1 . My son Nile has left for university. Even Mother seldom _________ now that her grandchild is no longer around. My home has become so _________ in less than one month.

As a concerned mother who had little to do, I _________ Nile whenever I could. At first it was through emails. Occasionally I _________ the page of the university to learn about Nile’s campus life, and was filled with _________ to see his greetings: “Hi, Mum! So you’re on the net as well!” Since then I’ve been visiting the website regularly hoping to _________ my child.

Recently, our communicating way had another _________. Nile sent me all kinds of articles through instant messaging: novel, modern, funny... I read them _________, like a well-behaved pupil. Meanwhile, I had _________ feelings about that. The kid was __________ to learn something from me not that long ago, but he now becomes my teacher! After __________, I responded with the following email:

“Thank you, my son, for all the interesting articles, though I feel confused about the change of our __________. Despite that, I’ll take it as a loving son’s __________ of his mother. He must be thinking his mother is still young and __________ enough to accept new things. That makes me feel proud.” Now in this way we share ideas, with the instant messages __________ each other.

2 . My daughter had overbought food over the last few months. Her food storeroom was _______, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to eat all the food. So she asked me to donate some _______ food to the local charity. I was happy to do that and _______ it over. I even bought some more food to give along with hers.

I was moved when her donation was _______. The lack of donations plus the high price of food had _______ the charity, and the shelves needed every donation to fill. We were _______ over and over. I said it was just a piece of cake. Then my mind went back to another time when we were the ones in _______.

At that time, our _______ was very tight. My job _______ paid the rent. My next pay was a week away, and we didn’t have enough ________ to last till the next week. So we went to a food store. I was playing with our ________ outside when I saw my wife ________ a box of food. I was worried and nervous. I had never expected to seek ________ like that before. I just hoped there would be enough food so our little children wouldn’t be ________. My heart was filled with ________ when my wife finally walked out with that box, saying, “The food is all free of charge.” Then I silently prayed for all good people who had given it.

Now, I want to say, “Take your place in the world. Never be afraid to give a gift of love.”

4 . One night, as I was driving down the road, I found something was sitting in the middle of the road. A few seconds later, I realized I was looking at a large turtle (海龟). Afraid of it being crashed by cars, so I pulled over, ran across the road and dragged the turtle to safety. But I’d made one big mistake.

I had heard that the best way to pick up a turtle without hurting it was picking it by the tail in order not to get bitten. So I’d made that big mistake. While the turtle turned out OK generally, I was determined to figure out how to move a turtle properly. I needed to find someone who dealt with turtles. I found the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre. I talked to Dr. Sue, its Executive and Medical Director.

Dr. Sue told me that the organization dealt with a number of aspects of turtle conservation, including rescue, settlement, birth programs, research, and education. Sue explained that southern Ontario is home to a vast majority of turtles in Canada, but is also one of the vastest road networks of the country.

“Ninety percent of injured turtles brought in are caused by cars. These turtles spend a lot of time on land. And they do travel many kilometers on land for a variety of reasons, to find a nesting spot, or to hang out for the summer or winter. Turtles know where they want to go. So, just keep them going in the direction they want to go and you may have saved a turtle’s life,” Dr. Sue said.

Once an injured turtle arrives at the center, there are medical facilities (设备) ready to go, including an X-ray machine. That’s when the team gets to work with healing injuries, and help their patient.

6 . Susan had long blonde hair and big blue eyes. So did most of the other children in her school class, which______ her a lot. “I look like everyone else! I’m not ______! I’m boring!” Susan complained to her mother.

She decided to try to make herself look ______. She painted big pink spots on her neck and when she didn’t get attention, she stuck (粘贴) a long plasti nose on top of her real nose. Nobody noticed that ______. She took ink and poured it all over her ______. She wore clown (小丑) clothes to school and stuck leaves in her ears.______, no matter what she did, she still didn’t get any______ and nobody thought she was special.

One morning her______went to wake her up and told her to get ready for school. She made Susan _______ the ink out of her hair and clean her neck. “I’m not going to school ______! I’m boring!” She buried (埋藏) her head under the quilt (被子) and ______.

