【推荐1】Jim and his sister May walked in the street, and then they noticed a pet store. It was a very small pet store that didn’t have many ________. The owner of the shop, Mr. Smith, greeted Jim and May when they ________. May said, "We would like to buy a dog." "Ah, well, our shop is not very ________," Mr. Smith told her. "So we only have two dogs to choose ________."

They asked Mr. Smith to ________ them the dogs. Mr. Smith took them to see the two dogs. One was a big Bulldog named Buster. The other was a tiny Chihuahua named Teacup. May wanted Teacup, ________ Jim wanted Buster. They walked outside to ________. They couldn’t agree on a dog. May ________ they race home for it. The one who ________ the race could choose the dog.

Jim agreed, and then told May her shoelace（鞋带） was loose. When May __________, he ran off to get a head start. Jim ran as __________ as he could because he really wanted that Bulldog. When he looked back, he found May was so __________ behind that he couldn’t even see her. Jim finally got home. He was _______ but happy. He knew he was the __________. May arrived a few minutes later. She congratulated him and they __________ the pet store together. However, when they arrived they _____ saw Teacup. They asked Mr. Smith where Buster was.

Mr. Smith gave them a(n) __________ that a few minutes after May and Jim left, two boys walked in and bought Buster.

Jim looked at May, and she couldn’t help ________. Jim __________ and turned back to Mr. Smith. "Sometimes you win the __________, but not the prize!" Jim smiled sadly. "We'll take the Chihuahua, please."

【推荐2】It was December 2018. I was _________my PhD in the UK and a professor invited me to interview for a postdoc position in Japan. The online interview, during my visit to my family in Spain, went well and I was sure 2019 would be a _________year.

Then, in April, my mother told me about some _________feelings she was experiencing. But I was focused on my paper, I brushed away my _________.

Later, the doctors had a(n) _________: It was lung cancer. I spent the next two months _________between my research and my family. I made three _________visits home. However, my _________for myself pulled me back to lab. In the meantime, the cancer had _________.

Yet I was set to attend a conference in New Zealand in early July, where I would __________my paper. But on my way to the airport, I __________. Instead of New Zealand, I flew back to Madrid.

I __________my PhD defense. Meanwhile, my mother's prognosis (预测病情) changed from 1 year to months, weeks, then days. I'd thought I had more time with her, but I didn't. Cancer __________my mother at the end of July.

I defended my paper in mid-September and moved to Tokyo to start my ________life.

Please remember life is what happens while you are making plans. If your loved ones __________you, be there for them.

【推荐1】A Love Note to My Mom

When I was a little girl, I would often accompany you as you modeled for fashion photographers. It was years later that I finally understood what role modeling   _______ in your life. Little did I know you were _______every penny you earned to go to _______ school.

I cannot thank you enough for   _______   you told me one autumn afternoon when I was nine. After finishing my homework, I wandered into the dining room where you were buried   _______   piles of law books. I was   _______ . Why were you doing what I do—memorizing textbooks and studying for   _______ ? When you said you were in law school, I was more puzzled. I didn’t know Moms   _______ be lawyers too. You smiled and said, “In life, you can do anything you want to do.”

As young as I was, that statement kept _______ in my ears. I watched as you faced the __________ of completing your studies, starting companies with Dad, while still being a   __________   and a Mom of five kids. I was exhausted just watching you   __________. With your words of wisdom in my   __________ mind, I suddenly felt unlimited freedom to dream. My whole world   __________. I set out to live my life filled with   __________ seeing endless possibilities for personal and professional achievements.

Your words became my motto. I __________ found myself in the unique position of being either the first (woman doctor in Maryland Rotary) __________ one of the few women (chief medical reporters) in my field. I gained strength every time I said, “Yes, I’ll try that.”

Encouraged by your   __________ , I have forged ahead (毅然前行) with my life’s journey, less afraid to make mistakes, and   __________   meeting each challenge. You did it, and now I’m   __________   it. Sorry, got to run. So much to do, so many dreams to live.

【推荐2】I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox, I ________ I couldn’t do it. I suddenly felt a sense of ________ and insecurity (不安).

The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in ________ on Facebook. For months, I read about what she ________ on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer work wasn’t huge. ________, she was doing small, local good deeds. Gradually, she changed my views on the world and for some reason, I felt I should let her know how her example ________ influenced me.

I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thank-you. That’s why I ended up ________ the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was ________ of being too nice. I guessed I felt strange because it wasn’t like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my letter was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox ________.

Weeks later I received a Facebook response from her. It turned out she was going through a hard time and my note ________ a lot to her. She said she had no idea that she was playing such a big ________ in others’ life.

Not only did this letter make her happier, but her ________ increased my joy as well. I was so excited that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n) ________ letter to someone each month. Now it’s easier for me to ________ the goodness in others and be more ________ for this beautiful life I’m living.

【推荐1】Early spring can be a tough time in the Midwest. It can take both people and animal by surprise with its ______   snowstorms.

Every spring, migratory(迁徙的) birds camp out in a large pond near my house on the way to their summer ______. This year, besides geese, scaups, a type of diving duck spent days hanging out ______ food. Then a snowstorm hit, followed by a very ______ night.

The next morning, I was shocked to see that all birds had ______ overnight—except one lone female, who was diving ______ and dynamically in the circle of open water. Her movement and body heat had kept the ______ from coming close as I watched her from the ______ of my warm house.

However, as the temperature dropped, the open water got smaller, and her movements slowed. I watched with ______ as she eventually stopped moving, fearing that she was dead.

And then it happened: Two more ducks appeared, ______ next to her still body. More ducks came and the circle of water came alive with their splashing and diving. Slowly, the circle of water ______ in size. Within minutes, the lone female was revived by her friends’ presence.

This little duck wouldn’t have ______ another night without her friends. She, ______, had kept that area of water open, so her friends had a place to stop and ______ themselves. Sometimes, a tiny action—even our mere ______—might brighten one’s day, and even save one’s life.