1 . Our family was sitting on the porch swing enjoying the summer breeze when my husband pointed to something on the swing’s chain next to him. We _______ forward to see a large praying mantis (螳螂) attaching to the chain. We held our _______ and watched, not wanting to scare it away. We sat and _______ chatted for the next half hour as we watched the insect _______ up and down the chain. It seemed _______ by our presence, and we were _______ to observe its slow, precise movements.

We wouldn’t have _______ it if my husband had not pointed it out. Too often, we move through life, _______ of the beautiful blessings surrounding us each day. The _______ of sitting and watching an insect for half an hour is something I do not want to ________ for granted. Too often, I define myself by my productivity. I start my morning with a checklist and ________ my worth by how much I get done by the day’s end.

I’m learning to ________ my tireless striving for productivity and simply ________ the gifts of this beautiful world when I see them. Each creature displays a small ________. To sit and watch a unique bug like a praying mantis is an act of admiration. I think I’ll ________ and sit for a while in search of another beautiful bug just to appreciate the beauty of nature.

2 . Two weeks ago, 93-year-old Joy Ryan set a world record. In her words, “I’m the _________ lady to ever visit every national park.”

In just eight years, she and her 42-year-old grandson Brad Ryan _________ to go to all 63 national parks, an adventure they’ve written on Instagram. Their _________ stop was the National Park of American Samoa in the South Pacific, some 6,700 miles from their home in Duncan Falls, Ohio. The pair received certificates (证书) from the park in _________ of their achievement.

In a way, the journey began 21 years ago when Brad’s parents got divorced (离婚), and he became _________ from Joy. It wasn’t until 2008, at his sister’s wedding, that he _________ her again. She was 78 and she didn’t look good.

“She came into the church and she was dry,” Brad _________. “Very unsteady (不稳定的). It was hard to see this woman that was so important to me in my growing years on the side of _________, knowing that there was so much _________ between us.”

But over a period of months, Joy __________. And Brad, who’d just finished hiking the Appalachian Trail where he’d been thinking through what mattered to him, __________ the courage to call Joy and __________ they make raisin-filled cookies together.

__________, “there was a little too much awkwardness for my liking,” he says. “You can’t pick up where you left off, I learned that quickly.” Still, they __________ in touch. Over the last eight years, Brad and Joy have had little dust-ups (吵架) to be sure. And this tour of the national parks has __________ the crack (裂缝) that once separated them.

3 . Bryanna Cook and her mum, Yolanda Cook, were headed to see Bryanna’s grandma when Ms Cook had a stroke while ________. After the car stopped in the woods, the mum became unresponsive and Bryanna took up her ________ immediately.

Recalling the scary incident, Bryanna said: “I was scared, so I called my grandmother.” Her grandmother told her to call 911. After she ________ the dispatcher (调度员) Ms Malone. Bryanna then ________ her surroundings and the ________of her mum.

Ms Malone said that while she had Bryanna on the 911 line, she used her phone to talk to Bryanna’s grandmother for more ________. Over the next two hours, Bryanna ________Ms Malone’s instructions. Bryanna said she opened the doors to give her mother some ________ air and, “I tapped her on the face to ________ if she would wake up, but she didn’t.”

Information from Bryanna and her grandmother ________ brought first rescuers to the car, Ms Malone said. The mum was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center. Bryanna stayed with her mother at the ________ until she was released October 31.

“Her teachers and the school principal were all very supportive,” Ms Cook said. Bryanna is a first grader at Fairview Elementary School. Fairview Principal Johnson said Bryanna displayed values the teachers try to ________ the students. “The level of ________ my heart felt when I learned of Bryanna’s story is immeasurable, he said. “Bryanna is always ________ in any situation; therefore, it is not hard to ________ that she was able to help as she and her mom were rescued.”

6 . It all started when I learned to read, or rather, before I learned to read.

When I was two years old, my grandma decided it was time to ___________ me to poetry. I didn’t understand the words, but my parents said my first complete sentence was the recitation of a poem because my grandma had read it to me so many times that I could ___________ it.

Throughout my childhood, I always had a bunch of ___________ about who I would become when I was older, like an inventor, a doctor, or a dancer. But these ideas ___________ in middle school. I spent a few years wandering ___________ through life, having no clue what I was ___________ about.

