1 . At 7:30 am on Christmas Eve, Mary Black got a call from an unknown number. It was Nicola Grant, a Bletchley resident who had _________ Mary’s brother Roy Black. Roy was then 64, mentally _________, and left the group home in the deadly winter storm that began striking Bletchley the previous day.

After wandering for a long time, Roy _________ in a snowbank directly outside Nicola’s home. He was sobbing(啜泣) and crying out _________. Nicola went outside and found a stranger, screaming and confused. She went into the storm with her husband, carrying Roy into their home. Roy had _________ signs of severe frostbite: hands severely swollen and covered in multicolored blisters and sores. Nicola used a hair dryer to _________ his clothing, which stuck tightly to his shivering(颤抖) body. Still, despite all Nicola had done to treat his _________, Roy urgently needed _________ attention. Getting help seemed _________, though, for the roads were slippery with ice and snow. They were crying in despair(绝望). In a __________ cry for help on December 25—one full day after Roy __________ outside her house—Nicola posted a live video on Facebook.

Within half an hour, neighbors __________ to help, shoveling ice and snow around Nicola’s home. They wrapped up Roy warm and sped him to the __________ Medical Center. “The rescue is all __________ to Nicola,” said Mary, who was __________ with appreciation and relief that her big brother was safe.

2 . On August 2, 2023, Paul, 68, and Dawn Molineux, 66, from the United Kingdom, visited Southport’s Hickory’s Smokehouse to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary (周年纪念日) in advance. The actual date of their anniversary was August 29 but ________ was something they did not have much of, and they wanted to fully ________what they had.

The couple, who were high school sweethearts, found out at the beginning of the year that Paul had a ________ illness. With only about 18 months left together, they ________ to enjoy life to the full. So they went to Hickory’s to celebrate their ________ and were welcomed ________and surprised when their table had a “Happy Anniversary”________. Many staff members spoke to them, but their________James Davies left them with the most lasting ________.

Paul wrote on a Facebook food review group for Southport about how Davies went ________to serve them. Davies was ________ in the couple’s marriage and heard about Paul’s terminal diagnosis (绝症), but they never________what he did for them.

After enjoying their meal, some drinks, and a delicious dessert, Paul and Dawn ________their bill, which totaled £80. However, they soon realized that the amount was reduced to £0, and a message that came with the receipt ________: “Happy anniversary! The bill is on us.”

Paul admitted he was “lost for words” when Davies explained how touched he was by their story and had ________ their meal! Paul recalled, “My wife was just in tears when she saw the gesture.”

3 . The 17-year-old Roman was about to leave the foster (寄养) care system as he turned 18. All Roman ever wanted was to have his family ________. But just in time, he was ________ as a child by Brad and Renee. This was a ________ for him, as he had nowhere else to go.

Roman had been in and out of nineteen ________ foster homes since he was 11. Seeing his upcoming 18th birthday, Brad and Renee wanted to give him stability (稳定) before he ________ the foster care system.

Roman had ________ stayed with Brad’s family when he was 12, but he wasn’t ready to be part of a family at that time due to his ________ of being abandoned (拋弃).

Years later, Roman reconnected with the family and expressed his ________ to live with them again. In December, the family decided to welcome Roman and ________ the happy news with him on Christmas Day. Roman ________ a special stocking, symbolizing his adoption (领养) into the family. Everyone cried tears of ________ with Roman.

They ________ time to officially adopt him before his 18th birthday. Finally, on October 17, just one day before his birthday, Roman officially became a member of this family. Now, living in a peaceful and loving home, he finally has the chance to ________ the childhood moments he never had.

The family’s ________ to open their hearts and home to Roman shines a light on the great difference a ________ and supportive family can make in a young person’s life.

4 . Triplets (三胞胎) Sierra, Kassidy, and Haley have faced a range of challenges throughout their lives. At just three months old, they _________ their mother, and their father was missing too, leaving them in the _________ of their grandmother, who didn’t prioritize education. _________, they didn’t attend school until they were eight.

The triplets’ lives took another _________ turn when their house was on fire early one morning. This _________ led them to move in with their grandparents on their mother’s side. There they faced further neglect, _________ adequate food, clothing, and other essentials.

