1 . I received one act of kindness from a stranger after my husband died. It happened when I went to have a photo _________ for the funeral (葬礼). Enveloped by grief, I was unable to talk with anyone. Printing the photo should have been an easy task, but it felt _________ as I walked into the building.

I had often used the print service and was _________ in and out within ten minutes. But, on this day, nothing went _________. My USB wouldn’t load properly and I couldn’t locate the photo. Overcome with _________, I broke into tears.

Then a woman _________ me and asked if she could help. I cried that I couldn’t get the machine to _________. She sat down and with a few quick taps (敲击) on the keyboard, _________ the photo. She moved as if to leave. _________, she sat back. She asked if this was what I would like printed. Still sobbing, I said it needed to be cropped (裁剪). She put it all into the system and waited. I thanked her as she __________ the USB to me. She nodded and sat silently until I was __________ enough to walk out.

By sitting __________, she permitted me to cry without judgment. She didn’t ask what was wrong or offer well-meaning but unhelpful __________. She allowed me to deal with my __________ in a cared-for space. Through that brief exchange of time, I felt some of the hopelessness __________.

3 . Juleus Ghunta and his three sisters lived in a rural part of Western Jamaica. They were _______ by a single mother, and his mother often had to make _______ choices about how to use their limited resources-including a decision to send his oldest sister to school, but to _______ Ghunta at home.

When Ghunta finally went to school, he couldn’t catch up on his reading skills. “I _______ in school with a deep sense of loss and _______,” he said. Not only had he been kept home from school as a child, but he had not been exposed (使接触) to _______.

When Ghunta was about 12, a young teacher decided to start a special _______ program for struggling students. Ghunta was the first student to _______. “The teacher was _______ kind to me.” he said. “She was patient. She did not require anything of me, except that I ________ in myself and work hard.” Under her ________, Ghunta’s reading skills finally started to improve. And his sense of inadequacy (能力不足) ________ to lift.

After Ghunta’s experience with the teacher, his life ________ a new direction. He went on to college, and later, graduate school. Today, he is the author of two children’s books.

He would like to thank his teacher for seeing his ________. “I would love for her to see the significant ________ that she has made on my life, and how it continues to be a source of joy.”

5 . The sun cast its golden rays, painting Islamabad with a warm glow on a warm autumn morning. The _________ of over 100 little boys and girls at a school in the slums (贫民区) of the Pakistani capital echoed (回响) through the air. They clapped with happiness, making everyone believe the power of kindness and _________ the early hours of the day.             

A group of Chinese and Pakistani volunteers from China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and _________ about 200 donation bags to children and women there.

The kids at the schools are from families with little luck, with some being orphans, others _________, and many the children of disabled parents. All of them are very _________ with the Chinese people who frequently visit their homes and schools with bags _________ of not just material goods, but endless love.

“I wait for their visit, and a rush of happiness _________ over me when I see them entering the school gate.” Muhammad Ullah, a student in grade five, told Xinhua.

Talking to Xinhua about his volunteer work, Yuan Wenhao, a Chinese student said, “These children need our care and support, my _________ feels satisfied when I visit here. They deserve to be happy and live a good life, and I am just playing a small part in _________ love from China to Pakistan.” Yuan said.

Faryal Shah, a teacher from the school receiving the donations,__________ said Chinese volunteers always took care of the children’s educational __________ and provide them with stationery, books, and other necessities.

“These children live with __________ and their parents do not even have enough food to __________ them. For them, Chinese volunteers are like __________, casting light into their lives.” Shah told Xinhua.

The teachers and children who received the gift bags said they thought the efforts by Chinese volunteers represent hope, proving that individual efforts could make the world a __________ place for all.

6 . On a cool spring evening, I found myself leisurely seated by a refreshment stand near Beihai Lake, enjoying the sight of shining ripples. The subtle _________ of leaves in the breeze immersed me in the liveliness of life. Across from me, a woman and her young daughter shared a moment; the child, a charming little figure of about seven or eight with an upturned nose, was _________ her ice cream, her mother holding the girl’s _________, whispering sweet nothings.

A brisk wind caused the child to _________. Reacting swiftly, her mother wrapped her in the coat and started to _______ it up, unaware of the _________ matched buttons until she was midway through the task. Realizing the error, she quickly corrected her mistake. Yet, such a careless slip, did not _________ the girl. “Oh, mommy, your attention _________!” the child said, bursting into hearty laughter, which brought a _________ look on her mother’s face. As a __________, I expected a good dressing-down for the little girl. But there was only an embarrassing __________ of a few seconds. Then I heard the mother’s gentle voice. “Yes, it certainly did, for my heart went out to you!” said the mother, pointing a kind finger __________ the girl. The child blinked in confusion, hiding her blush in the chest of her mother, who hugged her __________ in her arms. A smile of gratification spread over the mother’s face.

Witnessing this tender display of __________ affection, I was profoundly touched. Yet, even more striking was the mother’s approach to treating her daughter’s misbehavior, for quite a few people seem to forget that the best way to educate a child is not indulging or blaming, nor even moral lecturing, but tender ________ with love.

8 . “All my children show concern for people,” says Mary Killough, director of the Illinois Department on Aging. Once when they _______ someone with a serious disability in the shopping mall, they asked me, “Mommy, is that person OK? What happened? ”They even told me they were _______to help him if necessary.

Knowing that children constantly (不断地) learn everything from their parents, Killough always _______ positivity and kindness at home. She tries to make lessons in compassion (同情) heartfelt and _______.She often tells her boys, “we all need _______at some point in our lives, and there are times when you need to lend a hand. The _______ have become part of their life.”

One evening at the gas station, Killough and the boys saw an older woman who was _______ as she tried to find out where she was and drive home. It was starting to get dark, and they tried to give her _______, but she couldn’t understand. The Killoughs led her all the way to her _______. “Although it took an hour or more, no one ________. There’s nothing we’re doing that’ s more ________ than helping each other,” she told them.

DiAnne Crown, now an author on Illinois Times, also ________ compassion at home as a young child. Her parents would take her to ________ events at KumlerFood Pantry where local hungry families can receive food. There was ________ money on the counter for a family in need. “My son and I have ________ the same kindness toward families in need many times since,” DiAnne says.

10 . For me, one of the most fascinating aspects of exploring diverse cultures is observing how ordinary and sometimes even insignificant things can ________ from place to place. The coffee culture is a great example. I love sharing with people how Shanghai is a perfect ________ for me for many reasons, and coffee is one of them.

After I returned to China in September 2022 to study at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, I soon developed a(n) ________ with two other international students. During the lunch break, we would have a cup of coffee at the campus cafe every day. What we ________ was that people did not work during that coffee break; instead, they ________ savored (享受) their conversations over coffee. So, for us too, it felt wrong to continue our studies at the coffee shop and thereby disrupt the ________.

Perhaps drawn by this ________ energy, more students joined us day by day, and our group of three became a big party. Coffee ________ us as we greeted newcomers and got familiar with other local students. I feel this is how the coffee culture ________ here — to make people a little bit happier, and to ________ you up when you feel cold.

That’s why I always prefer to get my coffee ________ instead of ordering online — for the sake of ________ the general mood of the place. It is not something ________; it’s a feeling in the air that makes you want to come, ________ it in, and be nourished by the good energy. It’s like an upbeat song from your childhood — once you ________ it, you start smiling.