1 . Usually, someone would come up and ask, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” This kind of question is often raised when we have _________ with families as children.

Well, it started out being a cowboy or super hero. Later it was fireman, policeman, lawyer... As I grew older, my dreams of the future _________. Before I was in college, I was asked, “What will you _________ in?”

By then, I had my heart set on _________ a teacher as my father. So, I studied and prepared for that life. I _________ nearly full time on my career. Although my physical disability after an accident prevented me from working full-time, I still insisted (坚持) on _________. I am content that I could realize my dream and perhaps have a(n) _________ influence on someone’s life. My kids are now on the way to _________ their goals, which makes me delighted.

However, for many, there is a “thief”, which goes around _________ our dreams. Sometimes, the __________ will come as a parent, a relative, a friend or a co-worker, but the greatest thief is, so many times, just __________.

We find ourselves just about reaching our __________, and a “small voice” inside says, “You’ll never make it,” “You can’t __________ do this.” “Very few have ever done this successfully.” And on and on the “small voice” predicts (预测) some kind of __________. Failure, though, is exactly how dreams are realized. It is one of the most important tools we have, because it teaches us __________ lessons. And, when we learn these lessons well, we are ready for success.

3 . British rower Helen Glover is preparing for her fourth Olympic Games, pushing herself to the limit. Despite enduring bloodied and blistered hands and pale skin, Glover knows that physical ________ are just one aspect of the intense training required for the Olympics.

For Glover, the real challenge ________ the day-to-day exhaustion and the constant ________ of waking up and training. With two gold medals from the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, her fourth-place finish in Tokyo was remarkable considering her ________ preparation. Just a year after giving birth to twins and four years after ________, Glover made the bold decision to ________ in the Olympics with only six months of serious training. Juggling (尽量兼顾) childcare with her ________ schedule, she managed to reach the starting line and ________ miss out on a medal.

After Tokyo, Glover initially ________ her retirement but later changed her mind and decided to compete in the coxless four (四人单桨无舵手艇) at Paris 2024. This time, her preparation is more straightforward, and her racing experience gives her an ________.

________ on her journey, Glover acknowledges that in the past, her happiness seemed dependent on results and success. However, becoming a ________ has shifted her perspective. Now, even on ________ training days, as long as her children are happy, she finds contentment.

Glover understands that her decision to continue rowing is a personal ________. Her growing success does not ________ her whole life, but she is determined to excel in the sport she loves and give her best.

4 . I’m a teacher at a local high school. One day, I found myself _______ a brilliant moment in the cafeteria. During lunch, I noticed one of my _______ Jason holding up his tray (托盘) with a confused expression. _______, he was having trouble deciding where to sit in the _______ cafeteria. After some hesitation, he approached a table where a few students were absorbed in their own _______ and asked if he could join them. They welcomed him, and he _______, looking content.

Moments later, another student approached the table and asked if he could join them. Jason seized the _______ to introduce an element of fun and challenge. He asked the boy if he could answer a riddle before joining them. Interested, the boy _______, and Jason presented him with the riddle: “What has _______ but can’t open locks?” After a moment of thought, the boy admitted he didn’t know the answer. With a mischievous grin, Jason pointed to the piano in the corner of the cafeteria and ________ that the answer was “a piano”. The other students ________. The table soon became known as the “riddle table”, attracting students who were ________ to solve riddles for the chance to join.

As a teacher, I couldn’t help but appreciate the ________ and friendship unfolded during the lunch period. It turns out that sometimes, a little intellectual challenge can ________ a random cafeteria table into the hottest spot in school. Definitely a ________ move by Jason.

7 . At 20 years old, I was a confident and handsome student at the University of California at Berkey.

But that year, I ________ a bump (肿块) in my right nostril (鼻孔), and when it didn’t go away, I made an ________ with a doctor. It turned out to be a tumor (肿瘤). Then I underwent surgery. Fortunately, the procedure was ________, and I returned to classes soon.

But six months later, a new bump appeared. Numerous ________ confirmed it had reproduced a horrible, life—threatening tumor. I was advised to have another operation and ________ that I might lose part of my nose. I was too young to think about death then, but the thought of disfigurement (毁容) made me feel ________.

