1 . As a single parent of two, Carolyn had always been inspired to get her bachelor’s degree (学士学位). However, the day-to-day life had ________ in the way. Luckily, her son, Immanuel Patton, continually encouraged her to ________ her degree as he was working towards his own. It _________ they could graduate from university together.

The ________ to graduation wasn’t always easy, with Carolyn ________ that completing her degree on top of working was a _________ at times. Immanuel also faced ________ challenges of his own, at one point ________ a 1.0 grade point average and being placed on academic probation (留校观察).

“I had a meltdown (崩溃), but I got back on ________. My son says: ‘If I can do it, you can do it, too,’ ” Carolyn recalled. The two encouraged one another and ________ completed their degrees.

The ________ graduation came almost 20 years after a promise Immanuel made to Carolyn while he was in ________ to get their degrees together. On ________ day, the Pattons celebrated their joint achievement, standing for photos with the UMGC president, Gregory Fowler.

________ what life looks like after graduation, Carolyn says she hopes to use her bachelor’s degree to ________ a pay raise at work. Immanuel says that he is now looking for a job, possibly in academic advising.

2 . High school is a time filled with memorable events such as graduation proms (舞会). For Josephine, her high school experience ________ due to financial difficulties, before she had the ________ to go to prom in the tough 1961. However, her grandson, Michael Ganczewski, decided to give her a magical ________ during his own senior prom.

When Michael asked Josephine to be his prom partner, she initially ________ his idea, ________ saying she was too old for a prom and Michael would have many young girls to choose from. She was not going to the prom, but she was just ________ for feeling loved. But for Michael, his grandmother was the perfect ________, and then he ________ her. On prom night, Josephine wore a beautiful dress.

Though ________ about her dancing skills initially, she soon discovered that the true ________ of the evening lay in simply being with her grandson.

Josephine admitted she wasn’t too ________ with this generation’s latest dance trends, but she ________ to do her best. Her grandson’s desire to make her feel cherished ________ her deeply. As she remarked: “For the rest of my life, I will never ________ that he wanted to show me a good time. That to me is very ________.”

As if the gesture itself wasn’t ________ enough, Josephine’s prom night ended with a ________—Josephine was crowned (加冕) prom queen, fulfilling a(n) ________ she had waited for since 1961.

This wonderful night, filled with ________ and joy, just showed the importance of the ________ between a grandson and his grandmother.

3 . Hundreds of medical students crowded into a lecture hall in the Bronx, New York on Feb.26, 2024. Dr. Ruth Gottesman, a 94-year-old honorary professor at their college,_________ that she would donate $1,000,000,000 to the college—the _________ donation ever made to any medical school. She said, “Starting from August this year, Einstein Medical School will be tuition(学费)_________.”

Then enthusiastic cheers _________ in the hall, and the students jumped up and _________wildly. The tuition fee of this college is $63,000 per year, and many graduates _________over $200 , 000 in debt at the beginning of their _________.

The college stated that _________ Gottesman's donation, all students in the school will no longer need to _________ any fees starting from this term.

David Gottesman is the __________ of First Manhattan, a Wall Street investment firm, and a close friend of Warren Buffett, the stock god. The __________ between the two began in 1963 and lasted for decades. Under Buffett's guidance, Gottesman __________ a significant amount of valuable shares.

In 2022, David Gottesman passed away at the age of 96. Ruth was __________ shocked to learn the exact size of money __________ her husband died. "I was surprised to find that he left me a large fortune," she recalled. The will left by her husband is very __________: "Use it to do anything you think is right."__________ with this huge money, she hardly hesitated and decided to donate it all to Einstein Medical School. She said that all her children supported her __________.

She also expressed her hope to __________ outstanding students who were __________ hesitant to apply to Einstein Medical School due to financial reasons by __________ tuition pressure.

6 . Nowadays, shopping online enjoys great popularity, but my_______to clothes shopping developed via supermarkets.

