1 . One day during the 2007 — 2008 financial crisis, my dad took my brother and me to shop for school clothes. He had been _________ and was trying to find a job. My mom _________ a fast food restaurant, just enough to make a living. Even though I was _________, I realized that life was tough.

It seemed _________ to go shopping at that time, but we needed new _________ for the new school year. We each got two outfits and one pair of shoes. My brother wanted a pair of basketball shorts and my dad couldn’t say no, so he _________ them as well.

While we were _________, my dad seemed to be more and more _________ as the price went up on the register. Once everything was scanned, he realized he didn’t have enough money. He asked the cashier to take off the extra shorts_________ he still couldn’t afford it. He apologized to the man behind us while he tried to __________ what to take off. My dad was on the edge of __________.

Then, the man behind us gave the cashier a $100 bill to pay for us and told her to give the __________ to my dad. My dad tried to turn down but the man __________. My dad asked for his phone number so he could pay him back in the future, but the man told my dad to help someone else in need and that would be enough.

I, to this day, still remember __________ what he looked like. Whenever I see people __________, I remember his face and I try to help them as best I can.

2 . Leigh Ann Sondrup, a devoted nurse at Valleywise, earned the title of a hero after a remarkable off-duty rescue.

The extraordinary chain of events unfolded as Sondrup was heading home from _________ one morning. Having just completed her fourth straight night shift, she was _________. Driving on State Route 143 near Sky Harbor, Sondrup suddenly noticed a horrible situation in the distance. As she _________, she found a concrete truck had overturned, with a man _________ inside.

Emergency first responders had not yet made it to the _________. Despite her tiredness, Sondrup didn’t _________ to make a decision to intervene.

She _________ her car. No other cars were moving on the road, _________ her to safely walk across the usually busy highway. She got closer to the truck and then quickly _________ the situation. She discovered the driver was still conscious, but severely injured and losing __________ at an alarming rate. Every second counted. She __________ crawled (爬) underneath the overturned truck. In a display of resourcefulness, she __________ the man’s belt to stop the bleeding.

Months later, the man who had suffered a life-threatening injury reached out to Sondrup to express his gratitude for a second __________ at life. The Phoenix Fire Department recognized Sondrup for her __________ actions. When interviewed, Sondrup said she maintained a strong __________ that everyone serves a purpose in life and that she was glad to have done her part when duty called.

3 . White dressed up as Captain America for the annual Anti-Bullying (反霸凌) Superhero Day. But when spotting ________ one afternoon, he couldn’t ________ any superpowers.

It was rush hour. White was ________ home when he noticed a pickup on the opposite side of the two-way street. It was hard to ________, for it was crashing into the curb (马路牙子) before course-correcting, only to hit it again. As the car drew closer, White got a good look at the ________: The driver appeared to be asleep. He had to ________ that vehicle.

________, White made a U-turn, facing in the same direction as the pickup, but there were four cars ________ them. White pressed his horn, hoping the cars in front would move aside. They didn’t. Trapped, White pulled his car over. He ________ up the sidewalk, cut into the road and ran around to the driver’s side. White ________ the frame (框) of the open window, his legs moving in step with the pickup, and with a mighty ________, jumped in.

DeAngelis, the man behind the ________, had unexpectedly faced dangerously low blood sugar, and just come to. He was ________ by the odd sight of a stranger lying across his stomach. White immediately brought the pickup to a stop. DeAngelis was rushed to a hospital, where it was determined that had his blood sugar gone lower, his life could have been endangered.

White ________ a superhero, but his quick thinking and daring ________ made him a real-life hero.

4 . One spring evening, I was incredibly worn after a long day of school. I wished for _________ but I had to drag my heavy feet to the violin studio.

I was playing Moldau to Kate, my teacher. I simply couldn’t play with _________, though. While I followed all the _________ on the sheet music, I still _________ to make music describing spring with full-blown flowers sound like flowers dying bitter deaths. Kate _________ attentively and then frowned (皱眉), asking me what the piece’s mood was. I stared at her, _________.

Pulling out paper and a pencil, she asked, “Can you _________an image of what you think a typical day in the forest during spring would look like?” Hesitantly, I started to let my _________ fly. Soon a scenic forest full of life was _________ in my mind.

Minutes later, I completed my drawing. “Now, play the piece again with this. __________ imagery in your mind,” Kate said. I closed my eyes and began to play, just as its theme was introduced, with __________ expression I had never done before.

As I __________ the piece, there followed a short silence before Kate said, “That’s the best playing I’ve ever heard from you.” Her eyes were shining. “Who knew painting out the scenery would help you better __________ the music? Sometimes all we need is to use our creativity and try different methods when facing difficulties.”

The __________ violin lesson taught me more than just music. I also learned a valuable __________ skill, which I applied to my daily life.

5 . Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus during rush hour. The bus was filled with cold, tired people________ with one another. Two men________ at each other for an unintentional push. An elderly woman got on, and nobody offered her a________. Anger was in the air; no________ could be found here.

As the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver’s words came from the speaker. “Folks,”   he said. “I know you’ve had a(n)________ day and that you are depressed, but I will________. When each of you walks by before getting off, drop your________ into my palm (手掌). My route goes right by the Hudson River, into which I’ll________ them.”

It seemed as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing, their faces shining with________. The passengers who had been________each other’s existence were suddenly grinning (咧嘴笑) at each other — is this guy serious?

At the next stop, just as________, the driver held out his hand, palm up, and waited. All the________passengers performed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. The driver________the same action at every stop that followed.

Occasionally we may sink into a grey world, but someone can ________it like a ray of light, showing us hope. What if we are the light?________, anyone possesses the power to shine on others’ dark days.

