1 . With over 125,000 followers, 34-year-old Oliver James is a star in the Book Tok community. And it all started with a simple_________: Learn to read.

For most of the kids, school is a place where they can develop a relationship with learning in a_________ environment. For James, the opposite. _________ with learning and behavior. Disabilities made him in_________ education. “The special education system at the time was a lot more_________ on behavioral than educating,” he said.

Reading_________ carried over into James’ adulthood and it significantly _________ his employment opportunities and affected his self-esteem (自信). However, when he and his wife decided_________ to their family of three, James became determined to change things.

Starting his journey with a book of inspirational quotes gifted by his wife, James began reading bits out loud and _________ to TikTok. Being a motivational speaker, he would often combine his interests with his heartfelt honesty and personality. __________ will often send James more books to read in hopes for his book reviews.

But perhaps the biggest __________ has been the way reading has __________ James’ relationship with his son. In an interview, he shared that they’ve not only__________ over books but reading has proven to be a great __________ for mental health, which has helped James become a better parent. James’ new goal is to read 100 new titles by 2024 —__________ for any bookworm in this day and age.

2 . When I started learning German some time ago, I realized the power of stories and storytelling in my own life.

I was ________ memorizing my first few German words. And I quickly ________ that this time, my native Italian and the other languages I’d learned would not be of much ________ .

While it was quite ________ to memorize words similar to English, like gut, muss, Ende, and Freund, there were many words for which I had no reference to ________ . Among them were Schatz (treasure) and Insel (Island). And yet I learned these two words easily. How? The ________ is simple. Without even ________ it, I had already memorized these words through a story.

One day, when I was a kid, I was with my father at a flea market (跳蚤市场) and we ________ a beautifully illustrated (有插图的) children’ s book. The cover and pictures were so great that I almost ________ to notice that the ________ was not in Italian. “Luca, we can buy it, ________ the book is in German,” said my father. I read the title out loud, with some ________ : “Die Scha... tz... ins ... el.”

Once home, my father explained that it was a German translation of the famous book “Treasure Island” . He________me the Italian edition (版本) and suggested that I ________ it while turning over the pages of the illustrated one. Thanks to the story I read, I passively (被动地)________ two words in German (Schatz and Insel) which are usually quite difficult words to learn, at least for Italian speakers.

3 . The bell rang. Jacob smiled and he was glad his math class was _______. He grabbed his lunch bag out of his backpack and looked inside. He blinked. Beside his usual lunch, there was an envelope. Jacob opened it and slid out a (n) _______. It was of a suitcase. Jacob _______ what it meant.

The next day at lunchtime Jacob opened his bag. A new envelope peeked out. Inside was a tiny toy _______. Now he was _______! When he got home, he asked his mother, “Are we taking a plane somewhere?” She just _______ at him, her eyes sparkling. “I guess it’s a mystery(谜)” was the only _______ she gave him.

Over the next few days, Jacob _______ more: a small American flag, a leaf from a palm tree and _______ a juicy orange. Then one day, when he finally got to open his lunch bag, there was ________ in it except for his usual lunch. His heart sank. Maybe he had been wrong after all. Maybe there was no trip. He was very ________.

Just before the end of the day, the school secretary handed Jacob a small box. “This is for you and ________ your mother outside.” He opened the box. A smile slid across his face. He ________ and pulled out a small black hat with two round mouse ears.

He hurried down to the main school doors where his mother and father were waiting, with suitcases. “We’re going to Disney World, right?” Jacob couldn’t contain his excitement. “Mystery ________,” laughed his mother. “Come on, we’re headed to the ________!”

4 . My parents and I never really saw eye to eye on anything. When I was young it was just the ______ stuff — the length of my skirt or the movies I wanted to watch. _______, as I got older, I found that there was a lot more that we didn’t ______ — my choice of friends or what I wanted to study at university.

I went to university in another city at 17. ______ home has totally broadened my outlook (看法) on the world and has changed my opinions on lots of ______. I’ve encountered many amazing people with different experiences. My circle of friends includes people with ______ beliefs, values, cultures and different ways of approaching life. But the great thing is that we respect each other’s ______. I’ve learnt to question what I’ve been taught and not always agree just because that is what “everybody else” ______ .

When I went home to visit my parents the first couple of times, I found it really hard to ______. I found it hard to deal with not being able to _______my opinions as freely as I did when I was away from home. It was really upsetting. I used to get angry that my parents weren’t in ______ of my opinions. Now, I gradually realize that ______ I want my parents to respect what I say, I have to ______ their views. While it is ______, once I make an effort to respect their values, it is not a ______ to get along with my parents.

5 . William was one of my students. He adored plants but struggled with his reading. After the mid-term test, William’s ______ showed no sign of improvement. Until the last few weeks of the year, when we ______ the life cycle of plants, William excelled. I'd never seen him so ______ in the classroom.

As a class project, each child planted a sunflower seed in one of the containers and ______ its growth. I did this every year, with varying ______. Planting the seeds was exciting for many of the students, the ______ part much less so. It took too long to see results from daily watering, and most kids lost ______ and interest. As a result, they forgot to ______ their sunflowers-to-be.

But not William. Every afternoon, William made sure all the containers were ______ and nurtured (培育). By the last week of school, the ______ were about four inches tall, which really ______ me. In years past, few seeds successfully produced new shoots. And those that did had never gotten so tall. But these were ______. These were William’s sunflowers.

This is what it means to be a ______. At that moment, I knew I didn’t have to ______ William. I’d seen that special seed planted inside him. Others would too. And, one day, he’d start to ______, mature and shine —just like his sunflowers.

