【推荐2】I grew up in the countryside of Poland where skiing is popular. I couldn’t afford to ride the ski lift, so I used to _________ up with the skis on my back. It turned out to be good _________.

K2 is nicknamed “savage (野蛮的) mountain”. You hear _______ stories: For every four people who _________ the summit (山顶), one dies. I was too afraid to even think about skiing _________ it. Even the best ski mountaineers thought it _________.

But that _________ after a training expedition (考察) to Broad Peak. I got a clear look at K2’s huge face, and it _________ me. Over time, my skills improved and I didn’t feel the _________ anymore. Why did I attempt such a(n) __________? I love nature, and love setting goals. To be the first to do it just ________ the challenge. Fear is an important ________ of life, but to ski down K2, I had to stop being afraid.

At the base camp, I felt ________ and prepared. There were no emotions or doubts - I just knew I could do it. At the third base camp, 7,000 meters up, we __________ for 36 hours before I decided to continue. Three days later, we reached the summit. For me, it was __________ the real challenge began. Skiing down a mountain demands __________ and strong will. The most __________ part was the Messner Traverse, which is pure ice, up to a 75-degree angle in places, with water drops on either side. You need to keep your ________ and movements smooth and confident. No one had attempted it before, so it was a relief to ________ it. It taught me the __________ of patience!

【推荐3】I used to hate running. It seemed too hard, and expanding my comfort zone was not something I like. In fact, I wouldn’t have become a runner if it weren’t for my husband Charles. He had been a serious competitive ______ for many years. After our marriage, he wouldn’t stop talking about how much he ______ it. So he picked it up again, and after about a year, I started to ______ him at the track. Just a few weeks later, Charles signed us ______ up for a five-kilometer race. I ______ about doing it because it was too soon.

The ______ sent a signal. Thousands of runners pushed forward. The first kilometer was ______. I was already breathing heavily and painfully aware of the group of runners ______ me. Charles was trying to ______ me, to get me focused on something _______my discomfort.

After another minute I saw the three-kilometer ______. “Painful” couldn’t _____describe how I felt. And there was pain, so much pain. I rounded a ______, and saw both sides of the street ______ with people watching the race, all ______ the runners up. I tried to keep my ______ going. I knew that if I actually ______ this race I would have achieved something. So, I ______ up and went on.

Finally I passed through the finish line. A volunteer put a medal around my neck. I ______ held my medal, walking to the post-race celebrations with Charles. My lungs and my ______ zone both expanded.

【推荐1】Many years ago, when we first went to Canada, we were driving through Montana to Colorado with our two children, then aged 8 and 11. As it was getting __________, we started looking for a hotel, only to find out that it was __________ time in that part of the country, and all the hotels were __________.

Finally, around 9 o’clock in the evening, we __________ at a gas station to fill up with gas. My husband asked for a __________ book and told the woman at the counter that we were trying to find a hotel. She told us it would be __________. He tried for 15 more minutes. When he was __________, the woman, Linda, said she and her family lived nearby and would be happy if we spent the night at her home.

My husband was __________ at her offer of generosity(慷慨). She called her son to __________ us, since she had to work at the gas station till midnight.

When we reached their home, her husband ____________ us. He invited us to have coffee and chat while we ____________ his wife. She came past l2 am. We asked if we could slip away in the morning so as not to disturb them. They said we were now ____________ and we would have to have breakfast with them.

Next morning, we ate breakfast, and when we were ____________, my husband asked if he could offer some ____________. They would not hear of it and insisted we were their guests. We kept in touch for many years, and invited them to our ____________, too. Over the years, we lost touch, but have never forgotten their kindness.

【推荐3】Shetara Jones, a struggling single mother, happened to win $100 on the lottery. ________, she made up her mind to donate all the money to the family of a police officer, who had unluckily been shot dead on his job.

Despite her own financial worries, Jones did so without any hesitation. At a time when many Americans facing ________, like many others, she had recently lost her job as well. As a resident said, Jones’ family had only a little money left when she saw a dollar bill at a parking lot and bought a ________ ticket with it, winning $100. Upon knowing that, her daughter suggested they donate it to the family of the ________ officer rather than ________ the money and Jones subscribed to the idea.

The policeman’s family’s difficult situation was a ________ of their own hard experience. One of Jones’ daughters was killed before. “The police were really there for us more than anyone I can ________,” said Jones. “They came to help us a lot. They did a lot. They were fathers, advisers, therapists (治疗专家). They were everything in this world.”

With the purpose of ________ some of the hope these officers offered to her family, Jones called up the police station for her donation. She decided to give away the money without ________ her name or phone number.

Soon after that, news of the ________ donation spread throughout the city. Officers spent days ________ her down, hoping to find her. “It’s really ________ to us,” said a spokesman for the Police Station.

Once they learned her ________, officers launched a campaign for Jones. Thousands of people had ________, wanting to help. Within a few days, it had raised more than $60,000. “It’s kindness from people like Jones that motivates ________ including him to keep serving.” said the spokesman.