2 . I’m proud to say that I finished my dissertation (学位论文) successfully. But as I reflected on the _________I received from my advisor for my work ethic (职业道德), I believed it was _________ from my dad’s tire shop.

When Dad _________ a small tire shop during my high school years, I began _________ for him despite having no _________ with motor vehicles. I was _________ to learn and work hard, motivated by my _________ to help my dad and make customers think highly of him. The early employees of my dad’s shop were _________ with me, teaching me everything they knew about their trade.

I stayed late, avoided gossiping, and focused on being respectful and curious. The work was _________, physically exhausting, and dirty, but the __________ of honest labor made it all __________. I found meaning in every task that helped the business was, __________, helping my dad.

Years later, my dad retired and sent the business to my elder brother, who has skillfully __________ it. Whenever I return and visit the larger tire shop now, I recall the countless wheels I fixed. More importantly, I remember a sense of __________ that comes with honest labor. I’m __________ for the experience, the lessons learned, and the memories that will stay with me forever.

3 . This happened on March 1, 2020. Just weeks before much of the country issued shelter-in-place orders, a mother and her teen daughter _________ on a near-six-month-mission: to backpack the Appalachian Trail, a 2,000-mile _________ thruway (过境道路) that passes through 14 Eastern states.

When they began, the pair—Briana Sullivan and her daughter Cambyr, who started out 13 but _________ 14 on the journey—had intended to simply disconnect from the “typical world”. It wasn’t _________ a few months into their journey, when the _________ of the pandemic began to reach them in the woods and small towns they passed through, that they realized they were now _________ from the outside, too. They leaned on each other to get through all the _________.

Eventually, the pandemic made it _________ for the pair to shop and find places to sleep._________ they came across what they __________ as ‘trail magic’ and people who were looking out for them, offering them the support hikers needed. Although it may seem __________ to spend the days walking, the Sullivans shared it never felt that way.__________, each day felt different from the next as the two kept themselves busy learning new skills and __________ a stronger relationship with one another.

Throughout their journey, “__________ is everything.” That got them through every day, knowing that “when you feel __________, the only way you can go is up…if you wait long enough, the moments going to change,” Cambyr says.

4 . Kim Stemple, a special-education teacher, faced terrible diseases during her stay in a Boston hospital. While ________ with depression in her hospital room, Stemple received an unexpected present from a friend: a medal.

Before Stemple got too sick to ________, she had been a marathon runner and the medal brought back her racing memories. It served as a much-needed pick-me-up, ________ her of the strength and perseverance she once possessed. ________, it worked like a charm, and then some, ________ her spirits and renewing her determination.

Inspired by this life-changing ________, Stemple began to think about how such a simple act could bring hope to others going through ________ times. And from this ________ of inspiration, her charity, We Finish Together, was born. This initiative ________ medals from strangers — runners, dancers, swimmers, singers, and even spelling bee win-ners — and donated them to individuals in need.

Part of the process ________ the donor writing a personalized note on the ribbon, giving the recipient a unique ________ to someone who cares. Indeed, for those who were ________ in hospitals and battling health challenges, being presented with a medal and reading the warm ________ really made a big difference. It ________ a reminder that they were not ________ in their struggles and that there was always support available to them.

5 . If you walk around the Rahway Trail in the South Mountain Reservation of Millburn, New Jersey, you might spot more than vegetation and creatures. Small fantastic _______ are hidden in the tree trunks and branches — an amazingly lovely sight in this _______ normal-looking forest nowadays. The idea to _______ small wooden houses to the landscape came from Therese Ojibway, who 10 years ago wanted her son, who has autism (自闭症), to have a safe space to _______ in the wilderness.

“So she found Rahway Trail and started constructing the houses and leaving _______ decorations here and there for her son,” said Julie Gould, one of the keepers of the trail.

The South Mountain Conservancy later noticed the sudden _______ of little houses around the forest. Learning Ojibway’s story, they _______ her to continue building her magical kingdom to what is now known as the Fairy Trail.

“She thought this was a(n) _______ way of getting little children like her son into nature, _______ them to use their imaginations and creativity,” said Beth Kelly, another trail keeper.

Ojibway and her son moved out of the area a few years ago, but the Fairy Trail ________. Gould and Kelly were ________ asked to become the “Makers and Keepers” of the trail. The women, along with ________, continue to help build little wooden homes for kids with special needs.

“To give these kids ________ houses to live in, most of the homes are made out of natural elements that can then ________ back into the forest. We get ________ when we see the children come here and the kingdom make their day.”

6 . Orion Jean, a young boy from Texas, initiated an extraordinary mission of kindness and inspired others. His journey_________when he participated in the National Kindness Speech Contest. Giving a speech about the_________ of kindness to transform a nation, Orion won a $500 cash prize. Instead of spending it on himself, he chose to use it to give those in need a_________.

