1 . “You can get a kitten,” I promised my daughter Cali after her father and I divorced (离婚). After _________ in our new apartment, we headed to North Bay Animal Services.

One orange-and-white kitten drew Cali’s _________.

“_________, we’ve got two of those,” said the attendant. “They are _________, Caramel and Butter.”

“Can we take them both?” Cali _________.

“We have to follow the _________ of our new apartment,” I said. “Only one cat, remember?”

“I know,” Cali _________.

We brought Caramel home. Caramel seemed _________ without his twin and Cali cried for it. Two weeks later we drove back to the _________, hoping our landlord wouldn’t realize there were two of them because they looked __________.

However, we were told Butter was __________ four days ago.

Two years later I had a new boyfriend Brain. The first time I went to his home, I saw a flash of orange and white. Caramel? I thought, __________.

“That’s my daughter’s cat Butter,” Brian said.

After comparing the adoption papers, I __________ Butter was Caramel’s twin!

“They might not __________ each other after two years,” Brian said. But when brought together, Caramel and Butter nuzzled (依偎) each other with __________.

Today Caramel and his brother are inseparable. As are Brian and I, and our daughters after our marriage.

2 . As a child, I used to visit my grandfather’s shirt shop in Milan. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how _________ he was in the city. Working behind his table he was cutting the most beautiful shirts that Milan ever saw.

I remember the shop being filled with _________ of all colors and patterns and the sound of the sewing machine. The smell of _________ cut cloth filled the air, and I couldn’t help but feel a _________ of warmth and comfort.

Our afternoon play was to choose the fabric and the tie that would _________ it. Not easy. We could not be too classic, neither too weird; it was a mix of _________ and modernity. We would spend hours trying to get it just right, and I loved every moment of it.

As I grew older, I began to appreciate the value of the matching game, and I found myself _________ to the world of fashion. I pursued a career in _________, using the skills and knowledge that my grandfather had passed down to me.

Now, as I walk through the streets or _________ online shops, I can instinctively tell what’s right. My grandfather’s taste never __________ me.

Looking back on those __________ spent with my grandfather, I realize that it wasn’t just about choosing the perfect shirt or tie. It was about learning how to appreciate beauty and __________ in all its forms. I am forever __________ for the time that we spent together in his shop.

He will always be a(n) __________ to me, and I will forever __________ the memories that we created together in his shop in Milan.

3 . There are many examples of everyday kindnesses we often take for granted.

Last night, during my eldest son’s basketball game, we ________ to be sitting next to a lady with a young son. The little boy turned to my youngest son, smiling at him, and ________ said, “Wanna be my ________?” During the next 20 minutes, the two boys played together happily. It was a ________ scene, and reminded me how ________ it can (and should) be to make new friends.

A few hours earlier, we went to a downtown cafe for an afternoon treat. There were no open tables for four, so we ________ a table for two, and crowded into the small space. Just at that time, one young lady came over and ________ to trade her larger table with us. It was a simple act but showed us a ________ heart.

Just a couple of days ago, I sold my first book to a friend of mine. She paid the amount I charged and asked, “Is that enough? It doesn’t seem like it will ________ shipping.” Truthfully, I had not ________ correctly for the shipping charge. After that, I received a(an) ________ sum of money. I was so deeply humbled by her act of ________ and desire to encourage me.

Though often ________, these small acts of service, friendliness, and human care are what it takes to make the world go round. With everyday difficulties ________ us, these small gestures of goodwill can easily ________ a spark of positivity.

4 . For the past 17 years, Raquel Radford Baker has been a school bus driver for the Dallas Independent School District. Last month, Baker saved the life of a 7-year-old boy who had a _________ moment on his way to school when he accidentally swallowed (吞咽) a coin and began to choke.

The _________, which was caught on tape, took place on September 29. Preston, a first grader, was sitting in his seat on the bus, when he suddenly sat up, _________ that the coin he had been holding above his open mouth had _________ his throat. He got up and walked to Baker at the front of the bus and tapped her for _________.

