With a popular online comic strip (连环画), overseas Chinese artist Cao Siyu     1     (enjoyable) sets about deconstructing stereotypes (成见) and cultural misunderstandings between East and West.

After she encountered many misunderstandings and came face to face with stereotypical views about China, Cao     2    (inspire) to create Tiny Eyes Comics, an internet-based cartoon strip. Although     3    (post) in her own Instagram account, so appealing was the strip, which was among her 300 online comics,     4    41, 000 followers were attracted to her Instagram account.

Italian magazine Grazia says, “Her simple sketches have played     5    essential part in making it easier to understand Chinese culture.” One of her comics shows the cultural     6     (difference) behind the debate about usage of masks throughout the pandemic.     7    we wear a mask or not is the question that has led to controversy and,     8    some cases, even physical conflict, in some parts of the world. In the strip she explains that Chinese people wear masks to prevent infection,     9    has proved to be the most effective way to shield off virus.

Many foreign readers say they find her illustrations enlightening, helping them to understand China, while Chinese immigrants have felt understood, according to Cao. This feedback and     10     (connect) with her readers have been “the biggest motivation” for her to keep creating.

Today, after finishing dinner in town, my husband and I were driving back home.As we pulled over, we saw a couple     1     (paint) their furniture.

I went inside our home,     2     (change), and then went back out again to ask our neighbors if they needed any help.While leaving my home, I was plagued (困扰) by thoughts of     3     (embarrass), denial, or     4     (receive) but looked down on skeptically.However, I gathered the courage to go down and ask     5     anyway!

Initially, the woman     6     (deny). Then, the man said, “Sure，” and he handed me a spray paint bottle.We got into some good conversations     7     painting with great effort.When we finished, I briefly chatted with them before leaving.

In the end, not only did I enjoy helping them, but also learned about my neighbors.    8     the way home, I must admit I couldn’t help but wonder     9     they might be thinking about me.It is tough to do a good deed for others and not expect that they will be thinking good about you.

Today’s experience taught me some     10     (value) lessons in my life! Hopefully, these lessons will help me continue my acts of kindness in future.

Two things I did may have caused people    1    (think) that something is wrong with me. The first was when my wife asked me to have the sitting-room clock    2    (repair). I drove into the market place of our little town and, clock under arm, entered a shop. Only it was the meat shop.    3    my thoughts far away, I stood staring into the shop-keeper’s eyes. I had been his customer for a long time and the good man smiled at me.

This went on for several very long seconds before I realized where I was.    4    is no doubt that I should have calmly bought a pound of meat,    5    I merely nodded briefly and left.

The other man in my town who probably thinks I am mad is Mr. Smith. Some years ago he was manager of Mead’s Shop, and he and I knew each other quite well. One day he    6    (stand) in the doorway of his shop when I passed. My brain was on some distant problem and my eyes stared into space.

“Hello, Mr. Herriot.” I heard his voice. I turned a blank gaze on him — I just had no idea    7    he was though his face was familiar. Then I saw    8    word “MEAD” in foot-high letters above the shop window.

“GOOD morning, Mead, “I cried heartily and continued my way. I had gone only a few steps before I realized that my greeting had been    9    (polite). I turned back and said to him again, “Good morning, Mister mead.”

It was only when I turned the corner of the street    10    I realized, too late, his name was Tony and the time was late afternoon.

I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech     1    (title) “A Real Test in My Life” before the whole class at the age of 9! You can imagine how    2    (terrible) shy I was with so many eyes fixed on me. I had no choice but     3    (prepare) for it, though. First of all, I was to give the speech,     4     was just a piece of cake for me, a good writer. But the hardest part     5    (lie) in my oral presentation from my memory—for to read from the paper was forbidden(禁止). The real moment began when I stood on the platform with my legs     6    (tremble) and my mind blank. But my listeners were waiting patiently without any signs of rushing me. Gradually I found     7     (I) back, delivering my speech without difficulty. After     8     seemed to be a hundred years, I found my audience applauding—I made it! From then on, my fear of talking before the audience disappeared. Actually with my     9    (confident) built up, I now turn out to be a great speaker. Looking back, I know the    10    (great) difficulty on our way to success is our fear. Overcome it and we will be able to achieve our goals.