1 . It all started with a commercial. I watched the baby take his first ________ on TV right before his family left for a trip to Walt Disney World. It ________ to me that I wanted to walk into Disneyland Park. So I asked my parents for ________. For most kids, it was a normal ________. But for me it was so ________. As I was born with cerebral palsy (脑瘫), which doesn’t ________ me to walk on my own.

Then my dad and I had an ________ that I should become much stronger, have more ________ and practice more if l wanted to achieve my________. Over the next three years or so, I worked with physical therapists, ________ a walker, and practiced walking, standing and balancing — all ________ that I would need to turn my goal into a reality.

On June 9, I stood in the tunnel leading into Main Street, looking around. My dad asked me if I wanted any help. I quickly ________ , “No!” and situated myself facing the end of the tunnel. My heart was likely to beat out of my chest. Then I went, walking so slowly at first then ________ speeding up step by step, comforted and ________ by all my friends and family supporting me. As I was walking on, I suddenly lost my________and my focus, bumping into something. ________, we had practiced and planned for this type of situation beforehand. Standing up and gathering all my________, I picked up my pace once again. It wasn’t too long before the cheer increased because I had ________ it to the end, where my mom was waiting with tears in her eyes and arms open wide ready to hug her son and tell him how________ she was.

It was all because of people around me that I was able to grow so much both physically and mentally. I ________ a lot from their constant push and encouragement.

2 . The arrival of spring always means a trip to the bamboo forest for Hennacy and her family, followed by making bamboo buns. It’s been a long way for Hennacy — a _______ that started when her mother and grandmother _______ wild bamboo growing nearby. Hennacy said her grandmother, Yuehua Zhang, _______ to the U.S. from Niansanli, China, where she grew up _______ with bamboo often. “My grandma _______ recipes she had from China... and it became a usual practice every year — getting bamboo from the forest and putting it into these buns,” said Hennacy. “It’s a really _______ way to take what is seen as kind of a weed (野草) and turn it into something really _______.”

The trip to look for bamboo usually _______ in late April, when the bamboo starts sprouting (发芽). Each person in the group has their own _______ to fill. But no one picks more bamboo than Grandma Zhang. The entire process of picking the bamboo and making the buns ________ Hennacy of how hardworking her grandma is — and it ________ her own work ethic (行为准则). “She turned 80 this year and she still ________ up a hill that is sometimes very muddy,” Hennacy said. “And she fills a heavy bag with bamboo she ________ over her back. And she just doesn’t complain or ________.” The bamboo has to be cleaned, and then it’s diced and mixed with the other filling ________. Hennacy learned how to make the buns by watching her grandma, but she had to measure everything and write it down because her grandmother cooks from memory.

3 . I have wanted to be a writer since I was eleven. Not just any writer, but a _________ published writer. I remember sending a copy of my story to Puffin Canada. Several weeks later, it sent me a _________ encouraging me to continue writing, and also _________ that they did not publish short stories. It was ___________ of the publisher to write back, but the truth was that I had come no closer to my ___________ of becoming a world-famous author.

Yet I am ___________ a hopeful writer. The only ___________ is that now I am 17, and my English classes are no longer spent ___________ imaginative short stories. I ___________ those sixth-grade classes when I was given the freedom to write whatever I liked.

Last year, some of this inspiration left over from my childhood ____________ into what seemed a brilliant idea for a ____________. I worked late each night, eager to finish my first novel. I got little sleep and my homework load was increasing, ____________ I refused to allow anything to block my success as a published writer.

When I had over 80 double-spaced pages, sadly, it became increasingly difficult to write on. It was terrible to see months of work ____________. My dreams were not one inch closer to __________ than five years before. Perhaps by now I have finally learned the truth about writing: it ____________ more than a dream. Perseverance and brilliance are right up there, too.

4 . Firefighters were called to the scene when fire broke out inside Crystal Lamirande’s apartment. While they worked to ______ the flame, Crystal tearfully told firefighter Andrew Klein that her 10-year-old dog, Nalu, was ______ inside the home.

Firefighters are devoted to saving lives, and Nalu’s life was no less ______ to him than Crystal’s. He _____shouldered his pack and headed inside the building, moving on his hands and knees through the ______ home quickly to search for the ______ Eventually he saw the dog, but she was ______.

Andrew said Nalu, was “totally lifeless” when he ______ her. He carried her outside to fresh air, then began life-saving ______ he acquired during his training.

