【推荐1】When I first visited Mexico, I spoke Spanish well. So when I _____ an ice-cream in a shop, and the local seller said “ahorita, which directly translates to “right now, “I smiled and waited nearby, believing that its arrival was _____.

Half an hour passed and still no ice-cream arrived, so I asked again about it. “Ahorita, “ he _____   again and his face was a mix of confusion and _____.

I was _____. Waiting longer wasn’t pleasant, but it was impolite to walk away if the ice-cream was now being delivered just for me. But finally, after waiting too long, I made a rush for the nearest bus to take me home. _____.it really wasn’t my fault. As I left, I _____ at my wrist and shrugged (耸肩) to the ice-cream seller, leaving him in _____ confusion.

This experience _____ in my memory until years later when I came back to live in Mexico. I discovered that understanding “ahorita” took not a _____ in the language, but rather a fluency in the _____. When someone from Mexico says “ahorita, it should almost never be taken literally; its meaning _____   greatly with context. As a linguist _____, “Ahorita could mean tomorrow, in an hour, within five years or never. “It is even used as a(n) _____   way of saying “no, thanks” when refusing a(n) _____.

【推荐2】For the past ten years, my dad and I have attended the same school — he as an administrator and I as a student. Our relationship, in and out of school, has been totally unpredictable.

When I was younger, all that my dad said was doctrine (信条) and anything he did I, _______ , copied. We played games together, and stayed up late reading bedtime stories. I could _______ my dad taking me to school, running into him regularly during the day and riding home with him every afternoon.

As I grew older, we were not as _______ as we used to be. He wasn’t cool any more. He wore his socks too high, listened to horrible country music and laughed too loudly in front of my friends. He became a total embarrassment.

However, the _______ that occurred in school were even worse. The worst one happened in seventh grade. My dad came to our New Year party, dressed up as Donald Duck, guitar in hand, singing silly songs. Just kill me! I wanted to run away.

This _______ continued into high school but we somehow began to find a balance. Things started to _______ around the time of my 10th-grade physics project. The _______ was to build a wood bridge with the best strength-to-weight ratio (比率). All the students and physics teachers _______ , and so did my dad — the only administrator! Embarrassed as usual, I _______ the scene. However, later when I learned from my friends that my dad ________ all competitors and won everyone’s admiration. I found that mixed in with my ________ was a touch of pride.

I had needed someone else to show me what I ________ in my dad. It wasn’t the fact that he’d won, it was more than that. I began to ________ that we have many of the same values and sometimes the same opinions. No matter how much I had tried to ________ him, he still influenced me.

I feel fortunate to have such an unusual father. The ________ I have developed with my dad over the years has enabled me to look back and see how I’ve grown.

【推荐3】Giorgio has just moved to London from Italy. In February, he was ________ by the wonderful sound of a piano coming from next door.

One day, on a whim (突发奇想) Giorgio wrote a note to his ________ asking him to play Celine Dion’s classic My Heart Will Go On. The next day, he was both touched and delighted when the familiar melody (旋律) ran through the ________. Immediately, he started playing River Flows In You, then stopped to ________ nervously for a response.

Giorgio was not ________: a few seconds later, the music came from the other side of the wall and ________ his melody. When Giorgio heard the notes coming, you can really ________ how moved he was. As a result, the video ________ to Tik Tok gained 1.7 million views.

They ________ doing their piano co-playing around 2 pm every weekend, until Giorgio finally got the chance to meet his ________ partner face-to-face.

“Well, today I have met my neighbor, and actually it was ________ than expected.” Giorgio wrote on Tik Tok. “His name is Emil. He is 78 years old; ________ from Poland.... He lost his wife in December due to COVID-19, and all she ________ is the piano.” Giorgio went on to ________ that Emil’s reason for playing at 2 pm every weekend is that his wife always loved it. Emil was quick to ________ Giorgio for giving him company, friendship, and the ________ to keep playing.

Emil’s house was sold. His time in this ________ was short, as it was just a(n)________ accommodation for him. The bond these ________ strangers created throughout their weekend meet-ups became a ________ to last a lifetime.

【推荐1】Careers in science are generally believed to be too complex for students who aren’t talented or clever enough, but Seott Kelly, commander of the International Space Station, would prove it’s _________.

As a kid, he was _________ and uninterested in science and all other _________ as well. He couldn’t _________ what the teachers were saying, spending most of his time in school _________. Therefore, he earned terrible _________ and barely graduated from high school, and he even thought he would never _________ his dreams.

That all _________ when he picked up and read The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe’s classic account of the pioneering Americans who first explored space. _________ at last, he was determined to be an astronaut which meant doing well in science classes. So that day, he __________ his mind to do well in it.

After so many years of daydreaming, it wouldn’t be __________. But he started thinking about it like a game. The more he __________ his study skills, the more he __________ and the better he got. __________, it became a(n) __________ with himself to see how good he could get. No one was more surprised than him when a __________ daydreamer started getting straight A’s in science, which is __________ to be an astronaut.

So we need to stop __________ the statement that science is just too hard. If you’re students who have been told “you are not a science person” or “your brain doesn’t think that way”, just __________ the comments! Everyone who wants to can learn this stuff— they just have to be __________ to do the work.

【推荐2】Living with Down syndrome (唐氏综合症) often leads people to doubt their abilities. Growing up, Dylan Keuhl was ________ frequently. He was told “no”more times than he could count. He felt ________ throughout his life, but with supportive family and friends by his side, he made great ________. Now, Dylan has earned a bachelor’s degree from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He’s the first person with Down syndrome to ever ________ this goal in the college’s 55-year history.

In honor of his historic achievement, Dylan was one of just three graduates out of 900 students who were ________ to give a speech during the ceremony. He prerecorded his speech, and he hopes that it ________ not just his fellow graduates, but anyone who had ever been told their dreams were out of reach.

“I am the first person with Down syndrome to ________ with a bachelor’s degree in Washington. When I first started, many people told me it was ________ for me to be a college student. It discouraged me. Instead of ________, I build “Yes Team”. “Yes Team” is composed of Evergreen faculty, friends I made in college, and my family. “This group ________ me and told me ‘yes’ when I was far too used to hearing ‘no’”, Dylan said in his speech.

“Evergreen is based on acceptance,” he said. “It creates a ________ and open environment for all students. I ________ more students, like me, can benefit from the ________ and inclusion of the college,” he concluded. “Celebrate your abilities and live your life with ________ and pride. You can achieve your goal ________!”