I awoke from the surgery with a scarred, disfigured face. As I re-entered the real world, I noticed adults ________ and children pointing—and sometimes laughing—at me. The occasional and ________ negative reactions from my friends also hurt me. My self-respect sank increasingly lower, and I constantly asked others, “Do my looks ________ you?”

Five years and 20 reconstructive surgeries later, I ________ a man receiving treatment. After hearing my question, he criticized me. My problem, he ________ me, was not my physical appearance, but my emotional insecurity. His ________ helped me realize my mental scars were far more disfiguring than my physical ones.

I began examining myself from the inside out. Later, I volunteered at a cancer support organization to offer inspiration and hope to those ________ cancer

Now, I am ________ for who I am—a much stronger person than before. To you, I offer this message: Avoid making judgements about people at ________.

8 . As the saying goes, life is sweet. But while we may wish for consistently sweet moments, life often serves us other _________.

Recently, we celebrated my mom’s birthday. In her nineties now, as she _________ the closing stages of a long and remarkable life, she struggles with dementia (痴呆), leading to her mind and body not _________ the way she would want.

The day before the celebration, we _________ to bake cookies with her great grand kids. Not just any cookies, but 60 _________ sugar cookies cut in different shapes, covered with lots of sprinkles (糖屑). Though the kids worked as carefully as they could, they made the kitchen a total mess, _________almost as many sprinkles on the floor as on the cookies. They went on for hours, rolling dough, baking, cutting shapes, and _________ with four kinds of sprinkles.

The next day, the birthday _________ was a success. We took many pictures, and the beautiful cookies were shared. In an _________ way, those sweet sprinkles have not only stuck in my mind but remained almost everywhere in our home for the past few days. In every __________, I continue to find them, in all the colors of the rainbow, four shapes and sizes, sweet, and after I __________ step on them, not so sweet.

Truly, these are bittersweet moments, filled with __________ emotions. From such moments, we unwillingly learn that much in life is __________ our control: the separations and losses, the __________ of life, the passage of time. Life serves up many flavors. __________, we can choose our attitudes on the journey.

9 . David lost his beloved dog Baya before Christmas two years ago. Baya was active and cute. David’s family spent many days _________ for their furry (毛茸茸的) family member. The kids said they wouldn’t want any _________ from Santa Claus. They just wanted to get their dog back. All attempts to find her turned out to be _________. Baya was nowhere to be found. It seemed that the family wouldn’t have any more _________.

Two years later, a homeless dog _________ alone on a busy road. Someone _________ it to the Animal Protection Association (协会). Thanks to the microchip (芯片) planted in the dog, the association was able to _________ the owner. They _________ David. When David got a phone call that they were going to get Baya back, the family were pretty _________.

Obviously, Baya is __________ to living in this home. She is quite __________ of where her feeding bowl is. Even though Baya isn’t the dog she used to be, David is confident she’ll become her old __________ again. He said, “She was a very healthy and __________ dog. She’s not like that anymore, but we’re going to get her back. Our whole family are taking __________ of her. Kids play with her happily. She’s __________ her joyful nature. We will love her even more.”

10 . This is a true story that took place a few days ago. This woman looked _______, but she was very pretty in my eyes. I met the most beautiful woman in a shop. She wasn’t that _______ as she was 5 feet at the most. Her _______ was bent, too. She was thin and her face was _______ with black age spots from a lifetime of working in the sun. Her hair was thin and white. She was at least 80 years old and might have been over 90. She moved _______ and with great care. However, when she _______ you in the eye and spoke to you, you could see her _______ beauty shining through.

Her face was wrinkled from a very _______ life of hard work and difficulty. But it was the lines around her eyes that caught my _______. These wrinkles were deep and forever “canyons” that had been ________ by a million smiles and a lifetime of laughter.

Her ________ were deep set and hidden behind thick, heavy glasses. But you could still see a lovely light ________ out of them. When she talked to you, they were bright with a wonderful shine that told you she was ________ with faith, love, hope, kindness and joy. I only ________ her for a minute or two, yet I left feeling better, and happier.

I only hope that one day my own face will ________ the signs that hers did, showing a happy life, and a loved life.