Despite these _________, the sisters showed incredible resilience and determination. They _________ jobs, including babysitting and working at Albertson’s grocery store, to support themselves. Their daily _________ was a tiring cycle of walking to school, then to work, and back home, often late at night.

Remarkably, all three girls maintained a 4.0 grade point average, __________ them full scholarships to the University of Las Vegas. Their __________ achievements are a testament to their perseverance and dedication, despite the overwhelming odds they faced.

The community recognized their efforts and __________ them with additional support on their graduation day. Each sister received a car, a year’s worth of free car insurance and gas, and $5,000 for books and other __________.

Throughout their journey, the triplets maintained a(n) __________ outlook, which they believe was crucial in __________ their challenges.

5 . In Jan. 2020, Teresa Hernandez was 35 weeks pregnant. One morning, she _________ the baby wasn’t moving as much as usual. She decided to go to the hospital to _________ everything was OK.

When she got there, she learned that the baby’s heart rate was _________. The doctors told her that her baby needed to be delivered _________ by an operation. Hernandez was in complete _________. But the doctors said if it was inside, they wouldn’t be able to help if something went wrong.

Hernandez was _________ to the operating room. On the way, her anxiety became _________ . That’s when a nurse in the operating room _________to help.

“This nurse took my hand and started pressing. And then she _________ me while they were doing the operation. And then she __________ one hand on my cheek. And she started humming softly,” Hernandez __________. “I felt like my mom was there, holding me.”

__________ her husband, Hernandez had no family with her. But the nurse’s gesture of warmth brought her __________. It felt like her mom stayed by her side. “When your mom is there, you feel __________. You feel like everything is going to be right,” Hernandez said.

Looking back, Hernandez remembers a string of unsung heroes who helped her that day. But she says that nurse was the first one that left a lasting __________.

6 . Thru hiking (徒步旅行) for long distances with your equipment on your back ________ placing yourself at the mercy of other people’s kindness. I thought it would be ________ to share some of the amazing experiences I’ve had regarding kindness of ________. Experiencing people’s kindness has left me inspired.

The first kindness is the Trail Angels who ________ their doors to hikers for support. They ________ rides to town for food or equipment and then provide essentials like showers, laundry and ship packages. They are people who ________ care for those who are away from home and need help.

Trail Magic can ________ at any time or place. The day I was climbing Mt. Baden Powell, there were two Japanese ladies sitting on the hillside resting. As I ________, they began clapping, stopped me, asked me about the trip, shared me some fruit and one woman bowed low and said, “I respect you.” Wow! What ________ words to hear!

One Saturday morning in the San Gabriel mountains, as we crossed a highway, trail runners in their vehicle pulled over to ________ us fruit. An hour down the trail, day hikers stopped and asked about our trip, opened their packs of ________ and asked, “What would you like to eat.” A few miles further we ________ Glennwood Cabin (格伦伍德小屋) and were fed pizza and drinks. At 9: 00 a. m. we were all pumped up and talking about this ________ day of kindness.

Now I am preparing for the next section hike to the Mojave desert. Thank you God for those who show a ________ heart and express the spirit of ________.

7 . For Aravind Tharunsri and Thaaragai Aarathana, every day is Environment Day and every hour is Earth Hour. And they are on a mission to ______ oceans.

Thaaragai was never afraid of water. She started floating even when under one. Being a passionate diver, Aravind always wanted to make his daughter ______ diving. His vision came true when she became ______ to dive in shallow waters. She first started training in small tubs, then in swimming pools and ______ made a smooth transition to the ocean.

Now, Thaaragai can call attention to the issue of ______ marine species and draw our ______ to her ongoing battle against water pollution. She ______ a record in Assist World Records Attempt for swimming an 18-km stretch under the theme “Save the Ocean”. With help and encouragement from her father, Thaaragai also made a short documentary on marine ______ and presented it in various schools to spread awareness.