So the little boy, who said his parents always taught him that “kindness is a virtue that should be_________above all others,” came up with the idea of the Race to Kindness campaign. It_________doing good deeds in his community.

Orion set out to help children requiring_________treatment. He thought there was no better way to_________a kid than a toy. So he used the winnings to buy as many toys as possible and_________a toy fair to get over 600 fun toys donated to the Children’s Health Hospital in Dallas.

After the toy fair, he launched a/an_________“Race to 100,000 meals” to help food-insecure people in his community.__________with a local nonprofit organization, he helped feed people who might not have had a meal for Thanksgiving.

In May 2022, to provide books to children who lacked__________to them, Orion launched the “Race to 500, 000 Books”. It centered on poverty-stricken areas, __________those known as “book deserts”. The result? Many people__________the chance to show their love to strangers. So the goal of “500, 000” was exceeded (超越).

Orion’s story is an example of how a wave of positive__________is generated by one individual’s kindness. “The Race to Kindness” is grateful to everyone who comes together to be a__________system in time of need.

7 . One day, much to my astonishment, my son befriended a nun (修女)! Through the glass _______ doors where I stood chopping onions, I heard Sebastian’s voice and then a woman’s. Sebastian, woman-back and forth. Sebastian was five, and when I came out to _______ on him, his face was pressed against the bars of the fence, completely _______ in conversation.

Beyond that fence lived the woman, later identified as Sandy in her 40s. I had _______ peculiar habits inside nuns. Contrary to my _______ expectation of these mysterious figures, Sandy was friendly and _______ wore a smile.

Over the next few weeks, then months, their murmuring (低声) voices _______ through the fence. Sandy even drilled out a _______ on the wooden fence, roughly the size of a baseball, through which they _______ shells and leaves that they’d found. They asked and answered endless questions. Sometimes there was ________, Sebastian sitting with knees drawn up and his back to the fence while Sandy paced outside the fence.

During the COVID-19 in 2020, Sandy’s presence and the gifts left in the hole became a comforting ________ in the period of darkness.

Sadly, one year later, Sandy’s ________ came suddenly as she had to attend to her sick mother in Kansas. She ________ Sebastian to say goodbye but couldn’t find him in time. But their ________ remained through heartfelt letters exchanged over the years. Sandy’s impact on Sebastian’s life was immeasurable, teaching him love, and the beauty of ________ connections.

8 . If the plant could thrive (茁壮成长), maybe I could too, even with cancer.

After my cancer diagnosis (诊断), my friend gifted me a lucky bamboo plant in a deep-green pottery bowl. Despite my physical limitations, ______ the green plant became an achievement during a time when I felt ______.

As a family physician used to ______ care, now I was the one relying on others. The _________ change left me feeling unsettled. Watering the plant, as small an act as it was, ____me to my old identity and taught me I could still be a caregiver and be ______.

Through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy (化疗), I ______ looking after the plant, and it thrived, so did my ______.

But then, ______, its leaves kept browning and dropping to the floor. The ______of its struggles made me frustrated and uneasy. I seemingly related its struggle to my own health, fearing it ______ the return of my tumor (肿瘤).

As my anxiety eased, I ______ guidance online to figure out how to better take care of the poor little thing. Following the   ______ found, I transplanted it to a larger pot, allowing more room and nutrients it required. When it returned to the sunny window, we both began to thrive again!

Now, the lucky bamboo was not just a ______item in my home but a representation of life, and the ability to find ______ even in challenging circumstances.

9 . It was a Sunday. “Jane, I’ll go _______. Do you want to come?” Dad asked. I nodded, I filled with _______, and soon I was in the car.

Surprisingly, on the way, Dad _______, got out, and walked to one of the _______ houses on the street. Before long, he _______ with Connor behind, an eight-year-old kid from my school. I was unhappy. The _______ was that I wanted Dad to only share his valuable time with me. _______ I welcomed Connor when he got in our car.

After finally _______ a store, Dad led us to the corner where clothing of _______ was put. I was in shock. My dad should buy Connor clothes. “Connor will have a performance (表演) tomorrow," Dad said “He’ll ________ this.” Connor looked with wonder at the row of clothes.

________ that I wasn’t happy, Dad drew me aside and said, “Didn’t you see how terrible Connor’s tiny house was? Don’t you want to ________ someone in need?” Right away, I felt ashamed because I hadn’t shown ________. Connor came from a family where his single mom worked to provide for her four children. Clearly, she led a ________ life.

With Dad’s help,finally Connor chose a beautiful, dark suit (套装). Then, I encouraged Connor to ________ a shirt. “Thank you,” he said when we returned him home.