2 . Every morning, Robiuson, the 41-year-old charity worker, will leave his home to set out on his lonely marathons, all before a full day’s work. He’s doing it to ________ money for Hope for Justice.

Robinson follows a strict ________, waking up and starting his run at 4 am, and running five hours. Robinson lost 11kg when starting, but his ________ tended to be stable as his body ________, and he runs along a familiar ________ through Wanstead Park, Wanstead Flats and Epping Forest. Despite facing ________ such as colds, flu and food poisoning, he remains committed to ________ the marathons.

Robinson’s runs are ________ using a running app on his watch. His knees and hips (髋) are fine so far, but he’s ________ four pairs of running shoes.

While running in the dark, sometimes Robinson even meets with a cow. However, he generally ________ peaceful runs, occasionally witnessing minor incidents like fly-tipping (乱丢垃圾). To make his runs unique and ________, he eats a chocolate bar every mile.

Robinson’s dogs play a crucial role in his motivation, and he would pause if they showed signs of ________. However, they continue to love ________ alongside him. His devotion also arises from the hard economic times that we are living in and the impact this has had on charity ________.

Yet, 365 marathons in one year is not enough for him. His ________ are now set on breaking the unofficial record of 607 runs in 607 days set 10 years ago.

4 . In the town of Riverbridge, life was simple. The townsfolk knew each other, and the most exciting event was the weekly _________ written by a 15-year-old boy named Kally Mahzoo.

One day, a hobo (流浪汉) arrived and _________ a camp under the bridge. Before long, local stores began reporting _________. The townsfolk were quick to point fingers at the stranger. Kally, however, was not _______. He decided to investigate, visiting the stores. He noted the items stolen — _______ food and necessities. He then went to the hobo’s _________ and asked him about the thefts. The hobo   _______ any involvement, his eyes reflecting sincerity. Kally believed him but needed _______.

Over the next few days, Kally kept a close eye on the stores. He noticed the stolen items were always from the _______ shelves, easily accessible to a child. Hiding behind a barrel, he watched as a group of children entered the store. As the store owner was busy __________ to customers, one of the children slipped a loaf of bread into his bag. Kally had found the suspects. The children, ________ red-handed, confessed to the thefts. Their families were too poor to afford even the __________. Kally wrote about his findings in his column, clearing the hobo’s name. The townsfolk, __________ of their quick judgement, apologized to the hobo. The store owners, __________ the children’s dilemma, decided to help their families.

Life returned to its simple rhythm, but with a newfound respect for the young boy. And under the bridge, a sign was fixed that read, “Never __________ a book by its cover.”

5 . 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.

6 . In a small village, a special knitting (编织) club has become a symbol of community and warmth. _________ by Abby, the club has turned the simple craft of knitting into the powerful force for _________.

Back to 2018, Abby, a knitting enthusiast, _________ brought together like-minded villagers. And later, their shared _________ blossomed into the club with a mission. The club welcomed all, with the belief that anyone could _________ to knit, and soon it became a place where a sense of community was woven into every stitch (一针).

Attracting a steady stream of people, the club members weekly gather to work on knitting _________, like casting on and off, under Abby’s guidance. Their hands are hurt by needles, but their hearts are full of _________, because every little scar is a mark of care for others. The club’s true essence lies in its devotion to _________. Each hand-knit hat and glove is a symbol of love, donated to local _________ institutions that help the homeless.

__________ on their purpose, Abby says, “Our knitting is more than a small craft. It’s a way to __________ out and support those in need. The club’s creations are not just items. They are the result of hours spent choosing the right materials and patterns, and the love __________ into every stitch.”

The knitting club is a living narrative of a(n) __________ story of neighbors assisting neighbors and strangers becoming friends. Through knitting, they’ve created a __________ that warms not only the body, but also the heart. The club stands as a reminder of the impact that __________ acts, like giving a hat or a pair of gloves, can have on the human spirit.

7 . When my mother visits us from Korea, she spends countless hours preparing homemade meals every day.

She thoughtfully plates and _________ our family at the table. She pours the soup for her little granddaughters first, carefully checking its temperature to _________ it will not burn their tongues. She adds more salt and pepper into mine and her son-in-law has the most substantial portion (份). It is remarkable how effortlessly she makes a meal that feels _________ for each of us.

However, her cooking begins much earlier at the grocery store. She becomes the most cruel _________ of vegetables. “Iceberg lettuce goes bad soon.” “Those tomatoes _________ to be firmer, redder.” What’s more, all of our family’s wants are _________ imprinted inside her brain and _________ her hands as she adds items to the basket.

When you put so much _________ into a meal, it becomes a ritual (仪式). It is the only time when everyone _________, sits down and takes the time to taste each bite. The dining table __________ into the centre of the family’s conversation and connection. As we __________ each other’s struggles and victories, we offer support and advice. We update each other on our work projects and __________ ideas for future vacation plans.

In a fast-paced era, creating a homemade meal might seem highly __________. However, my 68-year-old mother treats it with such __________. I know it’s her way of expressing __________— that extra ingredient that goes into cur every meal.

8 . Buried deep within the cracks of an old, wooden desk, a worn-out notebook lay forgotten. Its pages, yellowed with _________, were scattered with handwritten notes and drawings, each ________ a dream or aspiration of its owner, Emily Dickinson.

Dickinson, a ________ teacher, had passed away peacefully in her sleep, leaving the notebook as one of her few _________. There were drafts of traveling to foreign places, notes about learning a new language, and even a few ________ about publishing her own book of poems in it.

One ________ sketch caught her children’s eye as they looked through the pages. It was a drawing of a small cottage ________ in the hills, surrounded by greenery and a stream. Dickinson had always dreamed of retiring to such a place, a place where she could find peace and ________.

Her children decided to fulfil her mother’s dream. They found a cottage ________ to the one in the sketch and bought it. They ________ it with the furniture and kick-knacks (小摆设) that Dickinson had treasured and turned it into a ________ to her life and her dreams.

The cottage became a place where Dickinson’s family and friends could gather and shared stories about her. It was a place where they could feel her ________ and be inspired by her firm determination. The notebook, now ________ on a small table in the cottage’s living room, remains a constant ________ of Dickinson’s dreams and aspirations. Her children hope that by keeping it there, they can honor her memory and continue to inspire others to ________ their own dreams, just as she had done.

10 . I used to find award show speeches inspiring when celebrities encouraged people to “chase their dreams.” However, as I grew older, I ______ the toxicity (毒性) behind this notion. Pursuing our dreams is not always easy due to various ______. For instance, I ______ to be a singer but lacked the financial means to audition for competition shows. Later, my dream ______ to becoming a manga editor, but I faced ______ like language barriers, travel costs, and difficult exams.

Though there is hope, considering many celebrities started from humble beginnings, achieving dreams remains ______. As someone who once had ambitious aspirations, these “chase your dreams” speeches gave me ______ hope. I take issue with such celebrity speeches because they suggest that anyone can ______ whatever they desire simply by wishing for it. ______, reality tells us otherwise. I am not trying to be ______, but rather realistic. Growing older has taught me that some dreams are meant to stay as dreams.

Nonetheless, I am grateful that my dream of becoming a singer did not materialize. I have found other passions — writing and editing — and ______ pursued them as a career through college. I have no regrets about this path. If we do not ______ exactly where we want to be, it is alright. Life sometimes presents obstacles that ______ us from choosing our first preference for the future. Our dreams may not always be ______, but that does not mean good things are not in store for us. Life often takes us on different paths. Do not lose hope, for you have a bright future ahead, ______ the choices you make.