1 . We never know when our paths with long-lost friends come together. It can happen anywhere and usually when most ________.

Last month, a friend’s mother ________, and I attended the memorial service. While consoling (安慰) her, I suddenly ________ my two friends with whom I was no longer in contact. They were ________ with one another on the other side. It didn’t take me more than an instant to know the ________ thing to do. So I walked to them and said hello.

I knew it could go either way. They might not be ________ talking. Or maybe one would and not the other. As it turned out, all three of us chatted for over a (n) ________. We shared news about the latest things that were happening in our lives. There was so much to let each other ________ wonderful things, ________ things, losses, lost loves, and even health issues.

We each showed an interest in the ________ of one another, asking questions and ________ full of attention. We were catching up, and most of all, we were _______ again.

Our mutual friend, whose mother died, overheard us stating our intentions to make an effort to rekindle (使恢复) the ________. Despite being in a state of grief, she was ________ to hear our discussion. She was the only one who had kept in contact with all of us lost souls.

I was glad to ________ have the opportunity to mend broken friendships. But I never imagined it would happen at a funeral.

2 . Brothers Mike and Nick Fiorito had a smooth life in the first 30 years. _________, they decided to quit their highly paid jobs since they realized that they often felt unfulfilled. At first they felt _________ about future without knowing what to do, but eventually they came up with an idea to help the homeless folks after _________ their poor situation on the street.

They _________ Blankets of Hope with their own efforts, which turned into a global nonprofit organization that also encourages kindness in schools. The brothers sent the blankets to schools. The kids would write the notes, and then _________ the brothers in delivering the blankets to homeless shelters in their local communities. They _________ students so that every blanket includes a note handwritten in classrooms to _________ homeless folks across the country.

Now, their organization is very _________ — reaching nearly 20,000 people in need across America, Canada and Mexico.

Adults can _________ as well. They can make efforts by donating on a GoFundMe page so that the brothers could have enough money to purchase the blankets. Thanks to people’s generous __________, the brothers aimed at __________ another 20,000 blankets this winter. And they expected these blankets would not only keep people warm, but provide a friendly __________ to another soul. The brothers tried to do what they could to make a __________ despite the sweat. They are __________ that more and more people can join them in __________ the kindness.

3 . At 13, I resolved to be an amazing teacher, overwhelmingly driven by a _________ desire for superpowers, which some of my gorgeous teachers had.

In fifth grade, Ms. Charlotte, an English teacher could magically _________ us to different worlds every day. She encouraged us to find something beautiful on our way home or to school. Perhaps, it could be a _________ of freshly baked bread drifting from someone’s house, or the sound of breezes slightly rustling leaves. She _________ curiosity into us. She guided us to bravely _________ joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, modesty, loyalty, duty, kindness, friendship, sympathy, generosity, creativity, truth and faith.

She told us stories from books we would otherwise never _________. Currently, I still remember highlights of the classic she shared, The Old Man and the Sea. After Santiago, an old fisherman came in empty-handed for eighty-four days, we couldn’t imagine what difficulty he had _________ a huge marlin. At the sight of the beautiful huge _________, he was unable to _________ his excitement, with a bright smile __________ to his face. Yet, a __________ battle lay ahead. He felt faint but held on the great fish with all his strength. “I moved him,” he thought, “Pull, hands. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. You never went.” For two days and nights __________, the huge fish dragged the boat drifting. The elderly was in danger. Once, twice more, once more he tried and he felt himself extremely __________ when he turned the fish. Finally, the fish was stabbed (刺，戳) and tied to the boat.

What a man! So Ms. Charlotte inspired us to fight for our own pride and defend it, __________ the fact that life will set obstacles on the way to future with challenge, hardship, perhaps loneliness too, which will take all of our courage. It is true that a man can be destroyed physically but cannot be defeated spiritually.

Now, dear teachers, we love you and thank you from the bottom of our heart! I will keep the __________ song you’ve taught us in mind.