6 . I devote myself to music because of my grandmother. My mum and I lived with my grandparents from the time I was two until I was eight. And even then, I was at their house before and after school every day while my mother was _______. 

Grandma loved music. It was she that first _______ me to Elvis Presley as a very young child, and once I heard his music, I was truly in_______with it. Most five-year-olds ask for toys for birthdays, but I wanted Elvis’ albums. I would play them non-stop and _______ to the music in my grandma’s family room though my movements didn’t look_______. 

Grandma played the piano and _______ me to sing “America the Beautiful” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. I finally started playing music on the piano, and soon grandma was paying for me to take piano lessons from a lady living in the _______. I would come home from_______ and walk there for my lesson. I _______ took about nine months of lessons, but it was enough to give me a foundation and allow me to continue to teach myself. 

Last month when I came home to visit grandma in the hospital, I brought along my guitar with me. She was in great pain, but the music seemed to__________ her soul. She had me sing some songs and when I started to sing “Somewhere over the Rainbow”, her weakened voice__________ in with mine for a few lines. That experience was one of the most __________ of my lifetime and one I will certainly cherish forever. I told her of my music career and she was very __________ and said, “That’s wonderful!” I __________ to play for her throughout the week I was home. 

My grandma passed away two days ago. In my opinion, part of her will live on through every __________ I write or sing for her in my life.

7 . My mom taught me songs. However, she never taught me how to sing. Of course I never really learned the English ________ then, but I realize as I grow up that one does not really ________ to understand the language of a song in order to ________ it completely. I also realize that music has become an important aspect of my ________. I use music to ________ my emotions, my joys, and my sorrows. Also, music is an ________ aspect of our culture. For example, some people use music to celebrate weddings.

When I came to the UK I realized that music has ________ me to deal with times when I miss home. It has become my ________ and when I miss home, especially my mum,   I find myself ________ the songs that we used to sing together. ________ I hear a song that makes me think of my brother and I find myself smiling or crying.

People use ________ instruments to create music, yet none of the lyrics and ________ have similar effect on all of us. When I listened to people singing as they ________ the world cup, I realized that music can actually bring ________ to this world and through songs the people of this world can be ________ as one!

8 . When I was little, I spent much time at my grandfather's house, watching him paint all day long. What I remember most was how he _______ painting old ships.

As I grew up, we hardly _______ . I noticed he didn't really _______ much anymore. About a year ago, he had a heart attack. In and out of the _______ for a while, he recovered but was still _______ ,moving around his house in a wheelchair.

Then, I started _______ his house and we began to talk more. We discussed life and our interests. Every time I _______ , he wanted to talk a lot. I figured he was lonely and enjoyed the _______ . Wondering why he didn't start painting again, I made it a point to casually (不经意地) _______ it when I came over, telling him often that he should paint again.

It ________ ! He started sending me to buy paint and poster boards. He asked me about colors and ________ me his paintings. I loved the way he painted the ________ ships. He looked happier. Painting seemed to have brought back some ________ part of him.

Cleaning for my grandpa has brought us closer. Despite his seventy-five years of age, I ________ to discourage him from painting. Days like these are ________ , and I enjoy the little moments.

9 . I have been a student here for the last three years now. I really _______ it here, the teachers, the students, and everything. However, leaving my old school and changing to a new one wasn’t so _______ for me.

I had never changed schools before; I was quite happy where I was and _______ with everyone, but my mom thought it was time for a _______. My mom wanted me to better my skills which were something I wasn’t _______. I’ve always loved social sciences, but until sixth grade, _______ I hadn’t written one great essay (文章). My mom was right. I had to start learning more about writing, _______ it was a love of mine. It also is a very _______ skill to have because it is needed in every way that one might follow.

Afterwards, I didn’t want to _______ my old friends. I had been with those friends since first grade, and I thought that if I left school our ________ wouldn’t be easy. The summer of 2018 was ________ for me. I was feeling sick and nervous ________ that I wouldn’t make any friends at my new school. But then my mom tried to tell me ________, “Everything will be okay, believe me.”

After one week at the new school, I started thinking it was ________. I was enjoying the learning and having fun with my many new friends. With persuasion (说服) from my mom at first, I had made the right choice. I’m ________ to everyone around me, especially my mom.

10 . What happens when the novel A Dream of Red Mansions meets architectural psychology? How does a coffee shop ________ your imagination? Seeming odd at first sight, these are the questions ________ in Critical Thinking & Innovation, a course taught by Professor Xiong Hao.

For Xiong, critical thinking is a(n) ________ part of life which he loves most. After ________ his Ph. D., he joined Fudan University and participated in TV debates and talk shows. He is well known for his quick ________ and composure (沉着) on ________. “People are often restrained (限制) by conventions. Innovation is about thinking differently,” Xiong highlighted the ________ of critical thinking.

Students are attracted to the course for the student-friendly learning ________ in class. Previously, the course was run on an e-platform with ________ seminars as a supplement (补充). Students who enrolled in the course all ________ it. “The expressions used by the professor are very ________.” “The speed of teaching is just right.” These are some of the comments.

As a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, Xiong has to ________ several adjustments this semester. The course is divided into 60 sections and each lasts only 6 minutes to cope with ________ attention spans as students watch the videos online.

“As a teacher, I don’t know how well students are processing the information. For students, they may get bored or tired easily for the lack of ________.”   To make up for it, Xiong inserts questions and the students will have to choose the right answer before they ________. Offline seminars have been moved online as well.