1 . Kate’s unique and infectious smile can brighten anyone’s day. It’s a _________ she’s always had and, coupled with her optimistic outlook, it has helped Kate bravely face many _________ in life.

Born with the rare genetic disorder Crouzon syndrome. Kate has_________138 operations to date. She was once in such a _________ condition that her doctor even refused to conduct further treatment on her. However, instead of being _________ to despair, Kate rose the challenges, for the thought of _________ school had always been encouraging her will to live. “School has been important to keep me going and to help me with my _________,” she tells. “Through school, I found my abilities and talents, like writing and drama. I’ve also_________ how to be enthusiastic and passionate.” As Kate turned 20, the_________of the operations she needed had been done, so she could focus on her future. “The surgeries are getting fewer and now I can just focus on living a life outside of the __________ world.”

Her determination __________. Now 22, Kate has just graduated with a degree in the creative arts and media from Edgewater College. “__________ all of the adversities (逆境) in my life is like my superpower,” she says __________. “Going through the hard challenges makes everything __________ because it makes all of the good things __________!”

2 . The Christmas of 2020 was not a time of celebration but just tough for many. It was ________ by COVID-19. Anthony, Sara’s brother, put up some ________ in the yard to make the holidays special. ________, right after Christmas, Anthony was seriously infected and ________. For Sara, the pain was almost too much to ________. But when she pulled up to her house at the end of a ________ day, the shining Christmas lights ________ her a little joy. They were the last mementos (纪念品) Sara had of her brother when he was still alive and ________. Taking them down felt like a final act of closure she wasn’t ready to take. So she ________ them up.

In February, Sara ________ a typed note in the mail. “Take your Christmas lights down!” the unsigned letter read. Sara looked at the paper ________ and got angry. She could have bottled up that ________, but she wrote about it instead. “I wanted to ________ people that we all had a tough year and people should be a little more ________ toward each other.” She shared it on Facebook. Sara’s inbox quickly filled with messages of ________. People started sending Sara messages about how they had ________ loved ones around Christmas. Then something strange happened. One evening, she ________ that Christmas lights were appearing — or reappearing — on houses in her neighbourhood.

The mystery had a ________ explanation: her neighbours had got together and ________, collectively, to hang their lights back up in honor of Anthony.

Sara never learned who sent the ________. But for her, that one mean-spirited deed was far outweighed by so many more acts of kindness.

3 . In the last months of Dad’s life, my brothers and I moved him to a local nursing home nearby. I spent as much time as I could ______ him there. Cancer had damaged his body badly and was now ______ his mind.

During one visit, I entered his room, only to find him in a ______ sleep. I sat by his side for a while ______, wishing for more time with him and also ______ I hadn’t made the most of all the years we had together. Then I got up and walked out.

A light rain was starting to fall and it matched my ______. As I walked to my car, I saw a woman in a wheelchair ______ to move herself out of the rain. I ______ walked over and helped push her inside. She thanked me and gave me a ______ smile. At that moment, I felt a light shine into my soul and a sense of ______ return to my heart. I walked back out, letting the rain wash over me, and thanked all the years I had with Dad. I also knew even if Dad died, the love we shared would ______ continue.

I now still think of that ______ of loving kindness. It reminds me that while we might not be able to live every moment to the fullest, we can still ______ the moments we do have. Life is

______ for love and kindness, which go beyond even death and are ever-lasting ______. May you fill your days with them.

7 . In July, in Moss Point, Mississippi, a heroic act unfolded. Three teenage girls found themselves in a(n) _________ situation when they drove their car off a boat ramp (舷梯) and into the Pascagoula River. The driver had blindly _________ incorrect GPS directions, leading them into the _________.

Corion Evans, a 16-year-old who was hanging out with friends nearby, saw what happened and realized he _________ to help. In the dark, Evans and two brothers made their way to the river’s edge and saw the _________ catching the roof of the sinking car. Evans _________ jumped into the water, even though he _________ there were alligators (鳄鱼) in the area. He _________ brought the first girl to safety on the shore.

