The Drum Set

To Gabe, everything was as a drum. He beat on the sofa. He beat on his school desk. His life was a steady beat of drum sounds.

All Gabe wanted was a drum set, but his parents couldn’t ________ to buy him one. Then, one day at school, the class began studying how to protect the Earth and its resources. Mr. Gomez ________ three things that everyone could do: recycle, reuse, and reduce.

Gabe thought about what he and his family already did. They recycled bottles, cans, and paper. They didn’t waste a lot, either. Gabe’s new jackets were ________ new. His elder brother had worn those years before. They also reduced. They ________ lights whenever possible.

As Mr. Gomez spoke, a brilliant ________ hit Gabe. Not only could he help protect the Earth, but he could also do something to make himself very happy! Then Mr. Gomez told the class about a science project. Gabe didn’t need any more ________. He already knew what he would do.

He ________ big balloons from his birthday party, found old cans of different sizes, and ________ some tape from his father. Then he cut off the narrow end of each balloon, stretched a balloon over the top of each can and taped it on the side of the can.

He tried out his drum set by beating on them one by one with chopsticks. Each drum made a ________ sound. It sounded pretty good!

The science presentations were held on Monday. When he finished his ________ with his drum set, his classmates clapped and cheered!

Finally, Gabe was chosen to be a member of the school band.

In 2005, a sheepherder (牧羊人), Sanu Sherpa, in a remote village of Nepal’s eastern mountain region came to Kathmandu.

Sanu Sherpa had ________ of making a good life here. At the same time, he also had a ________of becoming a climbing guide, a well-paid and respected ________. He initially worked as a porter. In 2006 Sanu became a mountaineer after ________climbing Cho Oyu in his first ________. After 16 years, Sanu has set a new world record in mountaineering history.

The 47-year-old Sherpa has become the first climber in the world to ________ the planet’s 14 highest mountains, not once, but twice — a feat that no other climber has ________.

Sanu’s journey has its own ________. He has to face a(n) ________fact that over the years, many Sherpas have died while ________foreign climbers up to the peaks. However, overcoming difficulties to stand on peaks gives him a great sense of excitement.

“A climbing Sherpa is a hero. That really ________me,” said Sanu. “Climbing all 14 peaks above 8000 metres was ________not in my mind. But after reaching four peaks in 2021, I started thinking, ‘Why not other peaks?’” He then carried out the plan ________.

“I didn’t think I could stand on peaks again and again when I was a porter. So for people who admire others and feel ________ about themselves just ________ your worries and get started.”

At a cafe in scenic Augsburg, Paul Blachut, a waiter is busy at work. It’s a warm Sunday afternoon and many people have come here for __________ beside the Lech river.

The meltwater from the Alps means the water in the river is very __________ at this time of year, and it __________ quickly. Along the S-shaped shore, people are picnicking and children are playing. Among those are a mother and her two daughters. They’re standing on the __________ of the riverbank, playing with an inflatable (充气的) tube. Suddenly, the girls __________ balance and fall into the river. Worse still, the girls __________ hold on to the tube, which their mother is sitting in, __________ her into the river, too. Now all three are caught in the river's current.

Blachut __________ from his work when he hears someone shouting, “Three people are drowning in the Lech!” Blachut __________ the three women a short distance away, waving their arms and trying to grab anything they can. Having taken lifesaving training courses, he hurries to the riverbank and jumps into the river. Despite the cold, what he cares about is __________ saving lives.

As Blachut _________ them, he can tell the mother is in the most trouble. Blachut immediately dives under the drowning woman, lifts her upward and pushes her toward the shore. __________, an onlooker is close enough to __________ the woman’s hand, pulling her to shore. Without __________ Blachut jumps into the current again, saving the daughters in the same way he did their mother.

The mother expresses her __________ appreciation for Blachut, and he is happy to see they are safe and sound.