1 . One sunny afternoon, Lily found a lost kitten hiding behind a bush. It was mewing with tears. Lily’s heart melted (融化) at the ________. Without hesitation, she picked it up and held it in her ________. From that moment on, Lily and the kitten, whom she named Whiskers, became ________. They spent their days exploring the woods, running after butterflies, and even ________ secrets. Lily would often read her favorite books aloud to Whiskers, who seemed to ________ happily by her side.

As the seasons ________ and years passed, their bond only grew ________. Whiskers grew into a big cat, but his love for Lily remained firm. He was her constant friend, offering ________ during her challenging times.

One winter’s day, a heavy snowstorm swept through the town, leaving everything ________ in white. Lily, worried about Whiskers being out in the cold, searched ________ for him. After hours of searching, she found him huddled (蜷缩) beneath a tree, his fur was ________ in frost. With tears in her eyes, Lily gently picked up Whiskers and rushed him home. She ________ him in a warm blanket, nestled him by the fireplace, and held him close. As they sat together, lying in the ________, Lily realized just how much Whiskers meant to her.

From that day forward, Lily promised to always value the special ________ they shared. Through thick and thin, they would stand by each other’s ________, their hearts forever intertwined in a bond of unconditional love and friendship.

3 . One day, my children and I found a homeless, small cat trapped in a burning box. She was _________ injured, with most hairs burned. We rescued her and named her Smoky. Back at our ranch (牧场) we _________ her.

Weeks later, Smoky looked better, but was completely _________ due to medicine on her skin. She looked so ugly but we adored her. My husband, Bill, didn’t. Smoky _________ him, too. Why? He was a pipe smoker _________ matches and lighters that _________ and burned. Every time he lit up the pipe, Smoky panicked, _________ his coffee cup before fleeing.

“Can’t I have any _________ here?” he’d complain, instead of quitting smoking though it harmed his health. _________, Smoky became more __________ of the pipe and its owner. She’d lie on the sofa and look at Bill as he smoked. One day he laughed, “Oh, the cat makes me feel __________.” Slowly, Bill __________ smoked in the house, and one night, surprisingly, I found Smoky lying on his lap. Bill started liking her.

During Smoky’s second year, she began growing fur. Tiny white hairs gradually grew long. Bill continued to enjoy her __________, driving around with Smoky. When he got out of the truck to check the __________ on the ranch, he left the cat __________, letting her enjoy the air conditioning.

4 . Karen Collingsworth doesn’t just make a great cup of coffee. She also smiles, listens and ________ with all customers with love and kindness. Those customers were ________ to help Karen when the opportunity arose.

When Karen’s car was ________ and had to be torn apart, she suffered a powerful blow. Her workmates at the Marshall University Starbucks knew she’d need to ________ her old car before long. Someone ________ the idea of a GoFundMe. With an initial goal of raising $ 5,000, money began to ________ quickly from students, teachers and staff who’d gotten their daily treat from Karen.

Donors expressed their ________ on the GoFundMe webpage. One previous student wrote, “Karen knew my name and my order ________. She always made me smile whenever I came in. So I want to come back and visit!” Another commented, “I hope she knows the impact that her ________ made on so many people. ” Also, some used phrases like “ ________ soul,” and “brightened my day at each visit”. Karen has ________ made a lasting impression and influence on so many!

The GoFundMe campaign collected nearly $40,000! While the majority of ________ came from those who know Karen, some came from ________ moved by the lovely comments. Marshall University’s President donated $5,000, clearly ________ of the blessing that Karen is to the institution and its students!

When asked the reason for her ________ Karen simply said, “Whatever you do, do it heartily.”

5 . As the sun sinks towards the horizon, casting long shadows across the dusty football pitch (足球场) in Kakuma refugee camp in north-western Kenya, one player — Abdirahman —   _______ not just for his skills but because most of the other players tower over him.

“When I play with kids my age, I don’t feel _______. However, I gain a lot of skills playing with older players,” _______ Abdirahman.

At just 14 years old, Abdirahman’s _______ to compete against older boys_______ his ambition and passion for the beautiful game. With incomparable skills, his feet move _______ across the dry, uneven ground, and _______ defenders, leaving clouds of dust behind. His coach proudly gives him a(n) _________.

Abdirahman was born in Kakuma in 2010, just two years after his parents and older siblings _______ the border into Kenya ________ conflict in Somalia.

“In Kakuma, we all have ________: some want to be great footballers and relocate to other places; some want to be great musicians,” he said. ________, they do not get the opportunity to ________ their talents.

Football has become an important part of Abdirahman’s life and a(n) ________ force among the diverse communities in the camp where he lives, bringing together players from different cultures and backgrounds.

