A Race Against Death

    It was a cold January in 1925 in Nome, Alaska. The town was cut off from the rest of the world due to heavy snow.

    On the 20th of that month, Dr. Welch 1 a sick boy, Billy, and knew he had diphtheria, a deadly infectious(传染的) disease mainly affecting children. The children of Nome would be 2 if it struck the town. Dr. Welch needed medicine as soon as possible to stop other kids from getting sick3 the closest supply was over 1,000 miles away, in Anchorage.

    How could the medicine get to Nome? The town's 4 was already full of ice, so it couldn't come by ship. Cars and horses couldn't travel on the 5 roads. Jet airplanes and big trucks didn't exist yet.

    6 January 26, Billy and three other children had died. Twenty more were 7 Nome's town officials came up with a(n)8. They would have the medicine sent by9 from Anchorage to Nenana. From there, dogsled(狗拉雪橇) drivers—known as “mushers”—would 10 it to Nome in a relay(接力).

    The race began on January 27. The first musher, Shannon, picked up the medicine from the train at Nenana and rode all night.11 he handed the medicine to the next musher, Shannon's face was black from the extreme cold.

On January 31, a musher named Seppala had to12 a frozen body of water called Norton Sound. It was the most13 part of the journey. Norton Sound was covered with ice, which could sometimes break up without warning. If that happened, Seppala might fall into the icy water below. He would14 and so would the sick children of Nome. But Seppala made it across.

    A huge snowstorm hit on February 1. A musher named Kaasen had to brave this storm. At one point, huge piles of snow blocked his15 He had to leave the trail (雪橇痕迹)to get around them. Conditions were so bad that it was impossible for him to 16 the trail again. The only hope was Balto, Kaasen's lead dog. Balto put his nose to the ground,17 to find the smell of other dogs that had traveled on the trail. If Balto failed, it would mean disaster for Nome. The minutes passed by. Suddenly, Balto began to 18 He had found the trail.

    At 5:30 am on February 2, Kaasen and his dog 19 in Nome. Within minutes, Dr. Welch had the medicine. He quickly gave it to the sick children. All of them recovered.

Nome had been20

    A few years ago, I was working on a project in a small office of a company. While everyone was friendly, there seemed to be a（n）1 of the workplace culture, for which I wanted to do something 2.

    So one evening, I wrote up a few quotes that have 3me over the years. The next morning, I went to work a bit early and quickly 4 them up by the sinks and mirrors in the office 5.

    For the next few months, some of the quotes got 6, but I noticed that a couple 7. So perhaps they were meaningful to some of them.

    Eventually, I finished out my contract（合同）with that8and went to work in another place.

    A few months ago, I was 9to a reunion with my colleagues to hear updates on how the 10 I had worked on was going. Although I11 worked in this office building, I had really enjoyed working with the team, and was 12 to see them all again. Towards the end of the 13, I went to the restroom, and one of the quotes that I had written before was still 14 in the same spot by the mirror! It 15: The real voyage of discovery consists not 16 seeking new lands, but seeing with new eyes.

    Maybe the quote still stood out as a 17 reminder each time someone went to the restroom. 18 the case is, it is a sweet moment and reminder that we never know how long a seed planted will 19 to bloom and give fruit－but to simply keep20 seeds of kindness from the heart... nothing less, and nothing more.

A Love Note to My Mom

    When I was a little girl, I would often accompany you as you modeled for fashion photographers. It was years later that I finally understood what role modeling 1 in your life. Little did I know you were 2 every penny you earned to go to 3 school.

    I cannot thank you enough for 4 you told me one autumn afternoon when I was nine. After finishing my homework, I wandered into the dining room where you were buried 5 piles of law books. I was 6. Why were you doing what I do-memorizing textbooks and studying for 7? When you said you were in law school, I was more puzzled. I didn't know Moms 8 be lawyers too. You smiled and said," In life, you can do anything you want to do."

    As young as I was, that statement kept 9 in my ears. I watched as you faced the 10 of completing your studies, starting companies with Dad, while still being a 11 and a Mom of five kids. I was exhausted just watching you 12. With your words of wisdom in my 13 mind, I suddenly felt unlimited freedom to dream. My whole world 14. I set out to live my life filled with 15, seeing endless possibilities for personal and professional achievements.

    Your words became my motto. I 16 found myself in the unique position of being either the first (woman doctor in Maryland Rotary) 17 one of the few women (chief medical reporters) in my field. I gained strength every time I said, "Yes, I'll try that."

    Encouraged by your 18, I have forged ahead (毅然前行) with my life's journey, less afraid to make mistakes, and 19 meeting each challenge. You did it, and now I'm 20 it. Sorry, got to run. So much to do, so many dreams to live.

    Here is a story. A young man while walking in the desert1a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so2, he filled his leather canteen so that he could bring some back to a tribal（部落）3 who had been his teacher.

    After a four-day4 he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled 5 and thanked his student sincerely for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a 6 heart.

    Later, the teacher let another student 7 the water. He spat(吐) it out, saying it was 8. It obviously had become smelly because of the old leather 9.

    The student asked his teacher, "Master, the water was smelly. Why did you 10 to like it?" The teacher replied, "You only tasted the water. I tasted the 11.The water was 12 the container for an act of loving-kindness and 13 could be sweeter."

    I think we understand this 14 best when we receive gifts of love from young children. Whether it's a post card or a birthday cake, the natural and 15 response is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because we love the idea 16 the gift.

    Gratitude(感恩) doesn't always come naturally.17, most children and many adults value only the thing given 18 the feeling included in it. We should 19 ourselves and teach our children about the beauty of feelings and expressions of gratitude.20, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart.

    The day that I will always remember is when I ran my first 10km.While putting my toe on the starting 1, I felt my heart drop to my stomach. However, I would 2 my heart, because in running, when you run out of your 3, you just run with your heart.

    That day the 4 was cool and fresh, and my courage had 5. The race was about to start. Bang! The 6 of the starting gun ran into the air. I took off running, 7 like the wind. I knew it would be a really great 8 for me. In the first four miles, I felt like a cheetah (猎豹). I felt 9 and forceful in my pace.

    Then came the fifth mile. My legs 10 like jelly(果冻), and I could feel fire burning in my lungs, “keep 11!” the thought ran through my head. Now was the time I had to run with my 12. I had to win although I didn't know whether I would 13 it. My body really wanted to 14, but my heart told me not to. I think it's the 15 thing about running. The real run starts when you want to 16.

I saw the finishing line and I felt like an Olympic 17 who was about to win the race. I had 18 been happier, and felt proud too when I had my 19 put around my neck. As the saying goes, “Running is the greatest metaphor (比喻) for life, 20 you get out of it what you put into it.”

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was1 , so he became2 when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.3 , the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."

The man was4 by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was 5 . He6 at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl7 at him with8 in her eyes and cried," Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew9 into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."

The father was10 . He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her11 .Only a short time later, an accident12 the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an13 kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, has been given a gold container fled with14 love and kisses...from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more15 than this.