1 . I used to be the most determined resolution-maker. Every January 1st, I would dutifully sit down and write out my resolutions for the upcoming year. I always ________ big goals, like: In the new year, I will lose 50 pounds! And run a marathon! Oh, and be the best parent ever who never ________ my children!

The problem? I never accomplished those resolutions. I’d start out strong, but by February or March, I’d be out of willpower and I’d ________ quietly back into my old habits. Every winter, I’d feel ________ and ashamed, looking back at all of the amazing things…I didn’t do.

Two years ago, I started experiencing severe stomach pain. The doctors ________ a surgery to go in and ________ it out. But ________ I could have the surgery, I found a lump(肿块) and was diagnosed with breast cancer. I started treatment for the breast cancer only to ________ that the stomach pain was from appendix(阑尾) cancer. That’s ________: two different cancers, with two different treatment plans, at the same time, in the same body. It was a lot to ________, and I won’t lie – the next year was incredibly difficult.

The experience completely changed my perspective on my life— especially about what I consider “success” and “failure.” Before, I always felt like I was ________ somewhere, but now ________ being alive and with my family felt like a huge success.

I understand the ________ of having a new beginning, but I learned that you can take the opportunity to start over at any time. January 1st is just a day, and it’s not ________. You can make the day you decide to be a better person a special day, regardless of what the ________ says.

2 . As I had grown up in Belgium, going to university in the UK made me feel _________ and lonely. Although I was struggling, I felt unable to share how I was feeling with anyone and didn’t know where I could _________ for support.

Things were getting harder and harder, and one day I was on my way back to _________ when I had a sudden thought that _________ my life would be a way out. I was in my own world when a lady standing nearby came up for me and said: “Are you waiting for a _________? Are you OK?”

_________ I didn’t say much back to her, the little conversation was all it took to interrupt my thoughts of ending life. I got the next train back to university. The small talk was a wake-up call and made me _________ it’s OK to reach out for help. I spoke to my university and they provided me with a teacher to help. I also shared my feelings with my loved ones. By seeking some timely and useful help and being _________ about what I was feeling, I created a strong support network that I could _________ when I needed to.

When I started working at Network Rail in 2012, I heard that Samaritans provided __________ for staff working in the rail industry on identifying and helping people who may be vulnerable (脆弱的). __________, I knew I had to sign up. I wanted to turn my __________ into something useful and positive, and to equip myself to help others who might be feeling like I did back then. The training was fantastic and interestingly shone a light on the fact that everyone has the __________ to save a life.

So, if you __________ someone who you think might be struggling, try talking to them. You already have everything you need to save a life. Take it from me, starting a __________ can be all that it takes.

3 . I take cold showers. Several years back, the water heater in my house broke, and for weeks, bathing in freezing water was my ________. Although it took some getting used to, I discovered that there was something ________ and energizing. Moreover, the cold shower has changed the way I ________ life.

The worst part about showering in cold water is the moment right before ________ into the water. As soon as you hop in, though, your body quickly ________ to the temperature, and it’s not so bad the rest of the way. For me, stepping into the cold water means ________; it’s getting over the hesitation that comes from knowing I’m about to do something ________.

One of my first “cold shower'” moments came one day in my high school, when I ________ an internship after a career day presentation. One of the speakers was a manager at a large Silicon Valley venture capital firm. The more she talked about her job, the more I became ________. Since I had an interest in economics as well as technology, working at a venture capital firm seemed like the ________ place for me. So, I decided that I was going to ask the speaker if her company hired interns.

As I approached her, however, I was a bit upset. After all, why would a successful business woman offer a job to an ________ high schooler? Still, gathering up my ________, I walked up to her, and introduced myself. We ended up having a wonderful conversation, and even better, she ________ to interview me for an internship. That summer, I ended up having the ________ to work for her firm. My “cold shower” experiences these years have ________ me that good things happen to those who are willing to step out of the comfort zone and challenge themselves for more possibilities.

4 . When I first heard from my doctor that I was allergic to hay (干草), it weighed pretty heavily on my mind.

I grew up _________ around big open fields and playing with the animals on my friend’s farm. There were no limits set on me as a child.

After I _________ about my allergy, I felt that a kind of _________ had been placed on me. I could never get a rabbit or a pig, since hay is the main component of their diets. I remember that _________ feeling in my stomach when I realized I was so seriously allergic to something that I’d always need to keep the pill within _________.

Disappointment at this _________ was the first feeling that sunk in. With time, _________, I began to see my allergies as a gift.

I was the kid that tried never to _________. I was okay with enduring a six-hour drive in a(n) _________ car with my knees to my chest. I was okay with eating burnt or under cooked food. But this allergy finally let me feel __________ saying “no”. I finally felt free to refuse to go places or do things where my allergies would act up. I didn’t have to apologize for or explain my __________ at the smell of grass clippings. I didn’t have to __________ myself for not wanting to sit on the grass with my friends on summer days while I got bitten.

Yes, my hay allergy __________ some activities, but it’s also given me a broader appreciation for experiences I actually like and want more of. I’m __________ to be getting a dog instead of a bunny. Let’s be honest, a bunny brings you more trouble.