A police officer named Garry Mercer _________ and also jumped into the river to assist. However, one of the girls __________ and pulled Mercer underwater. Evans didn’t hesitate to jump back in and help both of them until they could stand. __________, another girl, Cora Watson, who couldn’t swim, was struggling to stay afloat. Evans heard her cries for __________ and managed to save her as well.

All three girls and Officer Mercer were taken to the __________ but were eventually released. Evans’ mother, Marquita Evans, wasn’t __________ with him for breaking curfew (宵禁) because he had a good reason — __________ lives.

8 . I was nervous as I had never worked in a hospital before. However, my advisers were amazing and instantly put me _________ . From my first day, I realised that my highlighter pens were my most important _________ in understanding the information given in handover. Never did I know these pens would help make a real _________ to the care of one patient.

I was helping to look after Lily, who had _________ a total left hip (髋部) replacement. My adviser and I were _________ Lily for discharge (出院), but problems with her short-term memory meant she found it _________ to understand her prescribed medications (医嘱). Although we explained it, she was still _________ and became upset. To make it simpler, I decided to create an easy-to-understand medication _________ using my highlighter pens. I _________ all her medications, the amounts and the time of day. By spending just ten minutes creating something __________ to Lily, I made it.

When Lily received a follow-up call later, the nurse __________ a message from her, thanking me for my colour chart, which had helped her __________ . I was pleased by this: it was only a small act, but it made me realise how much the little things __________ and that you can never __________ patients fully understand what is being said. I am always happy to spend that extra few minutes to make sure a person understands what is fully __________ about their care.

9 . Yesterday I had the chance to step out of my comfort zone. I ______ two strangers for help. I used to be a little bit shy, especially in the ______ surroundings. It really took ______ to get out at the very beginning.

I would have driven the car but I have ______ my arm, so I had to use my feet to get from the doctor’s surgery to another important ______ . A young boy on a bike gave me some ______ for a shortcut to the next village. Though pushed for time, he ______ accompanied me part of the way to show me the start of the path. We had a laugh when I ______ about stealing his bike. It seemed having a small talk with a ______ wasn’t that difficult. My shyness ______ .

Got there in the end—owing to ______ a kind man who was leaving his driveway and about to dry the windscreen of his car. I begged him for a ______ . down the road, seeing as I only had 5 minutes left. It ______ took 20 minutes on foot but only a few minutes by car. Therefore, I asked him a favour without ______ . It was extremely ______ that he was willing to assist rather than ______ my request directly.

Glad I ______ my instinct(直觉)—he was a very nice person and thanks to him-and the boy-I got to my appointment a minute early. ______ to the help from kind strangers who gave me hope and strength, I am well ______ of the fact that even small and random acts of kindness can make a day full of joy and I would like to ______ the kindness to more people.

10 . In Connecticut, &teacher made a big decision that would change the course of her life and her new student’s.

Jenna Riccio, a busy elementary school teacher, encountered a _________ that would test her pity and kindness. In 2019, Jenna _________ her new student, Nate, fell ill and needed emergency surgery. Unfortunately, the blood infection _________ the amputation (截肢) of his loge and left arm. When Jenna _________ everything and went to see Nate at the hospital, she found him alone. She decided to bring him _________ by being there for him. However, her _________ was not just an act of kindness. Jenna learned Nate had been _________.

Concerned for his well-being, Jenna _________ his social worker to apply to adopt Nate. Feeling _________ the worker agreed to help. __________, when she told her decision to her then-boyfriend, Tim who’s __________, too, he readily agreed.

Two years later, things __________ for Jenna in her love life. She and Tim got married, and disabled Nate was the ring bearer. However, their family didn’t become __________ until 2022 when Nate became their legally adopted son __________. Today, he’s in the 5th grade, growing healthy.

“Every night I go to sleep, thinking, ‘I’m very __________. I’ll repay them for their love,’”Nate says. __________, Jenna and Tim are overjoyed to have Nate in their lives. They can never __________ life without him.

Jenna’s decision to adopt Nate shows the __________ of sympathy and the __________ impact it has on someone’s life. The love and care she showed Nate __________ his life, and their journey as a family is the proof of their love and care.