Smith lives above the McKays. He is a keen gardener, and also a fish     1    (collect). The water he sent over his balcony often ended up     2    the McKays’ floor. It was’t only the water     3     bothered the McKays. They would     4     (sit) happily reading their newspapers when suddenly so much water would come from above that they would be as wet as if they     5     (shower) with their clothes on! That Saturday was James’ birthday. His wife made him     6     birthday cake, but before he     7     (blow) the candles out, Smith emptied one of his larger tanks over his balcony, so that both the McKays and the cake were wet through. James was so angry that he hit Smith with his     8     (walk) stick. After spending a night in a cell, James went back home. He said it was     9     (definite) the most exciting birthday ever. As for Smith, he has promised     10     (change) his ways from now on.

Mike dreamed of being an animal researcher when he was young. He wanted to study the topics     1     (involve) why dogs like wagging their tails or the brain structures of chimpanzees. So he was ready to let workers take action to use firm bricks as foundations to build     2     institute to research animals.     3    , one day he found the harmful wasted water from construction polluted the roots and shoots of the crops. Mike wasn’t “Just-me-ism”, so he wasn’t bothered     4     (set) up the institute. Although he gave up his dream, he spread the significance of     5     (environment) protection all around the world.

One day he     6     (invite) to have a picnic in the forest. But when     7     (arrive) at the destination, he found that there was not a parking lot. Therefore, he had to park his bike by the side of the path.     8     (unfortunate), when he finished the picnic, he found that his bike disappeared. To prevent this from happening again, he came up     9     a solution—designing a tracking system. Since then, his bike     10     (stay) with him forever.

I’d spent nearly every waking minute of the past ten years helping to build the company from its beginning. My husband and I didn’t have children—I often called the office my extended family.     1     my boss fired me one morning. “You’re no longer a good fit here,” he said. “Your father’s lung cancer has spread to his brain.”     2     (sudden), my job didn’t seem so important.

The next months were busy with doctor appointments and     3     (treat). Every waking minute, I tried to make Dad as     4     (comfort) as I could. I may have been out of work, but it didn’t feel like it. I had a new job. I even wore my nicer clothes,     5     Dad preferred “a lady in a dress”. Our days together     6     (be) painful, yet precious. We laughed, we cried and we told old stories. His sense of humor never failed. He died almost four months later after I thought nothing could be more painful     7     losing my job.

Now I know     8     (well). I got a new job, a far less time-consuming one. Family     9     (come) first. I’m thankful I got the chance     10     (learn) that before it was too late.

The crash was so violent that I didn’t recall how I fell from the boat. The darkness was intense. I saw a black mass     1     (disappear) in the east. It was the boat! I was lost. I cried for help, swimming towards the boat in     2     (desperate). I was struggling against     3     (draw) deeper, deeper down when someone caught me by     4     arm. The man was Conseil.

Conseil was cool and calm. Nevertheless, our situation was no less terrible. Conseil had to keep me up, and our    5     (preserve) depended on him alone. I asked him to leave me, but he refused. Conseil kept crying for help. Suddenly, it seemed to me as if a cry answered him. There was no mistake! A human voice responded to ours! At this moment, a hard body     6     (strike) me. I held onto it; then I felt that I was being drawn up, that I was brought to the surface of the water. Then I was     7     (conscious). When I woke up again, a familiar face appeared before me,     8     I immediately recognised. “Ned!” I cried.

Ned told us that he found a strange creature made of steel. It was     9     (evident) a hard, solid body. We found there was no opening on its surface. We were wondering     10     eight strong men, their faces covered, appeared noiselessly. We were drawn into their incredible machine.

I still have fond memories of a gentleman who helped shape my future. I was in college     1     my father passed away. I had another year to graduate. The trouble was that I just could not concentrate     2     my studies anymore. My mother and I were the only ones     3     (leave) and it seemed as if my spirit had died. Whenever I tried to open my books to study,     4       (tear) would block my view.

At that time, I received the help through my father’s financial advisor. One evening, he visited us and     5     (inquire) about my studies after talking about business. I told him I could not go to college because I did not want     6    (study) anymore. He reminded me how my father had sent me to the     7     (good) college in our city. I wept and said I did want to do     8     my dad wanted but I just couldn’t study. He gave me all the encouragement I needed to be able to carry on. His calm, gentle voice did wonders and I decided to study     9     (far) and complete my graduation.

I still remember this fond gentleman who helped me make     10     right decision.

Paul and I were     1     our school basketball team. We loved basketball and were both huge fans of the NBA. My favourie player was LeBron James, while Paul’s favourie player was Tyrone Bogues, a short guy who was only 1.6 meters tall, the same     2     Paul. Paul knew that being shorter     3     other players meant that he had to practise more. He thought Bogues could make     4    , so could he! Though Paul had real skills, he was still usually on the bench, being just a     5    (replace). He had a strong     6    (desirable) to play for the team, but didn’t get a chance. This week, a tough competition began, I    7    (crash) down and hurt     8    (bad ) so that I couldn’t play any more! We all recommended Paul     9    (play). Paul rushed onto the court and all his hard practice paid     10    . The coach thought Paul had earned his place on the team.