___________ , in my first year of high school, I met Miss King, who ___________ my life. She was enthusiastic and encouraging. I loved her and I wanted to make her proud of me. So I worked hard and put my ___________ into every essay she assigned. I even practiced ________________ in my spare time and brought what I wrote to her for feedback. One day, she said to me encouragingly, “I recommended you to the school newspaper, and you can write for it.”

Her words ________________ something in me. Suddenly, I wasn’t ________________ anymore. I had a destination. I’d become a ________________ . Doing well at the school newspaper was the first step to get there.

Thanks to the first poem my grandma read to me and Miss King’s ________________ , now I’m writing for newspapers all round the world. It’s still the bottom of the ladder, and I’ve got miles left to ________________, but at least I’ve made somewhere.

7 . Responsibility is the good character of human race. However, in this world, few people have self-esteem, self-confidence, enterprising, compassion, perseverance, filial piety and kindness.

The faucet (旋塞) has many uses: to provide water _________the people. _________, some people will turn on the faucet and are unwilling to turn it off.

In the school, there are many classmates littering. This is a bad behavior. Littering garbage back to pollute the environment, making the campus unclean.

It is _________ that there is a young man studying in the United States _________ has good grades in school and is also very smart and capable. After graduation, he thought he could find a good job with his knowledge and ability. However, he went to many companies and _________ rejected. When he asked _________ he was rejected, the reply he got was: Although you are very talented, you escaped the ticket 3 times. My company is _________ have talents and good quality such as integrity (正直). This is also a _________.

Do what you can do by yourself. The tasks assigned (分配) to you by the teacher _________ be done to the best of your ability.

When you see a very __________ person, you will __________ think about his miserable life or continue to weave him in the future. This is your kind __________. If you get a failing test paper, you will definitely push all the responsibilities to the teacher. It’s not right __________ this time. It’s __________ you don’t study hard to fail the exam.

Classmates, let’s __________ action! Let us reinvigorate (使再振作) and change our bad ailments, not to litter and so on. Then, we can become a modern little citizen with a sense of responsibility.

8 . My heart raced as I read Noelle’s message. She was ______ that someone had shared her private news, something she’d only told a few. Shame wished over me; I was the one who had let it ______ . Despite knowing it wasn’t right, I’d told someone outside her inner ______ .

Noelle’s ______ seemed to spread to many people, giving me the chance to stay unknown. “I’m so sorry this happened to you,” I ______ .“It’s terrible that your trust was betrayed (背叛).” Her response was quick: “Thank you.”

Later that day, ashamed of both my actions and my cover-up, I approached Noelle. “Noelle, I need to ______ something,” I said, my voice trembling. “I was the one who shared your ______ news. I’m so sorry for not coming clean earlier. I was afraid of damaging my reputation, but I realize now that being ______ is far more important.”

Noelle ______ me, her expression mixed with surprise and disappointment. “I appreciate your honesty,” she said ______ “It hurt deeply when that news got out. But I forgive you. ”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I ______ her for her grace (大度). Though I didn’t know if she would share my ______ with others, I felt a weight lifted from my shoulders. By ______ truth and seeking forgiveness, I had ______ myself from shame and strengthened my honesty. Our friendship ______ , a proof to the healing power of honesty and grace.

10 . One time, probably at my age of 16 or 17, my motorcycle broke down at a crossing. It suddenly died while I was _________. I pulled the bike to the side of the road and onto the _________. It was nighttime and it was dark. I was so _________.

Not knowing where to seek help, I tried to _________ the problem of my bike. Then, out of nowhere a man walked up the sidewalk. He _________ next to me, looked at me, and smiled. “Do you need some help? I have a flashlight.” I told him I had no idea what was _________and I just was going to call my dad. He handed me the flashlight and helped me _________ the bike to a car wash, which was brighter.

I called my dad but he went to the wrong _________. So I had to wait twice as long for him, during which the man _________ talking to me just about life and growing up. To be frank, I was in no __________ for what he was saying. But due to his company, my fear disappeared and I __________ calmed down. In the end, my dad __________. The man helped us load the bike onto my dad’s van (小型货车), and then he waved goodbye to us and walked away.

Years have passed, but that night still __________my mind occasionally and gives me a feeling of warmth. Never hesitate to offer your __________, for you will never know what a(n) __________ it can make.