1 . Patrick, Scheels store’s fishing manager, always helps customers with their angling (垂钓) needs, but one ______ stood out.

One day, a young boy named Xander entered the store with his mother, Brynn. Patrick noticed his eye were filled with ______ about the world of fishing. For nearly half an hour, they ______ their shared passion.

Brynn shared the ______ of Xander’s connection to angling, explaining, “My dad, a fisherman, passed away last year, but Xander never got to go fishing with him. So over the last year, he’s been ______ grandpa, wishing he could go fishing with him.”

______ by Xander’s longing for a connection to his late grandfather, Patrick decided to take action and ______ Xander his first fishing pole. “It was sixty dollars and he bought it with his own money,” Xander said. This ______ gesture brought tears to Brynn’s eyes, and she acknowleged that such acts of kindness aren’t ______ .

However, Patrick’s generosity didn’t ______ here. The 22-year-old fishing enthusiast went a step further by ______ a memorable fishing trip for Xander and his family. To ______ that Xander had an enriching experience, two professional anglers from Scheels ______ him on the trip, offering guidance and teaching him valuable skills.

Patrick’s kindness was ______ a breath of fresh air for Xander and his family, who described the fishing trip as a once-in-a-lifetime ______ . “I felt like it was my due diligence to pass on the good word of fishing,” Patrick said.

2 . In order to survive in the world with challenges, we need to be wise.     1     Let me tell you this, wisdom provides us with perspective when we need it and it calms us down in terrible situations. Here are some strategies that we can use to get wiser.

    2     This will open up new pathways for us. Never base your perspective on the most popular opinion or which is the most comfortable for you. Train your mind to be a judgment-free space for ideas. If you are humble, then you will always get to experience something new.

You must be the kind of person who learns something new every day. Take new classes, read books and the list goes on and on.     3     All of these activities will help you to tackle problems from different angles, making everything easier.

You obviously want to grow and do better in life, right? The best way is to have wise people as your mentors (导师), like teachers, colleagues and even special friends. Prior to making them a mentor, find out what makes them wiser, then engage in useful dialogue with them.     4    

If you have accumulated a lot of knowledge, then why not share it with others too?     5     In today’s world, it is very easy to become wise but it isn’t easy to help others. So keep things balanced and never let go of your passions and values. This will pave the path to success.

Every year during the Spring Festival, a small village east of Beijing puts on a special show. It’s about-15°C, and a man dressed in a straw hat and sheepskin coat    1           (throw)spoon after spoon of heavy molten iron(铁水) at a massive，icy wall.The collision(碰撞)between the 1,600℃ liquid metal and the frozen brick creates a waterfall of sparks(火花)    2    (fall) over him, equally beautiful and dangerous.

This is a performance    3    requires extraordinary courage, skill and strength. Known as Da Shuhua, it has a history of 500 years in Nuanquan, a highly-developed steel town.Da Shuhua translates literally into “beating down the tree flowers,”    4    agricultural activity of hitting fruit trees to stimulate growth.

In ancient times, fireworks weren’t always    5    (wide) affordable. So people in Nuanquan made use of scrap iron and developed Da Shuhua as a way    6    (celebrate) festivals.As a result,they brought firework displays    7    a whole new level.

Today,Da Shuhua has become more popular than ever,due to    8    (ban)on fireworks to reduce air pollution in some parts of China. Every year, this unique firework display attracts tons of people in spite of the freezing cold weather    9    draws attention for its protection. Since 2021,it    10    (list) as an intangible cultural heritage of China.

4 . The brown paper bag hit the ground. A Michelin engineer picked it up and opened it, revealing a cracked, leaking egg. The third graders at A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School were disappointed when they saw the runny mess.

It was engineering week at A.J. Whittenberg, a public primary school in Greenville, South Carolina. One week per month, engineers from local industries visit the classrooms and talk to students about their careers.

Greenville is now introducing the idea of a career path to students in primary school and giving students the option to follow those programs to middle and high schools. Each primary school focuses on a specific technical skill. The district allows students to attend schools outside of their attendance boundaries as long as space is available, which means students can choose to continue to follow their chosen career pathway at a middle school with corresponding programs.

The effort in Greenville is part of a growing national trend in which school districts partner with local industries to develop curriculum (课程) and expose students to specialized careers at a young age.

Some education experts worry the focus on industry qualifications has resulted in schools taking on responsibilities that should fall to businesses, like training workers for specific job duties, damaging a more comprehensive education in schools. “Schools are to not just prepare people for work and strengthen the economy, but also a place where students should experience art, music and think creatively,” said Jack Schneider, a professor of education at the University of Massachusetts.

A teacher from Greenville, however, said, “Career exposure has a big impact on kids. We’re not really wanting them to make a decision—‘I’m in the second grade and now I’m locked in to being whatever when I graduate from high school in 10 years.’ We just hope students walk across the graduation stage with plans for a career in mind.”

