3 . Much of what I learned about beauty is from my daughter, Inga, 24. She often sits for hours in front of the   _______ applying makeup(化妆品) and   _______ her hair to perfection. Once _______, she arranges herself in her study and reads books.

When this began, I found it _______. Why bother? Why did she go to the _______ of applying makeup and curling her hair, just to stay at home? With no one _______her mom around to admire her, it seemed a waste of _______ and time. I couldn’t help throwing my question at her after _______ in silence for several weeks. She answered, “Because it makes me feel good.” In- stead of being _______ by my doubts, Inga continued to go her own way.

________, she was putting herself first. What others thought of her was not the ________. I had to admit that I had become so practical that I was ________ to enjoy myself. Most of time, I was always arranging my hair and makeup out of ________ and trying to present my best side to others. If I ________ makeup, it was either for a date or for an event where I would look de- cent with my ________.

If I had paid attention to myself, I could have found more ________ and satisfaction in my own life. Inga was explaining a kind of ________ that many of us found it hard to ________ our- selves in no matter when and where. The simple act in the daily life offered me a view that ________ begins the moment you decide to be yourself. ________ yourself with the attention and love you deserve.

4 . Agnes Lloyd’s 70th birthday finally came, but the day went normally. Her birthday information was readily _______ on her online profile. But she still _______ someone would care. Her husband _______ many years ago.She had not heard from her children for a long time, which was   _______

The last bell of the day rang,she picked up her _______ and walked towards her car planning to buy herself a chocolate dessert,although her doctors don’t _______   it for her age. But who cares? It was her birthday, and she _______ it.

The thought made her smile as she _______ her car when a sudden“MRSLLOYD!”_______ her. Agnes dropped her purse onto the ground.She looked around and was ________   by what she saw.

Her students were standing there carrying birthday signs .She hadn’t ________ they had prepared such a surprise for her.Her student Christian came over,picking up her purse, and________ her to the rest as they all started singing Happy Birthday.

As the song continued, tears ________in her eyes. As they finished the song,small pieces of coloured paper began flying all over the place ________ .But that wasn’t the best part.

Some of the students parted, and her three children stepped out holding a birthday cake with two ________   that formed the number70.“Happy birthday,Mom!”they exclaimed together, and that’s when Agnes lost her ________ for the first time.

Her children came closer to ________ her and give her hugs. They   ________ that when Christian telephoned them, it was not a good ________ as they realized that their mother’s students cared more for her than her own children did.

Don’t forget your parents, ________ your life gets busy.We need to act and remind them that they are loved.

6 . “My dad does everything for me! Even without much money, he________to buy me an ice cream.” said Davi about his father, Damiao.

Upon hearing the words, tears________from Damiao’s eyes. In their culture, men hardly cry in front of others. But________crying has been a normal part for him. Damiao’s childhood was________: he and his 11 sisters and brothers all started working from an early age. Agriculture was the only________he learned in life.

Later, Damiao got married and had three children. He continued to________to support the family. In their culture, it’s_________for men to work hard on the farm. A year ago, Damiao received a message from his wife________that she would be leaving. She asked the________where they would like to live. They preferred to stay with their father. So she said her________and left.

“I was shocked and sad. I________thought about killing myself. What made me give up this idea was that my children need me and that I cannot________them.”

Damiao’s heart was weighed down by sadness again. Luan, Damiao’s youngest son, was traumatized (精神受创) by the________in the family.________,with the support of the staff at a caring center, the family learned to________,even through their heartache.

Although challenges________, the love that Damiao’s children have for him shows what a________father he is. He cannot________everything they want. But he promises to never leave. Even on his darkest days, he________to give up. “Being a family is being________. It doesn’t matter what happens.” Damiao says.

7 . Francis and Roberta Doiron, a couple married 72 years, spent more than a year apart due to COVID—19. Now, they are finally reunited.

Francis and Roberta Doiron have a love that lasts. But due to COVID—19, Francis was unable to visit his wife in her nursing home, and the two have been physically apart for over a year.

“I went there every day,” Francis says while being interviewed at his house. “I saw her from 6:30 in the morning to 6:30 at night. 7 days a week.”

And the couple’s separation has been increasingly hard for them. “She’s losing her memory more often because I’m not there,” says Francis about Roberta.

They have been able to use FaceTime over the last year to communicate. But for a couple married 72 years, it is still not the same as being in the same room as your sweetheart.

Thankfully, after a year apart, the couple is finally able to reunite in person! With both of them being fully vaccinated (接种疫苗), the two were able to have such a sweet and emotional reunion at Roberta’s nursing home. And Francis can now visit her regularly. “I’m getting to hoping that once I get to see her more often, I can bring her memory back,” he says.

And after sharing their first hug in a while and holding hands next to each other, Francis is hopeful about the future and things to come.

“Things aren’t that bad,” he says. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

9 . A woman, Shanon, was driving on a Georgia road when a deer suddenly came out of nowhere. Before she knew what had happened, she was ________. When she woke up, she found her ________ upside down on the road and she could ________ move. What she least expected was that her savior (救世主) was already on the ________ and ready to help. Hero, a German shepherd who ________ for Shanon’s life when she could not ________.

Hero entered the car to figure out Shanon’s ________. Several minutes later, Hero began to ________ the collar of her shirt to try to get her out of the car. He was trying and trying with all his strength. As time passed, Hero’s efforts had good ________. Exhausted and sweaty as he was, he ________ to get Shanon out of the car and take her to the road where they could find ________. Finally, Shanon came to herself in the hospital.

Shanon soon ________ that Hero was abandoned. Although she wanted to ________ him, she was unable to do so for some reason. ________, there were many who appreciated Hero’s skill and ________. Hero was finally adopted by a dog trainer who will train Hero to become a search and rescue dog for police officers. Bravo Hero and good luck!

Hero could have ________ Shanon, or he could even have helped Shanon by going towards the road to ________ someone. But Hero fought and used all of his strength to save Shanon. The ________ love that animals give us is always beyond our ________.

Be kind to our loyal friends and treat them equally. Only by doing so can humans and animals live ________.

10 . Woody Williams of Charlotte, North Carolina is simply Woody Williams, a retired graphic artist and musician who plays in local clubs and bars. But online, the 72-year-old is known as Funky Geezer (时髦老头), and he’s got more than 3 million followers on TikTok alone!

In December 2020, Woody was staying in his home to avoid catching the COVID-19, just like everybody else. He found himself with more free time than usual, and since he couldn’t go to perform in a club or jam with any bands, he decided to check out what was happening online. He downloaded TikTok and uploaded a short video of himself doing a little dance. The likes and comments started pouring in, and before he knew it, his video had been viewed millions of times!

Encouraged, Woody leaned in to his Funky Geezer persona (人设), uploading more videos to his channel. He enjoys connecting with people again, and always loves putting on a show to make others smile.

Funky Geezer has now gone viral more than once, and he’s got a large following across all of his social channels. He’s even getting requests to bring his dance moves to foreign lands, although he’s not sure he’ll be traveling much beyond his usual circles.

“I was asked to do shows in Canada, England and Micronesia,” he said. “I don’t even know where Micronesia is.”

Woody says he doesn’t run his “Funky Geezer Show” for fame or fortune; he simply wants to put a smile on someone’s face! “My motto is to inspire until you die,” he said, adding, “I am just encouraging the newbies to come up, grab their guitar, and get involved, express themselves.”