2 . It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Shelly Romo surveyed what was ________ of her home in Maui, which was hit by a deadly wildfire, hoping to find her wedding ring, expecting to leave ________. But luckily, after three hours’ ________ with volunteers, it finally appeared, the diamond ________ but the band completely damaged. Romo and her husband went straight to No Ka’ Oi Jewelers — a local business that has been ________ fire-damaged jewelry free of charge.

No Ka’ Oi owner Omi Chamdi said he was one of the ________ ones — the fires had avoided his home and storefront. That’s why, in its aftermath, he immediately sprang into action and advertised ________ restorations. “When the fires here on Maui occurred, pretty ________ I decided this is something I can do and I really want to do for the ________ community.”

However, Chamdi doesn’t restore the jewelry himself; ________ he has been paying for the restoration services. When asked if he ever ________ that, he shook his head. “These are not just ordinary items, these are the most ________ possessions that people go back and dig through the ________ to find.”

________, Romo was not ready to say goodbye when the fires destroyed her home. But finding her wedding ring and getting it restored gave Romo some peace about ________.

3 . Instead of being a pacing-up time, winter is a locking-down time. Winter frees us in all sorts of ways.

I once had a neighbor named Earl. An old-timer and a self-made man, he _________ told me stories about Maine winters in the past. He suggested he had _________ the ice age. He backed up his old stories with _________ of old black-and-white photographs of heavy snowstorms that piled up to second-floor windows and completely _________ cars.

And I’ll never _________ what he said as an end to one of his stories, “A man couldn’t get much done once the snow came.” So what did he do once the snow came? He spent a great deal of time _________ to home and hearth, where he _________ the wood stove, sat with his wife, made pots of coffee, and read by the fire.

As I write these words I occasionally raise my head to _________ the window at the woodpile stacked (堆), the garden harvested, the apple tree _________, the lawn mowed, and the bicycle shed newly roofed.

As I tended to all those things, when did I have time to __________?

Some years ago a friend sent me a quote by Socrates that I try to be mindful of: Beware the fruitlessness of a __________ life.

The advice __________ me to look forward to the coming of winter, because I’ve finally learned that it is a slowing-down time, a gift of rest, a (n) __________ to acknowledge that most of the outdoor work that could be done has been done.

A friend of mine who lives in the Southeast recently called. In the course of our __________ he celebrated the climate where he lives, which __________ him to work outside year-round. “I’m always on the go.” he told me.

But I think I need a good time of winter.

5 . Don’t feel bad if you’re too young to get a job at a restaurant or store. There are ______ ways to make money to buy that hot new CD, video game or pair of jeans. The type of work ______ the age of the child. Young kids love to help. Their jobs usually come ______ mom or dad, a friend or a neighbor. ______ kids have many more opportunities.

Here’s the ways American kids can make money starting at the youngest ages:

Extra (额外的) jobs around the house: These are not normal household chores. They are jobs you would do yourself or pay ______ to do. Extra jobs can include ______ things as washing cars, cutting grass or painting fences.

Help neighbors and relatives: They have the ______ needs as parents when it comes to needing help around the house. Often, starting at a young age with small tasks ______ pulling weeds and pet-sitting can ______ bigger jobs like lawn care and baby-sitting.

Help with parent’s work: From time to time, most parents’ jobs include some small tasks that their kids can do. Kids are ______ to join in and often work hard and do a good job.

8 . The distinctive smell of wet dogs was a reminder of the Christmas vacation when I was twelve. My cousins from Ohio were _________. We had gotten many gifts and were also blessed with fresh _________. The four of us spent as much time as possible sliding down the short white hill to the shallow _________. Naturally, we tested the ice on it the first day, and we knew we could slide across it and _________ our ride.

On the third day of our festivities, we were so _________ to play that we did not check the ice. A few degrees of _________ added a small layer of water to our slide, increasing our speed and _________. Seconds after, my brother Peter slid into the pond, he was _________ in the icy water. Peter was only eight and not a good swimmer, _________ dressed in a winter coat and boots.

We all __________. I jumped down the slope to reach him, but our __________ was faster to jump into the water, grab Peter by his waving hand, and pull him to shore. We managed to __________ Peter with our coats and get him back to the house in record time. Drinking hot juice by the fire, we patted and hugged the __________ dog. The dog took all day to __________. His wet-dog smell kept longer and returned often, __________ us of his heroics and our own Christmas miracle.

10 . Time management is a crucial skill that can greatly affect our productivity and overall success. _________ managing time effectively, we can accomplish more tasks, reduce stress, and create a better work-life balance. One of the key aspects of time management is setting _________ and prioritizing tasks. By identifying our goals and breaking them _________ into smaller, manageable tasks, we can ensure that we allocate our time _________. Moreover, it is important to evaluate the _________ of each task based on its urgency and importance. This helps us focus on high-priority tasks first and avoid _________ being overwhelmed by a long to-do list.

Another important element of time management is avoiding _________ time. Procrastination is a common _________ that can prevent our productivity. By recognizing our tendencies to procrastinate and implementing strategies such as setting deadlines and _________ rewards, we can overcome this habit and make better use of our time.

Additionally, effective time management involves __________ time for rest and relaxation. __________ it may seem counter-productive to allocate time for breaks, it is crucial for maintaining productivity and preventing burnout. Taking short breaks __________ tasks can help refresh our minds and increase our focus and efficiency when we return to work.

Moreover, it is essential to effectively __________ our major assignment and avoid over-committing ourselves. Saying “no” to additional tasks or commitments when our __________ is already stretched thin is important for maintaining a balanced and realistic schedule. It allows us to devote sufficient time and energy to the tasks that truly matter. Furthermore, utilizing tools and techniques can __________ our time management skills. Utilizing __________ and calendar apps can assist in organizing and prioritizing tasks. Moreover, time-tracking methods such as the Pomodoro Technique can help us stay __________ and make the most of our time by working in focused bursts __________ taking regular breaks.

In conclusion, time management is a __________ skill that can significantly impact our productivity and well-being. By allowing time for rest, managing our schedule, and utilizing effective tools and techniques, we can __________ our use of time and achieve success in various aspects of our lives.