When your dreams come alive you’re unstoppable

Take a shot, chase the sun, find the beautiful

We will glow in the dark turning dust to gold

4 . I was shocked to see my baby Dani with a cleft(唇裂) at his birth. After the delivery, I wasn’t _______ to see my baby. All I could do was to ask for information about Dani. Dani had his surgery on the seventh day! It was a terrible experience. I buried myself in great _______.

Things _______ when I met Dr. Anastassov, who brought Smile Train—sponsored cleft care to Bulgaria. Dr. Anastassov was my _______ from the moment we met. He helped me build the confidence in Dani’s _______. At six, Dani finished his speech therapy(矫治) and could speak as _______ as everyone else.

Dani wanted to be a _______. When he began his formal training, the medical exam was very _______ for him. They knew he was different, even if they couldn’t immediately tell how. So they worked him harder than the others. But Dani showed great _______ and passed. He is now ________ his dream as a pilot!

Being Dani’s mother is a(n) ________. He has been so successful because we ________ him to understand that people with clefts should not be ________, because they can do anything.

Now I ________ Smile Train to help those like my son. I ________ my experience with them. I’m happy to work here and make change for the better every day.

5 . This morning, before I left for the airport, I had hurt my back. And I could _________ lift my bag off the floor, let alone _________ it into the overhead locker. Luckily, one of the flight attendants put it along with two cases for me.

At that time, a man _________ in front of me must have noticed that I was asking for _________. When the plane _________, he instantly stood up and got my bag down. He also _________ to carry one of my cases down the _________. And then he waited at the bottom of the stairs for me to _________ to get my bag.

A lady walking beside me carried my other case full of things for me. It was obviously _________ for her, but she managed it. She seemed not to want her kindness to be __________, so I silently accepted it. Then I saw her again at the carousel (行李传送带), and she took my bag off the __________.

I would have managed to do all of these things on my own, but these well-meaning humans sensed that I needed help and just __________ in without me needing to ask. It was one of the most __________ experience I had ever had. I couldn’t feel __________ enough to those persons who had taken time out of their lives for a (n) __________. I was so appreciative of their kindness that I would remember it forever.

6 . The other day, while I was grocery shopping, an older man suddenly put his hand on my shoulder, making me jump. My first instinct was to get _______ and ask him not to touch me. Then I noticed the man was crying, looking upset and _______ .

Suddenly, he asked, “Do you know where my _______ is? I've been looking for her.” I told him I didn't know and suggested seeking help at the store's front. His _______ grew, “She was right here.” I offered to walk with him to the customer service counter to make a(n) _______ for him. He agreed.

There, the woman asked for a name. He _______ me, expecting an answer. _______ , I explained he was a stranger and I had no further information. By then, it became _______ to me that this man was suffering from Alzheimer's. Having experienced this with my grandfather, I recognized the _______ all too well.

I asked if he had a phone, and he wasn't sure. With his ________ , I checked his pockets and found a small phone. Browsing through his ________ , I spotted one labeled “Daughter Krissy” and dialed it.

His daughter answered quickly, and I explained the situation. She ________ me to keep him from wandering off until she arrived, and I promised to do so. For 20-something minutes, I stayed with the weeping man, providing support and ________ . Finally, a young woman rushed in, his daughter Krissy. “Thank you,” she said. “I had to leave for just an hour, and this ________ . I'm so sorry.” She explained that he sometimes runs off and looks for his wife, who passed away 13 years ago.

Helping him up, she expressed her gratitude again, and as they left, I heard him inquire about his wife again. My heart ________ , but I was so happy to see him with his family again.

7 . Isabella Springmuhl Tejada is one of the first professional fashion designers with Down Syndrome (唐氏综合征).

