1 . When I was in university, I had to take a computer-programming exam. I had failed it the first time. The exam day came, and I was extremely _________. When the exam started, I noticed that everyone was focused—except me and the guy next to me.

An hour later, I still hadn’t _________ a word. The guy next to me had _________ the exam room, which meant he would fail. I started to worry. At that time, I heard a voice in my mind, “If I fail the exam, then I will fail this course. If I fail this course, I will be _________ to move back home and work at a gas station, and I wonder if there are any good _________ I could get.” I glanced up at the _________. It was halfway through the exam.

It was at that moment that I suddenly _________ something. An image of my roommate flashed into my mind. “Steve, you’ll _________. You’ve spent so much time preparing for this exam,” he encouraged me the previous night. “_________ you are able to do the assignments (作业), you’ll be able to do this exam.”

That was when things began to turn for the better. After that, I started to ask myself positive questions: “I’ve done this before, so why couldn’t I do it now? …” I kept ____________ what my roommate had said. Suddenly, everything was OK. I completed the entire exam smoothly.

Weeks later I received my marks and I had passed the exam.

2 . In the heart of Sprinkletown, young Sammy had eyes bigger than his stomach, when it came to sweets. His mom had set a _______ rule: “Desserts only after finishing your veggies(蔬菜).” To Sammy, this rule was a towering _______ between him and his favorite chocolate cake.

One evening, determined to conquer(攻克) this mountain, Sammy plotted a _______ . He would hide his broccoli under the potatoes, thinking his mom wouldn’t find.

As dessert time _______ , Sammy presented his plate with pride. His mom, _______ , wasn’t fooled. With a knowing smile, she suggested they _______ the potatoes among them. Of course, the hidden broccoli was discovered, and his plan failed.

Instead of scolding, Sammy’s mom turned the _______ into a game, challenging him to a veggie-eating race! Laughter filled the room as they both ate their _______ , making the eventual dessert even sweeter.

Sammy learned that day not just the _______ of eating his veggies, but that rules, when ________ with a bit of fun, weren’t so bad after all. And so, in Sprinkletown, veggies became the unlikely hero of dessert time, teaching Sammy a lesson wrapped in love and laughter.

3 . I had spent an hour in the bank with my dad for transferring money(转账). I asked, “Why don’t you use online banking?” He already opened one. “Why would I do that?” he________. “Well, then you won’t have to _____an hour here to transfer your money. Everything will be so________!” I was so excited to tell him all kinds of advantages of online banking. He asked, “If I do that, I won’t have to________of the house?”

“Yes, yes!” I said. I told him how Amazon delivers（递送）everything.

His answer made me________. He said, “Since I entered this bank today, I have met four of my friends; I have chatted a while with them. You know I’m lonely…this is what I need________. I like coming to the bank. I have enough time and it is the ‘physical touch’ that I________. Two years ago when I got sick, the store owner from whom I often buy fruits came to see me and chatted with me. When your mum fell down while on her morning walk, the flower shopkeeper saw it and soon got his car to drive her home________he knows our address. Would I have that ‘human’________if everything became online? I like to know the person that I’m dealing with and not just the ‘seller’. It creates relationships; does Amazon deliver this kind of service as well? Technology isn’t________. Spend time with people. Not with devices.”

4 . A simple honk (汽车喇叭声) from the bus is one part of a secret code between the driver and students living in a remote village in Wanzhou district, Chongqing city.

Noticing a schoolbag hanging on the door of an old house along his _________, the bus driver pulls over and honks to answer the “code”. After a moment, he leans (倾斜) out of the bus and _______ a loud reminder. A boy then rushes outside and _________ the bus.

The boy's parents work far from home, leaving him in the _________ of his grandmother. Despite this separation (分离), the boy is determined to pursue (追逐) his education, making the _________ journey to the city to go to school. He and the driver, Mr Cheng Lin, have _________ a special routine. Whenever the boy's schoolbag is hanging outside the house, it signals to Cheng that the young student needs to catch the bus. This simple interaction between the driver and the student became their _________ “secret code”, a non-verbal (非语言) way of saying,“Today, it's time to go back to school.”

Mr Cheng, who has been _________ the Luotian to Wuqiao Nan Station route for many years, shared his ideas on the matter. He mentioned that this rural route had a significant number of left-behind children due to their parents' work _________. Recognizing the importance of his role in their lives, he paid extra __________ on Fridays and Sundays, the days when these children typically traveled back and forth to school.

5 . I believe that we can have an important influence on anyone we meet. The right words at just the right time could _______ someone’s life.

When I was three years old, my parents discovered I was deaf. After asking many doctors and parents of other deaf children, they decided to put me in a normal _______.

On my first day, the other kids made fun of me _______ my hearing aid (助听器) and the way I talked. _______ I seemed outgoing and happy, my self-esteem (自尊) was quite low. I _______ myself as an ugly kid.

Mrs. Jordan, my teacher changed all of that with a _______ three-word phrase.

One morning she asked the class a question. I read her lips and raised my hand right away. She called on me. I took a deep breath and _______ answered Mrs. Jordan’s question.

I will never forget what _______ next. Mrs. Jordan pointed directly at me. With shining eyes and a big smile, she cried, “That’s right, Stephen!”

For the first time in my young life, my confidence soared (自信增强) like _______ before.

At that moment, I decided that no matter how many ________ I may face, I can overcome them. Just from those three simple words, my whole life was changed.

