1 . While it may seem impossible for a simple question to change everything, that is in fact my story. I was a relatively _________ person. I created a business. I was able to travel. Life was mostly _________. Even so, I often felt angry, sad and frustrated (沮丧), which many people would call a normal _________.

With my business, I often _________ expositions (展览会). During a visit to a Mind, Body, Spirit Expo in Australia, I _________ toward a stand sponsored by Access Consciousness. A very cute guy was standing there, so _________ I stopped to chat with him. He had a lot of _________ in his hands. He asked _________ I wanted to take one. I chose a piece of paper and _________ it, “Who does this belong to?” I had no idea what that meant so I __________. He explained, “Many people have those days when they __________ in the morning and instantly feel __________, depressed or any other similar emotions. If you feel __________ after asking yourself this question, those thoughts and __________ are not yours. You are just __________ the emotions of people around you.”

I __________ this question and discovered that most of what went on in my __________, the emotional reactions and stress were not mine. I was simply aware.

Today I’m a supporter of Access Consciousness. I’m __________ relatively happy, but rather happy. I have created multiple businesses, written books and __________ the world sharing with others the methods I use to keep myself __________. It all started with a simple question.

2 . Barre is a workout that includes movements from ballet and yoga, and it’s been sweeping the world. But it seems that the trend never quite _______ in Malaysia until a new studio, Rebarre, popped up a month ago. Its _______ Carmen has always been passionate about fitness and dance, having spent 15 years getting trained as a ballet dancer.

_______ she loved dancing, she never _______ pursuing dance as a career. Instead, she chose to study economics in Imperial College Business School and graduated with _______.

Because of this, she was _______ by a top consulting company in London. However, Carmen realized there had always been a _______ within her that she would make her mark in the field of fitness. Despite her strong belief, it was still a _______ decision to quit for passion. Thus, Carmen spent a long time _______ her options. Carmen eventually left her job, returned to Malaysia, and __________Rebarre.

But why barre? To Carmen, the __________ of barre is that there is no __________ to entry to barre; anyone can do it.

Although some people in Malaysia have __________ the barre concept, most people are still __________with it and its benefits. Thus, building awareness about barre continues to be a great __________ for Rebarre.

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.

7 . After my mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease(阿尔茨海默病), the plants in our house began to die. In years past, I remember the deep, earthy smell that would ________ in our house after my mother had made her weekly watering rounds. Back then, I never connected it with the care that was at the ________ of everything she did.

But now, leaves were ________ , some dry and edged with brown, and many of the stems(茎) bare. It was a mark of how my mother can no longer attend to all the things that she lovingly cared for. I was so focused on the increasing ________ of her own care that her beloved plants had escaped my ________ .

I began her old rounds, pouring water into the thirsty soil, and soon the plants ________ . That’s the thing about houseplants: They demand nothing. They wait quietly, no matter how ________ they are. But even after my best ________, some of the plants couldn’t survive. My mother’s kind caregivers have since brought new ones to add to her ________ , and my father buys fresh flowers every week.

Though Alzheimer’s disease ________ so much of her memory, her desire to care is still there. I would guide her down the steps to water the plants herself. I watched as her shaking hands picked the brown leaves. Each time, she smiled up at me with ________ satisfaction because being able to ________ something is still, what brings her the greatest joy.

I look at plants ________ these days. I see them as my mother does:________ reminders of the need for kindness toward all living things. It is clear to me that the things we spend a lifetime ________ are never truly lost and the love she has planted in me still blooms(开花).

8 . The doorbell rang one mid-December evening. I frequently had unexpected visitors in those early days after my husband’s ________. But when my 6-year-old son opened the door, nobody was there. ________, on the doormat was a box, tied with a silver ________ and a note that said “On the First Day of Christmas...” A mystery.

Sam had died that fall, ________ me the single parent of our two boys, 6 and 8. My sons and I had already ________ to deal with Halloween, and Thanksgiving without Daddy. Still, I was afraid of Christmas. How could December have ________ without my husband?

The next night, the doorbell rang again. Another ________ came, decorated with the same silver ribbon (带子) and ________ the same card reading “On the Second Day of Christmas...”

For the next couple of nights, my boys waited near the front door to see who was leaving the gifts, but the bearer would always choose the moment they left to ________.

I didn’t know who the secret Santa was. But there was one thing I did know. In those dark days of ________, somebody was shining a light our way with a simple but ________ message: “You are loved.” It was such a strange feeling, to be left in darkness on the one hand and drawn so firmly toward ________ on the other. I believe hope will make a(n) ________.

After 11 days of offerings, we weren’t sure what to ________ when we approached home on that 12th night. I trusted there would be ________.

10 . Not being able to see someone you love for a long time is very difficult…but it does make reuniting (重逢) all the more _______.

Owen and Stevie _______ several years ago at their primary school in Chicago. The two became _______ , and seemingly nothing could separate them.

_______, their friendship was _______ three years ago when Owen and his family moved to Missouri —about 400 miles away!

Owen and Stevie _______ to keep their friendship. Still, it wasn’t easy not being able to see each other at school every day.

As luck would have it, Owen’s dad recently _______ a business trip to Chicago. Naturally, the two families would _______ this amazing chance of a reunion. Instead of telling Stevie the good news directly, they chose to _______ him!

Although Stevie had no idea what was going on, one thing was certain: it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

Everyone has ________ days, and the day that Owen ________ was one of Stevie’s. It was going so badly that he had his mom pick him up early. Little did he ________ that the best pick-me-up ever was waiting for him in the back seat.

As Stevie opened the door, Owen was sitting there! “What are you doing here?” Stevie said before crying. “You just ________. I’ve had the worst day ever.”

“I’m visiting you,” Owen replied and gave Stevie a huge hug (拥抱). He ________ Stevie with pats (轻拍) on his back. Stevie enjoyed the moment and said, “I can’t believe it. I feel like I’m ________.”