Charles Darwin, a young man just out of university in 1831,    1    (offer) a job on a ship on a voyage of discovery around the world. Life on board was tough. Darwin was    2    (terrible) seasick and was only happy when he was ashore collecting plant samples and observing animals. It was to be the most important journey in his life. It    3    (last) for five years. 

Darwin studied nature in South America and in a group of small islands in the South Pacific. On each island there were birds. They were very similar,    4     the shape of their beaks, and even their eating habits varied. Darwin wondered why they were different. Then he realized that over millions of years, all plants and animals have gradually changed into the forms we see today.    5     we call “the survival of the fittest” he named “natural selection”. He also called this slow process of change “evolution”. 

By 1846,he had published an article describing his voyage. Darwin spent the years    6     followed developing his theories and making them perfect. In 1859, he published them in The Origin of Species. It caused a huge    7    (argue). His The Descent of Man, 1871, pointed out that mankind    8    (come) from the same ancestor. Other scientists agreed with his ideas and took up    9    (he) cause. The church prohibited the    10    (teach) of The Theory of Evolution in some countries. However, today most people believe that Darwin is right.

Studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, was a life changing experience for me. There were so many challenges and cultural norms I had to adapt     1    , and I needed to learn how     2     (behave) in new surroundings and cooperate     3     people from different cultural backgrounds. Fortunately, everyone I met there was understanding and welcoming. I applied through International Studies Abroad (ISA), and they were incredibly helpful and made the process less     4     (depress) and overwhelming. Studying abroad let me see things from new     5     (angle) and learn more about cultures around me. I hope everyone     6     (grasp) the opportunity to pursue further studies abroad and to gain     7     understanding of different cultures, too. I believe studying abroad can help you     8     (strength) your abilities in cross­cultural communication and improve your general     9     (competent).

I have never wondered what I should do when deciding on a career choice. My top     1     (prior) is finding something that suits my passion. I developed     2    strong interest in information technology in high school, so I     3     (choose) a related university major and studied hard. After I graduated, I worked in a     4     (finance) company and was responsible for processing debt repayments for about five years. Then I wanted to try something new. As travelling was also one of my     5     (passion), I applied for a job that provided the chance     6     (travel) around the world. However, after two years of travelling and always having endless business to attend     7    , I kind of lost my passion. I decided to take a rest, so I resigned     8    my job and worked as a volunteer for an educational organisation. Then I dedicated myself to     9     (help) college graduates fit into society. Now I want to be a career coach. I am still an amateur in this field, but I believe I have acquired a lot of experience, from     10    I think others could benefit.

Jan Tchamani, an English teacher in Birmingham, UK, suddenly developed a serious illness and had to quit her job. At age 50, she found herself out of work and     1     (stick) at home with only her computer to keep her company. After     2    while, she discovered that     3     (surf) the Internet could help her feel less lonely and bored. She could listen to music, watch films, play games, and explore the world. She also joined an online group     4     she could talk about her problems and get support and advice from others. She realised that one of the greatest benefits of the Internet was its     5     (able) to remove the distance that usually exists between people.

She was so inspired by the people she       6     (meet) online that she decided to start an IT club to teach older people how to use computers and the Internet. She and her friends now organise events and collect money to pay for private teachers. Many people have been helped by the club. A 59-year-old man learnt how to apply for work online and found a great job. Now that he works and can take care of     7     (him), his daughter has time to study at university. A 61-year-old woman who was living alone has started a small online company together     8     two friends. She no longer feels lonely, and her company has become quite successful.

Jan’s life has been     9     (great) improved by the Internet. “When you go through tough times, you meet others who are facing similar challenges,” Jan says. “Thinking about other people’s situations inspired me     10     (offer) help.”

After seeing the advertisement in the newspaper, Perce Blackborow resolved     1     (join) the Antarctic expedition led by Sir Ernest Shackleton no matter what challenges might lie ahead. Unfortunately, his application was turned     2     because he was too young and not qualified     3    the expedition. However, he managed to get aboard the Endurance with his friend’s help. He     4     (hide) in a cupboard, but was soon discovered and brought to Shackleton. Although the captain was angry, he assigned the boy     5     (cook) for the crew. Their voyage did not go smoothly, and the Endurance became     6     (stick) in the ice. Before the Endurance was crushed and    7     (sink) into the sea, Shackleton had the ship     8     (abandon), and the crew had to camp on ice. They then sailed to Elephant Island. Soon after that, Shackleton selected a boat party and set off     9     South Georgia Island to seek help.

Studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, was a life changing experience for me. There were so many challenges and cultural norms I     1     (expose) to. I needed to be familiar with new surroundings and cooperate     2     people from different cultural backgrounds. Fortunately, everyone I met there was understanding and welcoming. Prior to     3     (go) abroad, I applied through International Studies Abroad (ISA), and they were enormously helpful.

Studying abroad enabled me to see things from new angles and learn more about cultures around me.     4     the whole, studying abroad can help     5     (strength) your abilities in cross­cultural communication and improve your general competence.

I have never wondered what I should do when deciding on a career choice. My top priority is finding something     1     (associate) with my passion. I had a strong fascination     2     architecture in high school, so I chose a related university major and studied hard. After graduation, I took up a job and was responsible for processing intricate     3     (analysis) for five years. Then I was ambitious     4     (try) something new. As travelling also made me     5     (fascinate), I applied for a job that provided the chance to travel around the world. However, after two years of travelling and always having endless business to attend to, I kind of lost my passion. So I quit my job and worked as a volunteer for an organisation which     6     (comprise) of experts. Then I devoted myself to     7     (help) them preserve precious antiques     8     being destroyed. Now I want to be a career coach. I am still an amateur in this field, but I believe I have acquired a lot of experience, from which I think others could benefit.