With four children, I spent a lot of time in supermarkets. When they started selling fashion, I found myself_______out fancy items for myself. My wardrobe quickly_________up. Whenever I felt bored or_________, I bought myself something new to wear. One day, when I_______the total money I'd spent over the previous month, I got a real_________. So I decided to change.

One New Year, I made a(n)_______: I would stop buying clothes for a full year. My family laughed in_______because they knew how I loved to shop, but this made me more_______to do that.

The start of the year was especially________, as all the sales were on, and I really love the________. It almost made me________to see all the lovely dresses and coats, knowing I couldn't buy any of them. But I got through January,________away in February and sorted out my wardrobe in March. That was when I found________items of clothing. Some of them still had the tags (标签) on! Then I was re-wearing things that had barely seen the________of day since I'd bought them. I even wore the same dress to two parties________, where I had much fun with my friends and no one________my dress. I suddenly________that I didn't need lots of new clothes.

I survived my year without________clothes, and now think________before I buy anything new.

7 . Manuel Teixeira has reunited with the rescue crews who helped save his life after a big tree fell on him while he was working in Massachusetts on March 9,2024.

Officers Kenneth Almeida and Aaron Swartz _________ responded to the scene in Dighton, and found Teixeira, whose leg was pinned below a tree, _________.

Teixeira, 67, _________ life-threatening head and leg injuries while cutting down a tree on Oak Street. Almeida and Swartz quickly _________ the tree was unstable and dangerous to both the _________ and personnel on scene. They were _________ to take immediate action before the paramedics (医护人员) _________.

Then, Almeida and Swartz _________ to provide life-saving medical aid for Teixeira, "which _________ the use of multiple tourniquets (止血带)." __________, they were able to safely remove the tree from Teixeira,__________ technical lifting equipment. The tough __________ lasted 15 minutes. Teixeira was transported to the hospital nearby quickly, where his injured __________ had to be removed surgically, causing him to use a wheelchair.

Almeida and Swartz were honored for their __________. From the government, they received letters of __________ for their response to the __________, which saved Teixeira's life. They also had the opportunity to reunite with Teixeira, who is still __________ in the hospital.

"These officers saved this man's life by relying on the __________ training they've acquired throughout their years of wholehearted service and their __________ action," Dighton Fire Chief George Nichols said.

Meanwhile, Teixeira is __________. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here today," Teixeira said.

9 . Qian Qihu, China’s top defense engineering expert, has once again moved many netizens with his charity—donating a total of 500, 000 yuan to help children living in poor conditions.

Qian, 87, was born in Kunshan, Jiangsu province. He is an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and also the _______ of China ’s highest military honor, the August 1 Medal in 2022. He also _______ the award of Person Touching China for 2023.

Qian, together with his wife and Kunshan Underground Space Technology Research Institute, _______ 1 million yuan to Jinhui Charity Fund based in Kunshan, to _______ actually unattended children and children suffering from leukemia   (白血). He set up the _______ fund in 2013, which is named after his mother and wife, to help excellent students from _______ families gain access to schools and quality education. As of now, the program has _______ 1, 331 students, with _______ of about 13. 6 million yuan and Qian has personally donated about 13. 38 million yuan.

Many beneficiaries have not only received _______ assistance but also have been inspired by the spirit of Qian, taking him as a role ________ . “His assistance has not only enabled me to continue my studies with peace of mind, but also ________ my way. In the future, I hope I can follow his steps and make ________ to our country’s national defense,” said a National University of Defense Technology student who received ________ from Qian.

In 2019, Qian was ________ with State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, China’s top science award, for his ________ contributions to national defense infrastructure   (基础建设). He donated all the 8 million yuan he was ________ to help poor children receive education. In 2020, Qian made two donations ________ 6. 5 million yuan to support Wuhan in the fight ________ the COVID-19 pandemic.

Qian has ________ donated all his savings to the charity fund. “The value of life lies in ________ . I have devoted my whole life to our country and the people,” said Qian.