“When I play football, I feel ________, I feel famous, and I feel like I’m the best in the game.”

6 . Have you ever felt the need to grab a pen and start writing your thoughts on paper? Words—beautiful and fascinating. But you know what is better than putting your imagination somewhere? In my case, to win the competition for the best novelist.

That was a small tournament organized by my school annually to _______ our creative writing and vivid imagination. Since I had a burning passion for _______, I decided to show my power. I thought no one could _______ me.

I finished a long story and e-mailed it. As I _______ the email every day, my eyes were wandering to _______ the line “Congratulations! It is a great pleasure to inform you that…” _______, no such thing came.

I was not accepted. I _______ my abilities. The next day at school, I tried my best to be _______, avoiding the usual contact. But in the corridor, I _______ Stacy Williams, my school rival. Could she be the ________? I started walking sneakily. In class, I was just looking out of the window at the ________ clouds which were a reflection of my soul.

Thankfully, a film that night—Forrest Gump lifted my ________. I wouldn’t let a stupid competition ________ my future. I could win on the next one or even at a better tournament. The important thing was to ________ my head and face my challenges without losing hope when everything seemed ________.

8 . Born with no right leg, Anthony Robles, one of the best wrestlers in the NCAA, started wrestling when he was in high school. When his cousin first ________ him to wrestling, Robles wasn’t a/an ________. However, he gradually fell in love with it and he has been doing it ever since .

While some people might have ________ his decision to take on the sport, his family was a huge ________ of support and encouragement. He said: “They ________ in me from a young age that I could do whatever I ________ my mind to. “They didn’t give me any special ________. They raised me like others.”

While the physical aspects of the sport seemed to be the most challenging part, at one point Robles realized he needed to be ________ tougher. After ________ seventh at nationals in his junior year, he took a ________ from wrestling for a little while. He said. “I was ________. That really just helped me to mentally get back to the sport.”

Then came the last match. Robles was so scared that he was almost starting to cry. When he defeated defending national champion 7-1, the ________ were quite different. “I couldn’t even ________ it.” He said, “It was just a great experience.”

Now Robles is ready for the next page in his life, “I really want to help other people achieve things in their lives that others might say are ________.” Robles plans to put his amazing attitude and energy to ________ as a motivational (激励) speaker.

9 . In the community of Mudgeeraba, a remarkable story has occurred, displaying a more connected society.

Living far from her own family and with her husband having no parents left, Nina, a new mom, was feeling the weight of   ________ in her motherhood journey. Nina found herself ________ not just for company, but for a unique form of cross-generational ________. So she determined to take a ________ step.

Nina put out a heartfelt ________ in her community for an “adoptive grandma” for herself and her baby Millie. The outpouring of support was nothing short of ________. Among the sea of ________, 61-year-old Christine, a resident in the same suburb as Nina, emerged as the perfect ________. Desperate for a grandchild of her own, Christine was seeking for a ________ for filling the emptiness left by the ________ of grandchildren in her life.

Since their initial meeting six months ago, Christine has lovingly ________ the role of Grandma Christine to little Millie, to whom she ________ she has an unlimited supply of love to give. The newfound relationship goes beyond just a ________, with weekly park walks and play dates becoming precious moments for both Nina and Christine.

The unexpected ________ rooted in a simple act of reaching out has not only provided Nina with the care and wisdom of the older generation, dramatically ________ her tension after giving birth, but offered Christine a sense of purpose and connection in her later years.

10 . When my mother visits us from Korea, she spends countless hours preparing homemade meals every day.

She thoughtfully plates and _________ our family at the table. She pours the soup for her little granddaughters first, carefully checking its temperature to _________ it will not burn their tongues. She adds more salt and pepper into mine and her son-in-law has the most substantial portion (份). It is remarkable how effortlessly she makes a meal that feels _________ for each of us.

However, her cooking begins much earlier at the grocery store. She becomes the most cruel _________ of vegetables. “Iceberg lettuce goes bad soon.” “Those tomatoes _________ to be firmer, redder.” What’s more, all of our family’s wants are _________ imprinted inside her brain and _________ her hands as she adds items to the basket.

When you put so much _________ into a meal, it becomes a ritual (仪式). It is the only time when everyone _________, sits down and takes the time to taste each bite. The dining table __________ into the centre of the family’s conversation and connection. As we __________ each other’s struggles and victories, we offer support and advice. We update each other on our work projects and __________ ideas for future vacation plans.

In a fast-paced era, creating a homemade meal might seem highly __________. However, my 68-year-old mother treats it with such __________. I know it’s her way of expressing __________— that extra ingredient that goes into cur every meal.