1 . One day, we had a family dinner. While the adults were busy with their serious talk outside, I was left alone in the ________ to help my grandmother wash dishes. ________ my grandmother would tell me stories about her childhood.

Born just before WWII, my grandmother ________ an entirely different childhood lifestyle from mine. She did not have a chance to go to ________. Like in typical families, where boys were ________ much more than girls, my grandma had to stay at home to do ________. The only opportunity (机会) she could seize to ________ was when her brother was having Chinese ________ with the family tutor. She would sit quietly at the far end of the long dinner table, listening ________. This training taught her to read and write her Chinese upside down — a skill that has turned out to be quite ________, especially whenever we share the newspaper. On most weekends, my grandmother, a young girl then, and her brother would go to the ________. There, they would walk through deep water, sit down cross-legged underwater and hold their ________ while they watched all action going on around them. This is something I ________ — her ability to open her ________ underwater and still sit comfortably on the seabed.

My childhood is quite ________ compared with hers. I am ________ that I did not need to ________ the hardships like she did. I've never faced the problem of ________. I guess our different childhood background is what makes my grandmother such an amazing person to ________ to: her stories always make my history textbooks ________.

2 . When I decided to buy a house in Europe ten years ago, I didn't think too long. I liked traveling in France, but when it came to picking my favorite spot to _______, Italy was the clear winner.

During my first visit to Italy, I _______ to ask for directions or order in a restaurant. But every time I tried to _______ a sentence of   Italian together, the locals smiled at me and _______ my language skills. That encouragement helped me to get through the language _______. After I made Italy my permanent home, I discovered how _______ Italians are. Neighbors will bring me freshly made cheese and will come to my door to _______ me to close the window in my car when rain is coming. It's these small _______ of kindness that make a new country feel like home.

As a foodie, the way to my heart is through my stomach, and nowhere fuels my _______ quite like Italy. Each town has its own traditional ________, and every family keeps a recipe passed from one generation to another. Families ________ for big meals on Sundays, birthdays, and whatever other excuses they can ________. These meals are always ________ by laughter and joy. Whatever ________ life in Italy might have, the problems are ________ once you sit down to a big meal with friends and family.

3 . Several years ago I was teaching in Melbourne, Australia. Like most Brits down under, I wanted to _________ my time in this country, so I would take every chance to travel around the far _________ of Australia.

On one trip, I and three friends went as far into the Outback (内陆地区) as it was possible to go, camping and _________ Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. In these riverine areas, there were plenty of crocodiles and smaller, deadly _________ to make us nervous.

After picking up some _________ from an isolated shop near an even more isolated settlement, we reached a _________ which had to be forded (涉过). It was a likely _________ for dangerous salt water crocodiles to be loitering (游荡), so all of us were warned to _________ any “salties” as our vehicle entered the water.

At first the water only reached the top of the _________, but within seconds it was lapping at the windows. My heart was beating fast as I peered out, searching for any __________ logs floating towards us.

__________ there was a scream from the back seat. “Ah! Get it off, it hurts!” I turned round, feeling quite __________ that I was about to see a horrifyingly grizzly animal. As it __________, one of my friends had bought a hot pie in the isolated little store. The contents, hotter than the Arnhem Land sunshine, had __________ onto his bare legs as we bumped through the stream.

We made it to the other side with no “salties” __________. Just one passenger with a very sore leg.

4 . I’ve been motivated — and demotivated — by other folks’ achievements all my life.

When I was a teenager, a neighborhood friend ________ a marathon race. Feeling motivated, I started running ________, but then two things happened. First, a girl I met one day told me she was ________ for a “super,” referring to a 52.4-mile double marathon. Then, the next day I went on my longest run — 15 miles. To be honest, I ________ it! Between the girl making my ________ seem small and the pure boredom of jogging, I decided that the only ________ I’d ever run again is if a big dog was running after me!

