1 . I was ten when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. Prior to that, she had been a(n) _______ woman, active to an extent most people found astonishing. As a child, I was amazed by her accomplishments. But at thirty-one, her life _______. And so did mine.

She could do anything, I _______. She won tennis tournaments. She took photographs and held her own exhibition. She _______ as a newspaper columnist, and she cooked Spanish dishes for the family.

Now, she faced her illness with the same _______. Words like “disabled” and “physical therapy” became part of a(n) _______ new world we entered together. _______, I began to help take care of her. And it became routine to _______ her into the kitchen, where she instructed me in the _______ of peeling carrots and potatoes and how to prepare a decent breakfast.

Every accomplishment was a ________ for us both: the electric typewriter, the car with power steering and brakes, her return to ________, where she earned a master’s degree in special education. She eventually founded an activist support group called The Handicappers. One day, without ________ much beforehand, she took me to a Handicappers meeting. I had never seen so many people with so many ________. I returned home, thinking how ________ we really were.

Because my mother accepted her condition with such optimism, I rarely felt sad or resentful about it. Instead, I viewed her drive to look forward to things I ________ as a great mystery and powerful inspiration in my life.

2 . Summer Clayton may not have children in real life, but he’s “a proud dad” to 2.8 million people on the Internet.

Every week, he sits down to dinner and has a _______ chat with his “kids”. He looks into the camera and asks about their day. He _______ them how to shave, and reminds them it’s OK to be _______ when life hurts. To some, his one-way conversations may seem _______ . But his efforts have struck a chord (引起共鸣) among people who _______ a father figure — or just someone who listens to their_______in the daily life.

Clayton is a civilian fitness trainer in real life. He started _______on the Internet in late 2020 with inspirational and how-to videos, and_______ jokingly called him “dad”. His first video to go viral was a shaving how-to — a _______ to someone who sent him a message asking, “Hey Dad, can you teach me how to shave?” The video ________ , earning him tens of thousands of new fans within hours.

Clayton’s extended family comes in all ________ . Many of his “kids” are old enough to be his parents. Clayton’s ________ doesn’t seem to bother his fans. At 58, Sarah D’Imperio may not seem like Clayton’s target audience, but she believes that it’s a(n) ________ idea, especially for youngsters who may not have a paternal (父亲的) role model that listens or has ________ to listen. “It’s just heartwarming to see someone trying to________ a small part of that role for anyone,” she says.

3 . With a broad smile on her lips, 15-year-old Sirin rushed to her mom to show off her new painting. But her mom raised her eyebrows, and spoke in a hushed tone, “Shh... honey.. don’t shout. I am busy with a(n) ________ talk.”

Holding her oil painting, she ________ and then searched for her dad. “Dad, see what I have done,” Sirin announced aloud in a(n) ________ voice. Her dad smiled and just patted her on back lovingly, saying, “No time, baby. I’m late for work.”

Hearing this, she stormed off to her own bedroom, slammed the door and ________ herself on her bed, sobbing. When her mom was calling her for dinner, Sirin arrived late deliberately. She kept silent, ________ the table mat with her nail. Her mom was puzzled at the ________ behavior. Suddenly, the morning ________ clicked in her mind. Softly, she asked, “Honey, did we do anything wrong?”

At this very moment, Sirin could no longer ________ her anger. “Why is everybody so busy?” she roared, tears streaming down. She assumed that, ________ ignoring her like others in her school, her mom and dad would appreciate her painting, but they were no ________. Shocked, mom threw her arms around her tightly, announcing ________ and firmly, “Baby, I am so sorry!”

When back from school the next day, Sirin was surprised to see her beautifully-decorated ________ on the wall. It was beautifully framed and just below the painting, it read, “Honey, we are really proud of you!” ________ her parents’ stress from daily routine, she felt sorry about her previous behavior. She ________ her head and apologized.

4 . My phone was an extension of myself. I couldn’t go anywhere _________ it. I scrolled through my friends’ _________ into late night and turned my phone on before my eyes were fully open. I enjoyed having it until that day when I realized that what had started as a useful tool had turned into a(n) _________. So, I made a _________ decision to turn off that smartphone and _________ my old dumb phone out of hiding.

