2 . I worked part-time at a school teaching some children English in my college years. After _______, I decided to find a full-time teaching position.

This past Friday I had my first official job interview. I was very _______ before going to it. What if I did not know how to answer a question or couldn’t answer it _______? The thought of being interviewed soon was scary.

To do well in the job interview, I _______ the frequently asked questions and the ways to best answer them online. _______, I was still afraid that I couldn’t do well. As a result, I went to visit my teacher to seek _________ about interviewing.

My teacher provided me with useful guidance that made me _______. He said, “Connect with the interviewer and just be yourself. You know what you know; don’t _______ that you know something you don’t.” I loved his suggestion because it was _______and realistic. So often, people __________ to pretend that they have had experience or known everything.

During the interview, I simply reflected on my previous __________, the lessons I was good at, the relationships I had with my students, colleagues, and parents, etc. This allowed me to not only __________my personal examples quickly and effectively, but also   __________   how my opinions and passions as an educator were translated into action.

The whole __________ went very well, with satisfying ____________ of course.

3 . If you want to stand out, 10,000 hours of training will take you much further than your natural abilities. Mozart is considered by many as the greatest composer who ever lived. Traditionally, many people ________ outstanding achievements like Mozart’s are due to talent, or even inborn inspiration or ________.

This assumption holds especially true for child prodigies (神童) like Mozart whose music talent ________ the world at the age of six. But looking more ________ at this phenomenon, we find that these individuals actually had to practice countless hours before showing their ________ remarkable talent. In fact, scientists indicate that a prodigy’s training typically ________ at a very early age, with massive time invested in practice.

For example, when the six-year-old Mozart toured Europe to ________ his brilliant piano skills, he had already ________ 3,500 hours of musical training. If you compare this to other pianists who have practiced for as long, Mozart’s ________ wasn’t all that exceptional. It seems that outstanding abilities come from intensive strict practice ________ natural talents. A study shows the only factor directly ________ the students’ level of achievement was the amount of serious practice time: the most ________ performers had practiced for an average of 10,000 hours, while the least skilled had only 4,000 hours of practice. What’s even more revealing is that there were no ________: All of the top performers had ________ great efforts to their practice. It seems that no extraordinary talent can ________ without tough practice.

5 . There is a big difference between offering to help and helping. Almost all of us are guilty (内疚的) about the following _________: Someone talks about a problem, and we answer with _________ words, “Be sure to give me a call if I can help.” But we often do nothing to help.

Once I was in the situation where I _________ these kinds of offers of help—my son just started studying abroad. During those particular days, all I could _________ was the trouble my son would possibly face. It was a very _________ experience. However, there were very few who offered something really helpful.

_________. I had one close friend who took action rather than just saying to offer help. She called, “I know you must be going crazy. I think you need to get away from your _________.” She had already called a few of our friends and _________ a big dinner out. It was a wonderful night. I hadn’t even known how much I needed that break _________ I was there.

After that ____________, I decided I’d ____________ her example and reach out to others. I’ve been ____________ and even guessed wrong at times. But I was amazed when I cheered people up. So ____________ asking someone if they need help, and offer something ____________ then and there. It is a way to show the power of ____________ in an uncertain world.

7 . My parents said that I started reading tomato soup labels when I was two. But my earliest________are of The Poky Little Puppy, comics I found on the bookshelf. I quickly moved on to the library. I_________Little House on the Prairie and absolutely anything by Judy Blume.

I don’t know whether I read because I was curious or I was curious because I read. Probably________I do know,________, that books were my refuge (避难所). They gave me________and comfort when life was confusing or uncertain. They were a(n)________and a shelter. Books transported me to places I never________and exposed me to ideas I had never considered. I preferred Watership Down to hide-and-seek with the neighbor________. My father worried that I was turning into a recluse (孤独者), but I was________. Maybe they made me smarter. I know they provided me with________.

So, when I had my son, it surprised no one that I filled his room with________. With a certainty I didn’t know, I read to him for hours, hoping that I would________the magic to him. It did. Now he writes________about fire engines, policemen and flying birds. He is becoming a(n)________storyteller--just like his parents. I________to him through stories in a way I didn’t envision (想象).

8 . I was moving as fast as I could, stepping cautiously from rock to rock along the uneven beach. When suddenly I saw it: a bright, square shaped stone, the color of water, _________ a shining gold chain. It was just lying there on the wet _________, and a few seconds later it was in my pocket. Yes, I like collecting things. So far, my yellow biscuit box has _________ some other awesome _________. My family calls me their “little collector”, but some _________ kids at school call me “trash girl”.

While I was _________ home, a sign on the window of a candy shop drew my attention, which _________: LOST: Gold and blue necklace. Very special. If found, call Chrissy at 555-9924. Chrissy had painted a crayon _________ of the necklace at the bottom of the _________. “It looked different from the one in my pocket,” I decided. When I was home, I lookd at it, so clean and __________. Could it be Chrissy’s “very special” necklace?

“Dad,” I shouted, “could I call Chrissy?”

Fifteen minutes later, Chrissy and I was sitting in a booth (小隔间). “It was a __________ from my mom,” she said, “before she got sick.” Chrissy __________ the blue stone in her hand. “I thought I’d never __________ it. Holding on to it __________ makes things a little brighter,” she said. “Do you know what I mean?”

I thought about the mean voice at school and how holding on the beautiful things often makes me feel __________. I nodded, “I think I do.”

10 . Wuhan University graduate Yang Xiaohan embarks(启程)on a transformative journey to Xizang, exploring the essence of excellence through scientific pursuits, voluntary service, and a deep commitment to patriotism.

Before officially embarking on his journey, Yang made _______ preparations to quickly _______ work and life in Xizang. He _______ gathered information from online sources to better understand the local social conditions.

Upon arrival, Yang was _______ by severe altitude sickness. The oxygen deficiency _______ his fingernails to turn purple, and he found it difficult to sleep at night. _______, Yang dedicated himself to a daily 10-minute jogging routine to boost his _______.

On the very next day after Yang’s arrival, a local _______ of the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. “During the battle of pandemic prevention, working overtime and staying up late at night became our _______,” Yang said. “However, no one ________, putting in as much effort as possible.”

On July 1, 2022, Yang participated in the cleaning and marking of the boundary ________ at the border between Gyirong and Nepal under the ________ of the local Committee Organization Department. “This experience has given me a deeper understanding of the ________ connection between myself and this homeland,” Yang said.

“Excellence lies not only in the pursuit of perfection but also in ________ flaws(缺陷 ) and imperfections. As long as we do our best, regardless of the outcome, it is ________ compared to before.” Yang said.