2 . A Special Birthday Party

I teach a bilingual kindergarten class. One Monday I noticed that two of my students, Juan and Cynthia, had a shared _________ on Friday of that week. I told both their moms that they could bring in _________ to celebrate their children’s birthdays.

I wondered whether either _________ to bring in a birthday treat for the kids. On Thursday, I asked Juan and Cynthia about it, but they didn’t know anything about their parents’ plans. Both children, however, were very _________ about having a birthday party the next day in class. As I was tired after work, I decided to _________ it until the next day.

The next morning my first _________ was: What should I do about the cakes? It would be terrible if there was nothing for the kids to _________ at the party. The thought worried me as I approached the Mexican bakery on my drive to school.

The shop had four large pieces of cake for a dollar each. The only thing was, I was _________ on cash. I needed the five dollars in my purse to _________ until payday. However, I decided the __________ was the most important.

The school day went well. After story time, I told the students, “Today we are celebrating the double birthdays of Juan and Cynthia.”

I brought out the cake and lit the candles, and then we sang “Happy Birthday”. Cynthia and Juan smiled happily. After the candles were blown out, I cut each of the four pieces of cake into five little pieces. It was just __________ , all 20 of my students had come to class that day.

At the end, Juan said to me, “Miss Jones, I __________ had a birthday party before! ” As I watched him walk away, still __________ , tears came to my eyes. When Cynthia came up moments later, I asked her if she’d ever had a birthday party before.

“No,” she said, “But I loved my birthday today! Thank you, Miss Jones. ”

I later learned, after talking with their parents, that our simple celebration had, __________ , been both Cynthia’s and Juan’s first birthday party. I had to __________ the last couple of days of that month on the one dollar—but it was certainly worth it!

3 . After finishing high school and before going on to further education or the world of work, there will be a break over the summer. Using this break wisely can be very ________. So let’s take a look at some summer break ________.

Working The world of work can feel more stressful than school, but it definitely has its ________. Some people work during their break to get valuable work experience. Finding a ________ work in a company will ________ you some great experience, and you may even be able to return to the company in the future.

Volunteering Being a volunteer usually ________ doing important work in the service of others. Volunteering is often quite challenging, but it’s an extremely worthwhile experience to ________ society. Try to volunteer in a field that you are interested in, as this may help your ________ career.

Travelling Travelling will build your confidence and increase your ________. But why is travel so important? For centuries, famous writers and thinkers have written about the importance of travel. Travel ________ great stories, photos, and friends. It also gives you a fresh ________ on where you are from. Although it does cost money, it is an experience which builds your ________ and gives you time to think and develop.

The summer break should be seen as a(n) ________ part of your education. You can learn about the world, adult life, and, most ________, yourself, and it could possibly ________ great changes in your life.

4 . Every year, Dale Marks puts up a massive Christmas lights display at his home in Des Moines. It’s part of a neighborhood ______. For decades, people have come by the carload every December to the Beaverdale community to ______ the Markses’ house Christmas lights display. The holiday display _________ good cheer. The Markses put boxes at the end of their driveway and ask visitors to ______ money and food to the Food Bank of Iowa as they drive past.

But this year, after ______ a heart attack, Marks was too _______ to hang lights while his wife was too busy with his care to _______the job. Bob Coffey, a stranger who owns a local construction company, heard the couple’s ______ and offered to help. So Coffey brought a group of ____ to their home to put up thousands of lights. Coffey and four of his workers spent ______ putting up lights and decorations throughout the yard. He _____ that there were at least 10,000 lights. Everyone ______, when at the end of the day, he plugged two cords (电线) together and ______ the display.

“The _____ of that afternoon will last a lifetime,” Coffey said, explaining that seeing Dale and Julie Marks watching from the porch made it all ______.

5 . I remember to this day the feeling of the cold wind causing my ears to hurt. However, that didn’t _________ me at this time. It was Hogmanay and the bays of the town were carrying out the _________ of going from house to house on this special evening.

It is thought that the tradition came from the Vikings who were settlers in the Western Isles. Honestly, that wasn’t _________ to me. I was out and about having _________.

There were about 25 houses to visit in my town of North Boisdale. The start time was 19:00 and all the boys would _________ at one end of the town and begin to _________ each house. Each person had a pillowcase (枕头套) that would be filled with goodies (好吃的东西) _________ from householders.

Outside each house one person would ask the man of the house for permission (许可) to _________. Once inside the house a candle would be lit by the oldest boy in the group and _________ the candle would be passed round all family members. After that, the mother of the house would bring out the __________. Fruit, biscuits and of course sweets. On __________ each house the oldest boy in the group would __________ the family luck in the coming year.

