1 . I was 17 years old. Along with a dozen other boys I had made a long trip to Iowa in order to see a college that I was thinking of _______. While the trip had been _______ for the most part, I was feeling depressed, alone, and isolated. I was _______ the Appalachian mountains and the forests of my home. I loved _______ the leaves turned a thousand _______ of green in the Spring and then became a _______ of red, gold and orange in the Fall.

Here in Iowa everything was _______. The grass looked burnt and brown. All that I could_______was a mixture of corn, mud and pigs. I walked outside the dormitory of the college and sat on a big rock. I closed my eyes and _______ being back home again. When I finally opened them, however, I saw something that touched my __________. It was a Prairie (大草原) Sunset. It seemed to __________ the sky from horizon to horizon. Gold, red, purple and pink clouds all __________ together in a picture painted by Heaven’s own hand. It was so huge that it took my __________ away. It made our mountain sunsets seem __________ by comparison. I realized that this place too had its own special beauty. This place too was a part of nature’s__________.

2 . Travelling alone can be a little frightening. However, this time is _______. Last week I had a holiday from work, but all my friends were occupied and none of them had the same_______ as mine. Such as it was, I still booked a train ride to Toronto and _______ a bed in a hotel for one week.

One week by myself! Would I be lonely? Would I be _______? Quite the opposite! In fact, there are many _______ that come from travelling alone. Firstly, I was able to do whatever I wanted. I enjoyed spending hours in museums that might have seemed _______ to some of my friends. I walked all around the _______, which some people may have found too exhausting. Instead of _______ someone else to remember _______ or to suggest activities to do, I discovered my independence and ________ map-reading skills that I didn’t know I had. I could   ________ and go to sleep when I wanted. Being in the safe environment of a hotel with like-minded __________ also gives a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, which can help conquer ________

I found that there were also some disadvantages of travelling alone ________ the benefits. I missed having someone to talk to and to ________ ideas with. Experiences are often more enjoyable if they are ________, and part of the fun of travelling is the ________ that you have with your friends or families afterwards. ________, eating in a restaurant or cooking in the hotel alone is less fun.

I am very ________ of myself for travelling alone and I had a fantastic time in Toronto. I would rather be by myself than with someone who is lazy and ________ to deal with in the future!