Modern times need modern solutions. When students leave school, they need to be already down their road to college, if that’s what they’re going to do, or schools need to give them something that allows them to get to work and earn a living. Just getting out with a high school degree doesn’t do that.

Despite being 75 years old, Chai Tixia’s expertise in Jianzi is truly impressive. With quick kicks, he effortlessly sends the Jianzi into the air and gracefully guides it to land    1     (gentle) on his head.

Jianzi,    2     game that dates back to the Han Dynasty, is surprisingly simple: players must keep the Jianzi in the air,    3     (use) any part of their body except their hands and arms. However, to master this game    4     (require) a lot of practice.

While enjoyed throughout China, Jianzi     5     (describe) by Chai as an important aspect of hutong culture. The narrow alleyways, situated within Beijing’s inner city, provide the setting for the game’s    6     (popular). Each mormning, Chai and his fellow hutong residents gather for their shared passion for Jianzi.

Chai’s spirited matches with his neighbors have a big audience     7     (draw) to the artistry and excitement of the game. The onlookers who watch them playing with great athleticism are amazed at     8     Chai and his fellow players can achieve.

Having practiced Jianzi for over 30 years, Chai cherishes the physical and social     9     (benefit) the game brings. Engaging in lively matches with his neighbors energizes his body, enhances his flexibility,     10     promotes unity within the community. Through Jianzi, Chai harvests not only health but a sense of belonging and friendship.

It is believed that Chinese knotting, also known as zhongguojie, originated for recording information and exchanging messages     1     writing was invented. Over the past thousands of years, knots     2     (play) an important part in the life of Chinese.    3     (initial), Chinese knots acted as good -luck charms to drive away evil spirits. Today, Chinese knots are widely used to decorate homes during festivities.

A major characteristic of Chinese knots is that they are often tied from a single continuous length of string. The knots are commonly named     4     the shape it takes. Chinese knots are created in a     5     (various) of colors such as gold, green, blue, or black, though the most commonly used color is red,    6     symbolizes good luck and prosperity.

Crafting the Chinese knot is a three-step process     7     (involve) tying knots, tightening them and adding the finishing touches. The knots     8     (pull) tightly together and are strong enough to be used for binding or wrapping, making them very practical.

Today, most of such knots are often mass manufactured in factories. Skilled knot artists weave complex knots that you might see     9     (sell) as souvenirs that you can take back with you. If you have time, why not try your hand at it? Perhaps these age-old charms can add     10     touch of good luck to your daily life?

9 . One snowy night, a pair of beagles（比格犬）was struggling on a rural highway. The father-to-be looked around anxiously, trying to seek _________ for his dear companion. Frequently he would look at her _________, feeling guilty she labored along, her way made heavier by the new life growing inside her. They _________ for a warm, dry place. When her _________ came, it must not be out here along the roadway.

As _________ would have it, Gus Kiebel, a county wildlife officer, who was driving home from work, spotted the pair. He _________ to the shoulder of the road immediately.

The beagles made no effort to _________ when Gus bent down and stretched out his hands to them. Gus _________ their tags（狗牌）by his truck’s headlights and tried to ring, but the falling snow _________ the screen. He placed the dogs in his truck, __________ his phone and called again. A man answered and instantly grew __________ when Gus told him why he was calling.

“I already gave them away,” the man responded coldly.

Obviously, these beagles were __________. Meeting their large begging eyes, Gus felt his heart __________. “Putting them back in the snow is out of the __________,” Gus thought to himself, “I must bring them home.”

It’s a simple story, but it speaks to the best of our nature: Kindness and love can keep cruelty and cold at __________.

10 . Growing up, I was fortunate to have dinner with my family almost every day. Sometimes, the family dinner circle_________to include relatives stopping by. Yet, I knew some friends whose parents got home after dinner or even_________the entire evening. So I_________the quality time around our kitchen table, which witnessed countless valuable_________in my life.

_________,my kids cannot relate to my childhood memories. They have been left to_________with babysitters more times than I would like to admit. My husband and I have_________careers. And we often end up staying at the office way past dinnertime. When this happens too often, it_________the balance of our family.

Apart from suffering from_________,what else can a hardworking family do? I think we can all try to__________our own ways to spend time together. Surely there are days when I’m too busy to share a meal with my family. But I would make efforts to__________and chat later that day,__________       setting aside cellphones every time. And I even find a bedtime reading with my kids much__________.I am also proud to have our “big breakfast” routine every Saturday. My husband serves as the head chef, and my younger son__________       him to make the breakfast.

I am aware that my sons are growing up quickly and will be out of the__________someday. But now, I am happy to have so many wonderful things on my plate.