1 . In general, elderly people, after retirement, can spend time in_______such as taking care of their grandchildren, traveling around, taking part in group dancing,_______, attending special classes. But after 70, when their responses start slowing and health begins declining, they have to find ways_______their remaining years in relative comfort.

The majority would prefer home-based care,_______has been the tradition in China,_______it allows them to live in a familiar environment, preferably in the company of their children and grandchildren. But the problem is that China’s_______big families with three-to-four generations living_______ one roof is fast becoming history. Usually, elderly parents and their grown-up children live in different parts of a city, even in different cities or different countries,_______it difficult or impossible for their children to take care of them.

_______the grown-up child lives only a few kilometers away in the same city, he finds it difficult to attend to his parents, as________he is the single child of the parents.

The government is encouraging home-based care for the aged not only because it is the top choice of the elderly________   because it is perhaps the only workable solution to the aging society problem. By the end of last year, China had more than 250 million people above the age of 60________about 29 million above 80, It is too large a group for any government or social organization________ .

To help the elderly people, the government is sponsoring day-care centers in local communities in many cities, where the government ________housing space and part of the funds to the centers which________by the local communities. The elderly people, after paying a lump sum(一次性付款), can enjoy meals, chat with their peers, exercise or________a nap in the daytime in these centers.

For those who prefer to stay________, information about their health and special requirements are collected by the community nursing center which, at a phone call, can________send people to their homes to help them with cooking, shopping, cleaning and dealing with any emergencies. Though this form of caring for the aged is welcome, it is________to be adopted nationwide________ some poor cities don’ t have enough resources to run such centers and services.

2 . Last year, I went through every high school senior’s nightmare: I was ________ by all the colleges I applied to. It’s not that I was a bad ________. So when I got turned down, I got into a ________. I thought there was only one path to ________, and I wasn’t on it. While all my friends had many choices, I was left ________ what future I could have.

When my panic ________, I signed in a community college. I wasn’t ________. I thought the incompetent teachers ________ their students’ sleep in class. I was so wrong. The ________ of my professors were so poetic, and my classmates were ________—they could figure out kinds of difficult things.

I decided to give myself a year of ________. Aside from required courses, I ________ a range of classes. I know it seems like some ________ classes, but it allowed me to ________ what I want. I used to have this idea that I had to rush to ________ a certain level of success by a certain age. But a year of community college has taught me to ________, and to recognize that things take time to ________. I still hope to transfer to a four-year ________ next year, but now I am a more mature person.

Being around the ________ has made me realize that I’m not late ________. There’s more than one way to get to where you want to go.

3 . A Heroic Driver

Larry works with Transport Drivers,   Inc.   One morning in 2009, Larry was ______along 165 north after delivering to one of his _______. Suddenly, he saw a car with its bright lights on. _______ he got closer, he found ____ vehicle upside down on the road. One more look and he noticed _______ shooting out from under the _______ vehicle. Larry pulled over, set the brake and _______the fire extinguisher (灭火器). Two good bursts from the extinguisher and the fire was put out.

The man who had his bright lights on _______ and told Larry he had _______ an emergency call. They ________ heard a woman’s voice coming from the wrecked (毁坏的) vehicle. ________the vehicle, they saw that a woman was trying to get out of the broken window. They told her to stay ________ until the emergency personnel arrived, ________ she thought the car was going to ________. Larry told her that he had already put out the fire and she should not move ________ she injured her neck.

Once fire and emergency people arrived, Larry and the other man ________ and let them go to work. Then, Larry asked the ________ if he was needed or ________ to go. They let him and the other man go.

One thing is ________—Larry went above and beyond the call of duty by getting so close to the burning vehicle! His ________ most likely saved the woman’s life.