The eight-year-old girl ______ her birthday with a diving adventure. She spotted jellyfish, grouper and corals. The diving session didn’t end there as the young girl started spotting plastics. She didn’t have the heart to the ______ them. Both father and daughter ______ as much as they could. The young ______ has also been on a mission to clean up the beaches and the ocean as well as to ______ awareness of marine pollution.

Thaaragai hopes more kids can join. “Why wait for Ocean’s Day or Environment Day? Every day is important when we ______ against climate change. I’m ______ to do my duty as a citizen and I hope you too will join me,” the young diver said.

8 . Andrew Powell was pulling envelopes from the large mailbox outside his contemporary house when he noticed something ______: A tiny doll couple were sitting on a love seat inside the mailbox. A small note was attached.

“We’ve decided to live here,” the ______ read. It was signed from Mary and Shelley. Andrew initially figured that somebody must have left them there ______ . So he asked the neighbors whether anybody had left ______ in his mailbox, and everyone said no. Soon, Andrew and his wife discovered that the small couple had ______ a tea table, a pretty carpet and a pillow.

Over the next few months, additional items mysteriously ______: a bed, a painting and a wood-burning stove, to name a few. For Christmas 2022, a decorated tree was left with tiny presents. But the gifts were taken back right after Christmas ______ Andrew could open the boxes to see if anything was inside.

More than a year later, Mary and Shelley are still living rent-free in the mailbox, to the delight of the neighbors who now ______ Andrew’s updates on the village’s website to check the ______. Andrew first posted about the tiny dolls on Aug. 21, 2022, hoping his fellow villagers might help solve the ______.

“It’s just somebody out there who is having some fun, giving us all a little community ______. But whoever is doing this is obviously very ______ and clever,” says Andrew’s next-door neighbor.

Andrew says he now doesn’t want to know who is ______ for the mail-box affair because he’s hoping it will continue. “Also, people in the neighborhood are ______ it and some ask if I’ve thought about installing an outdoor ______ , but personally, I like the mystery of it.”

9 . “This will never do.” I kept telling my husband as he set the table one Thanksgiving. I wanted everything to be _________, because my parents would come. Criticisms from my childhood _________ rang in my mind. So whenever my parents visited us, I _________ myself for more faultfinding. The unhealthy pursuit of perfection _________ the joy from our celebration. Gradually I _________ the reason for Thanksgiving, and I found myself, like my parents, _________ people around me.

Then luckily, I read from a book, “Too much criticism hurts; necessary praise helps. Put your praise of someone in _________ so that the person can save and read it.”

So the next Thanksgiving, I _________ to my husband and my son, “We’re each going to write a message saying what we _________ about one of us.” Despite their eye-rolling, we soon finished and exchanged our __________. My son sat up straighter after __________ what his father had written about him. And I felt so uplifted myself when I read “I am proud of your cooking.” That was a life-changing __________. Since then my family has the __________ and we do it year-round―not just the fourth Thursday of November.

I no longer just focus on finding fault with others. I’m more __________ how I can help the people around me feel loved and appreciated. Especially in writing, because behind every __________ is the power of love.

10 . Kevin Hyde, who has been sailing his whole life, recently invited Joe DiTommasso to Florida on his sailboat. The first part of their _______ went well, and they stopped for a _______ in the Outer Banks.

That’s where things went _______ . Suddenly they found themselves inside a heavy storm at sea. “I’ve never heard winds so bad my whole life!” Joe _______ . As the ocean churned (剧烈翻滚) around them, the 50-foot mast (桅杆) of the sailboat _______ , and their radios didn’t _______ either, leaving them at the mercy of the stormy sea.

When Kevin and Joe’s families _______ touch with them, they reported them missing to the Coast Guard. Soon, a full _______ began, but rescuers weren’t even sure which _______ to start looking for them.

Floating for days with no mast, gas, or electricity, Kevin and Joe prayed for ________ . By the 10th day at sea, they were feeling more ________ than ever.

Just when it seemed that all was lost, they got ________ from a huge international ship called the Silver Muna. ________ an attentive crew member ________ the tiny sailboat. Captain Neeraj Chaudhary immediately stopped his ship. Rescuing the men was exciting for all involved and even the ship’s captain cried when the men were ________ aboard his ship.