2 . I believe we can have a big effect on anyone with whom we come into contact. Some acts that we think ________ can shape others’ future. The simple words can sometimes ________ change someone’s life.

Years ago, that was what happened to me. I was the only ________ child at Blue Elementary School. From almost the first day there, I was ________ by other kids mainly because of my hearing aid. And I also had ________ with my school work. When others laughed at me, I thought of myself as a ________ boy who wasn’t smart enough to keep up with the class.

Mrs Jordan, my 5th grade teacher, ________ all of that with a simple sentence. One morning, she asked the ________ a question. I read her lips from my front-row seat and immediately raised my hand because I knew the answer. But when she called my name, I was ________. Here was an opportunity to ________ the teacher and showed her I was worthy of her love. Maybe I would even impress my classmates a little. I didn’t want to blow it. Despite my fears, I took a deep ________ and answered her question.

I will never forget what ________ next. “THAT’S GREAT, STEPHEN!” Mrs. Jordan ________ with sparkling eyes and a wide smile. I regained confidence and ________ a little taller in my chair.

From that day forward, my grades and speech ________ greatly. My popularity among my peers increased. It was all because the praise and encouragement Mrs Jordan gave me.

3 . Sumiel, a 71-year-old, was no stranger to the struggles of kidney (肾) disease. He was on the transplant list (移植名单), but no matches had yet _________. So he continued with his treatments at a medical center 30 miles from home.

One day, he took a taxi home after his _________ with the doctor. As they set out on the 40 minute _________ to Sumiel’s home in Salem, he and the driver, Letts, got to _________. Sumiel mentioned that he’d enjoyed _________ and helped others in his community before. But he was doing less these days because the treatments left him_________ tired. Then Sumiel revealed that he was _________ a kidney giver. Letts said, “I’d like to see if I could be a _________ to give you a kidney.” Sumiel agreed, though he didn’t _________ much of it as they kept driving.

Letts was __________ to his word. He got in touch with Sumiel just a few hours later, and by the next week, Letts had__________ the kidney transplant program. After a month’s long screening __________ — including an interview, sharing medical records, and testing the __________ were: Letts was an ideal donor, and he and Sumiel were a perfect match.

Fourteen months after they ended up in the same taxi by __________, Sumiel and Letts had their surgeries. It was a __________. They kept in touch and looked forward to the day they could reunite.

5 . “Do I really want to go through with this?” Have you ever asked yourself that question? Sometimes in life, there are moments when you ______ if you will be able to handle the responsibilities ahead of you.

For me, these ____ come daily, whether it’s taking a test or working. But one Saturday afternoon, my family and I were _____around when my dad pulled into a small mall. Little did I realize we were going to a______ store where a new member would be ______ to our family.

As my dad parked our car, I figured we would just take a ______ look and then leave. After a while, my dad called us over. He was standing next to my mom, looking at several cats.

I began to think, “Are we ______ a cat?”

My dad asked, “ So guys, you like any of these?”

My brother said “Yes!” before I could open my _______.

When I pictured feeding the cat, cleaning it and giving it water, all of these responsibility felt ______to me. Would I be able to handle it? After all, I would have to live a more adult-like ______ if I got a cat.

Later on, after ______ that we should get a cat, I thought about this new phase of my life. I realized that the _______ I make can affect my future.

Looking back, I find that I have been able to _____ the responsibility of owning a cat. Some tasks may be ______ , but that doesn’t mean they can’t be accomplished. You ____ need to do your best in order to push past them.

7 . A Story on an Island

A ship was lost at sea and the only survivor was washed up on a small, inhabited(无人居住的) island. He prayed _________ for God to rescue him and for hours he just _________ at the horizon(地平线), waiting for a heaven-sent _________ but it never came.

Then he decided to do something. _________ tired and upset, he _________ some branches and dry grass. Hours of hard work paid off and a little shelter was built. The “Robinson Crusoe” began his life on the island. Believe it or not, a couple of days going by, he _________ and it seemed not that hard.

But then one day, after _________ for food, he arrived home to find his little shelter in flames and the _________ rolling up to the sky.

The _________ had happened: everything was lost.

“God, how could you do this to me!” he cried with __________ and anger.

Early the next day, __________, he was awakened by the __________ of a ship that was coming near to the island. It had come to rescue him!

“__________ did you know that I was here?” he asked one of his rescuers.

“We saw your smoke __________,” they replied.

It is easy to get __________, when things are going bad. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even when we are in pains and sufferings.

Remember, next time your little shelter is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that calls for the grace of God. For all the negative(消极的) things we have to say to ourselves, God has a/an positive answer for it.

9 . The first time ever I realized that plastic was a serious matter for our planet was during a road trip in Western Australia, almost 12 years ago.

We________at a supermarket along the Coral Bay coast to buy some groceries and the lady at the counter told us they didn’t sell any shopping bags in order to prevent plastic in the________and to help preserving the endangered turtles living in that area. After a first reaction of surprise, we________all our shopping in our arms and left.

This was just one of the many experiences I’ve lived that made me more________about my impact and pushed me to adopt different habits to live and________more sustainably.

Our trip to Borneo was another life-changing________that has strengthened my resolution to a zero-waste lifestyle. While traveling in some Asian countries, we came to know that________drinkable water was always a challenge. So we had to travel with our water bottle, and we________to avoid using plastic during our trip.

Besides, we were also________impressed by our stay on Libaran Island. A sustainable turtle conservation________and the community had made big efforts to________ the beaches and creatively re-use plastic for ten years. Despite that, the shore is________daily with tons of plastic coming from the tides.

Facing this global issue________, raised in me a feeling of sadness and anger that soon turned into________: to do as much as possible to reduce plastic in our life. Small changes can________a difference!

10 . As I was a young boy my family was very poor. I would often help do something for the neighbors to _________ a little pocket money.

One day I _________ on the door of an elderly woman and asked if she needed me to clean     the yard. She asked why I was not in _________ and I showed her my worn _________, which no longer kept me warm. She allowed me to work in the yard. When I finished, she looked at me and said, “I suppose you want to be _________ now.” She then took out a jar filled with dollar bills and said, “I’m glad you’ve done a   _________ job today but that is not something you should be doing again. I want you to _________ new clothes and get back to school. I also want you to come back to visit me with your report card and I will _________ you when I see you have worked hard and have some good_________. Now reach out your little hands and take out as much money as you can.”

I put my hands in the jar and __________ so much money that it was __________ for me to buy what I badly needed. Later, I returned several times to see the woman and she did just as she__________. She looked at my report card and gave me a handful of dollars and some delicious food every time I __________ her that I had an “A”.

I was twelve years old when I moved from that neighbourhood. I will never forget the huge__________ this wonderful lady made over my life with her__________. This is something I hope to do myself in this lifetime over and over again.