2 . Gillian Sandstrom was a computer programmer. Then she decided to study psychology at Toronto University. But she felt like she didn’t _________ there. “I was 10 years older than my _________,” Sandstrom recalls. “I wasn’t sure I should be there and felt _________.”

Then entered the hot dog lady.

On her _________ walk from one university building to another, Sandstrom would pass a hot dog shop. She never _________ a hot dog, but each day she walked past, she would _________ and wave at the lady who would smile and wave back. This _________ exchange with a stranger made her feel much happier and looked forward to the short interaction.

“She made me feel happy,” Sandstrom says. “I felt better after seeing her and _________ if she wasn’t there.”

Years later, that type of short but happy exchange inspired Sandstrom to _________ a study to examine the __________ of social connections with anyone outside our close circle of family, friends and colleagues.

“A lot of people can tell a(n) __________ story: Someone that they didn’t know at all or didn’t know well really made a difference by listening, smiling or saying a couple of words,” says Sandstrom.

Her work is part of a growing number of research that looks at the value of social __________. While much of the research has __________ the closest relationships in people’s lives, Sandstrom is now learning that even the most __________ contacts with strangers can be __________ beneficial to our mental health.

3 . Driving lessons are quite normal for teenagers across the country. But for Jessica Parks, a young woman from North Branch, Mich, they mean another great ______ she's eager to overcome.

Jessica was born without arms, but was not ______ wearing prosthetics (假肢). So she has learned to do ______ things with her feet—from eating noodles to putting in contact lenses (隐形眼镜). She is no stranger to difficulties but the ______ remained: How well would she drive?

After ______ her seatbelt across her with her foot and buckling in, she ______ the directions of instructor Larry Klug and makes all of her last-minute adjustments with her ______ , as they prepare to leave the parking lot. Klug talks her through a pre-drive checklist, “Put your blinker (转向灯) on; check your centre mirror; ______ your left mirror.”

Jessica is driving a mid-size car that wasn't modified (改装) at all for her purposes. After seeing her ability to drive Klug decided that she didn't need any ______ devices. It should come as no ______ to anyone that after spending hours driving with Jessica, Klug ______ her a natural, saying she's going to be a great driver.

One of Jessica's main ______   now is to get her driver's license. Jessica says she thinks about the ______ challenges she's faced and overcome, and about why she's here. She said, “I guess I was put here as a(n) ______ to others—just to show people that whatever they set their mind to, they can get it done, and it doesn't ______ what other people say or think. If you want to do something, you can do it.”

4 . After more than 40 years of service to the Sunset Hills Community, Ricky Woods, a beloved bus driver, said goodbye to his role.

Two days before his ________, Woods was greeted with a ________ as he arrived at his usual working spot. The streets were lined with signs bearing warm messages and a celebratory cake ________ him. Deeply touched, Woods expressed, “It was unexpected and very emotional. My heart is ________.”

Woods’ impact on the community was ________. His acts of kindness and willingness to go the extra mile made him an ________ part of Sunset Hills.

One neighbor ________ recalled an instance where Woods ________ in an emergency. “One day, my grandfather had a heart attack. It was Ricky who took immediate action and ________ to take my grandfather to hospital. My grandfather received timely ________ and recovered,” the neighbor shared.

Woods’ ________ nature extended beyond just people. Besides kindly interacting with kids, Woods always had a treat on hand for their ________.

To show their ________, the community came together to create lasting memories for Woods. Neighbors ________ their resources to make a plaque (牌匾) gifted to Woods, which reads, “In appreciation of your many years of ________.”

5 . Charles Potter lost his ability to walk in 2006 and had to use a wheelchair after being hit by a drunk driver. He said that after the _________, he woke up, unable to move anything below his head. _________, his injuries weren’t worse.

Once Potter started to _________, he had to relearn basic things like eating. His recovery was so _________, but he didn’t give up. “I always _________ a positive attitude. I believe I can look after myself soon,” he said.

Years later, Potter and Rhonda got married. They _________ their daughter, Charlize one year later. “She just knows I’m in a wheelchair and _________ to doing certain things,” he said.

Charlize has always been into dance. At school, she took such a _________. One particular class had daddy-daughter dances, and she invited her dad to _________. Potter agreed. The two __________ learning the routines (舞步) and came up with creative workarounds (变通办法). They got the moves together only within a few weeks and __________ them during a recital (演奏会). Several videos of their dances were __________ online and they became Internet stars soon.

