no one can __________ whether or when talent will bloom (绽放) into art that others __________ as good. Some people bloom early, others late, some not at all. Artists must have enough __________ to make art, and trust their own pleasure in making it. It was really the faith in myself as well as the __________ in writing poems that helped me __________ many years of writing poems without being recognized.

I’ve been teaching creative writing for more than 30 years. Students sometimes ask me, “Do I have talent?” I tell them my __________, and say, “Of course you do. But just __________ writing no matter whether anyone approves (认可，赞成)—or even __________.”

【推荐2】Earlier this week I was at a store after the holiday season, and while waiting in line I _______ a very stressed-out Dad with his two sons waiting in line to purchase a car seat for the younger child.

The father was asking if he could buy the display model because it would be _______ than the others. The cashier _______ that he could buy the display model _______ that there was no box for it. He said that was just _______ with him.

Then he asked if there were any additional coupons (优惠券) to bring the _______ down just a little bit more. The cashier was doing her best to _______ some additional savings coupons for this young father; but wasn’t coming up with much of anything in her drawer.

I used to be a people-watcher, but found that as I _______ this activity for about five minutes I was beyond moved to help—and I had no idea why, but before I could really think about it, I found myself digging _________ my pockets for the 10 to 15 dollars in coupons I knew I had.

But I found nothing. I gave him $20 cash. The father said he couldn’t __________ it, but appreciated my offer. The cashier was __________ in the same mood as I was in wanting to help this young family; and took the money toward his order with a smile on her face—the seat __________ coming to around $50 instead of the original $90.

As the Dad collected his small children and began to walk away, he looked at me and said, “You really shouldn’t have done that but I thank you so much—you just made certain that we will all get to eat today.”

My reply was simple. Be it __________ or years from now, simply do the same or something extra for someone else you don’t know; and that would __________ me tenfold (十倍地).

What really got to me out of this whole experience is that it made me realize a small thing can have a __________ impact in the long run; as long as the chain isn’t broken.

【推荐3】Outside our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a seemingly ancient woman waited beside the door with her hand outstretched (伸出的). Every day I put my hand in hers as our eyes met. She never _________ to return my smile, my grasp, and my greeting.

On the last day of our visit, I found myself _________ on a busy corner across the street from our hotel. Bicycles and motorbikes rushed in front of me. We had been advised to walk straight through the heavy traffic without looking right or left. Let them _________ us. But tonight I was by myself and felt _________ to face the stream of vehicles. As I hesitated on the sidewalk, I felt a hand on my elbow and looked down to see the smile of my small beggar friend looking up at me. She nodded her head toward the street, indicating that she would take me across. Together, we moved slowly into the chaos.

Then we moved on towards the sidewalk, where she pulled my face down to hers, kissed me on both cheeks, and then walked away, still smiling and waving back to me. I had not given her a single coin. We had _________ something vastly more important — a warming of hearts in friendship.

Traveling in poorer nations, I have witnessed a variety of ways to deal with beggars. The most common response of tourists faced with those extremely poor people is to ignore them and focus their eyes elsewhere. I have seen people push away an outstretched hand in _________. A few may hurriedly drop a few coins, and then make a quick getaway in hopes that another 20 ragged beggars won’t immediately appear on the _________.

For many reasons, giving money is not the best response to an outstretched hand. The greatest gift is time and respect. To look beggars in the eye and smile, thus acknowledging their existence, is a small thing. Putting your hand into another’s outstretched hand and grasping it _________ for a moment is also a small thing. But these are important. Everyone needs _________, to be seen as worthy of being __________, to feel appreciated and loved. And I believe that everyone is worthy and worth knowing.

【推荐1】Ten years ago, a doctor told me something was wrong with my lung and I had to give up work at once and went to bed. I was totally ________ and felt I was suddenly placed under _______ of death with an indefinite reprieve(缓刑). After careful thought,I____my affairs;then I went home and got into bed.But 2 years later,I left my bed and____the long climb back.It was another year____I made it.

