3 . I have new company these days as I go outside. Every time I go out the door Miss Alice is sitting at my front door, waiting to be ________. And when I finally return home, there she is asking for ________ again.

It wasn’t always this way. The very first time I saw Miss Alice she was ________ under my house, having just had a litter of kittens (一窝小猫). When I looked under, I got a clear ________ that I was in for an attack if I got near. It took a lot of ________, love, and cat food from my daughter to ________ her. At first, she didn’t want to be touched at all. Then she would only allow a(n) ________ petting. Now my daughter can carry her like a little baby.

It still makes me ________ to see how my daughter’s loving spirit made this once ________cat as lovable as a most playful dog. I guess that is the ________ of love. It can save a hurting heart and uplift a(n) ________ soul. It can even turn her into a ________ dog in a cat suit. ________ the love into your own life then. And let your own love ________ everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do. You will be delighted at the joy you will find, the good you will do, and the lives you will ________. You will be amazed at how much your life will change.

4 . In the town of Riverbridge, life was simple. The townsfolk knew each other, and the most exciting event was the weekly _________ written by a 15-year-old boy named Kally Mahzoo.

One day, a hobo (流浪汉) arrived and _________ a camp under the bridge. Before long, local stores began reporting _________. The townsfolk were quick to point fingers at the stranger. Kally, however, was not _______. He decided to investigate, visiting the stores. He noted the items stolen — _______ food and necessities. He then went to the hobo’s _________ and asked him about the thefts. The hobo   _______ any involvement, his eyes reflecting sincerity. Kally believed him but needed _______.

Over the next few days, Kally kept a close eye on the stores. He noticed the stolen items were always from the _______ shelves, easily accessible to a child. Hiding behind a barrel, he watched as a group of children entered the store. As the store owner was busy __________ to customers, one of the children slipped a loaf of bread into his bag. Kally had found the suspects. The children, ________ red-handed, confessed to the thefts. Their families were too poor to afford even the __________. Kally wrote about his findings in his column, clearing the hobo’s name. The townsfolk, __________ of their quick judgement, apologized to the hobo. The store owners, __________ the children’s dilemma, decided to help their families.

Life returned to its simple rhythm, but with a newfound respect for the young boy. And under the bridge, a sign was fixed that read, “Never __________ a book by its cover.”

5 . “Would you say you are more of a scientist or an artist?” I frequently ______ this question as I was preparing my doctoral program, often after I told my classmates that I ______ writing poetry. I learned to respond, “A scientist”, because I sensed it would win me more ______. As an undergraduate, poetry had helped release my pressure. But I wanted to be seen as being ______ to my work as those around me, who appeared completely ______ by nonscientific activities. So, I left poetry by the wayside.

However, as my thesis became all-consuming, I was nearly ______. I turned back to poetry but still ______ about appearing less than fully dedicated to my science. So, when a senior graduate whispered, “I hear you write poetry!” I felt ______. Was my cover blown? She went on to invite me to perform at our department’s art party. After spending several days ______, I decided to write a poem and prepare for the performance.

The night of the party, I was ______ at the talent on display, including breathtaking musicianship and visual art. Chatting with other performers, many of whom were also graduate students, I realized many shared my ______ that peers might interpret a passion for art as a (n) ______. But over the course of the evening, I found myself ______ the two halves of my identity. I had nothing to hide.

Since then, I have continued to ______ all of myself. While completing my Ph. D., I constantly wrote poems. Now if someone asks me whether I’m more of a scientist or an artist, I would ______ say, “Both.”

7 . I have had no interest in football for as long as I can remember. While my classmates played, I _________ to stay in the library. I never _________ the passion for the game and would throw away the sports section of the newspaper, as if it _________ the rest of it. As I grew up, I proudly wore my _________ .

But occasionally, whether in a taxi or when meeting a friend's father, I found myself faced with a _________ opener like, “Terrible season we’re having, eh?” or simply, “Who do you support?” My heart sank, knowing my response would unavoidably _________ them, despite their good intentions.

I realized that my _________ had closed off many conversations, outings, and even potential friendships I might have _________ enjoyed. Although I couldn't change the fact that I found football boring, I began to regret being a(n) _________ .

Then I became a father. I didn’t want my boy to __________ this valuable social experience, so I took him to watch the Lions play. During those matches, we sat close to the field, surrounded by families who had a genuine __________ with the players. My kid’s questions kept me somewhat __________ in the game. Slowly, I started to__________ for the Lions.

During one victorious match, we even met David, the Captain, who happily __________ for a photo with my son. __________, I had an answer to the question,“Who do you support?”

9 . “Found something!” Susan Baur, a swimmer, ducks into the water. She ______, holding a pair of swimming goggles (护目镜). These are passed to a kayaker (皮划艇桨手), who waves them ______, like a prize, before throwing them in a basket. When the team returns to ______, the women are smiling and cracking jokes about the ______ and their pull.

Since 2017, Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage (OLAUG), which accepts _____ older women as members, has made it its mission to ______ trash from ponds across Cape Cod.

Many outsiders have expressed their ______ to OLAUG for cleaning up the ponds; a number, however, have ______ why they refer to themselves as “old ladies”. “You should call yourselves the Mermaids (美人鱼) Against Glitter Litter.” Others have said she should open the group to all ______, and even to men.

______ they admit that it wasn’t ______ a conscious choice, they now believe that the “old lady” ______ is a crucial part of what the group is about. “Women over 65 tend to feel the restriction of aging,” Baur says. “Part of the goal of OLAUG is to ______ that older women can do a lot more than people might think.”

Criticism ______, the most common response is “I want to join you”. And after that first dive, the new application excitement is ______ with a lot on the waiting list to be one of them.

10 . I have always enjoyed cold climates and connecting to the environment.

In November 2023, I joined the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (英国南极遗产信托基金会), the charity that looks after British heritage in Antarctica, as their _________. I’m responsible for sorting the letters that are sent here, the southernmost post office in the world. _________,I observe the environment and _________ my neighbours, the penguins(企鹅).

Five of us now share the island with 1,000 penguins, who of course are given _________. They have their own paths to walk down to the shore(岸边)and we get used to slowing down, always keeping our _________, and waiting for them to pass. Every two days we _________ the nests and eggs, and send that information to British Antarctic Survey.

When we arrived here in November, the base had been shut for winter, _________ when we got off the ship, we dug _________ through snow for hours before we could open the front door. _________ our lives here takes a lot of work, as we’ve got no running water, no showers, and there is a lot of snow __________.

As postmaster, I’ve __________ 20,000 letters so far, including postcards from stamp __________. They request particular postmarks or stamps, and can be very __________ about where they want them placed.

On our days off, we enjoy going on long walks around the island, taking more time for all the __________ things, such as slight changes in the weather and tiny green plants. Sometimes I feel __________ simply by looking at the sun reflected in the water.