Initially, Baker thought Preston was sick, but _________, she heard him say something about a coin and she sprang into _________. She grabbed him from behind and carried him off the bus. When she got to a bench in front of the school, she told a nearby parent to call 911 as she started _________ first aid, which she’d _________ during the company’s training sessions. ____________ that moment, Baker, getting teary, said the only ____________ running through her mind was, “I have to save this boy. I have to save him.”

Thanks to her ____________, the coin was removed from Preston’s throat. Before that, however, Preston had gone ____________ and his face was turning blue. Baker continued first aid. That was when Preston said, “Miss Raquel, I’m okay. I can ____________ ” Baker said that moment brought great ____________. She immediately hugged him tight. Preston promised to never put coins in his mouth again.

5 . What will we be doing in ten years’ time? Can we become the person we aim to be? Will we get into the school of our _________? Clearly, having plans for the future doesn’t mean they will become _________. For us, it is how we live that matters.

The young Arthur Conan Doyle, born in Scotland in 1859, had _________ worked as a doctor in London. But Doyle’ main _________ was to writing historical novels and get _________ in the academic field. However, _________, it was not his published historical novels but the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, which Doyle wrote as a doctor, that became a _________ of the time.

After Sherlock Holmes made him a(n) _________ name, Doyle gave up medicine and entirely turned to writing historical novels, which was his early _________. The public, however, couldn’t get enough of Sherlock Holmes, so Doyle had no __________ but to kill off the famous detective in a novel in 1893 to __________ his “serious” writing. Later, requested by __________ fans of Holmes, Doyle was forced to bring Holmes back to life. Doyle’s published historical novels have remained largely __________, but Sherlock Holmes has been entertaining readers for years.

Extremely successful and known, Doyle’s career failed to turn out as __________, though. However, it still shows us a(n) __________ that whatever the future unfolds for us, just live the life to the full.

6 . An elephant was rescued in southern India after falling into a well. It ______ more than 12 hours, but the elephant in Tamil Nadu has been rescued after plunging into a well estimated at ______ 50-feet deep.

The elephant had ______ into the village of Dharmapuri from a nearby forest when it fell into the well. The well did not have a ______ and had been hidden by bushes.

Locals from the village alerted authorities about the ______ animal early on Thursday. They dropped banana leaves down the well for the elephant to ______, as rescuers worked throughout the night to ______ it.

Forest officials brought in a crane (吊车) to ______ the elephant. Footage of the rescue showed the elephant strapped in (系住) by belts and hanging upside down as the crane lifted it to ______. Doctors helped rescuers sedate (给……服镇静剂) the animal after it ______ pipes they were using to pump water out of the well.

The area where the rescue happened has had some ______ saving trapped elephants. Two other elephants have fallen down wells in the past year. ______ wells and ditches have caused a ______ to the animals. The animals need ______ land to survive as they look for food and water.

Open wells and ditches (壕沟) in elephant migratory ______ are huge problems for these animals. Since they are long ______ creatures, they migrate to long distances for food and water.

Least we can do is ______ such wells or keep safety wall. Imagine it was a 50 feet deep well. Authorities ______ the elephant for roughly three hours after the rescue. It was found to be ______ and active.

______ are also given to the elephant for her will.

7 . In 2005, Calvin Echevarria was leading a successful life with two jobs, a new house, and a young daughter. However, his world _______ upside down when he was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, causing him to lose his _______ as a FedEx driver due to blindness.

In the beginning, Echevarria focused on developing _______ living skills, such as using a cane (拐杖). _______, he desired to acquire skills for gainful employment. His _______ led him to Lighthouse Works in Orlando, a company _______ to creating job opportunities for the visually impaired and blind population.

Echevarria, initially _______ with blind individuals, now works in Lighthouse Works’ call center alongside nearly half of the employees who are visually impaired or blind. In his _______, he uses a system called JAWS to “hear” the computer. The system _______ the computer screen to Echevarria in one ear as he listens to a customer call in his other ear.

Despite the challenges of __________ from visual to auditory (听觉) learning, Echevarria has excelled at his job, __________ the rapid pace of JAWS. He said what makes his call center job fun is that callers on the other end of the line are __________ of his blindness. Moreover, working in a fully accessible office space, with other visually impaired people who can __________ him, is an added benefit.

