1 . Your first day anywhere can be tough. As a supply teacher, I had one such experience when I was _____ to work at a special education school.

When I received the call asking if I was available that day, a wave of _____ rushed over me. I’d never taught in a special school before, but I _____ pulled myself together and drove to the school. On the way there, I had _____ about everything I couldn’t do.

As I _____， I was greeted by the head who _____ me there was “nothing to worry about”， but I was feeling anything but! I was told I would teach Key Stage 1.

_____ by their parents, the children began to show up. I tried to _____ my anxious feelings, although a few drops of _____ were noticeable.

The whole class, a total of 8 with various special needs, arrived by 9：30. Contrary to my ______， as the day went on，my ______ levels went down. The children were expressive, unique and passionate, though there were times that left me slightly ______ by their screams.

As the day ended, I could ______ say it was one of the best experiences of my teaching career. I hope anyone will ______ working at a special school and allow the passion of the children there to ______ their love of teaching.

3 . I was in the second year of my PhD program when a colleague asked what I would do if I had a 25th hour every day. Without much________, I said I would use it to help others. Like many graduate students, I was________with teaching, coursework,________, and some attempts at a personal life.________, I asked myself, “Do I really need a(n)________hour to help other people — or do I need to make better use of the 24 hours I have?”

A short time later, I started to________for an organization that provides________for senior citizens and people with disabilities. To my________, adding this activity to my busy life was just what I needed to________the chaos I was feeling as a first-generation international graduate student.

I was a bit________before my first ride, as I had not________much with people outside school. But my nervousness quickly calmed when I________my passenger: an old woman on her way to church. She was________to see a young international driver and was full of questions about my________. She shared with me how thankful she was to attend________and get some fresh air. She gave me her blessings.________like these and the smiles on my riders’ faces________me to continue driving.

I started to volunteer about 3 hours every weekend — time I otherwise would have wasted________or looking through social media. Sharing stories with my riders was much more________. My previously overwhelming schedule began to feel________.

4 . So this is it—senior high school at last! I’m not outgoing so I’m a little _____right now. I want to make a good first ___. Will I make any friends? What if no one ____ to me?

I just had my first maths class at senior high school! The class was difficult, ____ the teacher was kind and friendly. He _____ told us a funny story, and everyone laughed so much! I found most of my classmates and teachers friendly and _____.

This afternoon,we had our chemistry class in the science lab. The lab is new and the lesson was great, but the ____ next to me tried to talk to me the whole time. I couldn’t concentrate on the ______. I really wanted to tell him to please be _____ and leave me alone.

What a day! This morning, I was _______ that no one would talk to me. But I was wrong. I didn’t feel ______ or frightened at all. I miss my friends from _____ high school, but I believe I will make new friends here, and there’s a lot to ____ at senior high. I feel much more ____ than I felt this morning. I think that tomorrow will be a _____ day.

5 . Standing on the edge of the plane, my tandem skydiving (双人跳伞) instructor, Bill, turned to face me. “Do you have any last words?” he asked. “Yes,” I said, joking. “I hope my parachute (降落伞) ________.”

I’d never felt more alive as Bill and I ________ and started our free fall. As we reached 4,000 feet, I felt a parachute open. This, I was told, would slow us down for a smooth ________. But why were we still ________ so fast? I could hear Bill swearing as he tried to ________ whatever had gone wrong.

Worse still, our emergency parachute unexpectedly got ________ on something. At that moment, I just felt so ________ that I’d even invited my family along to experience sorrow instead of watching my wonderful performance.

We ________ the ground. An unimaginable pain shot up my back. Feeling weak and tired out, I gathered all my ________, and turned to face Bill. He started screaming. From my neck down, I could hardly ________. My mother couldn’t help crying as we were placed into a(n) ________ from the hospital.

After years of treatment, the deep physical and mental pain is ________. I heard Bill made a full ________ and returned to skydiving.

I was always terrified of being myself and doing the things I wanted. Now I’ve learned I need to be ________. There’s nothing like falling from 15,000 feet without a parachute and surviving. It forces me to ________ every day!

7 . Long ago there was a poor farmer called Fred. Fred and his wife, Doris lived ________ together in their small old house. One winter night, the Luck Fairy (仙女) visited them.

“Fred, you’re a ________ farmer. I’d like to give you a wish,” said the Luck Fairy.

“A wish?” Said Fred.

Fred and Doris smiled at each other. Then Fred said, “Thank you, Luck Fairy. We’re very ________ and happy.”