So I ________ cycling. I got a good bike and rode a lot. I ________ of entering cycle races until I flew to San Diego to visit my sister. While she was at work one day, I ________ her bike and went for a ride. The ________: the roads there went through large valleys where I’d be riding uphill for miles at a time. I’d never faced such ________. That day, I got ________ by about 100 “local” bikers who were used to such roads. When I got back home, suddenly riding my bike didn’t seem quite as ________.

I’ve ________ a lot since then. I’ve come to accept that whatever ________ I set for myself, they just have to be my own.

5 . Nowadays, shopping online enjoys great popularity, but my_______to clothes shopping developed via supermarkets.

With four children, I spent a lot of time in supermarkets. When they started selling fashion, I found myself_______out fancy items for myself. My wardrobe quickly_________up. Whenever I felt bored or_________, I bought myself something new to wear. One day, when I_______the total money I'd spent over the previous month, I got a real_________. So I decided to change.

One New Year, I made a(n)_______: I would stop buying clothes for a full year. My family laughed in_______because they knew how I loved to shop, but this made me more_______to do that.

The start of the year was especially________, as all the sales were on, and I really love the________. It almost made me________to see all the lovely dresses and coats, knowing I couldn't buy any of them. But I got through January,________away in February and sorted out my wardrobe in March. That was when I found________items of clothing. Some of them still had the tags (标签) on! Then I was re-wearing things that had barely seen the________of day since I'd bought them. I even wore the same dress to two parties________, where I had much fun with my friends and no one________my dress. I suddenly________that I didn't need lots of new clothes.

I survived my year without________clothes, and now think________before I buy anything new.

6 . I’d been exploring the 40-hectare woods around our cottage my whole life and I knew the way well. So it was a _________ when I found myself lost there.

One dull cold February afternoon, I had a sudden _________ to hike the hill with my two daughters. Putting on our snowshoes, we immediately _________ northwestward. While making our way up the hill, my daughters stopped occasionally to investigate unknown plants and to look at the abandoned deer beds… These really made their _________.

As the shadows started to _________, we moved further up. Soon, weariness began to _________ enthusiasm. We decided to return. Instead of backtracking over our _________ route, I chose to walk down the steep (陡峭的) side of the hill, _________ my general sense that ahead of us lay the stream that would guide us to the road. But as the terrain (地形) leveled out, I had my first major moment of _________: Where was the stream? Were we off course?

I instinctively (本能地) pulled out my phone to get my location, but it __________ in my hand in the cold air. __________, I started feeling a bit panicky. However, I quickly __________ myself, reassuring my daughters to continue walking. Focusing on the landmarks, I spotted a familiar tree and eventually __________ the road.

That winter’s day taught me a valuable lesson about habitual reliance on technology. If my phone had __________ then, I might have directly followed the GPS, ignoring the old __________ of depending on surroundings and life skills.

7 . During the first meeting with my future mentor (导师) when I was an undergraduate student, he asked why I wanted to join his lab. I _________ responded with the first thing that came to mind: “Because you're_________” He let out the loudest laugh have ever heard and told me students usually say “gain research experience to apply to graduate school” or they _________ his research fascinating. I was so _________ I hadn't thought of a wise answer like the other students. I didn't even know what graduate school was, but it sounded fancy.

I am the youngest of 14 children from a Vietnamese family. I knew college would be an important step and was thrilled when I got the offer. But I knew _________ nothing about college and had no one to turn to for _________. Everything was novel and challenging, and I was always several steps behind, which _________ my confidence. I spent more time trying to work out how to pay for college and wondering whether I should _________ than I did studying.

No wonder I blew that interview with Dr.D. I reached for my backpack to leave, thinking this meeting was over. To my _________, Dr.D told me he appreciated my honesty, and welcomed me to his lab where I worked for two years afterwards. He laid a(n) __________ for my faith and self-worth and taught me __________ it means to be a good mentor.

From the start, Dr.D consistently asked me for help and ideas. At first I was surprised. What could I possibly have to offer? __________ my blank stares as he tried to extract ideas from me, he __________ with incredible patience. He never doubted I had something worthwhile to ____________Over time, I began to believe it, too.