After being to each house the pillowcases would be __________ and heavy and it was at the last house that the fun began. The pillowcases would be __________ and the goodies shared out equally.

The last house would also provide a small party that would, __________ before midnight so all the boys were home before the bells.

6 . On Mother’s Day, most people were unwilling to work, but I felt lucky when I climbed into the flower delivery van (小货车). My own mother was no longer alive to appreciate the flowers, so brightening the day of other moms was _________ for me.

I _________ onto the road. First up on my list of deliveries was a nursing home. Someone named Mary was _________ a vase of pink roses from her children. I told the recipient’s name to the nurse on _________. “Roses for Mary?” the nurse said, “Room 224. It’s a nice _________, but sadly she won’t know the flowers are there.”

“Happy Mother’s Day, Mary,” I _________ at the doorway of Room 224. “Your children sent these _________ flowers to you.”

Mary made no response. _________, I had an idea. I set the roses beside Mary and pulled out my cell phone. I combed her short gray hair into place and took a _________ of this loved mother with her roses. “Just look at your mama,” I texted Mary’s daughter. “The roses were a ____________.”

I had many other ____________ at nursing homes like Mary’s. Carnations for Bonnie, lilies for Maryanne, etc, I took many pictures, sent many texts and spread much ____________. It was dark by the time I returned to the shop. All that ____________ were some boxes. I intended to break them up for recycling but found some flowers inside one of them. Had I ____________ anything? I felt around in the box for a card and ____________ my list of deliveries again. No card, no ____________ for these! I rushed into the shop. “These weren’t on my ____________,” I said as I set the flowers on the counter. “I’m afraid someone has ____________ her flowers mistakenly.”

“No ____________, Rita,” my coworker said, “Those flowers are for you, Your friend Patrick wanted you to ____________ flowers of your own today.”

9 . My husband sat down on the bed. “Your ________ are complete ridiculous, Denise. These gifts don’t have to be perfect. The kids don’t care.”

I ________ him and kept wrapping the gifts. Each boy needed to have his own paper, and each gift ________ to be wrapped perfectly. Actually, I always ________to do everything perfectly. I suspected my entire family lived in ________ of my standards. I told myself I was just taking care of my family, but in reality I knew my ________ perfectionism wasn't doing us any good. I knew I needed to ________.

Two days later, my husband and I took our two older boys on a ________ to Matamoros, Mexico. We were going to participate in a(n) ________ known as the" Big Feed", where we'd be working in a field with strangers.

Upon arriving, we sat down and listened to the director, Ben, give his ________ about the event. “We won't stay inside although it's raining. And I have something that'll ________ that all of you stay flexible.” He ________ a small piece of cookie to each of us. “This is the Flexi-cookie. You eat it and you ________ will be flexible. Now let’s eat this cookie together.”

It tasted so ordinary, but it ________ magical ways. I worked alongside my family for two long days in a ________ field. We handed out supplies and ________ for several thousand people. My sons played games with the other children all day in the rain, and I never once ________ them up. I learned to be flexible.

Later, I muttered(嘀咕)"Fexi, Flexi" throughout the day, ________ myself that I needed to be less ________. I cannot say I've totally overcome my perfectionism, but I've made enough ________.

10 . Everyone celebrates his birthdays in different ways. A birthday is _________ to be a happy day. However, this year, it seemed like everybody had forgotten about mine.

When I _________ up in the morning, nobody came to wish me a happy birthday. In the kitchen, there was no special breakfast _________ for me. Not even a simple _________ or present was in sight. My parents did not seem to realize that I was _________ at being forgotten. My mother even sent me out to buy some vegetables for her.

I was _________ it all the way to the supermarket and back. As I opened the door, however, people jumped out from behind the furniture and yelled. “Surprise! Happy birthday!”

My whole family was there, including my grandparents and all my friends! The _________ dining table was now _________ with plates of fried chicken wings, meatballs, colourful jellies and fruit, and there was a pile of presents on one end of it. My mother carried out a large chocolate cake with ten candles on it, and everybody began to sing. I was excited and tried hard to hold my _________.

When the singing was over, I __________ out the candles with all my strength. My mother took the cake __________ to cut up and everybody came forward to give me their gifts. Then, we __________ the delicious snacks and fruit together. When most of the food was __________, my mother pulled out a large package that she had prepared for our games. We played a game named “Pass the Parcel” and my cousin, Alex, won (an) __________ toy. Then we played other games, which __________ with all of us laughing. After that, we went into the garden to play __________ activities.

By the time everybody left. I was absolutely exhausted. However, I couldn’t stop __________ from ear to ear. As I went to bed, I thought about how __________ it was to have such a birthday. That was one of the most __________ birthdays I ever had. That night, I fell asleep __________ not only by all my birthday presents but also love from my family and friends.