For the next 20 minutes, kneeling down, Andrew performed mouth-to-snout resuscitation (复苏) on Nalu. Crystal sat near Andrew, ______ and afraid, as he tried to bring her four-legged companion back to life. Soon other firefighters ______ them, silently hoping for a positive_____.

After seemingly endless minutes, Nalu ______! Andrew comforted the dog as she ______ came back to life. The animal was ______, but otherwise unharmed. Nalu was taken to a vet (兽医) and placed inside an oxygen tent for about 24 hours. When she left ______, she was back to her normal. If Andrew hadn’t ______ so quickly and used his ______ so perfectly, what would have happened?

Nalu made a complete ______ , all thanks to this extremely kind firefighter! No matter whether Andrew ______ people or animals, he clearly puts life in the highest place.

5 . Joe’s single dad parenting story unfolds in a touching video that swept through the hearts of online users on TikTok.

On his daughter’s school Mother’s Day celebration, Joe _______as a “mom”. He took his _______ among the parents and students with a dress and a wig. His aim was to guarantee the seat _______for his adopted child’s mother wouldn’t remain _______ and to honor the occasion’s significance.

As the video unfolds, we see an emotional hug between Joe and his 15-year-old daughter, Nong Cream. She hugs Joe tightly. Joe _______ the hug with a smile, planting a kiss on Cream’s forehead and _______ smoothing her hair.

Joe, also known as “Teacher Joe”, is a proud PE instructor at his daughter’s school. He shared his _______ for this beautiful act: “When the school organizes Mother’s Day activities, I don’t want my child to have an inferiority complex (自卑感). Personally, I’m not _______ because I love my child.” His pride in his daughter shines through, proving his _______ to single dad parenting. Joe __________ what could have been a(n) __________day into a permanently precious memory through his heartfelt __________.

Cream responded, “I don’t feel embarrassed. This year’s Mother’s Day, I want to say I love my father. I’m __________ to my dad for __________ me and making me happy.” Their bond, __________ by Joe’s love, develops into a story about courage, acceptance and unbreakable connections.

6 . We were living in Kentucky. My two sons kept asking me to adopt a dog. Honestly, I _________ to do so. However, with my sons’ endless requests, I finally _________ a trip to an animal center.

Actually, I was not in the mood for a pet, for I was struggling with _________. We’d just moved to Kentucky. I was having trouble _________. I missed my parents and friends.

While wandering around the center, I noticed a little dog curled up (蜷缩) in the corner, shaking. Obviously, she was having a(n)_________ time. The dog called Princess just came the day before. The voices of people and barks of other dogs clearly _________ her. I wanted to take the poor thing in. However, my husband suggested having a look at all the dogs before our _________. Surprisingly, my two sons agreed to _________ Princess. So finally, we took her home.

Princess was quiet in the first few days, but _________ she settled into her new home. In a strange way, knowing I had a “friend”with a(n) __________ experience made me feel better.

One day, I was ill, missing my previous home more. Princess stayed with me quietly. Her __________ helped keep my mind off my problems. Soon, I recovered. Since then, Princess and I have fully __________ each other.

A few months after Princess came, I __________ a lot. I stopped losing myself in the __________. I made friends and enjoyed visiting places in a(n) __________ way.

7 . There is growing interest in East Japan Railway Co. ltd, one of the six companies, created out of the privatized national railway system. In an industry lacking exciting growth ________, its plan to use real-estate assets in and around train stations ________ is drawing interest.

In a plan called “Station Renaissance” that it ________ in November, JR East said that it would ________ using its commercial spaces for shops and restaurants, extending them to ________ more suitable for the information age. It wants train stations as pick-up ________ for such goods as books, flowers and groceries ________ over the Inter. In a country where city ________ depend heavily on trains ________ commuting, about 16 million people a day go to its train stations anyway, the company ________. So, picking up commodities at train stations ________ consumers extra travel and missed home deliveries. JR East already has been using its station ________ stores for this purpose, but it plans to create ________ spaces for the delivery of Inter goods.

The company also plans to introduce ________ cards—known in Japan as IC cards because they use integrated circuit for ________ information ________ train tickets and muter passes ________ the magic ones used today, integrating them into a/an ________ pass. This will save the company money, because ________ for IC cards are much less expensive than magic systems. Increased use of IC cards should also ________ the space needed for ticket vending.

