1 . In a small town, there lived a young girl named Emily, who was known for her alternative thinking. Unlike her peers, Emily always sought different ________ to solving problems. One day, her school announced a science fair, a ________ that Emily had never participated in before.

Feeling a mix of excitement and panic, Emily decided to ________ this challenge head-on. She had a(n)________ idea for an eco-friendly solar energy project and was eager to ________ her proposal. Preferring more traditional projects, ________ her teachers didn’t approve of her unconventional idea. ________ this, Emily didn’t give up.

She set about researching and developing her project with ________. As she worked, she became more ________ and learned to speak about her ideas fluently. Her passion ________ her classmates, and soon, they started looking up to her as a role model and contributed to her project.

Emily spent weeks persuading her teachers to give her idea a(n)________, often having to argue her case energetically. Her persistence ________ when the teachers were finally convinced and allowed her to participate.

At the fair, Emily’s project was a ________. The judges were impressed by her creativity and the practicality of her project. She was awarded first prize, not just for her project, but also for her courage and innovation.

Emily’s success was a testament to her belief that sometimes, you have to ________ from the familiar path to make a significant impact. Her story became an inspiration to many, reminding them that being different and thinking ________ can lead to great achievements.

3 . 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.

4 . 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.

9 . I was on my way to go to a job interview when I was stopped by Officer Jenkins. When I ________, both of the brake lights went out. Thinking that I was stopped for a(n) ________ traffic check, I reached for my driving license and registration. I was even ready for a(n) ________.

As he ________ the car and saw I was pulling out my stuff, he ________ said, “Don’t worry about pulling anything out. I just want you to be ________ that your brake lights are out.” I was immediately ________ because I had just got them replaced last month. I explained to him how the garage mechanic wanted to ________ me $600 just to run a test on the wiring of the car.

He looked at me with a ________ and told me to pop the trunk. With a simple tap here and a tap there, Jenkins managed to get the brake lights ________ again.

I was moved by his ________. He could have easily given me a ticket, but he stepped out of ________ role and into mechanic role to make sure I was straight. His action reminded me of the profound impact a ________ act of kindness can have. It’s a call to recognize those who go the ________ mile, who do more than what’s ________ of them.

10 . Usually, my friend, eighty-four-year-old Mollie, is full of confidence and energy. Three years ago, Mollie decided to do something she had always ________ to do but never had the time or the ________ to be a ballet dancer.

In the beginning of her eighty-first year, she ________ her classes with my encouragement. Every Tuesday night for two years, she was to learn to dance. “There is no one ________ than me in the class,” she told us after her first session. “It’s too ________. Sometimes I think I will never learn ballet.

Though Mollie ________ and worried that she wasn’t good enough, we could see her excitement and ________ in learning about her religion. And we knew that once Mollie decided to do something, she would get ________.

Finally on one recent Saturday, we ________ at a local theater to enjoy Mollie’s ballet performance. When Mollie finished her dance ________ she looked at all of us, smiling, and the audience stood and applauded. As I stood, crying and clapping, I ________ all the things that Mollie had taught me during her time of ________ and study. She showed that to truly live your faith, you have to stumble (跌跌撞撞地走), to ________, to try again, to win. You have to let go of some of your deepest ________ and see what is beyond them.

Mollie taught me that it is never too late to ________ your heart.