1 . Financial trouble had distanced us from the life that was. We decided to _________ our home. But first, we’d have to deal with two hugely _________ hollies (冬青树) that have overtaken the front of the house.

We called landscapers (园艺师). The news wasn’t _________. 20-plus years of neglect left us with only two _________: Let them be or tear them out. The idea of cutting off all that life just for a better view _________ us. We have never owned any green thing that grew well, except for those crazy hollies. But we still scheduled the _________.

Over the two weeks before cutting, though, the trees _________ me. So I emailed one last landscaper. I pinned my hopes on that. Daria came to our front lawn and said, “These can’t be trimmed (修剪).” “The trunks are too _________,” she added. “I can cut them down to about 2 feet of trunk and see if they’ll grow.”

See if they’ll grow? Months? Years? I said nothing, but Daria could read our _________. “If nothing happens,” she said, “we’ll get you some new ones.” We gave her the green light.

But weeks later, I __________ the front bed. Three or four bunches of tiny leaves __________ from one trunk. It was the __________ of small, good things arriving.

Each day, they made us smile, __________ us to have patience and gave us hope that all of us have the __________ to heal. For that, we thank those quiet, strong hollies, now __________ to the spring, as we look forward to starting fresh.

2 . Rodney started mowing (割草) yards for free in 2015 to help neighbors in his community, including senior citizens, single parents and individuals with disabilities. The idea _________ him when he drove past an elderly neighbor _________ to mow his lawn. Rodney _________ and offered to finish the job for his neighbor. He soon set a goal of mowing 40 lawns by the end of that winter, but increased that goal to 100 lawns as he quickly surpassed his _________ target.

“I’m _________ of cutting grass because I’m young and strong,” explained Rodney. Once he reached his 100-lawn goal, he realized he could _________ more people by creating a program that included youths as _________. He founded the Raising Men Lawn Care Service and began recruiting (招募) local youths aged 7 to 17, as he said, “Show them the importance of _________ their community.”

Rodney started the nonprofit lawn program while still in college. He now holds a master’s degree in social work and _________ his nonprofit organization full time. Children can get __________ by sending in a photo of themselves holding a sign that reads, “I accept the 50-yard challenge.” __________ participation, the organization will send the child a shirt, safety glasses and ear protection. Once the child completes the __________, the organization delivers them a brand-new lawn mower.

The program provides a valuable service for community members who have difficulty __________ mowing their own yards. The lawn challenge also provides an opportunity for youths to build a __________ with neighbors. The service is a __________ for the youth volunteers and community members.

3 . Born and brought up in a small family in Kaliwal village, Veeranna Madiwalar’s childhood was full of struggle. Even as his parents struggled to ________, it was very difficult to pay his school fees. It was his uncle who supported his education. “He said he saw a ________ in me and he wanted me to ________ my education,” he says.

After receiving his master’s degree, he moved back to his hometown because he wanted to make ________ better for future generations. “I worked for four years before being made the headmaster of Nidagundi School in 2016,” he says, ________ that the old and poor building and lack of infrastructure (基础设施) made him think of his own school’s state.

Using his own money, he started ________ — he planted a few trees across the campus, and started repair work on the building. But he knew he could not ________ the repair of the school alone. So he used the ________ of social media to raise money. “I started posting pictures of the school with my repairs on Facebook. Word spread and, ________, many people came forward to ________ me,” he says.

Today, this ________ is a far cry from what it used to be. “The change is amazing,” says a(n) ________ from the school. “It didn’t happen overnight. It was a ________ journey, and everyone, even students, played a part in it. Today, the school stands ________, and the students have a place they truly ________ studying in.”

4 . Jane is an Australian girl. She likes sports very much. Last year, she went to climb a _________ mountain. When she began to climb, she wanted to _________ the top quickly. _________ she ran fast all the way. Then she arrived at a ridge (山脊). She was very _________ to the top now, and she could see the other people on the top. She couldn’t wait to _________ them.

Suddenly, she saw that there was a huge stone _________ the way. She wasn’t able to see a road up to the top. “How can I get to the top?” She _________ loudly. So she thought, “I will have to jump over the huge _________.” She tried again and again but she couldn’t _________ it. It’s too high. How all those people get to the top? She said to __________ “Perhaps they are taller and __________ than me.”

Just at that moment, a middle-aged woman __________ behind her. “Would you like to reach the top of the mountain?” She asked. The girl said yes. “You follow me.” the woman said. The girl followed the woman to the far side of the ridge and saw there was a winding (弯曲) road.

Climbing the road was __________ . Soon they got to the top.

At times the fastest way to get where you would like to go is to take many small __________ instead of one big jump. It needs patience, courage and wisdom said the woman. __________, the girl understood what she should do on the way to success.

5 . We have an English corner in our classroom. Every morning many of my classmates come to the corner. My teacher Miss Zhang comes here, too. At the corner, we all speak English.

The corner started last year. At first, there were only _________ students because many were _________ to speak English. After several weeks, more and more students came here. At first, some students just _________ to the other students. I was one of them. I was afraid to speak English. I thought someone would _________ me, but I wanted to speak. I always spoke English in my heart. My teacher went on saying, “Don’t be afraid. Open your mouth.” I tried and tried to open my mouth. At last, I said, “Hello!” to the teacher. The teacher was very _________. She said “Hello!” to me at once. From _________ on, I began to speak English. I work hard at English and I try my best _________ more. I learn _________ my teacher and my classmates at the corner. Now I can speak a little English. Every Sunday morning, I come to the corner _________.

It’s a good __________ to speak English. Please join us.

6 . I got a volunteer job to teach computer skills in a library after many failures in applications and interviews. It’s an ideal opportunity to try something new and break away from the feeling of _______ .

