1 . My mother was always knitting (编织). What a shock to me when she recently admitted that knitting was a great way to help her get through stresses of ________four children. And I realized that knitting has also been________to me.

My mother ________me to knit when I was about 6, starting first with the beginner’s scarf. But I soon abandoned the________, as it was boring for a young child.

My next knitting adventure was an awakening in Madison, Wisconsin, where I was in graduate school and feeling the________of the demanding program. One day, as I cycled to school past the knitting store on State Street, I stopped and went inside. I was not even sure what I was ________. The gloves in the display area caught my fancy, and I determined that I would learn to knit these ________gloves. Too big a project for a beginner, but the store employees were kind and patient with my daily visits for instruction. In the following months the project ________to a gift of gloves for each one of my dear friends, and miraculously, the gloves saved my soul in that tense semester of studies and other life________of love and loss.

My ________fingers wrapped in yarn (毛线) have long relieved my anxiety during medical appointments and hospital stays for friends and family. Knitting during the pandemic eased my despair at not being able to ________in my usual volunteer activities that had been central in my life for decades. I channeled my energy into knitting dozens of scarves to donate to a shelter and this helped me feel ________to the community.

Knitting scarves and blankets for my daughter when she went away for university brought me ________as I imagined every stitch (针脚) of love wrapped around my now-adult child—as once my arms protected her when she was ________.

My mother’s influence on me is great, but the major life lesson she taught me through knitting is that there is a step-by-step ________of building, tearing down and rebuilding. It requires patience and a belief that stitches that are cast off can always find their way back on.

2 . Pooja Rani entered the boxing area at age 18 all thanks to her coach Sanjay Kumar. However, even with much _________ , Pooja felt shy to wear the boxing gloves. She also knew that her father would not _________ her taking up this “violent” sport. But Pooja went after her interest _________ anyway until one day when _________ came to her father—he discovered the truth and stopped her playing the sport.

“My father wasn’t _________ of boxing because he thought it violent. He didn’t _________ me playing other sports but boxing was a _________ no-go zone,” Pooja said. It then took six months of continuous _________ from Pooja and her coach Sanjay to _________ her father to change his attitude.

She won the National Youth Boxing Championship (锦标赛) in 2009, which ____________ her career on an upward path. She bagged back-to-back medals and was qualified for the Rio Olympics later. Unstoppable as she was, her wins came to a____________ for some reason. It took her a whole year to get back on ____________. Pooja returned in an impressive way, winning gold medals at the Asian Boxing Championship in 2019 and 2021. This ____________ her to be the first woman boxer to ____________ the title. Given the road she took to get here, for us, Pooja is ____________ the “queen of boxing”.

3 . 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.

4 . I had a highly successful career, eventually rising to the position of department head. However, one afternoon last May, I was called into the office and _______ that my services were no longer required. I sat there in _______, overwhelmed by a sense of failure. Despite being _______ in my field, I suddenly felt worthless.

For the subsequent six weeks, I felt lost. I wandered around my house aimlessly, lacking the _______ to do anything. The once-promising future now seemed _______ with doubt and insecurity.

Then, towards the end of June, my youngest son’s soccer team _______ it to the city cup final. Two years ago, I _______ to fulfill my commitment to participate in the competition due to work-related reasons. This time, however, his face _______ with joy when I assured him I would be there. Not only did they win the championship, but witnessing the happiness on my son’s face as I _______ him on brought unspoken joy to my own heart.

From then on, I spent the summer attending game after game, supported my older son at his band performances, and ________ traveled to another city to watch him play. These moments held profound ________ for me. Having dedicated the entirety of my life to my ________, I am profoundly ________ that my sons warmly welcomed me into their world.

Surprisingly, being ________ granted me a newfound sense of purpose—I am someone’s mother! I regained a feeling of being ________. It was a feeling that I had not experienced in along time. Now I feel more positive about my professional experience in my new job and I’m getting on better with my family than I ever have.

5 . A former student of mine is now a teacher at my high school. She walked by me in the _______ this afternoon and said with a smile, “Ms. Harris, I know you love our word of the week — integrity. I heard it on the announcements this morning and I _______ thought of you.” I replied, “Thank you, Pharen; that _______ me.” She went on to say, “I always _______ you talking to me about integrity and _______ and how important they were.” I _______ her again and she continued on down the hallway.

As I reflect on this _______, it brings a smile to my face. Of the many _______ that she could associate with me, the fact that she associated the word “integrity” is important _______ of my influence as an educator. I believe that she connected the idea of honesty and moral character with me ________ the example I have set with my life.

It calls to mind a popular quote — “Let us not grow tired in doing ________, for at the right time we will reap (得到) a harvest, if we do not give up.” I am ________ for a reminder today — when it seems that no one is ________ it — that the important values are being caught and ________ if I just keep “doing the right thing”. As a teacher, I know in ________ you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.

6 . I’m a mom of two teenagers, and I often visit Disney theme parks alone to recharge.

These trips give me a break from my daily ______ and some much needed alone time. If you’re ______ what a mom at Disney should do all on her own, here is what I did during a recent stay at the Four Seasons Resort on Disney World.

