1 . When 1 was 8, my family moved into our brand-new home. My parents had _________ it to our own particular needs and interests, including built-in bookshelves to house their hundreds of books and a large, bright sunroom to _________ all the plants my garden-loving father planned to grow. Unfortunately, a few months later, a heart attack _________ his life.

My mother, who never had green fingers, Gilled our sunroom with low-light plants like ferns (蕨类植物), which consistently _________ . Instead of giving up, she experimented over years and eventually got better through _________ and error.

She never _________ said she wanted to become a better _________ as a way to keep my dad’s memory alive, but I knew the sight of the plants could call to mind their happy time. It was a _________ to her that at least part of the room always had plants growing in it.

Then, last year, Mom experienced a series of falls that _________ her in hospital. As I was thoroughly __________ with tending her while raising kids and working, I felt exhausted to the point of __________ . Magically, I always got recharged when __________ her plants, especially her enormous ferns — now at home in a more appropriate __________ spot.

Mom may not be with us much longer, for her health has __________ significantly. It’s my __________ to develop a green thumb — nursing her plants is a future source of comfort that we could be always together.

3 . Like many, I travel a lot for work.Unlike many, I never _________ it.On the open road are always _________ people and new places. There is one thing about travel that _________ me, though, and has ever since my early years: the constant waiting. When I travel, I wait in the shop, wait to _________ the plane, wait in restaurants, wait to check into hotels,and on and on.

For years, I have tried to   _________my life in such a way to lower how much time I have to spend waiting,and it has _________: I ask for the _________as soon as the server brings me my lunch; I have all the _________ that helps to enter the waiting hall at the airport quickly; I _________ hotels that have self-service book-in rooms. No doubt my waiting time is __________. But recently, I have realized that despite these __________, I'm not any less upset by the waiting I still have to   __________

This mystery has led me to   __________ that I have gone about the whole problem in the wrong way. I have been trying to __________ the outside world to make it better for me. I should __________ have been working on myself, to live better in a world of waiting.

4 . I had never picked up a camera before my freshman year in 2012, when my journey to an artist began. For four years, I ________ G-Star School of The Arts, where my ________ for photography and filmmaking were awaken.

Having seen my first short film, my teacher came over, saying: “You got a good ________. Why not consider doing this as your profession. I think you’ve got a ________ in it”. Then, it clicked. I, therefore, ________ my bank account and bought my first camera.

Since then, I was amazed by the ________ the world has to offer. I have to ________, though: I, shy and chicken-hearted, tended to capture nature-related scenes, ________ anything to do with people.

As I was ________ my way, I started photographing myself, the only one I felt ________ with. The camera soon became my strongest ________, serving as the tool for how I expressed myself. Gradually, I gained enough ________ to start taking photos of other people, greatly touched by how I was able to ________ the best in them through the lens (镜头).

Each year, I would look back on all of the shots I did that year and would ________ them to the first one I ever took in my career. Although the progress seemed substantial, I realized the key to growth as an artist is to never be ________. This allows me to create progressively better work year after year.

5 . Joe became interested in metal detecting when his parents gave him a metal detector as a child. He often went out ______ after storms. Over the years, he has found watches, Spanish relics, and even an eight-foot-tall ship anchor (锚).

One day, Joe’s metal detector ______ something was buried under the sand when he was scanning St. Augustine Beach ______ by Hurricane lan in late September 2022. He began digging, expecting he might ______ some coins or something of similar value.

But what he found was worth far more than a few cents! He ______ a beautiful, huge diamond ring which was about six inches under the ground. However, even though Joe knew it was a special ______, he initially had no idea how much the ring was worth until he visited a jewelry store to ______ it. When he learned that the ring he’d unearthed was worth $40,000, Joe wasted no time trying to ______ the rightful owner!

First, he made a(n) ______ on his social media channels, hoping the owner would see it. He then called and emailed jewelry stores all over Florida and beyond, sending photographs and a(n) ______ of the ring. And, when a jeweler asked him if he’d considered keeping the prize for himself, Joe ______ said, “not even for a minute.”

A couple of weeks passed, and Joe wondered if he’d ever get the ring returned home. Ultimately, he was ______ by a man who might be the owner. After ______ through photos that the diamond ring was indeed the one his wife had lost, he was ______ happy. His wife just said, “Oh my God, I can’t believe it,” and then started crying.

For Joe, though, it might be that the act of returning the treasures” to those who lost them brings him as much ______ as finding them in the first place!

8 . My friend used to teach at a university with a master’s degree. In my country, for _______advancement, it is better to have a PhD. My friend went to the professor _______ scholarships, only to be told there was no _______ scholarship.

One day while driving along the road, my friend saw the professor was in a(n) _______where his car got hit from behind. My friend stopped his car and _______. He noticed the professor’s car was badly damaged. _______, both the professor and the guy were uninjured. The professor looked very _______. He attempted to _______ with the guy who insisted it was not his problem. They started arguing. My friend _______ to calm them down and offered ________. With his efforts, the guy agreed to take ________ and pay for the professor’s car damage. The professor was quite ________ with the result.

A week later, my friend received a call from the professor, and was ________ that, by chance, there was a scholarship opportunity. My friend ended up going to one of the best universities in Sweden.   

I love how my friend did this ________ and I am so grateful that the universe ________ him in a way that changed his life.

10 . My long-distance cycling career of 13 years and 35, 000 kilometres ended as I approached 75. Although I am now no longer strong enough to _________ the long days and big climbs, day in and day out, I have my memories.

The road behind is just memories, some soon to be forgotten, others to be _________ and enhanced with the retelling. A 6000-kilometre cross-country ride initially appears _________, but, once done, it is simply done, much like the challenges that life _________.

Real _________ would come when I was alone on my bicycle. I enjoyed meeting and even _________ the daily targets I had set for myself. I enjoyed the technical challenges faced by tire bursts and loose handlebars, but _________ not at that time. I loved cycling with a strong tailwind pushing me along and hated _________ into a strong headwind. I loved striking up conversations with a diversity of people and sincerely appreciated the support and comfort they _________.

Long distance cycling brings unbearable exhaustion, long hours of anxiety, even fear and desperation, but these __________ into insignificance, compared to the joy and __________ of climbing huge mountains or seeing fantastic sights for the first time. The experiences add newness and __________ to my life and the memories are __________.

Most importantly, cycling taught me to know myself better. It eventually dawned on me that I had more __________ and courage than I ever imagined. The self-awareness and long-lasting memories will give me enormous __________ as I carry on my life journey.