4 . In high school, Norman Greenstein was a productive doodler (涂鸦手)and created lots of paintings. When he ________ his works to his teacher, the teacher responded, “The problem with modern art is that you can ________ on a canvas and call it art.” Norman felt so disappointed, but he ________ parted with art over the years.

After his ________, Norman spared no effort to ________his wife and three children with devotion. Although life was sometimes hard for him, it didn’t ruin his ________ for creative expression. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the 65-year-old social worker decided to turn his ________diagnosis into a positive opportunity to ________ a lifelong dream.

With the help of his son, Norman was able to start a ________ involving his whole family in order to make his own works ________ by all people around him, as well as his ________ experience of fighting against Parkinson’s disease.

In 2021, an online ________ was launched to feature the colorful canvases and he also ________ a memoir called Spit on a Canvas: the Journey of the Parkinson’s Painter. Meanwhile, Norman began selling his first paintings with galleries exhibiting his works. The team is also ________ releasing Norman’s first digital NFT art collection. 20% of the ________ has been donated to two Parkinson’s research foundations.

5 . Several months ago, a tornado fiercely hit our city without any signs before. We hadn’t ___________for it in advance, so we were just forced to go into our___________actions. I happened not to be in the classroom when it attacked. Hearing the alarm screaming, I rushed___________as fast as I could back to the classroom.

Never did I imagine that we would put our regular_________to use. Never did I imagine that my students had ___________against the wall and crouched(蹲) down on their knees. Their eyes were obviously filled with___________as they asked if their parents, pets, and friends would be okay. I, along with other teachers, tried our best to___________them, though we actually didn’t know what the___________would be.

I couldn’t ___________the tornado anymore. However, I’m very proud of my students who performed so well. In such a(an)____________and dangerous situation, they behaved beyond their ages. Never in my life had I seen them ____________instructions(指示) so quickly, without any hesitation. Though some tears were dropping and some hearts were beating fast, the kids were incredibly____________. I’m extremely proud that they struggled to calm down because of their____________in me.

Because of the tornado, I realized that my job as a teacher meant a lot. Behind every well-behaved students are a long line of teachers who have made it their life’s ____________to educate them with safety, courage, calmness and trust. Though the tornado has presented ____________, I’m sure we can handle them one by one.

6 . After ten years in the same company, I found my job was no longer fun. However, I didn’t have the confidence to apply for new jobs due to lack of experience. I felt ______.

A friend suggested another path- ______. I had toyed with the idea of studying for a master’s degree but ______ stood in my way. Yet I found a course at London College of Communication, ______ my job and enrolled (注册).

During the 18 months that followed, I began to flourish (茁壮成长). Not only had I found the courage to take my life forward in a new and ______ direction but the self-doubt that had followed me around like a shadow began to ______ gradually. My classmates and I treated each other as ______: Younger students ______ my experience and knowledge when it came to group work. I made new friends and joined committees.

I also decided to move out of home. Living in student halls was a(n) ______. The life in halls added to my sense of ______and confidence. I was ______ new things every day. Even making myself a meal or managing my small living space made me feel ______.

Soon after completing my master’s, I made my way back through the university gate-this time to ______. I am now a lecturer on the same course that I took. I ______ the person I was before and smile-she didn’t yet know her ______.

7 . Life is filled with challenges. As we get older we ______ realize that those challenges are the very things that ______us and make us who we are, it is the same with the challenges that come with friendship.

When we are faced with a challenge, we______have two choices. We can try to beat it off, or we can decide that the thing presenting the challenge isn’t worth the ______ and call it quits. Although there are certainly ______when calling it quits is the right thing to do, in most______all that is needed is commitment and communication.

When we are committed to something, it means that no matter how______or how uncomfortable something is, we will always choose to______it and work it through instead of running away from it. Communication is making a space for discussion and talking about how you feel as opposed to just saying what the other person did wrong. If you can say to a friend, “I got my feelings hurt,”______“You hurt my feelings,” you are going to be able to solve the problem much more______.

In dealing with many challenges that friendship will bring to you, try to see them for what they are: small hurdles you need to jump or______on your way through life. Nothing is so big that it is______to get over, and hurt only______to make us stronger. It’s all part of growing up, it______to everyone, and some day you will ______all of this and say, “ Hard as it was, it made me who I am today. And that is a good thing.”

8 . When I was young, I loved and really did well in drawing and art. I won awards, got constant attention, and even saw my face in the _________ and on television because of my natural ability to _________.

Most people who happen to come across something that they are good at are _________ to take it and run with it. Of course, my life was no _________. From teachers, to principals, to family members, everyone seemingly had a ton of advice to give me in regards to art.

All the while, my true desire was _________. I entered poetry, essay, and short-story contests and _________ them all. It was such a contrast from my artistic _________ experience! It was so bad that I _________ a good friend who told me once, “If you are so good at drawing, why do you even care about writing? _________ drawing!”

Though well intended, eighteen years later I’m __________ I didn’t take his words to heart. Years went by with me still writing and still occasionally entering __________. It wasn’t until my first year in college that I finally got honorable__________ in a poetry contest. As a writer I’ve truly __________.

I’m sure there are things in your life that are __________ and yet, rewarding. Endurance (忍耐)，especially when it comes to things you truly love is essential. Take some time to devote some more energy to the“thing”that didn’t come __________ and see what happens.

10 . “Just sign here, sir,” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.

The package consisted of a long, narrow box ____ wrapped in brown paper. ____ the box, Oscar saw an umbrella inside—a very old one with a beautifully carved wooden handle. ____ he had not seen it in more than 20 years, he recognised it immediately.

Oscar was 16 when he first saw the____ umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, he noticed an umbrella on an empty seat. Impressed by its beauty, Oscar felt a strong desire to find its ____.

Oscar ____ the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a name matched the seat ____ Oscar had found the umbrella. The name was Mrs. Katie O’Brien.

Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O’Brien’s house on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I ____ you?” she asked.

“I’d like to return it if it’s yours,” Oscar said, ____ the umbrella as if presenting a gift that had long been wished for.

“Why, yes! It’s mine,” replied Mrs. O’Brien with a ____ smile and shining eyes. “It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your ____?”

“No, ma’am,” he said. “My grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.”

“Well, that’s ____ what my father used to say. What is your name, young man?”

Years later Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O’Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how ____ it was. Why had it arrived here today?

As if ____, a note fell from the paper. It read: Mrs. O’Brien wanted you to accept this umbrella as a present for a kind, ____ gesture long ago.