1 . Last year, when some friends of mine left China, I was asked to teach the students they left behind. It was a ________ experience for me since I had never been a private teacher before. At first, I was not sure whether I would like it or not and I was ________ to accept. However, it turned out to be one of the ________ decisions I have ever made since I arrived in China. It has given me unique opportunities to attend some extremely remarkable ________ and meet many very interesting people. Here is one of the most ________ moments I have had with them.

Less than a year after I took on the part-time jobs, I became so ________ with one family that I was invited to attend a birthday celebration for the family’s grandmother. Little did I realize it would even include a ________ performance by a trained Peking opera professional in the living room.

On the ________ night, I arrived to teach my class as scheduled. But on my arrival, I was told that I should sit down and ________. I could sense that they were excited for their ________. As soon as I ________ beside the grandmother, a Chinese flute player came into the living room and started playing a beautiful tune. Then a Peking opera actress entered. She was dressed in full costume and ________ amazing make-up. She performed for about thirty minutes and then stopped to give the grandmother and me a few ________ on the opera stances. Both of us closely followed her instructions.

The performance was a total surprise to the grandmother and me. All the evening we were very ________. When I left the family late in the evening, I could not help asking myself, “Were I in a ________? Otherwise, how could Peking Opera be performed in a living room?”

2 . 33 years ago, Thomas retired from his job, but he simply couldn’t sit at home doing nothing. His wife Elizabeth, who was an elementary school teacher in their hometown, suggested that he should ________ a job as a crossing guard. He though it sounded like a good way to keep busy. Over three decades later, he is ________out there every day!

Thomas began his ________ as a driver overseas and then he returned home and worked for the post office until he ________. He and Elizabeth have been married for 51 years, and she said she was ________ to still have her ________ husband around. “He decided he needed something else to do, so we made it ________ for him,” said Elizabeth.

He ________ for work at 5:00 am every weekday. He is a ________ face for two generations of the students and their families. When he turned 100 years old, the entire people of the ________ came together to celebrate his birthday. “Not many of us can even think about turning 100 and still wanting to get up every morning to go to work with a ________on our face,” teacher Verhonda Evens said. “We appreciate you ________ .”

Even at his age, Thomas ________ takes a day off, even for vacations! His son said he did it all for the ________. “He has more things to do than we have to do,” he explained. “Even when it comes down to vacations, he wants to hurry up and come back so he can do the crossing guard. He doesn’t want to ________ his work. It keeps him busy.”

3 . Sam Balto is a physical education teacher at a local elementary school in Portland. Sam _________ that his students weren’t getting enough _________ or physical activity in their daily lives. With the health of his students in _________, he decided to come up with a special idea to get them _________.

Because of his own passion for _________, Sam introduced the students to the creative idea of the “bike buses”. With the support of enthusiastic volunteers, he organized a daily event where children _________ to and from school in groups accompanied by _________ adults.

The bike bus not only _________ exercise, but also develops a sense of community among participants. As Sam and the _________ rode their bikes with the students to and from school every day, more and more neighbors took notice. The sight of bicycles rolling down the streets became a __________ of community unity and healthy living.

Thanks to Sam’s initiative and determination, “bike buses” are __________ becoming popular. An increasing number of families, teachers and neighbors have __________ the campaign, encouraging one another to enjoy the __________ of cycling together.

Through Sam’s efforts, not only have the students become more __________ and healthy, but the entire community has also experienced a __________ transformation. The once sedentary (久坐不动的) environment is now filled with laughter and bicycle bells among neighbors.

6 . After graduating from university with honors in English literature, I found myself filled with hope yet directionless. My _________, while impressive, had not equipped me with many _________ skills. I wanted to _________ somehow, but I had no clear idea how to achieve that. Then, I discovered the Lighthouse Project.

Eager to start my journey as a Lighthouse Project volunteer, I researched the experiences of _________ participants. I knew the task ahead was _________ , requiring hard work and time away from my family and friends, yet the opportunity for self-growth _________ me in. My family, too, originally hesitant, eventually came to _________ my decision.

After countless _________ and presentations, I managed to stand out among the candidates and _________ the test alone. Several months later, I received a call that I would be serving in a small village near Abuja, Nigeria. Unsure of what to expect, I was still ____________ for the adventure.

Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the locals, ____________ their poverty. They offered me their homes, food, and friendship, making me feel like part of their community. My ____________ was to lead a team in building a new schoolhouse, and for the next year, I ____________ in that school. But I sometimes think I learned more from my students than they did from me.

The Lighthouse Project not only allowed me to contribute to a worthy ____________ but also broadened my horizons. It was a life-changing experience that ____________ me forever.

7 . A boxing match taught me a life lesson.

At that time, I had been a _________ of a boxing gym for about a year, and I had just started stepping into a ring（拳击台）with another boxer and _________ everything we’d learned. It was always a _________ experience. I was far from the largest or the strongest guy in the gym, and I didn’t even have the skill or experience to _________ my bodily weakness.

But what if, no matter how hard I got hit, I would _________ coming forward? Ignoring the _________voice in my head that this was a bad idea, I looked forward to my next boxing match.

My partner was so much faster and more experienced than I was; I could _________ hit him. After three rounds of _________ his blows with my nose, I stepped out of the ring, thoroughly _________. I wanted to apologize to my partner for such a poor match, but before I could say anything, he was __________ me.

“I am grateful for such an exciting game you gave me,” he said. “I’m not __________ to having some-one come forward at me like that. It really forced me to make quick __________ the whole time!” That moment dramatically __________ my understanding of success. My focus had been on winning. __________ I scored the most points or earned the best grade, I wasn’t a success.

Then I discovered what matters is the ongoing __________ to improve; To continue a game that has no finish line.

9 . I have traveled alone many times. I desperately wanted to do the Cocora Valley hike, but if I'm _______, I was terrified (恐惧的).

This hike path lies in the Coffee Triangle. It's incredibly beautiful. It's also a long hike and quite _______— it generally takes eight hours and there is a steep (陡峭的) area rising to over 3,000 feet within a quarter of a mile.

I wasn't in hiking shape, so I was a little _______. But, worst of all for me were the seven dangerous-looking suspension bridges. I'm terrified of _______. I decided to go _______and I met a woman on the bus to Cocora. She was also _______alone and we agreed to hike together. My new friend and I _______on the hike and met two other women who were nervous about doing the hike. We _______each other and went together.

When we got to the first suspension bridge, I _______. I was embarrassed to admit my ________, but the bridge swayed (摆动) widely and there was nothing to hold onto. My friends were about to cross the bridge when they ________how scared I was. Then everything changed. Instead of me dealing with it ________, they were all there to encourage me. ________enough, I crossed the seven suspension bridges. I did it!

I was prepared to be greatly ________by Cocora Valley's beauty, but what I wasn't ________was what a life-changing travel experience my time there would be.