Pretty soon after I entered the main library, I was _______ to work. There were too many learners and not enough teachers.

I was led to Jenna, who had been out of work for seven months. She was _______ back tears of frustration while trying to attach her CV(简历) to an e-mail. When we had finally sent out three _______ , she sat back. Ray, an _______ gentleman, did not know how to open and watch the video of his grandson _______ in an e-mail. A few quick clicks of the mouse and Ray was _______ playing and replaying the video.

When I left the library I had a new sense of purpose and a different way of _______ . Later that evening, I thought a lot about the persons I _______ today. But what I thought about most was how ________ we all were—just people ________ together in taking those first steps to make a ________ to our lives. That day, through ________ , I had realized the fact that to struggle ________ through life’s challenges is a lonely process, but to make that journey with others can make facing even the hardest challenges ________ .

7 . As an assistant manager at a restaurant, I encountered a heart-warming experience. One day, a father and his young son _________ the restaurant and spent a very long time looking through the menu. _________ , the father came up and started asking me about _________ because his son was allergic(过敏的)to some food.

At some point, the boy, who was probably six or seven, _________ me a laminated(覆膜的) card that listed all his allergies. They were a lot. It was _________ for me to remember them, and I didn’t know what the seasoning mixtures were, so I asked to borrow the _________ so I could go check. He _________ , and off I went.

It _________ that many of our seasoning and sauces contained allergens for the boy. After much effort, I found a _________ option for him and took extra precautions due to his meat allergy. The father was grateful and explained they had __________ to find suitable dining options. This __________ the beginning of a special connection, as they became __________ customers, visiting at least once a week.

The positive __________ I received was a heartening reminder that through genuine care and understanding, we can make a __________ . It reinforces my commitment to ensure that each guest’s experience is memorable and that they can __________ their unique needs.

8 . Xinjiang has long been known as a place of music and dancing.

No matter which ethnic group is living in Xinjiang, music and dancing are an inseparable part of our lives. From festive holidays to ________ and parties, music, singing and dancing are must-haves, with people of all genders and ages taking part in them. Even young children in Xinjiang, upon ________ music, start moving their hands and stepping on the beat. It is often the case that people say, “Everyone in Xinjiang knows how to dance.” Dancing shows our ________ for life.

When it comes to folk dancing in Xinjiang, the first thing people will ________ is “neck moving”, or more ________, the “head slide”. To do this, you move your cheek to each side.

The moment when I ________ people’s love for the ethnic dances of Xinjiang came during the COVID-19 ________ in 2020. I launched an open course on Douyin. Every day I live-streamed (直播) for an hour. In the 12-day period, more than a million people ________ my course.

Every day I would assign my viewers ________, asking them to shoot a short video and interact with me on the platform. I was flooded with ________ . I could see people of all ages and ethnic groups, even overseas Chinese showing their passion for Xinjiang dances. Many of them even ________ Xinjiang-style clothes and did their hair. I was quite ________ by my students during that period.

Short video and live-streams do not only ________ tourism and sell products, they also serve an important role in ________ a communication channel with the majority of netizens.

I believe so many people would like to connect with me on the Internet because they see me as a down-to-earth, relatable and real director of the ________ and tourist bureau (局).

9 . I have been adopted by an American family since I was fifteen months old. Growing up in the second-whitest county in California, I had little interest in my ________ as an adopted Chinese American. After I moved to Tucson, my curiosity about my identities ________ as I was exposed to a larger Chinese population there.

During my four years at Northern Arizona University (NAU), I took two years of ________ language courses, which was a major marker in my adventure to ________ myself.

Through my class, I was introduced to the NAU Chinese culture club, where I ________ my knowledge of Chinese culture and connected with international students from China and students who were deeply ________ Chinese culture.

Then I had an opportunity to study abroad in Hong Kong for a year. Surrounded by mainly people who looked like me, I did not feel like I ________ as I usually do in the US. I became ________ connected to Hong Kong and its history, ________ and people. The experience ________ me to find beauty and ________ in the complexities (难题) of holding many identities.

After returning from my ________ abroad, I started to volunteer at the Education Abroad Office at NAU. I ________ my experience and encouraged other NAU students to go abroad, as it was such a ________ experience and enabled me to better understand myself. I’m ________ to call myself an adopted Chinese American.

10 . Peter walked home from school. Salty tears ran down his cheeks. He didn’t know what to do. Grandma saw him and asked why. Peter replied, “I have to give a(n)________ about a family tradition. I know we have lots of beliefs and customs. Can you ________ me of one?”

Grandma smiled and nodded her head. She went to a closet and ________ to reach the top shelf. Pulling out a small box and ________ the dust, she handed it to Peter. Peter opened the box. He ________ a wooden hoop with string woven and twisted around. It was in the shape of a circle, like a spider web. Peter wiped away his ________ and smiled.

“This is a dream catcher,” said Grandma. “Our people have made these for many years. ________are symbols of unity and strength. Hang it over your bed and it will ________ your bad dreams in the web, and your good dreams will fall through the center. Maybe it will give you ________ to do your presentation.”

“Can I take this one to school?” asked Peter. “No,” said Grandma. “This dream catcher is ________ . It means a lot to me.”

Peter felt ________ because he wanted to share it with his class. “We could make you one,” said Grandma. They worked together and ________ a dream catcher. The next morning he told Grandma his plan — to show his class how to make one. “Great! Let’s ________ after your presentation. We will have a ________ party,” said Grandma.

Peter did as he had planned. Peter didn’t feel ________ or scared at all. He felt proud in his culture and felt pride in himself, too.