When I checked in online before my visit, the hotel ______ me to choose the type of bedding I preferred. Since I didn’t have to think about anyone else’s ______ I chose a pillow mattress topper and microfiber pillows, sleeping like a baby, right in the center of the bed, ______ by pillows, for the night. My hotel ______ several works from the Disney fine artist DomCorona, so I spent time walking through it and seeing his art, which normally my kids would have found ______. I waited in line to meet my favorite Disney character and took a moment to ______ for a photo with Donald Duck. However, my children would never want to stand in ______ long lines for this experience. My hotel room had a(n) ______ oversized bathtub, so I was soaked (浸泡) in a bubble bath with a glass of wine. Since no one else was around to control the ______ , I could watch a movie I’d been wanting to see for a long time. Finally, I watched fireworks in my pajamas.

______ began to slip in while lying lazily by the hotel’s pool? The answer is NO! Your kids won’t have such burden either and they may ______ it when you have a break from them. Moms are no ______ to the idea that self care is important. You’re one of your child’s most important models and taking time to ______ yourself and have fun shows your kids that adulthood isn’t all work and no play.

7 . “What are those?” Jennifer asked me. I looked over at two large raised beds (苗圃) and answered, “Those are potatoes.”

In class, she usually ________ herself in the work in front of her. Today, however, she frowned. “But...” she started with her voice fading to a ________ . With a sinking feeling I knew where this ________ was going. “But they’re green.” she started again. “Well, the bits we eat,—the ________ —are brown, while what you are looking at is the part above the soil.” I tried my hardest not to sound ________ .

Looking ________ , Jennifer shook her head. I knew the situation certainly called for immediate ________ . I reached over to the potato plant,________ it by its branches and leaves, and pulled. As the plant was ________ into the air, several large tubers (块茎) dropped onto the ground. I held the plant high in the air,________ a few more potatoes that were still attached at the roots.

Jennifer stood with a shocked look on her face. I held one out for her to touch. As she took the potato in her hand, understanding ________ across her face. Once ________ from the stems and leaves, the tuber was now something that she recognized.________ , she smiled and said, “I had no idea where they came from.”

For me, that best ________ how much pupils seem to know about their food and its production. This is why I started an eco-garden at school. We need pupils to be given opportunities to interact with nature and inspired to be ________ of the world around them.

8 . Julia Jarman’s family was upset when she was diagnosed(诊断)with cancer. But soon, her grandson Vigil made a plan to fill Jarman’s last days with an unforgettable_________.

When Vigil’s high school prom(舞会)was_________， his sister said: “Why don’t you just take Grandma to the prom?” Hearing his sister’s _________，the17-year-old immediately remembered that Jarman had_________ been to a prom. But his school had a(n)_________that students could only have partners under 20，so Vigil first_________the principal(校长)of his school to ask him if he could bring his grandmother. Luckily，the principal gave him_________. Excited, the teenager asked his granny if she would like to_________ the first prom of her life，and she_________   the invitation.

While other teenagers walked into the venue with girls of their __________，Vigil entered with his grandmother on his arm. At first, Vigil wasn’t sure how his schoolmates would __________ to watching him dance with Jarman. Later, he was __________to see everyone welcomed her.

The DJ played Jarman’s favorite song. Vigil recalled the __________moment: “She almost had me crying as she was singing it along with me while we were dancing.”

Vigil’s mother felt proud of him for putting in the__________ to please his grandmother. The teenager said: “My grandmother is my best friend; I just wanted to do something__________ for her.’’

“That night was wonderful,” Jarman revealed.

9 . The elementary school in Minnesota has a great playground. But it wasn’t _______ to children with some kind of physical disabilities. There was no wheelchair merry-go-round or any adaptive _______ in the playground. And the students of Betsy Julien’s fifth grade class felt like that should _______. Wyatt Feucht, one of the students, told CBS News, “It just didn’t seem _______ that some kids were just left out.” So, they asked their teacher if she could buy the equipment for the playground. Julien said yes but _______ the costs to be around $300.

So, the children decided to _______ the money themselves. They _______ bake sales, saved their money and went door to door to ask for   _______. With the _______ of the Glen Lake Parent Teacher Organization, they ________ reached their goal. Julien is ________ of her students. She told the news channel, “My future as an adult is ________ knowing that this generation of students, of changemakers, sees something that needs fixing, and they ________ for it headfirst.” And the students with physical disabilities are really ________, too. John Buettner, who is in a wheelchair, told CBS, “First time I set foot on this playground I’m probably going to start crying from seeing the ________ that all the school has made.”

10 . I was only eleven years old but I’d been the best runner, high jumper and long jumper in my school since kindergarten! But the one hundred meter race was the most _________competition for me. Nothing boosted my ego more than my schoolmates_________ me as I sprinted across the finish line.

But the_________news crushed my spirit -- a knee injury meant I might never compete again. It hit me like a knockout punch that left my ears ringing in_________.

The next day I was_________inside, while the other kids were outside running. Mr. Lewis encouraged me to_________my energy into the town poetry contest. Determined to find comfort in this new endeavor, I diligently crafted poems each day,_________ their rhyme and rhythm. But the sadness of being_________from track and field was overwhelming.

One day writing in the classroom, I caught Mr. Lewis_________scolding the boys in the next classroom who were exhausted and desiring to quit. “I’m__________of you boys! At this moment there’s a girl in the next classroom dreaming about competing in track and field! She’d do anything to take your__________, but because of a bad knee, she can’t! You should be embarrassed! You should be happy you can run every day without__________!”

For the first time, I felt__________and appreciated. Mr. Lewis understood how much I’d lost because of the injury. From that day forward, I created my__________with a strong belief that I would win the contest, for me and for Mr. Lewis!

That year, my small town__________my triumph as I claimed first prize. I owed my success to Mr. Lewis, his support fueling my inner fire.