2 . Inspiration

“Mama, when I grow up, I’m going to be one of those!” I said this after seeing the Capital Dancing Company perform when I was three. It was the first time that my _______ took on a vivid form and acted as something important to start my training. As I grew older and was exposed to more, my interests in the world of dance _______ varied but that little girl’s dream of someday becoming a dancer in the company never left me. In the summer of 2005 when I was 18, I received the phone call which made that dream a reality: I became a member of the company dating back to 1925.

As I look back on that day now, it surely _______ any sense of reality. I believe I stayed in a state of pleasant disbelief _______ I was halfway through rehearsals (排练) on my first day. I never actually _______ to get the job. After being offered the position, I was completely _______. I remember shaking with excitement.

Though I was absolutely thrilled with the change, it did not come without its fair share of challenges. Through the strict rehearsal period of dancing six days a week, I found it vital to _______ up the material fast with every last bit of concentration. It is that extreme attention to detail and stress on practice that set us apart. To then follow those high-energy rehearsals with a busy show schedule of up to five performances a day, I discovered a new meaning of the words “hard work”. What I thought were my physical _______ were pushed much further than I thought possible. I learned to make each performance better than the last.

Today, when I look at the unbelievable company that I have the great _______ of being a part of, not only as a member, but as a dance captain, I see a ________ that has inspired not only generations of little girls but a splendid company that continues to develop and grow—and inspires people every day to follow their dreams.

3 . It was a rainy morning and the children, mainly boys with various learning difficulties, refused to settle for the start of the lesson. As an inexperienced teacher, I tried every means to get them to be_____________________, but in vain. My panic was rising and I could feel my heart beating wildly. This was the_____________of my job as a music teacher, I thought—teaching was not for me. Then I had an idea. Hoping that no one would notice that I was_____________inside, I threw my voice as far as it would reach: “Put your heads on the desks and close your eyes! We are going on a journey.”

_________, the children fell silent. “Now what should I do?” I thought to myself. Reaching over to my collection of CDs, I blindly_______, put it in the machine and played it. Obediently (顺从地) , my class lay their heads on their desks, closed their eyes and___________. When the music started, the room was filled with the most beautiful tones and musical colors I could have ever imagined. All the children were_____________. When the music finished, I asked them all to raise their_____________slowly so that we could share our musical journeys.

At this point, when all the children were willing to share their experiences, I began to learn how to teach. The music allowed me to learn that teaching is about sharing and respect, tears and smiles, the knowing and the_____________and, most of all, an understanding of each other. This was the power that______________in the classroom could have.

Mo Li Hua is a popular Chinese folk song     1    dates back to the 18th century. It’s one of the most well-known Chinese songs both in China and abroad. It’s a nice song    2    beginners to learn due to its simple lyrics. The melody of this song has become well-known among Western listeners for several reasons. One is that it    3    (sing) by Giacomo Puccini in his opera called Turandot in 1926. It was also used in the Olympics opening ceremony in China.