I ought to thank this allergy for giving me the space to be __________.

5 . I live in a town near Prague(布拉格), the capital of the Czech Republic. Besides cars, bikes are the most important _________ of transportation(运输). As it _________ you to go almost anywhere you want, cycling is a big _________ for Czech people. On weekends, you can see cyclists _________ through the towns wearing helmets (头盔) and cycling clothes.

Some people _________ that living in a town is inconvenient (不便利的), including me. _________, I find life in towns much more _________ than that in big cities after living here for a while. I was _________ given a bicycle by my host family. _________ it is only an ordinary bike, I was still __________ and couldn’t wait to take a cycling trip alone.

One sunny Sunday afternoon, I took my first cycling trip to a village nearby. I cycled for a while, alongside a river. But then, something happened: One of my tires __________. There was no choice but to __________ my bike back home, which took an hour.

I didn’t give up though: One week later, I __________ again. This time, however, there was__________ wrong with my tires. It was a very beautiful town, with a typical Czech castle and a park full of peacocks. People were taking part in a marathon that day. There were also stands selling __________ Czech foods and drinks, such as potato pancakes and beer.

It was already sunset when I __________ to head home, and I saw almost no one on the way back. As the warm breeze softly stroked (轻抚) my face. I felt very __________ and happy.

I believe many of us need a(n) __________ like this to take a break from our __________ life sometimes. So, I really do encourage all of you to take a cycling trip alone, even just to a nearby village. Just look around you, and you’re sure to __________ some hidden beauty.

6 . There's an old saying to the effect that if something can go _______, it probably will. Recently my wife and I took a trip, by ship, to Hawaii. It was a nice trip and we enjoyed it but the cabin we were in had problems.

One day, I awoke in the small hours of the morning and_______my way across the dark cabin to the washroom. On the way I stepped _______ a puddle （污水坑）on the carpet. Then I found that there was a slow but _______ drip of water coming from the ceiling. So I called the ship's office. Someone came, addressed the problem, pronounced it _______ and went away. That night the ceiling was dripping again. I called and someone came. This time they _______the ceiling apart and spent some time with tools searching inside. They pronounced the problem solved and went away. The ceiling dripped. We put a towel on the floor to catch the _______.

Though the drip had_______ the next day, some black and sticky things came out from the main drain （排水管）in the ceiling. Someone came and _______ the ceiling.

The following day there was a note on our desk expressing _______ for the problems we had been having. The note was _______ down by a bottle of nice wine. We were very _______ to accept the peace offering and just owed the experience to bad _______.

In general, cruising on large ships is a wonderful experience and, in the main, it was a great trip. I suspect, _____,that if all this had happened to someone on their first cruise, they would have sworn never to go to sea again. Although I hope I don't end up like this on our next trip, don't let the_________things beat you down.

7 . 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.

8 . My grandmother was a funny person who believed in superstitions (迷信). For example, when I put my ________ and spoon down on the plate, I heard Grandmother let out a loud sigh. “Why didn’t you ________ all those grains of rice on your ________, Mei Mei? Do you want your future husband’s ________ to be covered with pimples (粉刺)?” asked Grandmother so ________ that I tried my best not to burst out laughing. Turning to my parents for some ________，I saw that they were equally ________ but definitely not coming to my rescue. Shaking my head, I ________ cleared the plate clean and made sure that I ate every bit of food left. From the corner of my eye, I saw Grandmother ________ her head in approval and could not help but smile.

My grandmother had lots of old wives’ tales and funny stories which she often ________ with me. Sometimes, I would try to convince her that her beliefs did not ________ and always ended up getting a light tap on my palm (手掌). Getting my palm ready, I said, “Grandma, look at Mum’s plate. There are grains of rice all over! How come Dad doesn’t have a single pimple on his face?” On ________ that, my parents started laughing ________! Even my grandmother could not hide her smile. She sighed again and ________ her hands up in the air, giving up on trying to teach wisdom to her ________ grandchild.

9 . For most kids, birthday is the happiest time of the year. "How many times do I have to sleep till my ________?" the kids ask me about a million times a day. And no matter how many times I ________ them, they keep on asking.

So I ________ the tradition of making a theme birthday countdown（倒计时）for kids. For now, as my kids are ________ small, I do the preparations. But ________ I intend to also involve the kids in the party ________ and in making the birthday countdown for their brothers or sisters.

So when the birthday of my six-year-old girl got ________, I started to plan a new birthday countdown. She had been talking for the past year about her ________ to have a fairy birthday, so I didn't have much choice on the ________. Ten days before the day, a birthday countdown made of 10 fairies "magically" appeared on the wall of our living room.

Each fairy ________ a small "surprise package" with an activity and some goodies for her and her brother and sister. This way, all the little people in the house were ________ about picking a fairy from the wall each morning and getting some surprise goodies. And there were no more "How long till my birthday" questions, ________ they could just see how many fairies were ________. Task completed!

For me, the fairy birthday countdown was ________ a success. The birthday girl was ________ when 10 days before her birthday she walked into the living room.

10 . 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!