When I was __________ what to do after graduation, he told me to go where people needed me and happily helped me. Beyond that, his consistent encouragement __________ me that I had the value to offer and was worthy of support, which had been particularly __________ for me as a first-generation college student from an immigrant family.

When I became a professor and mentored my own students, many of whom __________ me of my younger self. I strive to be __________ with my time, compassion and expertise; respect mentees’ unique backgrounds and contributions. As I say to my students, how can we expect others to see that we're __________ if we can't see it ourselves?

8 . I have had no interest in football for as long as I can remember. While my classmates played, I _________ to stay in the library. I never _________ the passion for the game and would throw away the sports section of the newspaper, as if it _________ the rest of it. As I grew up, I proudly wore my _________ .

But occasionally, whether in a taxi or when meeting a friend's father, I found myself faced with a _________ opener like, “Terrible season we’re having, eh?” or simply, “Who do you support?” My heart sank, knowing my response would unavoidably _________ them, despite their good intentions.

I realized that my _________ had closed off many conversations, outings, and even potential friendships I might have _________ enjoyed. Although I couldn't change the fact that I found football boring, I began to regret being a(n) _________ .

Then I became a father. I didn’t want my boy to __________ this valuable social experience, so I took him to watch the Lions play. During those matches, we sat close to the field, surrounded by families who had a genuine __________ with the players. My kid’s questions kept me somewhat __________ in the game. Slowly, I started to__________ for the Lions.

During one victorious match, we even met David, the Captain, who happily __________ for a photo with my son. __________, I had an answer to the question,“Who do you support?”

9 . I used to be worried about what I should buy my dad for Father’s Day. I’d _________ countless stores for something that my dad would like. But I never had _________. That was years ago when I was _________ and thought every holiday was about _________.

Those years it was usually months after Father’s Day that my dad _________ a gift because he always told me he never “_________” anything. So I stopped getting him things and, _________, started taking him out to movies, to restaurants or to shows, which brought him much laughter.

We should _________ spending time with our fathers doing something they’ll _________. If he is fond of fishing, go fishing with him. Anything you can do to spend time with your father is better than anything you can __________ in a box and put a bow on, unless of course, you put yourself in a box, pop out and hand him tickets to a show or a game.

If, however, your mind is still set on getting a(n) __________ gift as well, then replace that thing that needs to be __________. That’s probably what I’m going to do next year for my father. Sorry, Dad, but this really will be the last summer your lawn mower can __________. If your dad is anything like mine, he’ll __________ until whatever needs to be replaced is __________ broken. And by that I mean it’s there-is-no-possible-way-it-can-be-fixed broken. So __________ it for him.

Many people may no longer have a(n) __________ with their dad. So for those who are lucky like me, it’s a __________ to take our dads for granted. The times we can laugh sure __________ the times we can’t. Now, do something with your dad to make him happy. __________ the materialistic gifts. Bring on the laughs.

10 . Dad had been a lumberjack (伐木工). As the years passed on, he became angry whenever he couldn’t do something he had done as a(n) _________ man. Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, Dad had a heart attack and was_________ into an operating room. He survived. But his passion for life was_______.

My husband, Dick, and I invited Dad to live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh _________air would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I_________. He complained at everything I did. I called a mental health center that recommended an article describing a group of patients under treatment for_________. Yet their health had improved greatly when given_________ for a dog.

I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon and back home with a dog.

When I reached the house, I helped my_________ out of the car and said “Dad! Look what I got for you!” Dad looked, then pulled a face. “If I had wanted a dog, I would have picked a better one. Keep it to yourself!” Anger rose _________ me. “You’d better get used to him, Dad. He’s staying!”

Dad just ignored me, when suddenly the dog__________ my dad and sat down. Then slowly, he raised his paw...Dad remained silent. The dog waited __________. Then Dad was on his knees __________the animal.

It was the__________of a warm and loving friendship. Dad and the pet were__________throughout the next three years. Dad’s bitterness__________ , and they made many friends.