2 . Nikki Halkerston, 45, from Scotland, was looking for sea glass, pottery and shells on Broughty Ferry Beach on Thursday when she saw a small, one-inch porcelain (瓷) doll. “I was just looking for a certain type of shell when it _______ my eyes and I just thought ‘oh wow’!” Halkerston told SWNS.

“There wasn’t a mark on it, it wasn’t even _______ or chipped and it’s probably been in the _______for years and years,” she _______.

According to SWNS, the doll is called a Frozen Charlotte, which is _______ a 19th-century American folk tale about a woman who refuses to dress _______ on her trip to a New Year’s Eve ball — _______ her mother’s wishes —and _______ to death on the 20-mile journey.

Halkerston said that _______ she knew the dolls were called Frozen Charlottes, she didn’t realize at first how special her find was until she __________ a picture online.

“I got about 450 people saying ‘wow that’s probably the __________ find.’ It’s really hard to find them in one piece like that, and __________ they’re broken and you find a head or an arm,” Halkerston told SWNS.

SWNS reported that today, Frozen Charlotte dolls __________ for between about $21.23 USD (£15) and $141.54 USD (£100), though Halkerston thinks her find is on the __________ end, since it’s in such good __________.

__________, her daughter Melissa likes the doll, so Halkerston __________ to keep it. “I was thinking at first I was going to sell it but now I know it’s so __________ that I wouldn’t,” Halkerston said. “I think it’s __________ that it’s lived through that amount of __________ and was found by me.”

5 . In 1918, my wife’s grandfather Karel Bondy, a Czech officer was on his way back to the barracks one evening when he encountered a drunk German colonel. Karel asked the officer whether he needed help. It turned out he was lost. So Karel took the colonel back to his tent.

When they arrived, the colonel insisted they have a drink together. At the end of the night the colonel decided to reward Karel with an Iron Cross for his act of kindness. Naturally, Karel protested, but his refusal was to no avail. Not only did the colonel stop him giving it back, but he handed a certificate to him. “Now it’s official, ” he said.

In 1939, the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia. Realizing he and his family were in mortal danger, Karel planned to relocate the family to England. But to leave he needed four exit visas, so he submitted his application to the German authorities and awaited an interview.

However, one afternoon two Gestapo officers turned up at his house. Accusing Karel of being a British spy, the officers ransacked his home looking for secret documents, only to find the Iron Cross. “How did you get this?” one officer demanded. “I got it for bravery during the First World War,” Karel replied, showing them the certificate with his name on it. The two officers marvelled at the medal they both longed for. “How much do you want for it?” the other officer demanded. At this point, Karel had to think on his feet. Should he trade the Iron Cross for the exit visas?

“Tm sorry, but l cannot part with it. I was proud to serve my country and l accepted that on behalf of the men in my unit.” This speech impressed the officers. Their attitude began to change and even tried to clean up the mess they'd made. Rubber stamps and ink pads were quickly produced and the exit documents were authorised.

Eventually, Karel and his family left for England, and started a new life there.

Early one morning, my father, still half asleep, woke up     1     a strangest sound. He wondered     2     someone was calling out “hello“ to him. As he attempted to go back to sleep, he heard the strange greeting echoing out into     3     still, dark morning once more. Who could it be? Awoken with     4    (whole) open eyes, my father looked into every corner of the house to search for the troublemaker, but in vain.

Hours later, totally exhausted, my dad threw himself into the sofa. Again came the    5     (annoy) voice. Suddenly, he saw the cat, Slinky, pacing around the living-room and trying to get him     6     (open) the door by making the strange sound: a meow mixed with a loud drawn-out that “hello”.

When dad told us about the     7    (usual) sound Slinky had made over and over, my brothers and I didn't believe him. Our cat saying “hello"? Then, one evening when we were eating dinner and had forgotten to feed Slinky first, we heard it. We     8    (convince) that Slinky had figured out that the best way to gain our attention     9    (be) to start with a hearty chorus of “hello”. She sounded exactly like our mother, who for    10    (year) had been greeting Slinky every morning with a deep, theatrical drawn-out “H-E-L-L-O!”

8 . A video of a tearful young man bursting with joy, pride and gratitude during his high school graduation recently went popular. Dontrail Spencer was _______ holding his diploma and screaming out the names of his teachers and family members who had _______ him along the way. They had been encouraging him to keep his eyes on the _______ and to push through the _______days.

None of us can _______ life without encouragement — _______ from a parent, best friend, school teacher or spiritual leader. Their _______ keeps us going and believing in ourselves. When someone gives you encouragement, you are given the _______ to do something important. You are made _______.

Even volunteers like myself ________words of encouragement. Back in February, I was in my fifth week as a community volunteer during the pandemics (大流行病). I don’t ________ meeting Grace, a lady who had been very ________ and in the hospital. But one morning I ________ an email from her: Thank you and all involved for keeping our community and life moving forward. It makes me sad that our ________ a relationship has been so limited. I enjoy your Wednesday chorus and ________ find you inspirational. I’m ________ to be part of it Love, Grace.

A few days later I received a call that she had ________. Grace was nearing the end of her life, but she took time to encourage me. Every time I read her email, I’m ________ by her words. When we encourage one another — everybody ________. Be generous in your ________. We all need in it. Some now more than ever.

9 . One Saturday afternoon in June, in the busy streets of central London, something strange happened. A man was seen apparently floating beside a London bus as it drove about town. One of his arms was stretched out and was attached to the roof of the bus. This arm appeared to be the only thing supporting the rest of his body. The man waved to the crowds with his other hand and moved his legs. Was he really walking on air? How was it possible? It turned out to be the latest show from Dynamo, one of the world's most thrilling illusionists (魔术师).

This wasn't the first time Dynamo had amazed the people of London. Two years earlier, tourists walking by the River Thames were a little concerned to see a young man go down some steps to the edge of the river and look thoughtfully across to the other side. Was he going to throw himself into the river? More and more people gathered on the bridge to see what was going on. And to their complete disbelief, he lifted up his foot and stepped onto the water. He didn't sink! Then he took another step, and another, and another. Hundreds of photos were taken by the onlookers and the next day the newspapers were full of the fascinating story.

Dynamo is the stage name of Stephen Frayne, who was born in the northern English town of Bradford. He was attracted by street magicians as a child and wanted to become one in the future. Taught by his grandfather, he showed great talent in it. He combined card tricks with breaking dance and then made a name for himself. But now what everyone wants to know is: after walking on air and water, what is he going to do next?