1 . 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.

2 . 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.

3 . 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.

4 . 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).

5 . 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.”

6 . 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.

7 . Dawn Loggins didn’t have a typical senior year. Back in 2012, Loggins was waking up early to get to school to put in a before-school _________ as a janitor (清洁工).

Before the rest of her peers _________ school, Loggins was cleaning bathrooms, scrubbing floors, and _________ down the very desks she would _________ later in the day as a student. After 7 hours at school, Loggins didn’t get to _________ home to enjoy an after-school snack or downtime either._________ , she clocked back in for another two-hour time on janitorial duty.

“I don’t mind cleaning,” Loggins said. “If you have to walk through trash to get to your desk, you’re not going to have an environment that _________ learning.”

While the teen was clearly hardworking, it wasn’t immediately obvious to school officials how badly Loggins _________ the financial support her job provided, until she asked her boss for _________ one day. The reason? Without electricity at home.

Even more shocking, while Loggins was at summer school, she __________ calling home, only to find out the phones had been __________ and her parents had moved away-without her. And she became __________ . When the school realized the extent of the neglect Loggins had been living with, they surrounded her with __________ . The community took her in, providing her with housing and food and clothing and helping her to apply for college.

And the efforts __________ : Loggins was accepted into Harvard University. Today she works as a motivational speaker, speaking to __________ that include education, homelessness, and women and youth empowerment.

8 . We were living in Kentucky. My two sons kept asking me to adopt a dog. Honestly, I _________ to do so. However, with my sons’ endless requests, I finally _________ a trip to an animal center.

Actually, I was not in the mood for a pet, for I was struggling with _________. We’d just moved to Kentucky. I was having trouble _________. I missed my parents and friends.

While wandering around the center, I noticed a little dog curled up (蜷缩) in the corner, shaking. Obviously, she was having a(n)_________ time. The dog called Princess just came the day before. The voices of people and barks of other dogs clearly _________ her. I wanted to take the poor thing in. However, my husband suggested having a look at all the dogs before our _________. Surprisingly, my two sons agreed to _________ Princess. So finally, we took her home.

Princess was quiet in the first few days, but _________ she settled into her new home. In a strange way, knowing I had a “friend”with a(n) __________ experience made me feel better.

One day, I was ill, missing my previous home more. Princess stayed with me quietly. Her __________ helped keep my mind off my problems. Soon, I recovered. Since then, Princess and I have fully __________ each other.

A few months after Princess came, I __________ a lot. I stopped losing myself in the __________. I made friends and enjoyed visiting places in a(n) __________ way.

9 . For as long as I can remember I’ve been making art. That meant spending hours at the kitchen table, as a child, drawing women in beautiful gowns and dogs wearing clothes eating in fancy restaurants. Because I was encouraged and praised, I _________ that talent.

In college-thinking that I was going to _________ education-I had an amazing professor in an elective drawing class who encouraged me to _________ my major to fine art. As someone easily influenced by praise, I took her advice and got my _________ in painting and drawing.

Even before I graduated, I had begun showing my art in any _________ that I could. I started out in small coffee shops and farmers markets; it was a perfect way to discover my style and _________ art lovers. _________ , I began showing at galleries and in larger art shows. It was at one of these shows that I met my art publisher, with whom I _________ working for five years.

The art publishing world was a great way to get my work in front of wide _________ , selling at stores like Target and Home Goods. It was also at this time that a number of my paintings were used in feature films. __________ my art on the big screen was definitely one of the most   __________ moments of my career.

I sometimes wonder what other visual artists do when they’re feeling burnt out and __________ with their craft. I feel so lucky to have writing to turn to when the well of my visual creativity runs __________ . Visual arts and writing are different enough that they don’t feel like they draw from the same __________ of creative inspiration.

People always tell artists to ‘find their own voice’. While I do agree with this, I don’t know if it’s something you can just go out and find. To me, it’s important that your voice __________ you.

10 . As an immigrant from China, my mother loves Chinese culture deeply. She _________ Chinese food every night. She prefers to do it herself at home because she thinks the local restaurants aren’t authentic. _________, strangely enough, she likes to take my son to Panda Express to have _________ with her friends who are also from China. She is even _________ to point it out whenever they are at a food court.

Why is American Chinese food not _________ among some Chinese Americans? How is American Chinese food not better than _________ Chinese food? I can’t _________ that it’s not as good as authentic Chinese food. In fact, authentic Chinese food really tastes better while American Chinese food _________ to have food with its own taste — they are right for different persons. It’s important to _________ American Chinese food from authentic Chinese food. They are not the same __________ and have their own characteristics. So they should be treated __________. That’s why my mother thinks that Panda Express is not very authentic, but can still __________ it. Actually, American Chinese food is often created by Chinese immigrants according to their own preferences. As people from various countries have differences in their __________, it is changing.

My mother has a deep feeling for authentic Chinese food and restaurants, so I decide to open a restaurant where she and other immigrants can feel the __________ of Chinese family dinner. My son says he’ll learn Chinese cooking skills from me, which, I think, should be __________ from age to age. Likewise, I’ll also pass on the Chinese food culture to the world.