8 . It was 6 p. m. on 24 January 2001, the first day of Chinese New Year. I was working as a tour guide and was on my way to ________ a group for a night tour around Kuala Lumpur. As I drove along the road, a small hatchback flew across the centre divider from the ________ direction and crashed into my car head-on. I passed out and was ________ by the ringing of my mobile phone. It was a travel agent, asking me if I had arrived at the Mandarin Oriental for my assignment. Then I went into shock.

In the hospital, I saw my crushed feet hanging from my body, blue and lifeless, and I pleaded with the doctors to save them at all costs. They calmly promised to do their best.

Days after that, I was informed that I lost the job. My heart ________. How was I going to support my 65-year-old mother? And plus, I have so many other commitments.

I felt utter helplessness, but a lot of unexpected ________ came my way. I had many visitors during my 14 days in hospital and when I was ________ at home. Friends and relatives helped me with my financial stuff or simply came to cheer me up.

But I was only 30, and wanted to see the world. When the casts were removed, I did not let the sight of my weak legs ________ me. I worked hard at my physiotherapy with only one ________: I must walk again. After the five-month ________, I was back on my feet. After eight months, I was walking without the aid of crutches. By February the following year, I had started globetrotting again.

Today, after eight years, I have travelled to many countries as a tour leader and am determined not to let the pain interfere with my work.

The ________ made me realize how lives can change in a split second; five out of the six people in the overcrowded car that hit me lost their lives. In my ________ state of mind, I recalled how motorcyclists wrapped their jackets around their arms and ________ away my shattered side window to save me. I also recall the Chinese family who ________ taboo (禁忌) and drove me to the hospital ________ my bloodied condition on Chinese New Year. The kindness I’ve experienced taught me never to give up hope on anyone or in any situation. I ________ life more, not only my own but also everyone I know, and will always try to help when I know of someone in trouble.

9 . When our first son Brendan was born in Sydney in 1966, we planted a golden elm tree in our front yard.It and Brendan _________ together and when we _________ the house, eight years later, the tree branched (长出枝条) out over our heads. We were _________ we had to leave it behind when we moved to New South Wales.

A young couple bought our home and were _________ it.Over the next 37 years, when travelling to Sydney, my family _________ couldn’t help stopping to see the tree. With time, the golden elm grew more beautiful.The owners still loved the home and seemed not to _________ at all that we didn't completely leave them alone.

Recently on the way to Sydney, my husband _________ to see how the house and the owners were getting on. It had been about ten years since we had last _________ and the tree had been removed some years earlier._________, the owner, Gillian, suggested she would contact (联系) us some time in the future, so my husband gave her our ____________.

When I heard about her ____________ message, I wondered what she meant. One day in December, we had a phone call from Gillian. She wanted to drop something in to us for our ____________. I told Brendan that there was a mysterious gift being ____________ for him that day, so it was indeed ____________ when Gillian handed him a package containing two carved wooden bowls. Gillian had asked a local woodworking company to make the ____________ from a piece of the trunk of the golden elm, which she had ____________ several years earlier. My husband’s ____________ had driven her to follow through with her idea.

What a pleasure it was to ____________ that package. We were ____________ by her thoughtfulness (体贴), and amazed that her long­term plan actually did ____________.

10 . It was late September. I was driving through a heavy fog to a store to _______ a few things. When I got there, I _______ in the store looking for what I _______ . I chose a bag of food for my dogs, a pack of _______ for my son to play with his toy car and my favorite chocolate bars for _______ . As I turned the corner to _______ the checkout, though, I saw something that stopped me in my _______. A two-foot-tall skeleton (骨骼模型) _______   a tuxedo (无尾礼服) was staring across the room at a two-foot-tall Santa Claus. I _______ shook my head and walked on.

As I was ________ home, the fog lifted and the Autumn leaves started to ________ in the sunlight. There were reds, yellows, oranges and browns. It was so ________ . As I watched them, I found the   ________ why I had been so bothered by what I had seen in the__________. It wasn’t that Halloween was a month away and Christmas three months away. It wasn’t that the stores were doing all they could to________ money from our pockets and add__________ to our credit cards. It was the ________ fact that we possibly had ________ that every day is nice. Every day is ________, which we should treasure. We have created a world in which we regret the past and live for the ________. We spend all of our wealth trying and failing to buy a few moments of joy.