That morning, I got on the train as always. I was a publishing director and was reading my newspaper 1But that day, I read it very2 I thought I must be tired. At the office, I sat down, turned on my 3and found I couldn't read the message on the screen.

    Eventually, worried4drove me to hospital. There, confirmation came that I suffered from aphasia(失语症), a condition that5 it's difficult or impossible to receive and produce language.

    I was back at home a week later, and my 6was to get better and return to work in a couple of months. I started 7a speech therapist(治疗专家) three times a week, and was given homework to help8my vocabulary and grammar. After a month, my own speech became 9“Could you pass the salt?” “Shall we go for a walk?” but I couldn't have a conversation. I couldn't read the newspaper.

    For 25 years, I was used to a(n)10day of meetings, and bringing three manuscripts home with me each night. I didn't feel 11to say goodbye to my old self.

    In the darkest months, I devoted myself to 12I would spend hours writing a description of something13like a pencil. I couldn't14novels or newspapers, so I tried reading poetry, and found the shorter lines easier to 15.My speech came back, and I learned how to read again,16much more slowly. I spent more time with my family, and 17myself to slow down.

    Now, 10 years later, my relationship with my 18is deeper than ever. We have 19to be very patient with each other. I'm no longer a high-achieving publisher or someone who 2010 books a week. I'm a family man with aphasia, and if I read 10 books a year, that's good.

    When I was just out of college,I managed to get my dream job as a trader in New York City on the floor of the American Stock（股票）exchange.

    Though it was a proud1,the job was simply too physically2—I must stand in a crowd every day,which often3me in a mindset（心态）that held me back.

    Manhattan is a walking town and it's difficult to4when you have a disability.Taxis are expensive and riding the subway5dozens of steep steps to get below6.This left me only one7—the bus.

    One night,after the8for my job,I was aching with self-pity9it started to rain on my walk to the bus stop.I became more and more10without an umbrella,thinking I'd never11it in this city.Telling myself,"this city is just too hard" and "maybe it is just not possible for a guy like me".

    And then,I12the most beautiful,short moment.A couple came rolling by on roller skates,hand13hand as they skated what seemed like the tango.They were all wet but they saw the14as an opportunity and romance.

    I suddenly became grateful for waiting in the rain because I15have missed this beauty16if I had been in a taxi or on the subway.This,although17,was an important moment on my journey to discovering the18of achieving health and happiness.When I change my mindset,19for a moment,to what is possible and work to get rid of the self-limiting beliefs that20my daily actions,I will be on the road to a healthier,happier life.

    I was working in a store three years ago. I remember one girl who started 1 there a few months after me. I remember always meeting her. I don't know 2 but for a strange reason we would never talk. We would just see each other and smile.

    She would 3 smile in a really happy way until one day when we got to work in the 4 department again. She 5 as if she was the happiest girl in the world. But I had a strange feeling. So I went up to her and said, "What's wrong with you?" She answered, "Why?" I said, "I could feel you're very 6 today and you're trying to hide it."

    She was shocked as if I had 7 her deepest secret, so we started 8. She told me why she was feeling like that and why she was 9 to hide it and we had a good time together. Time 10 and we became good friends. She'd always tell me I had changed her 11 in so many ways, but I could not 12 how it had happened. I would just smile, not understanding what she 13 by that.

    Today this girl is one of my best 14. I really don't know what I would do 15 her. She has been there for me in every possible way a friend could be.

    I guess what I'm trying to say is you 16 know when you're helping yourself. I  17 this girl never knowing that at the same time I was helping myself by finding a(n)18 friend.

    So the next time you see a 19, and he looks as if he needs 20 who will listen to him, listen to what he has to say. You never know, you might just end up helping yourself.

    Lisa Condie is a woman in her sixties. She runs a business in Italy. Why did she 1 a business there? Here is her 2.

    At 56, Lisa Condie had two 3 for a trip to Europe. However, she had no one to go 4 because she broke up with her boyfriend, which 5 her plan for a romantic (浪漫的) trip. Lisa wondered if her fifties were just about staying on her own and being 6. She was no longer a wife 7 her husband died early. And her kids had all 8 and left her. She had no idea what to do with the 9 of her life.

Condie spent a few sad days in Rome alone, not 10 Italian or knowing her way around. However, by the end of her trip, she cried at the thought of 11 the magical place. Being alone in Italy had helped her realize that she was 12 strong, smart, and in control of her life. She decided right then that she would one day 13 and live there.

    Two years later, Condie is now living out her 14. She lives in Florence and runs a tour company for women 15 Italy — A Better Way To Travel in Italy. So far, her business has been 16. "I can show them life doesn't have to be over at some point of life. It can 17 anytime you like. You can have 18 again. I do think there's a magic in women 19women," she said. "I feel everybody has a dream that can bring them back to life. As women, we often support other people's dreams, but we 20 need to realize our own dreams."

Dominic Richard loves cycling. In 2023, he ordered a new bike from a factory in Shanghai and flew there {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (pick) it up in person. However, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} followed was jaw-dropping. Instead of flying back, he determined to ride back alone to the UK.

Richard cycled through cities and countries, taking in the sights along the way. He started in Shanghai, where after successfully picking up his new bike he began the journey. Considering all the possible challenges, he travelled light. The bike {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (equip) with a carbon frame and tubeless tires, meaning no worry about a flat tire on route. He had a sleeping mat that kept him {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (comfort) at night and bags to pack his clothing and equipment in. Battling a burning heat wave, he cycled across the vast expanse of China, often resting by the side of the road. People were curious {#blank#}5{#/blank#} his journey along the way. Now and then Richard got {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (invite) to many natives' houses for free lunch and supplies, with truck drivers and cyclists {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stop) him along the road to chat.

Fortunately, after the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (impress) long ride, Richard made {#blank#}9{#/blank#} to his home in the UK. "Thanks to this experience, I got {#blank#}10{#/blank#} better understanding of amazing China and found a better self."