I speak of this experience because these past years have____me what to value and what to believe.I____now that this world is not my oyster（牡蛎）to be opened but my____to be grasped.

I've also learned that it's necessary to,____those little,all important things I never thought I would____before: they music of the wind in my favorite pine tree,the____of sunlight on running water.I seem now,with some of the ____freshness of childhood,to hear and see.How well,____,I recall the touch of the earth the day I first stepped upon it after the years in bed.It was like____one's citizenship in a world one had nearly lost.

Frequently,I____myself that I need make notes of this____I'm living in now,because in it I'm well,____,doing what I like best.It won't always be like this,____I'll make the most of it and be _______.I owe all this to that long time spent in bed.Wiser people come to this____without having to acquire it the hard way.But I wasn't wise enough.I'm wiser now,a little,and happier.

【推荐2】Why College Is Not Home

The college years are supposed to be a time for important growth in autonomy (自主性) and the development of adult identity. However, now they are becoming a(n) _________ period of adolescence, during which many of today’s students are not shouldered with adult responsibilities.

For previous generations, college was decisive _________ from parental control; guidance and support needed came from people of the same age and from within. In the past two decades, _________, continued connection with a dependence on family, thanks to cell phones, email and social media, have _________ significantly. Some parents go so far as to help with coursework. Instead of promoting the idea of college as a(n) _________ from the shelter of the family to autonomy and adult responsibility, _________ have given in to the idea that they should provide the same environment as that of the home.

To prepare for increased autonomy and responsibility, college needs to be a time of exploration and _________. This process involves “trying on” new ways of thinking about oneself both _________ and personally. While we should provide “safe spaces” within colleges, we must also make it _________ to express opinions and challenge majority views. Intellectual growth and flexibility are fostered on debate and questioning.

Learning to deal with the __________ world is equally important. Because college community (群里) differs from the family, many students will struggle to find a sense of __________. If students rely on administrators to regulate their social behavior and thinking pattern, they are not facing the challenge of finding a(n) __________ within a larger and complex community.

Moreover, the tendency for universities to monitor and shape student behavior __________ another characteristic of young adults: the response to being controlled by elders. If acceptable social behavior is too strictly defined (规定) and controlled, the insensitive or aggressive behavior that administrators are seeking to minimize may actually be encouraged.

It is not surprising that young people are likely to __________, particularly when there are reasons to do so. Our generation once joined hands and stood firm at times of national emergency. What is lacking today is the conflict between adolescent’s desire for autonomy and their understanding of an unsafe world.

Every college discussion about community values, social climate and behavior should include recognition of the developmental importance of student autonomy and self-regulation, of the necessary __________ between safety and self-discovery.

【推荐3】I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m rubbish at saying “NO”. For example, last Sunday I was sitting at my desk alone, totally ________ in my own business, when a colleague of mine phoned and asked me to get________in shopping with her. I found myself getting all caught up in her ________and didn't want to ________her. So I said “Sure, why not?” and before the call ________, I found myself agreeing, without giving any thought whether it was worth doing.

We were both window-shoppers and ________a whole day in the street. ________, I hardly have any time to spare because I am very busy.________my normal job, I’ve also got a book to write, a business to________and a family to look after. And then there are my other projects to ________－my voluntary work and a couple of other interesting investments that I want to________.

I’m going to have to be more________and not just agree to everything people ask me to do. In order words, I’m going to have to get________at saying “NO”. Usually I hate saying “NO”, because having to disappoint someone usually________me. Now I realize because I haven’t learned to say “NO”, I’ve been feeling very________.

We had better do what we think is right and what we are________to do. Sometimes it does not seem that bad to refuse others. If I focus on the things I really want to do, I’ll reach a much higher ________and do them quite well. I’ll be enthusiastic and ________and do something that is good for everyone and everyone will be ________. It’ll be a win-win________. What’s not good about that? So sometimes, we have to say “No”.