Do you like trying different things? Are you afraid     1     things that you think you’re bad at?

Last year I started to learn Tai Chi (太极)in order to improve my health and reduce my stress. It was something new for me, and I found it to be quite difficult, very     2    (difference) from anything I’d ever learned before. Small     3    (move) are important in Tai Chi. I was used to being fast and active ,     4     to learn Tai Chi I had to learn patience. Now I’ve found that I’m a much more patient person than before, and Tai Chi isn’t nearly as difficult as it     5    (be ) before.

We tend     6    (like) things we are good at —— that’s normal. For example, I’m naturally very good at badminton and tennis, but I’m very bad at anything     7     involves keeping balance, such as skating, skiing and gymnastics. Tai Chi has     8    (great) improved my balance which has been a very good thing for me.

My point is that you can keep     9    (do) the things you know you’re good at and live in your comfort zone, or you can try something new. If you don’t try new things, you’ll never know what it would be like to try something new to challenge     10    (you). It will definitely pay off in the end.

Raised by a single, immigrant mother, Christina Williams and her two brothers didn’t grow up with much. So one day when the family was listening     1     the radio and heard about a call-in competition, Christina decided this was her chance to get something     2     (much).

The third-grader called in and after     3     (answer) a few small questions, won the $50 prize. “It wasn’t much, but to me, it was everything because it showed me there     4     (be) bigger things and chances out there,” she said.

Her mother helped her put     5     money in her very own bank account (账户),     6     made her be able to deal with her finance (财务)     7    (free). Now, as an adult, she doesn’t have to worry about money but she’s never forgotten that small win as a child.   

“It inspired me to start my present project     8     (name) Back Getters, a company that helps others ‘have each other’s backs’, ” she explained. “I hope that people will    9     (encourage) to make kindness, sympathy, and compassion the first things in every communication they have because every single one of us is so     10     (power) and our actions, big or small, can have a huge effect — just like that $50 I won from the radio station.”

When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to     1     (they), many put friends ahead of homes, jobs, clothing and cars.

A true friendship carries a long history of experience     2     determines who we are and keeps us connected. It is a treasure we should protect. Unfortunately, the     3     (good) friends you are, the more probably you’ll have disagreements. And the result can be what you don’t want— an end to the relationship.

The good news is that most troubled friendships can     4     (mend). First, don’t let your pride get in your way. Most of us can forgive each other when     5     (difference) are brought out in the open. Second, apologize when you’re wrong-even if you’ve been wronged. Over the course of a friendship, even the best people make mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the wronged person takes the lead and     6     (apologize). When you apologize, give your friend a chance to admit that he has been wrong. Third, see things from your     7     (friend) opinion. And finally, accept that friendships change as our needs and lifestyles change.

    8     (make) friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the natural ups and downs that have an effect     9     all relationships. My suggestion: Consider friendship     10     honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure and nurture（培养）.