“It gives me a(n) __________. It makes me feel better because I can __________ be proud of myself saying, ‘I provide for my family.’” he said.

8 . A taxi driver specially gave a free ride to a mother and her little boy Tyler who had a sudden attack of an illness on the road.18 years later, a touching ________ followed.

66-year-old Carl booked a taxi to the hospital. He had ________ from work and had developed health ________ due to old age. He was waiting outside his house when a taxi approached him ________ . Carl waved at the young driver. He got in and ________ the driver to drop him off at the hospital.

They didn’t ________ much during the half-hour drive. When Carl ________ his wallet, he found he had no cash. “Hey, do you accept cards?” he broke the silence, only to be ________ to tears by the young driver’s reply. “Sir, you don’t have to pay me. All the trips I make to the hospital are free!” Carl was greatly ________ and asked, “Free? But why?”

The driver smiled, “When I was little, I suffered from an attack in need of ________ treatment on the road, and a kind taxi driver drove me to the hospital for free and ________ my life. My mother told me the driver never ________ for trips to the hospital. His ________ inspired me, so I do the same!”

Carl’s heart felt lighter and happier. “What’s your name, young man?” he inquired the driver. And tears of joy ________ his eyes when the driver said, “My name is Tyler.”

Be the light that helps others ________ the darkest of times.

9 . Looking over the top of the book, I glanced (瞥) across at the new girl named Rochelle. She only joined our class at the beginning of the week. It must be hard starting a new school in the middle of the year.

At last, the bell went for the end of the day, I_______Rochelle running towards a tall woman who must be her mum. Then I saw a(n)_______thing. Rochelle’s mum was waving her arms round and making shapes with her fingers, and Rochelle was doing the same. Oh, could her mother be _______?My mind was filled with questions.

The next day, I was reading when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I_______and Rochelle was standing in front of me. “Shall we test each other?” she asked. “Yes, of course,” I replied. But I couldn’t help asking, “Is your mum deaf?” “Yes, both my parents are,” she said. “Oh, I’m sorry. That must be really tough.” I could tell by the_______on Rochelle’s face that I’d said something wrong, but somehow I_______. “So, did your parents need someone to help them look after you when you were a baby?” “Of course not,” Rochelle got_______. “Being deaf doesn’t mean they’re stupid,” she was almost _______. “In fact, they’re much _______than most people I know.” I didn’t say her parents were stupid. But before I could explain, she________out of the classroom. I hurried after her, but she kept her back to me ________I were her enemy.

After school. I saw Rochelle and her mother moving their hands quickly. I stood there, quietly observing, realizing how________I had been to assume that her parents’ deafness meant they needed help looking after her. I felt a pang of________for my curlier ignorance. All of a sudden, Rochelle was coming over to me. Her anger from earlier________into a vulnerable (脆弱的) sadness. She whispered, “I am sorry for shouting at you.” “I understand now, Rochelle. I never intended to hurt you or your parents.” Hearing my words, Rochelle’s eyes________.and a smile appeared on her lips.

10 . When Megan Becker was five years old, she created something special for her dad Glenn Becker on Father’s Day. It was a paper craft tie! After several hours of ________ using construction paper and crayons, Megan couldn’t ________ to present it to her dad.

Glenn told his baby girl it was a(n) ________ gift, and he would not only keep it forever but also wear it on her wedding day. Her father then ________ the tie over his bedroom mirror to display his favorite gift. Even though as a teenager Megan thought it was ________, it touched her heart that her father cared so much.

But ________, the tie Megan made for her dad as an art craft ________ around the time she was getting married. At that time her parents had ________ and Glenn said it had gotten lost somewhere in the packing.

With no more ________ of the tie, Megan walked down the aisle (通道) to get married with her father proudly ________ her away. But when it was time for the father-daughter dance, Glenn ________ on the dance floor wearing the crayon-colored, paper tie!

Megan was surprised and burst into ________. It turned out Glenn, who was a big jokester, ________ the tie in his toolbox until the wedding. He was using it to ________ her daughter on her wedding day! Glenn’s act of love is an incredible ________ of how father loves his children.