【推荐1】This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series from the Hidden Brain team about people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.

Mary Amato was having a(n) _________ crisis. She quit her job and became a stay-at-home mother after her first child was born.

People would say, “You _________ working.” and for Amato, that felt more like an accusation(指责) than a(n) _________ of fact.

“I had been working harder than I had ever worked and not getting a single paycheck or _________ from my social network,” she said.

_________, her husband, a(n) _________ science writer, did get recognition for his work. He won an award from a chemistry association. She joined him at a feast in California where he was praised for his work.

The room was filled with a lot of scientists, _________ men. It was a(n) _________ affair and the couple dressed up in a tuxedo(无尾晚礼服) and a formal black dress.

Eventually, the host _________ her husband with a very long list of his accomplishments. Then, he turned his __________ to Amato and gestured to her, “A homemaker and mother of two.”

Amato was __________. “I remember feeling a sense of __________, and I thought they must see me as stupid or as a traitor to the cause,” she said.

Amato became very self-conscious, too embarrassed to __________ with people after the speeches. So she just sat at her table staring at her dessert plate until an older female scientist walked up to her.

“She said, ‘I just want you to know that what you’re doing is so __________,’ ” Amato said.

Those simple words were exactly what Amato needed at that time and they completely changed her __________.

That moment happened years ago, but it still has a big influence on Amato.

【推荐2】My two-year-old and I were on the train from Carlisle to Manchester. It was a spring _________. Then along came an older lady, with a _________ look on her face. She asked other _________ if they had seen her case (箱子). She was going from compartment (车厢) to compartment, looking for it. A lad (young man) sitting close to us _________, put a hand on her shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. I’ll help you find it. “

The pair set about _________. About half an hour later, her station came, and went, and still it wasn’t found. She started to _________. He gave her a soft hug (拥抱) and _________ he would stay with her till the case was found and until she got to where she was going, _________ it took another day. She asked him about his _________ and said she was worried about his trip. He said it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t __________ her. Then they went off to find the __________.

Over the next hour, we __________ as the case was found, and the two worked out a plan for how to get her back to her __________. The lad had found a double seat in front of us. __________ they told me with the help of the conductor (列车长), the case was finally discovered in another compartment. Then the two spent the rest of the night having the __________ chat about interesting things they had both done in their lives. It was the sweetest thing I have ever experienced.

【推荐2】At an early age, I suffered from a serious digestive (消化的) illness. I _________ several doctors. Then, I _________ some blood test and it showed that I had a medical condition in which the body cannot digest food that contains gluten (谷蛋白). I was advised to stop eating milk products from my _________ for six months. After making these dietary changes, my digestive health _________. After seeing how food affected my body and life, I developed a deep interest in nutrition (营养学).

_________, I went to study nutrition at the College of Naturopathic Medicine (CNM). I was _________ by the practical learning methods suggested by the experienced teachers and the interesting _________ given by them in class. In addition, I was amazed by how _________ my classmates were in sharing their knowledge and experience with each other. My time at CNM prepared me for _________ my own business and it was a great __________ for making friends and discovering opportunities.

I now __________ at the Nordic Clinic in Stockholm three days a week. I see a variety of __________ with a wide range of common illnesses, __________ them to get well through nutrition. I love my work, because it feels meaningful and I'm making a __________ to other people’s lives. I can’t imagine retiring from work because I know learning never stops and I love __________ applying my knowledge and helping people in need.

【推荐3】It was the first day of high school for Emily. As she walked to school, Emily felt nervous. She had heard _______ from her older brothers about how worrying high school could be, and she was afraid she wouldn’t _______. But as soon as she arrived on campus, her _______ were put to rest. She saw _______ faces from her middle school and soon made new friends with students in her classes.

Her first class of the day was English, and Emily was excited to _______ her new teacher, Mr. Johnson. As Mr. Johnson entered the classroom, Emily could see the enthusiasm (热情) in his eyes. He began to _______ himself and then asked each student to stand up and share something about themselves. Emily listened as her classmates _______ their hobbies and interests, and was inspired by their diversity. When it was her turn, Emily stood up and _______ introduced herself. But as she spoke, she gradually gain _______. She was happy to be in this new ________.

The rest of the day flew by. Emily went from class to class, learning about history, science, and math. She was ________ by her teachers’ knowledge, and she found herself ________ the rest of the school year.

That day, she ________ that high school wasn’t as scary as she thought it would be. She was excited about what the ________ held. She knew that she had a lot to learn, but she was ________ for the challenges.

【推荐2】Papaji, my grandfather, was a strict man. A glance from him was enough to ________ me in line. Yet every summer I looked forward to seeing Papaji.

It was a family ________ to visit his farm every summer. We enjoyed feeding and washing the animals. One morning on my way to the animal sheds, I heard clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack, ping.   It stopped me in my________. I hid behind and peered (费力地看) at the source of the ________: Papaji in his study, typing a letter. As I leaned (探身) farther to see better, I ________ through the door. Papaji’s eyes glanced. I hoped the ________ would be short. He called me over and I________ him slowly, saying I’d been ________ by the sound of the typewriter. I’d only wanted to get a better look; I wasn’t going to touch anything, I ________. He didn’t say anything else. Not sure what to do, I stood beside him watching him type. I longed to touch the ________ yellow keys.   The keys hit the ribbon (色带), and letters appeared on the paper as if by________.

The rest of the summer I’d hear the sounds of typewriter keys and ________ toward them, fearfully at first but more ________ when I realized Papaji didn’t seem to mind. I stood silently, ________ the wonder of the words forming on the page and thinking of ways to________ Papaji to let me use the typewriter. After all, I planned to be a writer, and________ used typewriters.

But the next summer, my dream________. I hoped he would offer me a chance to try it, but he ________ did.

On returning home that year, I received a ________. In it was the typewriter! My strict grandfather wasn’t such a ________ fish after all.