6 . At 17, I quit school, left home and moved from place to place. Years later, I was________for possessing drugs. I’d never touched drugs, but nobody believed me because my wandering lifestyle failed to defend my________I was sent to prison.

My cellmate was Herbert. We both worked in the electric shop. I wouldn’t let the fact that I was________imprisoned defeat me; so to keep myself________I volunteered for extra work, My attitude and effort earned me Herbert’s confidence and friendship.

Before Herbert was________, he offered me a job at his big company. Never had I expected________would smile on me! Deeply touched by Herbert’s________I was determined that someday I’d help other ex-prisoners this way.

Once out of prison, I went to Herbert’s company, where I was________rapidly through hard work. When I had a________in employment, I began to perform the________I had made to myself. Through the years, we have offered over 300 ex-prisoners________jobs. We believe in them, regardless of their past.

As we know, prison________a man. When his tern ends, society rarely gives him a paid-in-full receipt. He carries the________of “prisoner” wherever he goes. Nobody trusts or wants him. The only________open for him might lead back to crime. I’m glad I’ve________some of them and inspired their passion for a new life.

7 . I was having a hard time trying to find work. The economy in our area was in pretty _________ shape. And I was _________ for what to do next when I answered the online _________.

NEEDED: someone to cut and split (劈) wood.

I drove to the address and there on the front field was a huge _________ Elm tree blown by strong winds. An old lady was sitting _________ at the door. We _________ on $150 to do the job.

The old Elm was tougher than I had _________. My chainsaw (电锯) cut it fine, but when I tried to split it, my chainsaw was _________. So I had to borrow a wood splitter from her neighbour.

I managed to finish the task at dusk. As she looked at the huge pile of wood on the lawn, an _________ expression worked its way across her face. She invited me in for ____________. With tears building up in her eyes, she ____________ me a sandwich and said, “I am sorry... the $150 I promised to pay you is going ____________. I had it in my purse but nowhere to be found. That is what ____________ money I have saved for half a year.”

Seeing her home was not ____________, I realized she was having a hardship worse than I. I comforted her and then ____________ what firewood would fit into her wood storage room.

On the way home I thought to myself… “It Is What It Is”.

8 . Dreams are like stars. You may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to success.

My daughter had talent for acting. When Alex was accepted into New York University’s musical theater program, I_________the dress I’d wear to her Broadway debut(首秀). But now she decided to be an exercise instructor. It was_________for me.

“I thought_________at gyms was just to pay the bills until you got your big break?” I asked when Alex_________her full–time job at a gym called Equinox in New York City.

“Acting was my childhood dream.” she explained. “I loved_________,but my adult self wants to help people be _________.

Even after Alex earned her personal training certification, I still couldn’t accept her_________.

When the COVID-19 crisis shut New York’s gyms, and Alex returned jobless to Richmond, my_________of working on her acting website was rejected. Instead, she launched online kettlebell classes and rounded up clients using social media. Her_________took off, and our house became her virtual studio until she returned to Manhattan in August 2020.

One day I signed up for her private sessions. In between dead lift(拼全力一举) sets, I asked, “What are you doing to find a real job?”

Alex pointed to her waist,__________my form. “Mom, this is my__________. I’m growing a business.” And she was. Soon she was making more than what she ever did in gyms and had total__________of her schedule. I was one of many who__________from her patient encouragement. Over time, my lower-back pain disappeared and I could lift a heavy box__________. Through my training, I learned she knew the right__________for her.

9 . Sophia got a last-minute call to deliver to Caryn’s home. It was her last _________ of the night.

Caryn was waiting for her dinner on the porch(门廊) when her knee suddenly _________. She fell down the stairs and knocked her head hard.

When Sophia arrived, she found Caryn bleeding and _________. Without thinking, Sophia burst into _________. Using what she learned in Emergency Medical Technician(EMT) training, Sophia _________ assessed the scene. Next, she called 911 and _________ pressure to Caryn’s head wound. Soon Caryn came back to life. But she spent three weeks in the hospital _________.

Months later, Caryn was able to meet Sophia and _________ her in person when the local Police Department _________ Sophia with a Life Saving Award for “her courageous actions”. Sophia also received a $1,000 grant from her company along with the __________ of a discounted rate for a training institution for Emergency Medical Service System professionals.

We’re not sure if after this __________ Sophia will decide to become an EMT, but authorities say she’s “got what it __________” if she does!

Sophia insists she’s not a(n)__________ and just did what she thought was the __________ thing. Caryn, however, insists she wouldn’t be __________ if fate hadn’t brought Sophia to her door.

10 . Near my house is a library. As an enthusiastic reader, the idea to be surrounded by books itself is ______. So I volunteered to ______ it, managing books. But never had I realized reading had such ______ until I met an old lady.

One day I was arranging books when I heard a lady ______ something at the information desk, where I went to give ______. She was in her 70s with a beautiful smile.

After communication, I was ______ that she came to take the membership. Without family, she had ______ her house and settled in a nursing home, living off ______ the interest from her savings account. Her love of reading, even at such an age, never ______. Her confidence, whenever she ______ reading, livened her up.

The membership was ______ for her, so I explained the fee. She didn’t hesitate to open her purse and ______ for the amount. Noticing her ______ look, I offered to pay for her but she insisted, “I’ll come and pay tomorrow.” I failed to ______ her. The next day she returned, paid up and got her membership card. When I took her into the world of books, her eyes shone with excitement. She became a regular visitor, one I’d ______ every few days.

Now her cute smile in my mind still reminds me of the magic of reading.