6 . Rich or poor, young or old, we all have problems. We can easily become unhappy unless we _________ our problems. _________ our problems can affect how we do things at school or at home. So how do we deal with our problems?

Most of us have probably been _________ with our friends, parents or teachers. Perhaps they said something you didn’t like, or you felt they were unfair. Sometimes, people can stay angry for years about a small problem. Time goes by, and good friendships may be lost.

When we are angry, however, we are usually the ones affected. Have you ever seen young children playing together? But they _________ very soon, and decide not to talk to each other. However, this usually doesn’t _________ for long. They become good friends again. This is an important _________ for us: we can solve a problem by learning to forget.

Many _________ often complain about school. They might feel they have too much work to do sometimes, or think the rules are too _________. We must learn how to change these “problems” into “challenges”. As young adults, it is our duty to try our best to deal with the challenges with the help of our teachers.

By comparing yourself with other people, you will find your problems are not so terrible. Think about Stephen Hawking, for example, a very clever scientist. He couldn’t walk _________ even speak, but he regarded his many physical problems as unimportant. And he is known as a great scientist in the world. We are probably quite healthy and smart. Let’s not worry about our problems. Instead, let’s face the challenges __________. Only in this way can we live happily.

7 . One day, Sue argued with her mother. She left home without saying a word. _________ she left in a hurry, she didn’t take any money.

When she saw a noodle shop, she suddenly felt _________. The shop owner saw her standing outside and asked her if she would like a bowl of noodles. She nodded but then she said that she didn’t have money.

“Don’t worry. I’ll _________ you,” the shop owner said. A few minutes later, he brought _________ a bowl of noodles. Sue cried.

“What’s wrong?” the shop owner asked.

“I am touched by your kindness. Even a _________ can give me a bowl of noodles, but my mother often argues with me. I hate her!”

“Girl, why do you think so? Think again. I _________ gave you a bowl of noodles and you were touched. Your mother has raised you since you were born. Why aren’t you grateful (感激的)?”

Sue was surprised after _________ that.

On the way home, Sue thought over. She stopped in front of the door and saw her _________ worried and tired after looking for her everywhere. When she saw Sue come back home, she was overjoyed. “Are you hungry? I cooked supper. Come to _________ while it is still hot.”

Sue couldn’t control herself. She cried and hugged her mother.

In our life, it is __________ for us to appreciate the small actions of strangers. But for the relatives, especially our parents, we see their sacrifices (牺牲) as a matter of course.

8 . Wilber stole Staci Greene’s heart years ago. The donkey (驴) was an unusual gift that left quite an impression.

Years later, after _________ back to her parents’ farm in Ramona, California, Staci started making plans for a donkey rescue (救援) project. She began _________ unwanted donkeys and mules (骡子), naming her project Hee Haw Place Donkey Rescue.

Hee Haw Place has had as many as thirteen _________ at one time, but because of Staci’s success in finding people who are fit to adopt (收养) the donkeys, she now _________ just six — two donkeys, two mules and two horses.

She makes sure the new _________ are suitable for the animals and that new owners are _________ about wanting to add a donkey to their families. If an adoption doesn’t _________, Staci always welcomes the animal back to her farm.

Donkeys require little _________, she says. Their hooves (the hard lower parts of their feet) should be trimmed (修剪) once or twice a year, and they need a large farm where they can walk and _________ grass.

But they need more than __________. Staci says, “These are working animals, and they need __________.”

Donkeys are relatively easy to train for riding and for pulling things. Staci __________ them and helps them find work and __________ in their new forever homes.

Staci’s animals always walk in the parade held during Mule Days every May in Bishop, California. They also __________ their training. Last year, Poppy the mule won a championship title, while the donkeys brought home several __________. Love and patience for the win!

9 . Jennifer Jones was a fifteen-year-old. She was in her morning PE lesson when she ________. She was rushed to hospital immediately. She was found to have dangerously ________ blood sugar levels and needed to be treated right away.

Jennifer’s parents were very ________. They told the doctor that she had often ________ her meals. Jennifer’s classmates hoped to see her back at school soon. They said she had struggled with ________ problems for a long time. Her friend Laura Williams also said that Jennifer had ________ focusing her mind in class. She ________ warned Jennifer not to skip meals to lose weight, but Jennifer didn’t listen.

________, Jennifer is out of danger now. Her doctor says that she will make a ________ in a day or two. She points out that it is important for teenagers to have a healthy balanced ________ since they are still growing and their bodies need a lot of nutrition to function well.

10 . I received a phone call from a credit card company. With the craziness of the holidays, I had missed a _________. The agent I spoke with was _________ and we actually chatted about life and _________ and the craziness it can cause in one’s life. All in all, the _________ phone call was probably only about forty-five _________, including making a payment.

A few days later, as I’m walking to _________ the mail, I notice a box from an online _________ delivery company. My first thought is, “Oh, no, someone _________ a package.” I pick it up to see if the _________ is close so I can drop it off. To my surprise, it not only has my address but my __________!

I take it inside. And I’m not going to __________ here; I’m already teary-eyed. When I open the box, there are roses in a beautiful vase. I find the __________ and the surprises just keep coming. Not only have I got flowers, but they are from a complete __________ in a different state!

The agent has sent me flowers with a note of __________ from one mom to another. I cry like a baby. I’m so __________ that not only a stranger but someone I only talked to for less than an hour took the time to __________ me some encouragement and flowers!

To that __________, wherever you are, I hope you know you __________ my day. It is things like this that __________ me that while there is trouble and hate in the world, there is also generosity and __________ for our fellow man.