1 . One year my children came home from school asking where we were going on summer vacation. It seemed that all the other kids were________ where they were spending the summer. I couldn’t ______to take them anywhere but I didn’t want to tell them that so I just said, “It’s a surprise!” They were delighted. That bought me a little more time.

I called several amusement parks to see if there was a half-price event during the summer but no such ______ . I tried everything, with no success, so I called some of the other moms to find that most were in the same situation that I was. We decided to ______something fun for our kids to do. We had a meeting, all five of us, and created what is now called a “playcation”.

One mother was a ______ , so on Mondays the kids would all go to her house. They would play games using plants and vegetables. They also planted vegetables and watch them grow over the summer.

Another mother had Bible______on Tuesdays. She asked some questions about Bible. The kid who answered correctly got a penny, which they all turned in at the end to buy their goodie bags.

At our house on Wednesdays, I made an outdoor_______training with my spare tires. The kids also walked a balance beam and raced through large cardboard boxes taped together.

On______they had arts and crafts across the street. Fridays were hosted by a wonderful single dad with a metal detector who took everyone out treasure______ .

The summer was a big success. Okay, it wasn’t Disney World, ______the kids didn’t miss anything. My son actually asked me, “Can we do this again next year?”

2 . Agnes Lloyd’s 70th birthday came, but the day went normally. Her husband _______ many years ago. She had not heard from her children for a long time, which was _______.

The last bell of the day rang. She picked up her _______ and walked towards her car planning to buy herself a chocolate dessert although her doctors don’t _______ it for her age. But who cares? It was her birthday, and she _______ it.

The thought made her smile as she _______ her car when a sudden “MRS. LLOYD!” _______ her. Agnes dropped her purse onto the ground. She looked around and was _______ by what she saw.

Her students were standing there carrying birthday signs. She hadn’t _______ they had prepared such a surprise for her. Her student Christian came over, picking up her purse, and ________ her to the rest as they all started singing Happy Birthday.

As the song continued, tears ________ in her eyes. As they finished the song, small pieces of coloured paper began flying all over the place ________. But that wasn’t the best part.

Some of the students parted and her three children stepped out holding a birthday cake with two ________ that formed the number 70. “Happy birthday. Mom!” They exclaimed together, and that’s when Agnes lost her ________ for the first time.

Don’t forget your parents, ________ your life gets busy. We need to act and remind them that they are loved.

3 . A new year is a powerful occasion: It’s a time when we ____ our gratitude for the past and our hopes for the future. And it’s a chance to welcome a fresh ____ to recover our enthusiasm for chasing goals and dreams.

Organizers of the popular Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City will go ____ when people welcome 2021.

It’s the first time in 114 years that a massive crowd will not be ___ in the iconic destination to ring in the new year.

In an effort to ____ the spread of coronavirus, the Times Square Alliance announced Wednesday that the festivities will now be a “virtually enhanced celebration” that will come to partygoers ____ they are.

The ____ will also feature socially-distanced live elements and a limited group of in-person honorees(获奖者) who will reflect the “themes, challenges and inspirations of 2020,” the Times Square Alliance said in a press release .

“One thing that will never ____ is the ticking of time and the arrival of a new year at midnight on December 31st,” said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.

“____ this year there will be significantly new and enhanced virtual, visual and digital offerings to complement whatever limited live entertainment or experiences.”

On December 3lst, the Ball will ____ in Times Square as in the previous years.