1 . I was young and determined to take an adventurous trip. But _________ nearly 875 yards out of a cable car (缆车), with a rubber band attached to my ankles, was not part of my plan. It’s _________ how intentions can change.

Staring over the _________ of the cable car, my heart was in my throat. I _________ heard the others behind me counting down. How could I have let myself be _________ into this? It was crazy!

My palms were _________, and my heart was pounding.

“Five.” They started the _________ for the second time, ignoring my useless protests.

“Four.”

“Three.”

“Two.” In that instant I _________ my mind a million times and came to the final _________ that there was no way I could allow myself to leap out of the cable car, suspended so high off the ground.

__________ my ankles please!

Then...

“One.”

I let go and leaped out as far as I could. If there had been time to __________ it for another second, I would have stopped myself. But instead, I jumped.

It felt as if all my fears, insecurities, and doubts were being let go. An enormous sense of __________ rose up in me. As I fell toward the earth __________ first, I saw my new friends waiting for me on the ground and could hear them __________ my victory over fear.

Jumping out of the cable car put me on __________ of the world, and that’s where I am determined to remain for the rest of my life.

2 . Neal Moore was boating along New York State’s Mohawk River. Now he was _________ the end of a journey that began 22 months ago.

His paddle (桨) has touched 21 bodies of _________ so far on his way across the continent. “22rivers, 22 states, 22 months of journeying” has been his declared _________.

At evenings, sunset often _________ upon a chosen part of sand — the river showing him where to _________. He likes sleeping on islands, where it is _________ because there are no fierce animals. He’ll want himself to awake one hour before dawn, and in _________ with the first hopeful rays of morning he will push off into the stream, _________ nothing.

Moore was anything but _________. But his mother wanted him to do something __________, and to do something pure.

The __________ changed his life. “When you push yourself out of your comfort zone,” he concluded, “this is when you __________ and grow.”

On December 14, 2021, Moore made his final approach to New York City. Near the George Washington Bridge, the winds came up so strong that he __________ with his bow (船头)   pointing in a wrong direction, but he made it.

It was hard to __________ it was coming to an end: 7,500 miles, 22 rivers, 22 states, 22 months, just as he’d said he would do.

His mother was __________— he had done something extraordinary, something “pure”. But it’s over now, and he wishes he could just keep paddling.

3 . One day, Marga asked if I would join her in hiking to Base Camp at the foot of Mount Qomolangma to celebrate her 60th birthday. I _________ the opportunity.

We met our guide Achut Pandey in Kathmandu. He was a man of joy and _________, who had been to Base Camp over 100 times.

When we left Namche Bazaar, we took the Three High Passes route, which is less-traveled, longer and more _________. The temperatures ranged from the teens to below 0°F. We were nearly _________. When we were done with dinner, we _________ ourselves to our sleeping bags. While we _________ were able to down a couple of eggs and a piece of toast, the higher we went, the less we _________. Eventually, it was a lot of _________ to just eat a bowl of rice. The altitude _________ us in other ways too. As our appetites slowed, so did our ____________. Renjo La Pass, the first pass, was supposed to take eight hours. It took 12.

Achut’s faith in us was never ____________. He greeted us each day with a ____________ “good morning.” Before we ____________ Base Camp, he carried our packs and skillfully negotiated our moods and capabilities. We trusted him as he ____________ us, confident and strong, up and down icy, ____________ and sometimes narrow paths.

Thanks to Achut, I made it, at 65.

5 . Many people dream of going on a great travel adventure. Most of us keep dreaming; _________ make it happen.

Gregg Bleakney’s _________ was to travel the Americas from top to _________. He _________ the idea after he finished a 1,600-kilometer _________ ride. Gregg’s friend Brooks Allen was also a cyclist. The two friends talked and _________ on their goal: They would _________ from Alaska to Argentina—by bike.

To pay for the journey, Gregg and Brooks worked and _________ money for years. In 2005, after four years of planning, they _________. Once they were on the road, they often __________ outdoors or stayed in hotels. In many places along their route, __________ people opened their homes to the two friends and gave them __________ and water.

During their trip, Gregg and Brooks cycled through __________, rain forests, and mountains. They visited __________ cities and explored ancient ruins, such as Tikal in Guatemala. In many places, they __________ other cyclists from all over the world.

In May 2007—two years, countries, and over 35,500 km later—they __________ reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America.

Gregg and Brooks kept a __________ of their adventures in an online blog. The trip __________ both men a lot about traveling. Here is some of Gregg’s advice.

Travel light. The less luggage you have, the less __________ you’ll be.

Be flexible. Don’t plan everything. You’ll be more relaxed and happy, even when there are __________ along the way.