1 . There are moments when strangers’ lives collide(碰撞)by accident, and even though they may never see each other again, they’ re changed forever. These can be moments when true character is_______ , often through acts of kindness and generosity of unlikely heroes.   

Not long ago, I was a(n)_______to that kind of moment. On a summer midnight, my parents and I had just_______ a long flight and started to walk through the empty airport when I saw a passenger suddenly fall to the ground. We_______ran toward him. My parents, who are doctors, dropped everything and began trying to_______what had happened. As they asked him questions and searched for a(n)_______information card, other passengers from the flight joined us. My parents_______that the man was hypoglycaemic(低血糖的) and in major need of sugar. _______, the only thing we could find was a protein bar. We were _______it would not be enough to save him.

Just then, a young boy, Mecca, arrived at the ________with the flight attendants(空乘人员). He quietly announced, “I have a Snickers(士力架巧克力)!” Nobody responded to him as they were in the________ of trying to save a stranger's life. Mecca dug deep into his backpack, and________a Snickers. He then handed it to my father, who was trying to manage with the protein bar.

Within seconds of the Snickers replacing the protein bar, the man regained________. Mecca, a fourth grader,   ________this stranger's life!

No one could have guessed that earlier that night, Mecca had just been through a ________time. His father's flight was unexpectedly canceled, ________him to fly alone. He had never flown by himself before and was very nervous. His grandmother filled his backpack with candy to make him a little less________ .

When we told Mecca's parents of his________actions, they smiled from ear to ear. They were surprised that he had saved some candy and was able to think about the candy during the________ .

As time goes on, I remain________by the experience of witnessing a nine-year-old save a stranger's life. Even today Mecca's kindness continues to make me smile.

2 . In my early thirties, I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at 5, 895 meters above sea level.

After months of preparation, I started my great _______.At the base of the mountain, I met Mik, a local porter, who warmly _______ me. Mik’s job was to carry my equipment up the mountain, set up the tent (帐篷), and carry everything back down after reaching the _______. Mik stood about 1.6 meters tall. I was _______ with a pack nearly as tall as his whole body. Just imagine this little man with the huge equipment _______ on his head.

The first day of the climb was _______ the rain forest, across a slippery (滑的), muddy ground covered with tree roots and vines (藤蔓). Mik was carrying 30 kilos on his head! By that evening, we made it to 3, 000 meters. The air was _______ and it was colder. When I arrived at the campsite for the night, my tent was already set up and _______ me.

Day two was much steeper (陡峭的) and rockier. I really had to _______ what I was doing. And I felt guilty for the tough.   ________ Mik had to work in Yet when I turned to Mik, he said with the biggest smile, “Polle, polle, ”which means“ __________, take it easy” in his native language. I ________ back, my burden lighter somehow.

Over the next five days, the climb got ________difficult. The temperatures could ________ from 21°C to below freezing in a few hours. At 5, 700 meters, there’s only half the oxygen ____________ in each breath compared to at sea level. That leaves many people with severe headache. Yet Mik remained ____________ . He always had a smile and a positive ________.It had an enormous impact on me, giving me the ________ to keep going.

Even today, when I find myself ________ with anything in life, I just think back to Mik and his smile.

A great attitude can bring joy to those around you, or even ________ stranger to the top of a mountain.

3 . When I was in sixth grade, I joined the band program to learn to play the clarinet (单簧管). The beginning of the year had gone _________. But as most students progressed, I seemed to fall behind. One day, when my teacher told us to play in front of the other students, I was filled with fear. I knew I would _________. When I began to play, my rhythms (节奏) were good, but my tone was another _________. “Did you practice your lesson?” the teacher barked at me. I felt so _________ and my world came _________ down in an instant.

From then on, I hated playing the clarinet and I kept getting _________. With the day of the new performance approaching, I grew increasingly upset. In a moment of _________, I asked for sick leave. It was so relieving and such a(n) _________ way out.