Her path to success wasn’t ________.Although she showed her________.for design in childhood, when she would spend hours designing paper dresses for her dolls, she was________from several fashion schools due to her disease. She had no________but to seek other ways. She________for a sewing course, where she was________to sew clothing for finger-sized traditional Guatemalan (危地马拉的) dolls, which she________happily. Meanwhile, she also made a(n)________in designing dolls, creating some life-sized dolls and dressing them in the colorful traditional embroidered jackets she’s now famous for.

This design experience helped Tejada develop her own design style,________traditional Guatemalan patterns, colors, and materials in her culture. She also created her own brand Down To Xjabelle,________for people with Down Syndrome, knowing how difficult it was for people like her to find________! clothes. The new brand ________right away, making it all the way to London Fashion Week, proving fashion can________all barriers and borders.

And the ________designer talks about her plans for the future as well, “I want to export my brand all over the world and________that people with Down Syndrome can do what they set out to do.”

8 . Peter worked at a grocery store. Recently, he _______ a second job to help pay for his sick friend Dan and his own son’s _______.

Although the job was boring, there were times Peter especially _______. At that time the supermarket was _______, being full of customers. One day, a young woman named Angela caught Peter’s _______ when she turned to her two children, “Sorry, babies. Mommy can’t _______ to get your sweets and snacks, so please put them back, okay?”

The children began to cry and Angela tried to _______ them. Then Peter quickly swooped (接近) in, _______ to help her to pay for the _______. Peter was glad to see the children happy and Angela a little at ease.

The next day Angela returned to the store and explained to Peter, “Thanks for your kindness. It really ________ a lot. I’m a single mother and lost my job, so things are a bit ________.”

“Well, I am ________ aware of your situation. I need help with my friend’s medical bills and my kid’s college. Nothing comes cheap.”

Angela was grateful for Peter’s help. Peter’s actions and ________ touched Angela, and she thought to herself, “This man had his share of ________, yet he was still kind enough to________ and help me. I should pass this kindness on.”

9 . I was born in a poor village in Uganda. I spent the ________ days of my childhood there. My mother died when I was born. My father never cared about me, which ________ me to leave when I was ten. For the next three years, I helped people do something and they provided me with shelter and food ________. Luckily, a ________ family paid for me to go to school. For the first time after leaving home, I felt ________. Then, I attended school and got a job. I always ________ to help children in need. Yet I ________ felt I could do something more.

In 2016, I got passed to be a foster (收养) parent. By the end of 2019, ten kids had filled my house. In 2020, I got a call from a center for ________ children. When asked if I could take Anthony, I ________ it because ten kids were all I could do with. ________, I was talked into taking Anthony just for the weekend. I didn’t ask about his situation ________.

Anthony arrived that night, “Can I call you Dad?” he asked.

“No.” I needed to keep my ________.

Monday morning a worker in the center came to ________ Anthony. From their talk, I learned he had been ________ three times, but nobody would take him in.

Looking at Anthony, I saw something that made me think of the ________ boy I had once been. “I’ll take him in,” I said.

10 . John and Mary were approaching their home town by car when they noticed some smoke. Mary said. “Oh, well, it isn’t our house on _______ . Let’s go home.”

John, however, _______ up and they were both horror-stricken to _______ the whole house was burning. A woman was _______ , “The children! Get the children!” John grabbed her, “Where are they?” “In the basement,” she cried.

Despite Mary’s _______ , John quickly soaked (浸湿) his clothes and ran to the basement which was full of smoke and extremely _______ . He found the door and _______ two children, holding one under each arm. As he _______ , he could hear some more whimpering (抽泣). He _______ the two badly frightened children into the arms of the people ________ outside, asking how many more children were down there. They told him two more. Mary wanted to stop him again, “John! Don’t go back! That house will ________ in any second!”

But he went back anyway. It took him a very long time to find the two children. They three were all ________ and they bent to get some ________ air. As they stumbled (蹒跚而行) up the endless steps, something strangely ________ went through his mind. The little bodies he had just ________ were his own children.