1 . Exploring the peaks of the world’s highest mountains has become almost second nature for Poorna Malavath and Kavya Manyapu. It has taken Manyapu to NASA where her research has included designing ______ suits, and Malavath to the top of Mount Everest when in 2014, she became the youngest ever woman to ______ the top of the world’s highest mountain at 13.

Now, these two women have channeled their ______ spirit into climbing some of the world’s most difficult mountain s as part of their campaign, Project Shakthi, which ______ money to fun d girls’ education. At the end of August, they climbed a 6,012m virgin peak in Ladakh, India - one previously unmapped and ______ by human expeditions.

Never climbed before, the mountain ______ difficult challenges for even an experienced mountaineer like Malavath, for there were neither trails to follow nor ______ from previous climbers to stick to. “We have to prepare ourselves ______ to accept everything,” Malavath said. “So it’s completely different and it’s given me so much knowledge to ______ others.”

Rainy weather conditions that turned to snow at high ______ added to the complexities of climbing a virgin peak. The night when they were to set out, it ______, which meant avalanche (雪崩) conditions on the mountain. They had to ______ come back as a team, make a safety call and then prepare for the next day. So it was very challenging.

And for a relatively ______ climber like Manyapu, though she had trained extensively, the challenges were even greater.

“When we were in the ______, we would talk about: ‘What if, you know, we won’t be able to make it to the summit, you know, what if this? What if that?’” Manyapu says. “But then we would always like to go back and encourage each other and ______ each other that, you know, let’s just take it one step at a time.”

3 . Philip was looking out of the windows while his grandchildren were playing around the house. “Look!” One child shouted ________. Philip looked up only to see a small plane a few hundred yards away, losing altitude. As a(n) ________ Navy commander, he realized it was going to ________ in the icy river.

Philip didn’t hesitate. He ________ down to the waterfront. The plane had slid to a river far from shore and was now sinking. The ________ was standing on the wing. Philip knew from his Navy training that even a few moments in the icy water could ________ the pilot. Philip tested the ice with his foot and decided not to risk ________ on it. So he and his son, Michael pulled two canoes (皮划艇) out from their back deck. The two men set off, ________ their boats across the ice. It was tough work.

When Philip reached the plane, it had broken through the ice and ________, with only its tail stable. With his son nearby, Philip focused on keeping the pilot ________, joking, “Just hang on to the boat as if you were hugging your wife.” The pilot ________ grabbed the paddle and the two men were floating together, but Philip knew he had to get the pilot onto the shelf of unbroken ice before the man lost too much body ________. Just at that time a ________ appeared and radioed for help (用无线电呼救). After a while, a rescue boat arrived to help the policeman, breaking through ice. It ________ the pilot and rushed him to safety. Philip recalled. “I’m 60 years old,” he says. “There was no way I could get him to shore.” Still, he was ________ he’d gone the right way that day.

5 . As a work-at-home-mom, I don’t need to go to _______. Before I pick my children up from school in the evening, I’m _______. For many years, my only companion (同伴) was our dog, Sno, who always _______ me wherever I go.

Sno and I didn’t agree on everything. However, we both agreed on _______ because we do not like to be bored. At least once a week, we took a long walk to the beach. For him, there were a field full of tall grass and exciting smells. For me, there were other dog walkers whom I _______ wanted to catch up with.

As a dog with short legs, Sno needed several _______ along the way. The one at the entrance to the beach was his _______, possibly because there were _______ sea view. I was the center of my dog’s universe and he had a very strong desire for my attention.

When he was old, our walks were _______. In his final days, Sno still ________ walking. It took twice as long to take even the shortest walk, but we ________ every step. I don’t know if dogs can cry, but if they can, that made two of us in ________ at the entrance to the beach.

After he died, I went for a long walk. I felt like part of me was ________. I kept looking down as if he were there beside me and enjoyed the sun and fresh air. When I came to the place where we turned and ________ for the beach, I chose the other way.

Later, I may be walking by myself, but I’m never alone. Personally, I’m ________ to earn the love of an old dog.

8 . From a very early age I knew I wasn’t adopted (领养). My older brother, Eddie and I looked too much the same because our faces were the ________ combination (结合) of our Mom’s and Dad’s. ________, I did feel different.

My oldest brother, Tony was ________ and outgoing. He could tell you a story that kept you smiling and ________ all the way through. Eddie was also confident and had so many friends. He could also make a clear and loud ________ that has served him well as a teacher and coach.

I, on the other hand, was ________, quiet, and not so outgoing as my brothers. I spent more time reading. I wanted to ________ everything. Being several years younger than them and usually ________ by them, I also spent more time playing alone. I wasn’t as lonely as you would ________, though. My imagination was a great friend in my loneliness and in some way I ________ the quiet.

Looking back on the long and ________ road of my life now, I can see that I was different, but it made me just the person I needed to be to live the life I have lived. My reading so much led me to start writing as well. My wish to learn everything helped me to ________ the biggest problems about love, kindness, joy, and life, and to ________ what I learned with others. My pleasure in a quiet life made it ________ for me to work from home and care for my family.

We each have a unique ________ in this life. It is our job to find it, to live it, and to love it.

10 . Yesterday I was doing some shopping and a man, who was in worn clothes, walked towards a group of us at the checkout stand (收银台). I ________ him say to one woman in front of me, “I don’t want to steal from this store... Would you ________ me some food?” But the woman pretend not to hear him; it was as if she hadn’t seen him. I waited for my ________ to be questioned, but it never came. So I asked him, ”Can I buy you something to eat?"

He ________ accepted. The man got a bag and began putting sandwiches in the bag. As my ________ were being rung up (结账) I watched the man put the sandwiches into the bag: 1,2,3...He finally stopped and I asked him how many he had got and he answered 10.

The ________ cashier (收银员) looked at me for a while and then added them to my ________ . After I was through, the man was wandering around the store saying he wanted something to ________ , too. The cashier seemed to be keeping a ________ eye on him. I admit I was too, as I didn’t want him to ________ anything either! I told the cashier that if he got a drink I’d just paying for it.

We both ended up leaving the store, but he stood outside talking to ________ . Or maybe he was talking with someone who he thought was there.

This man’s situation made me ________ . How many of the homeless also ________ a mental (精神的) illness? Maybe that’s even what ________ him to be homeless. I ________ to run into him again someday... maybe we can sit down and have lunch together.