“Susan,” her mother said, “You are different. You are unique and special. ______in the world looks just like you. Some people have blonde hair like you and some have blue eyes like you, but none of then has your smile or the twinkle in your eyes or your pink face. Nobody laughs like you, either. Now______and get ready for school.”

Susan went to school that day and looked at all the other kids in her class. “Mom was ______. Nobody looks just like me.” Susan smiled.“I am special. I am unique and I am not ______!”

7 . I can’t miss the little old lady with her kerchief (方头巾) on her head, a black umbrella blowing all over. I can tell she is freezing. She is standing at a bus stop, and I’m driving by, late for my early morning shift. I decide to stop and offer her a ride.

Of course, she declines, but when I ask again and insist, finally, she gets in the car. I take her to her destination, and by the time she gets out of my car, she is smiling and thanks me.

I was late for work that day, but I was so glad that I stopped. That was 40 years ago, and the beginning of a new habit, one that continues when I’m out driving in bad weather.

If there’s someone at a bus stop, especially if it’s an elderly person waiting at off hours and in bad weather, I will pull over and ask if they need a ride.

Once, a young doctor jumped in. She had finished a long shift and had been waiting and waiting at the bus stop. She had no hesitation and, for the first time, I was able to help someone who performs miracles (奇迹) on a daily basis. That felt good.

But the best part of my ride offers is the conversation. I do tend to ask a lot of questions: where are you from, where are you going, family, background, pets and whatever else comes to mind. Surprisingly, everyone wants to chat. We are usually laughing by the time the ride is over. “What a shame!” I often think when they hop out, as the stories were just getting started.

Now as retirement approaches, I believe I have found my calling. I will be happy to join a community driving program to take people to one appointment or another — or perhaps just to the coffee shop to sit and listen for an hour.

As the years pass, perhaps I will be the one standing at the bus stop. Perhaps there will be somebody who rolls down a window and offers me a seat for a little ride. I will continue to take that leap of faith in the kindness of strangers.

9 . It was a need that he first _________ back in 1906 when young Dale was a junior at State Teachers College in Warrensburg. To get an education, he was _________ against many difficulties. His family was poor. His dad couldn’t afford the _________ at college, so Dale had to ride horseback 12 miles to _________ classes. Study had to be done between his farm-work routines. He stopped taking part in many school activities because he didn’t have the time or the _________. He had only one good suit. He tried for the football team, but the coach turned him down for being too _________. During this period Dale was slowly _________ an inferiority complex(自卑感), which his mother knew could _________ him from achieving his real potential. She suggested that Dale join the debating team, believing that _________ in speaking could give him the confidence and recognition that he needed.

Dale took his mother’s advice, tried desperately and after several attempts __________ made it. This proved to be a __________ point in his life. Speaking before groups did help him gain the confidence he needed. And his hard work __________. By the time Dale was a senior, he had won every top __________ in speech. Now other students were coming to him for coaching and later they, __________, were winning contests.

Out of this early struggle to overcome his feelings of inferiority, Dale came to understand that the ability to __________ an idea to an audience builds a person’s confidence. And, with it, Dale knew he could do anything he wanted to do and so could others.

10 . When I was in the eighth grade, my class was assigned (指派) to be friends with the second-grade kids. I got this little girl named Shelley. The first time I saw her, she was silent and cold. She was small for her age, and she didn’t play with the other kids in her class.

I tried all kinds of things to get her to talk to me. I bought her toys, crayons and candies. But try as I might, nothing worked. One time, I gave her a coloring book and said, “Shelley, now you can color at any time.”

Shelley looked at the coloring book and then looked up at me, and finally looked away. By that, I didn’t know how I was going to get through to the little girl, but I knew I wouldn’t give up on her.

One Friday, I decided to tell her a story about my childhood. I told her that I felt lonely when I was with my classmates, and how I thought only my teachers liked me. I also told her that every day was a battle (战役) for me and that I fought back tears so people wouldn’t know how much I was hurting.

She sat there just listening, trying to decide whether I was lying or not. Finally, when my story ended, there were tears in her eyes. And then she did the unthinkable. She said, “Thank you.” From then on, Shelley was a different little girl. She started smiling and talking with other kids.

Looking back at this, I’m in awe (惊叹), because all I did was to help her realize that she wasn’t alone. I didn’t ask her to tell her story, because her story is my story.