“________ we’re old, we still work in the field every day,” said Doris.

“You wok very hard but you ________ very little money. Would you like some gold coins” asked the Luck Fairy.

“Oh no, my dear Luck Fairy. We’re poor. But we have ________ food to eat.” Replied Fred.

“You can use the gold coin to buy some clothes. The winter here is very cold,” said Luck Fairy.

“Though we haven’t got ________ clothes, we’ve got enough,” said Doris.

“Well, what about a nice new house?” Asked Luck Fairy.

Thank you, but I ________ my small old house very much. I’ve lived here since I was born. I don’t ________ a new house,” said Fred.

“You’re quite different from other people. I like you very much,” said the Luck Fairy. “I wish you happiness and luck forever.” Then the Luck Fairy ________ and never came back.

8 . The journey my daughter Cathy has had with her swimming is as long as it is beautiful.

Cathy suffered some terrible _________ in her early childhood. After years of regular treatment, she finally became healthy.

Two years ago, while Cathy was watching the Olympics, a dream came into her sweet little head—to be a swimmer. Last summer, she wanted to join our local swim team. She practiced hard and finally _________ it. The team practice, _________ was a rough start. She coughed and choked and could hardly survive her first few weeks. Hearing her coughing bitterly one night, I decided to _________ her from it all. But Cathy woke me up early next morning, wearing her swim suit ready to go! I told her she shouldn't swim after a whole night's coughing, but she refused to _________ and insisted she go.

From that day on, Cathy kept swimming and didn't miss a single practice. She had a _________ intention within herself to be the best she could be. My ten-year-old girl was growing and changing right before my eyes, into this _________ human being with a passion and a mission. There were moments of frustration of course: often she would be the last swimmer in the race. It was difficult for Cathy to accept that she wasn't a winner — ever. But that didn't stop her from trying.

Then came the final awards ceremony at the end of the year. Cathy didn't expect any award but was still there to _________ her friends and praise their accomplishments. As the ceremony was nearing the end, I suddenly heard the head coach _________, “The highest honor goes to Cathy!” Looking around, he continued, “Cathy has inspired us with her will and enthusiasm. Although skills and talents bring great success, the most valuable asset one can hold is the heart.”

It was the greatest __________ of my daughter's life. With all she had been through in her ten years, this was the hour of true triumph.

9 . When I was a young boy, our whole family lived in my Nana’s old house right beside a set of railroad tracks. I can remember the whole house would _____ when the trains passed by. I often spent my summer afternoons walking down the _____. I can remember the first time I tried to ____ myself and walk on a (an) ____ rail. The steel rail was very narrow and quite ______ so I didn’t have much success. First I tried holding my arms out and _____ my feet as I walked. This only led to me falling off after a few steps. I ______ to walk backwards once but quickly slipped off. It was only when I started looking ____   that I was able to walk the rails.

Looking back on this time I now______ that it also gave me a wonderful lesson about _____. You can’t go through life watching every _____ you take or choice you make. This only leads to ______ yourself and you soon go off the rails. Looking behind you is even ______. Only when you look ahead can you really ______ forward and see the life you want to lead. Then you will walk on with a light ______.

10 . “This is the emergency room calling and your son was just brought in with severe burns. We have called for a ( n) _______and are going to fly him to Seattle." Seattle was 350 miles from his college , so we knew immediately this was_______

The doctor described the_______,which caused the burns. At 6 a.m. , our son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers. When they_______   the charcoal (木炭), it burst into flames because of the sprayed petrol. The flames shot to my son's head.

_______, one boy was quick -minded, grasped my son, and _______ him on the grass. While he saved his life , there was not enough _______to save him from fearful burns.

After he recovered, the doctors told him they would not do plastic surgery (整容) for 6 months _______it takes that long for the skin to stop shrinking and wrinkling. So, he had to return to college with scars (伤疤) .

When I was a child, my mother told my sister who had a 10-inch very _______ scar on her arm,' "Nancy, if you ignore the scar, other people will ignore it. It does not mean they will not__________it, but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn't matter to you.                                                                         

I passed this wisdom on to my son. He took my advice to ________and returned to school with his head held high- glad he was alive. Later, he thought the scars did not matter and made the________to give up any plastic surgery.

We all have “scars” that we believe ________people to keep away from us. But you see, people will only judge you by your looks, or your clothes, if you are judging yourself by these same________standards. Put your imperfections out of your mind and concentrate on what you value________yourself, and your beauty will shine through.