The avoidance of my lessons continued until my mum asked me about it. “I want to quit.” My tears started _________. “If you really want to quit, why are you crying?” asked mum. She __________ and I realized I wanted to stay in band and, by not facing my fears, I had created a black hole that would be difficult to __________ out of. I made a __________ not to hide from my fears and to stand up to even the worst of them, so a __________ could be achieved.

The next day I met with my band teacher and told her I was having a problem and couldn’t __________ why. She asked me gently to play for her. I tried, but only an unpleasant sound came out. She didn’t __________ at me and handed me a new reed (簧片). I put it in place and tried again. To my great __________ I could play well. My problem was solved and my fear was __________ a lot that year.

__________ I’m glad that I overcame my fear. Fear can __________ everything in a person’s life. Hiding from those very fears only creates a hole, which makes a person stay __________ inside. After facing up to a fear, one may find life easier and much more enjoyable.

4 . My brother and I are exactly one year apart. We look like twins, but we are completely _________ . By the time we got to middle school it was clear that my older brother _________ meditation (冥想),while I was a born _________ who preferred the theatrical, even when off stage. I took his relative silence to be offensive. We simply didn't _________.

I didn't _________ having a tense relationship with my brother because I was involved at school. _________, I threw myself into the world of musicals. I practised singing in the bedroom every day to remain at my best and be _________ for roles; my brother would meditate on a window seat. He might feel high school was already hard enough _________ my noisy singing. So space to practise became a（n）_________ between us because we shared a room.

At the start of the semester, I practised “Circle of Life" for a musical. This was the first time I __________ to learn a song, because my voice cracked (破音)as I switched to a head voice. I was annoyed in that period and __________ practising, declaring I had reached the ceiling of my singing career. For the first time in years my brother __________ quiet when I got home.

After two days of this, my brother asked me to __________ him in meditation. Feeling my anger at my inability to manage this song __________,I accepted. My brother said, "When your mind floats away, you simply come back. Don't blame yourself" I got the message, and it soon became my new __________. I kept trying at the song, no longer getting __________ at myself. And just in time for the trial performance, I was able to __________ power in my singing despite the switch to a head voice. It was important for me to learn that you don't have to always get everything __________ the first time and that good things come with continual __________.I now understand why my brother favours the __________.

5 . Standing in front of the bike shop, Dave stared at the shiny red bicycle in the window. He could _______ himself riding the bike in Saturday's race and winning the first-place medal and prize money. "With that bike, I could even _______ Adam," Dave thought.

He rode on and stopped at Peck's clothing store. The coat he _______ to buy his mother for her birthday was still on sale. Dave knew she would _______ buy it for herself. She worked hard just to make _______ meet. But the prize money would be _______ for him to buy that coat and surprise her.

Dave looked at his old bike. Two years ago, he found some old bicycles at the _______ and used the parts to make one bike. He called it his recycled bike. "I'll never _______ the race on this old bike," Dave sighed.

As Dave passed the junkyard, he noticed a newer-looking bike tire. He started _______ the huge junk pile. Finally, he found __________ he was looking for. "These two tires and the handgrips (自行车把套) are just __________ for my bike."

Arriving home, Dave put the used tires and the handgrips on his __________ bike, and oiled the chain. He stood back and admired the __________ he had made. "I might win that race after all," he said to himself.

The next morning, when Dave and his mom got to the park, about thirty kids had already __________ . Dave headed for the start line __________ Mom found a seat at the finish line.

Bang! The riders rushed off. Dave __________ Adam, who was in the lead. He __________ to pass one rider after another and was approaching Adam. Leaning forward, Dave pedaled harder and faster. __________ he sped by Adam and crossed the finish line.

As the announcer awarded Dave the __________ and the check for fifty dollars, he asked, "What are you going to do with the prize money, Dave?"

"It's a __________ ," Dave said and waved to his mom.