Courage involves the balance between fear and bravery. Without fear, we’ll do foolish things. And without courage, we’ll never step into the ________. The balance of the two is where the ________ lies, and it’s a balance we all deal with every day.

It was frightening news when I was first diagnosed because I had no ________ with chronic (慢性的) illness or disabilities. And I had no idea how the disease might ________. But I continued to ________ my dream of working all over the world. And then my work brought me to the United States. And even as the disease progressed ________ and I needed leg braces (支架) and a walker to ________, I still longed for adventure. And this time, I started dreaming of a ________ outdoor adventure.

Sitting eight feet above the ground, riding a horse, I got the impression of the Grand Canyon — one of ________ and terror. But there was no ________. In the first hour, disaster struck. Going down an oversized step, I was ________ forward and hit my face on the back of the horse’s head. There was ________. My head hurt fiercely, but the path was too narrow for me to ________.

Now that the trip is over, and I know that I would never do horseback-riding again. The expedition, all that ________ and the trip itself, showed me a level of ________ I had never experienced before. But more importantly, it showed me how boldly ________ I can be.

In facing my fears and finding the courage to ________ them, I swear my life has been ________. So live big and try to let your courage ________ your fear. You never know where it might ________ you.

It was New Year's night. An aged man was standing at the window. The days of his youth appeared like dream before him, and he _____ the serious moment when his father placed him at the ____ of the two roads: one leading to a peaceful, sunny place _____ with flowers, fruits and resounding with soft, sweet songs, and the other leading to a deep dark cave which was ______, and where poison flowed and snakes crawled.

He looked towards the sky and cried ___ Oh youth, return! Oh, my father, place me once more at the entrance to life and I'll ___ the better way! "But both his father and the days of his youth had ___ .

He saw the lights flowing away in the darkness, and these were the days of his wasted life. He saw a star __ from the sky and disappeared, and this was the _____ of himself. His ______, which was like a sharp arrow, struck deeply into his heart. Then he remembered his friends in his childhood, which entered life together with him. But they had made their way to _____ and were now ______ and happy on this New Year's night.

The clock in the high church tower struck and the sound made him remember his parents' early____for him. They had taught him and prayed to God for his good. But he chose the wrong way with ___and grief so that he dared no longer to look towards the __ where his father lived. His __ eyes were full of tears, and with a despairing（绝望的）effort, he burst out a cry:" Come back, my early days! Come back!"

And his youth did _____ ,for all this was only a dream which he had on New Year's night. He was still young though his faults were real. He had not yet entered the deep dark cave, and he was _______free to walk on the road which leads to the peaceful and sunny land.

Those who still linger on（徘徊）the entrance of life _____ to choose the bright road, remember that when years are passed and your feet stumble（绊倒）on the dark mountains, you will cry bitterly, but ______ ."Oh youth return! Oh give me back my early days! ”

At the funeral, I tried to say good-bye to Grandpa, but all I could do was feel bad. Most of the adults were busy _______ to one another. They didn’t talk about Grandpa. Afterward, I kept my grandpa _______ in my mind by talking about him _______. I was afraid if I might _______ him. I told everyone he died. One day when I was with my mother in a _______, I told the check-out lady. When we got outside, my mother hugged me close and told me not to tell _______ about Grandpa’s death. Then I realized that there were other ways I could remember him.

I planted a tree in our backyard, in _______ of Grandpa. The stars made me feel _______. I’d choose a star in the sky and _______ it was Grandpa __________. In school, my teacher suggested that I write stories and draw pictures. The more I wrote and the more I drew, the more I __________ about Grandpa and me.

I gave my favorite __________ to the library in memory of my Grandpa. The librarian wrote his name on a special label and put it __________. I used to __________ the book. It wasn’t __________ the shelf, I was happy __________ was reading “my grandpa’s book.”

__________, I was working hard in school and having fun with my friends again. I can’t remember everything about my grandpa, __________ every once in a while, someone or something __________ me of him. The memories feel warm and good. Now I know, and I want you to know, the best __________ are like love. They last forever.