【推荐3】Residents of urban areas often make use of public transportation on their way to school or the office. But when their final _________ isn’t near a bus stop or subway station, those folks have a problem. Transportation experts often _________ to this as the “last mile” problem — finding a way to close the gap between public transportation stops and one’s destination.

With the last mile problem in mind, the makers of the URB-E _________ a compact electric vehicle that weighs around 13 kilograms. Unlike bikes, which often don’t fit on crowded buses or trains, the URB-E collapses into a form _________ to carry-on luggage. And since the URB-E can be carried _________ anywhere, it’s not as vulnerable to thieves as bikes are.

Depending on usage, the URB-E can travel for 32 kilometers on a single _________, reaching a top speed of 24 kilometers per hour. Although there are other vehicles attempting to _________ the last mile issue, the URB-E _________ for its ease of use, portability and affordable price. For the price of a nice laptop, you could have an URB-E to drive to the office.

The URB-E is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and comes in two basic models: the URB-E Commuter and the URB-E GP. The main _________ between the two is that the Commuter model has two rear wheels while the GP has only one. That means the Commuter offers greater stability, as __________ to the GP’s ability to make sharper turns like a bicycle.

Both models come with accessories __________ LED front and rear lights and a shock-absorbing seat. They also __________ a smartphone holder and USB charging port right on the steering column. In fact, smartphones play a big role in the URB-E app to do things like monitor battery charge or control the lights. __________ accessories include a cup holder and a folding luggage shelf.

At this year’s international Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, tech website The Verge awarded the URB-E with its “Best Personal Transportation” award. Singing the URB-E’s __________, Verge editor Ben Popper said, “The URB-E felt like the kind of vehicle an enlightened citizen of 2030 would own.” So why wait that long, when the URB-E is __________ for order now?

【推荐3】From Disappointment to Purpose

I’m known for my determination. If I want something, I _______ for it; I refuse to give up ___________ I succeed. Over the years this attitude has worked well for me and helped me achieve my goals. For example, when I wanted to be on the dance team at school, I learned all the dances and practiced until I could hardly _________. And when I wanted money for a new computer, I washed cars, babysat, and walked dogs for all my neighbors.

_______ this year everything changed. I had set my sights on a summer _______that I was determined to get at the Water Zone, because the employees there could go on the water rides after their work and get free food at the snack bar. It was the _________ job to have on hot summer vacations. So just as I had achieved every goal in the past, I set out to _________ the job. I completed the application in my neatest handwriting, carefully prepared for my interview, and gathered a pack of _______ letters. I was certain that nothing could keep me from my dream job.

But after my ___________, the manager of the Water Zone told me that he could hire only those with experience in water safety. I was ____________. I felt like a failure.

On the last weekend before school ended, my teacher, Mrs. Keller, asked me __________ I would be interested in the kids’ summer day camp. I decided that I had nothing to __________, so I called the manager and ____________ an interview. She was ____________ by my babysitting experience and employed me. In less than a week, I had completely __________ about wanting to work at the water park. Each time I comforted a little boy who missed his mother or a little girl who needed to help tying her shoes, I felt I was doing something __________. I realized that I had discovered my life’s __________: to work with children. I now have a new goal. I’m going to study to become an elementary school teacher.

Sometimes in life we don’t get __________ what we want. Our dream guy or girl may not be interested in us. The coach may not select us for the team. A certain employer may not choose to hire us. It’s natural to feel __________; I sure did. But I also learned an important lesson. Occasionally, when we don’t get what we want, something even ____________ is waiting for us around the corner!

【推荐1】Alexandra Adams, 25, is a four-year medical student who was born both deaf and blind. However, she has ______ to let her condition prevent her from becoming a doctor.

Being completely deaf in both ears without hearing aids, and with 5 percent sight in only one eye, she relies on her other ______ such as touch to feel for veins (血管). “You can ______ a lot about patients just by listening to them.” she told The Daily Mail.

Miss Adams was ______ to take part in the 2012 Paralympics as a swimmer aged 16, but her previous serious stomach problems went very wrong, ______ her to be hospitalized for 18 months.

The experience saw her switch her attention from swimming to ______. And she was finally ______ to Cardiff University.

Recalling her first placement (实习), she said: “When I arrived, a doctor asked why I was walking with the patient’s stick. I had to explain it was ______ mine. I was told not to touch any patients — I felt really ______. That first day I had faced a level of discrimination I was ______ for.”

Recently the student is ______ the older patients in palliative care (姑息治疗), with her ______ proving to be a popular conversation topic. She described the patients’ ______ as ‘wonderful’, adding: “They don’t discriminate”.

Miss Adams is ______ about disabled issues. Though having limited ______ she takes photos of other disabled workers around the UK, and she ______ their stories in her blog Faces of the NHS to show different ______ of the workers in the health service.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: “Alexandra is a(n) ______ woman who got over difficulties through hard work and ______. I hope her ______ will inspire thousands.”

【推荐2】Follow Every Rainbow

Shirley Jeanne Allen loved to sing and play the piano. She studied music in college and her ________ was to become a concert pianist or blues singer.

Everything ________ when she was 20 years old. She became sick and she almost died. Doctors gave her medicine to help her get well, but the medicine ________ her to become totally deaf. She could no longer hear the music which she had always ________ .

Shirley certainly loved playing the piano, but she did decide to change ________ . She transferred (转移) to Gallaudet University and studied English. In 1964, Shirley graduated from Gallaudet and looked for a ________ . She wanted to be ________ and work full-time.

For three years, Shirley worked as a clerk in Washington, D. C. ________ , in 1967 she was asked to work at Gallaudet University as a dorm supervisor (宿舍监管员). She also taught English. Somehow she found time to ________ school at Howard University in Washington, D. C. In 1972, Shirley received her MA degree.

Always ________ a new challenge, in 1973 Shirley became a professor at National Technical Institute for the Deaf( NTID ), which ________ deaf and hard of hearing students technical and professional training.

This ________ woman became the first black deaf female in the world to receive her PhD. She made ________ in 1992, when she received the highest degree in education from the University of Rochester in New York.

Dr Shirley Jeanne Allen has travelled many roads and ________ many rainbows searching for her dream. With courage and ________ , she never gave up.

【推荐3】The student arrived early, sat front and center, and stood out in my classroom in more ways than one. I’d say that he was about 40 years older than his classmates in my undergraduate_________class at California State University, Los Angeles. He_________jumped into class discussions, with his humor and wisdom of experience. And he was always_________of other students’ views, _________each of them were a teacher. Jerry Valencia walked in with a smile and he left with one too. “These students gave me the_________so that I didn’t need to feel bad about my_________.” Valencia says.

One day, I_________Valencia on campus. He said he would have to_________taking classes that term and reapply for next year. By then, he_________to have earned enough money from construction jobs and have his student loan papers (贷款文件) in order. But he said he was still coming to__________to attend events or see friends. He asked seriously__________ he could still sit in on my communications class. Sure, I said. But he wouldn’t get any credit (学分). No problem, he said.

Soon there he was again, back at his old desk, front and center,__________into our discussions on how to find and tell stories in Los Angeles---a 63-year-old Cal State LA junior with as much energy and__________as any of the__________in class.

A lot of Valencia’s classmates apparently knew he couldn’t__________that term’s tuition (学费) but was still doing the homework. “Here he is,__________taking a class for the joy of it and the__________of learning. You don’t see that in our__________.” says Jessica Espinosa, a 25-year-old junior. Valencia __________and took the final exam too.

Valencia’s grade in my class this term will not show up on his report card. But I’m giving him an A and in the most important ways, it__________.