When I was watching TV shows or movies and there was a boring part, I _________ picking up the phone and checking out “what everyone else was doing.” Now I had to pay attention or find a way to _________ myself with my thoughts instead. When I visited New York City, I had to write out _________ and ask people where an intersection (十字路口) was _________ pulling out my phone.

I have welcomed silence into my life with open arms and am enjoying the increased __________ from not constantly having to fight with the __________ to check my phone while I’m trying to get something done. I am allowing my thoughts to speak to me instead of my phone. I am connecting with others in a __________ way that isn’t all about me. Instead of always posting about what’s going on in my __________ perfect life, I am connecting with my friends one-on-one, talking about the reality of our lives and being there for them from a place of __________.

As much as having a smartphone was __________, not having one is freeing on a much bigger level.

5 . Gaining work experience is key for boosting your employability, especially as a business student.That’s why, after my second college year, I ________ to intern (实习) for a part of the summer.

I ________ a six-week internship at a local bank, called Rawbank. At the start of each week, we were sent to a new department where we were ________ about work process and then given an experienced employee to ________. During the process, we mostly took notes and were given small tasks. After two weeks I was ________ to a “permanent”position at the front desk, where I ________ small daily operations such as check deposits, withdrawal slips and such.

In short, for four weeks I was treated and ________ like a regular employee of the bank. I had to be there at 7:30 every morning, and ________ to have positive interactions with clients at all times, no matter how I was feeling personally.

During my internship there, the ________ was working the front desk the morning of pay day. I had to deal with an endless stream of impatient and demanding ________, but just seeing my colleagues supporting each other, and heading out together to socialize after work, made it all ________.

My six weeks there allowed me to ________, and it also helped me to gain new skills and experience that I did not ________ have. Most importantly, I gained a new sense of professionalism and a clearer ________ of what it meant to be in the professional world.

So I would advise everyone to take the opportunity and do all internship, ________ it is not necessarily in the industry that you wish to work in.

6 . I’m a 47-year-old teacher. I am so blessed to work in the greatest ________ for 20 years. Despite the ______ schedule and hard work, I finish each day feeling I have made a ________ . This is the drive that keeps me ________ and passionate. As Christa ‘ McAuliffe said, “I touch the future, I teach.”

When I was named Maryland Teacher of the Year, I received a congratulatory e-mail from a former student who is now ________ Georgetown University and is a leader in the student-run Women in Politics group. Recently, I watched a college basketball game to find another former student ________ up and down the court for Georgetown. Walking through a supermarket yesterday, I ________ encountered a former student, who handed me a business card for the company he started, at age twenty-two. Another student said he is in the ________ of applying for law school at Howard University. Believe it or not, I ________ former students with similar success stories nearly every week.

Seeing their success and knowing that I was able to make a small ________ to their success is the greatest ________. Those glorious moments ________ me to continue hoping to play a role in the life of every child. Sometimes, while I am watching my ________ students working in class, I try to ________ what they will be doing ten years from now. I would not ________ my career for any other. I literally touch the future every day.

7 . My father was a restaurant owner. My name is Vincent Lim. I’m a chef and restaurant owner. Running a Chinese restaurant is one of the hardest and most_________things in my life.

When we first arrived in Australia, my dad_________a Chinese restaurant. I would go there on a_________basis to help him out. And slowly I developed my_________for cooking. The hard work that my dad put into Chinese food makes me feel so proud that I am lucky enough to learn from a_________

The first dish that I ever learned to cook was the fried rice, which is the easiest but also the _________one to get right. From years of experience, I can_________you the difference between a good fried rice just from the feel and from the smell, without even taking a bite.

To lots of Chinese immigrants like us, the restaurant isn’t just a business. It’s a sense of _________. The wok hei (锅气)_________every ingredient in the wok, producing an appealing smell. The fragrances of the food__________the air and lingered around so much longer. Those memories, they become nostalgic (乡愁). The sense of home is what makes a__________good dish taste.

In 2017, my dad passed away. I realized that my love of cooking dishes was from my childhood. I __________the restaurant that I own today. Cooking was a__________way to my dad. I wanted to __________everything that he taught me. Cooking__________all the hard work and memories that we had.

8 . Tackling behavioral problems at school is not easy, but Dr. Terrance Newton is doing that with a _________ effective solution.

