1 . In my early thirties, I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5, 895 meters above sea level.

After months of preparation, I started my great _______.At the base of the mountain, I met Mik, a local porter, who warmly _______ me. Mik’s job was to carry my equipment up the mountain, set up the tent (帐篷), and carry everything back down after reaching the _______. Mik stood about 1.6 meters tall. I was _______ with a pack nearly as tall as his whole body. Just imagine this little man with the huge equipment _______ on his head.

The first day of the climb was _______ the rain forest, across a slippery (滑的), muddy ground covered with tree roots and vines (藤蔓). Mik was carrying 30 kilos on his head! By that evening, we made it to 3, 000 meters. The air was _______ and it was colder. When I arrived at the campsite for the night, my tent was already set up and _______ me.

Day two was much steeper (陡峭的) and rockier. I really had to _______ what I was doing. And I felt guilty for the tough.   ________ Mik had to work in Yet when I turned to Mik, he said with the biggest smile, “Polle, polle, ”which means“ __________, take it easy” in his native language. I ________ back, my burden lighter somehow.

Over the next five days, the climb got ________difficult. The temperatures could ________ from 21°C to below freezing in a few hours. At 5, 700 meters, there’s only half the oxygen ____________ in each breath compared to at sea level. That leaves many people with severe headache. Yet Mik remained ____________ . He always had a smile and a positive ________.It had an enormous impact on me, giving me the ________ to keep going.

Even today, when I find myself ________ with anything in life, I just think back to Mik and his smile.

A great attitude can bring joy to those around you, or even ________ stranger to the top of a mountain.