So many people were __________ to see a father in a wheelchair dancing. The proud father is happy to spread a message of __________ and he hopes it makes others realize that no matter what their __________ they can live meaningful lives.

6 . In the fast-paced world of Formula One racing, there was a young driver named Alex who was an ________ boy. From a tender age, Alex dreamed of becoming a Formula One champion. Alex’s family, though ________ at first, recognized his determination and supported him in pursuing his dream.

But Formula One was a very ________ world, filled with talented drivers. Alex faced many challenges and ________ along his journey. He was faced with moments of self-doubt, questioning whether he had what it ________ to succeed at the highest level of motor sport.

Yet, Alex refused to let difficulties ________ him. He knew that true champions were made in the crucible (磨炼) of defeat. With great determination, he pushed forward.

As seasons came and went, Alex’s skill and reputation ________. Some famous teams took notice of his remarkable talent, and he eventually ________ a seat in one of the top Formula One teams. It was the ________ of a lifetime, a chance to compete against the best drivers in the world for the ________ of championship.

Alex faced massive pressure and expectations. The ________ of his dream and the eyes of millions were upon him. However, he resisted the pressure and ________ became the Formula One World Champion.

From that day, Alex’s victory ________ a symbol of courage and resilience. And his story ________ us that in the pursuit of our dreams, there are no ________— only possibilities waiting to be realized.

8 . Brooklyn Andracke is a big fan of her garbage man, Delvar Dopson, who always honks (按汽车喇叭) and _________ when passing her house every Thursday morning. "To Brooklyn, he is our _________ smiley garbage man," her mother, Traci Andracke said.

Brooklyn's interest in Dopson _________ because his truck would drive by their house in Illinois every Thursday right around the time Traci and Brooklyn were _________ the daycare center. When the pair started going outside to see the truck, Brooklyn _________ Dopson driving the huge truck. "It became all about him after that," Traci said. "It wasn't the 'garbagetruck' anymore, but it was the 'garbage man that she _________ to see."

So on April 7, when Brooklyn turned 3, the little girl wanted to _________ part of her big day with him. She patiently _________ outside her home until Dopson pulled onto their street. When Traci waved to Dopson, Brooklyn _________ him with one of her birthday cupcakes.

"As a mom, I can't even describe how __________ it made me that she got to__________ meet him," Traci said.

Dopson was "immediately speechless," Traci said. "I __________ to him that he makes our day every Thursday, and we really __________ the honking and waving, and how special a day it is for us," she added. "After he left, we continued on to daycare. Brooklyn was unusually quiet in the backseat. I asked her if she was okay, and she __________ and nodded happily."

The following week, Dopson gave Brooklyn a belated (迟来的) birthday __________. It was a toy from her favorite movie, "Frozen". In return, Brooklyn made him a thank-you note, which he's since displayed with __________ in his truck.

Traci said her family was __________ by the level of attention her daughter and Dopson had __________. The mom said, "A __________ gesture—a honk, wave, smile—doesn't take much effort. Just do it. You never know who is on the receiving end of that and how it can really __________ their day.

9 . A missing woman Emma was found after three days stuck in the mud and her parents are calling it a miracle (奇迹).

The 31-year-old was reported ________ on June 26 by her parents, who said she left her cell-phone behind when she left home on Sunday night. When she didn’t return, they ________ the alarm. “So many times this type of story ends ________ and I didn’t have much hope at all,” the missing woman’s father said.

Local authorities were called to Borderland State Park in Easton, Massachusetts. Emma was ________ found when people hiking reported ________ coming from a swamp (沼泽地). Easton police officers entered the swamp and ________ to pull Emma from the swamp — she was then carried to ________.

Emma’s mom, Barbara Zinaman, said, “She ________ for help. She said ‘I need help.’ I’m still ________ after a week that she could even do that because she didn’t have ________ and she was also pretty dehydrated(脱水的).” “It was awful to be ________ in the swamp for as long as she was,” Zinaman continued. “It’s miraculous that they ________ her.”

Emma’s mother went on to ________: “I want to thank everybody that has texted, called, emailed, showed love and ________. The search and rescue teams and the county.”

Police say Emma will recover. While she is still ________, her injuries are not life-threatening.