In his first year as principal of Warner Elementary School, Newton has already seen a _________ change in his at-risk students. All it took was a few quality _________ and a pair of clippers.

Newton saw the _________ as soon as he started at the school. Bullying was _________ and students were constantly being _________. He believed the best way to solve this was to build positive relationships with students. So, he _________ to set up a barbershop at school. Having cut hair before, Newton _________ the barbershop could be a safe space for students to _________. And he was right- not only has he bonded with former __________, but suspensions have dropped from 103 to 4 in the last year! Even better, bullying has all but stopped.

Kamisha Collins has seen the __________ in her 11-year-old son, Brandon Ponzo. “In the beginning of the school year, my son started off really __________ and was not getting along with Dr. Newton, but now they have built this __________-he loves him very much,” Collins said.“Dr. Newton says positive things to them while cutting their hair. And my son’s behavior and grades have improved so much.”

What a brilliant idea not to mention a __________ leader! A little love and care can make a big impact on __________ kids.

9 . If the plant could thrive (茁壮成长), maybe I could too, even with cancer.

After my cancer diagnosis (诊断), my friend gifted me a lucky bamboo plant in a deep-green pottery bowl. Despite my physical limitations, ______ the green plant became an achievement during a time when I felt ______.

As a family physician used to ______ care, now I was the one relying on others. The _________ change left me feeling unsettled. Watering the plant, as small an act as it was, ____me to my old identity and taught me I could still be a caregiver and be ______.

Through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (化疗), I ______ looking after the plant, and it thrived, so did my ______.

But then, ______, its leaves kept browning and dropping to the floor. The ______of its struggles made me frustrated and uneasy. I seemingly related its struggle to my own health, fearing it ______ the return of my tumor (肿瘤).

As my anxiety eased, I ______ guidance online to figure out how to better take care of the poor little thing. Following the   ______ found, I transplanted it to a larger pot, allowing more room and nutrients it required. When it returned to the sunny window, we both began to thrive again!

Now, the lucky bamboo was not just a ______item in my home but a representation of life, and the ability to find ______ even in challenging circumstances.

10 . During my first improv (即兴表演) class, I learned a core concept of improv: “yes, and.” It means that, as improvisers, we accept what fellow performers say. If someone says that zebras are librarians, for example, then zebras are librarians. We do not _________ the logic. we say “yes” and continue with the scene as if nothing is wrong.

To do this _________, our teacher warned us that we’d have to avoid second-guessing ourselves. Sometimes scenes go in unexpected directions. The best improv_________ when performers stay open to different possibilities and say whatever pops into their minds.

I got a taste of how _________ that is when acting out my first scene. My classmate turned to me and said, “Mom is going to be so mad.” Mad about what? My mind spun out ideas, and my inner critic shot them all down. We broke the car? No, that’s too easy. We failed a test? No, you don’t want your classmates thinking you’re stupid on the first day. I finally _________ an answer: “Yes, we’re going to be late for dinner.” The scene proceeded from there, and we eventually finished as two sisters who lost their way on a hiking trip.

The first few scenes were hard, but as weeks turned into months, I became more comfortable thinking on my feet. I never _________ my inner critic entirely, but over time, I didn’t police my words with quite so much vigor. I also became better at _________, relating to my conversation partners, and communicating clearly in the moment.

The training came in handy 6 months ago, when I was giving a seminar (研讨课) about my science. An audience member surprised me with a question that didn’t _________ the information I’d presented. Instead of getting annoyed, I _________ the “yes, and” approach — accepting the question at face value and letting my mind focus on why it was asked. That helped me find an appropriate answer.

The benefits of improv go beyond __________. Early on in graduation school, I would get stuck when I got unexpected data in my experiments; my inner critic would assume I had made a mistake. But now, after accepting the “yes, and” concept, I no longer go into an experiment thinking that I already __________ the story my data are going to tell.

Last year, I used that approach after encountering confusing data. Instead of getting __________, I kept exploring the data and ended up identifying a new type of cell. If I hadn’t stayed open to the possibility that the results were __________, I would have missed out on the most exciting finding of my PhD. so far.

All scientists can benefit from this lesson. If the data say zebras are librarians, then it’s worth investigating whether zebras are, __________, librarians. Our job as scientists isn’t to get data that __________ a pre-understood story. Our job is to say “yes, and”.