2 . The first time ever I realized that plastic was a serious matter for our planet was during a road trip in Western Australia, almost 12 years ago.

We ________ at a supermarket along the Coral Bay coast to buy some groceries and the lady at the counter told us they didn’t sell any shopping bags in order to prevent plastic in the ________ and to help preserving the endangered turtles living in that area. After a first reaction of surprise, we ________ all our shopping in our arms and left.

This was just one of the many experiences I’ve lived that made me more ________ about my impact and pushed me to adopt different habits to live and ________ more sustainably.

Our trip to Borneo was another life-changing ________ that has strengthened my resolution to a zero-waste lifestyle. While traveling in some countries, we came to know that ________ drinking water was always a challenge. So we had to travel with our water bottle, and we ________ to avoid using plastic during our trip.

Besides, we were also ________ impressed by our stay on Libaran Island. A sustainable turtle conservation ________ and the community had made big efforts to ________ the beaches and creatively reuse plastic for ten years. Despite that, the shore is ________ daily with tons of plastic coming from the tides.

Facing this global issue ________, raised in me a feeling of sadness and anger that soon turned into ________: to do as much as possible to reduce plastic in our life. Small changes can ________ a difference!

3 . Tima Abudhi is a 55-year-old mother of five. When growing up, she remembers watching her neighbors _________ at the mangrove forests (红树林) around her village on Pate Island, on Kenya’s east coast, to build houses or to sell as wood.

As the mangroves _________, so did the fish that live among their roots --- a _________ for the fishing village of Kizingitini. The threat to their livelihoods and homes _________ Abudhi and other women to start replanting the mangroves, often spending all day at the _________, taking time away from caring for their families and _________ their small businesses. Protecting the mangroves over the past few decades has _________ their incomes, but they felt it was a matter of urgency, Abudhi said.

“Replanting the mangroves is not _________. We have to go early in the morning to get the seedlings (幼苗) and then come to the beach and plant them until evening, just before the tides _________ again. We couldn't make __________ time for our businesses,” she said.

Today, the women of Kizingitini no longer have to __________ to both make a living and conserve the mangroves, thanks to a loan scheme that helps them keep food on the table so they can __________ to continue planting. “This has led to increased __________ of women in conservation and community development, as well as reduced __________ inequality,” said Abudhi.

Mangrove forests can __________ flooding and are considered key to controlling climate change and protecting people against warming-linked disasters.

4 . In 1972, I was studying in Passau, Germany. One night, I was ready to walk the two miles home. Normally, walking around a city in Germany was___________for single women regardless of the time of night._________, I thought nothing of walking alone.

My _________took me through a street with lots of cheap restaurants and pubs that served food and beer. Normally, I just walked through without_________. But that night, as I walked past one of the pubs, four young men noticed me. They called out a few rude words, but I_________them and kept walking. However, they came out and started to_________me. I turned up and down a few streets, hoping to lose them, but in_________.

After the fifth turn, I was_________that I was in trouble and started praying._________, from one of the darkened yards, a huge German Shepherd rushed out. He was barking excitedly, wagging his tail, and__________me like he’d been waiting for me to come home.

The young men spotted the dog and __________right away. I got a sense of__________and started walking again. Strangely, the dog followed me all the way until I got to my door.

As we__________my door, I slowed down to pull my key out of my purse. The dog kept his__________and walked right past my house without even looking at me. With a__________heart I watched my angel disappear into the darkness.

5 . When Mina was just nine months old, she was abandoned by her parents. But she was ________ by a family after a year of living in an orphanage.

From an early age, Mina began to play with animals and ________ she had great love to them. In fact, what she loved to do most was ________ the local animal shelters, and when she was 8 years old, the family also adopted a dog named Lily. Mina liked the dog and ________ it many tricks, including how to give a hug.

One day while ________ Lily, Mina met Dr. Stecco, who was walking her dog as well. Stecco has adopted many ________ dogs for Senior Dog Rescue, a San Franciso-based nonprofit organization that rescues and rehomes senior dogs. ________ by what the organization does, Mina visited the Senior Dog Rescue, where she made a ________ to assist senior dogs.

“I love the Senior Dog Rescue,” she said. “The dogs may be old, but they're so friendly and not ________ , which is why I want to help them.” Later she started a pet-sitting ________ called Pet Fairy Services and donates her ________ to the Senior Dog Rescue.

Up to now, she has already ________ seven thousand dollars of her own money. “I feel very proud to know that. I have saved many dogs’ lives and given them another chance to enjoy life for the ________ years of their living,” she said. “I feel like all dogs should get a forever ________ just like I did.”

She said, “I took care of my grandpa very ________ and want to look after these dogs in some way because they're senior and just like my grandpa.”