I have always been an independent person, but I have come to know that being independent does not mean refusing help. I may still be___ with asking for help, but I try to accept. Furthermore, I will even ___ help and when my offers are refused, I am seldom willing to walk away. And all these changes came from a disaster on an island. 

Sometimes a person’s independence is a ___ of pride, daring, stubbornness and luck. I used to be too ___ since I was little. I was once a traveller who never asked for directions, choosing instead to struggle with maps and signs until I found my way. 

Then one day on the island of Koh Phangan, in Thailand, everything ___. I was swimming in the ocean with Sean, my fiance(未婚夫), when he was ___ by a box jellyfish(箱型水母). He ___ within three minutes, 25 years old. Yet when onlookers and travellers asked if I wanted ___, stubborn pride and force of habit ___ me accepting. But two young Israeli women stayed. ____ my protest(反对), they were with me even when the police tried to cover up the cause of Sean’s death. It was listed as drunk drowning to avoid hurting the ____ industry. The Israeli women could have walked away. ____, without even telling me, they ____ their schedule rather than leave me behind. 

While I didn’t realise it at that time, I now believe I would not have ____ the disaster without these great women. Actually, the person who needs help the most is usually the last person to ask for it. I have learned ____ is better than refusing because it not only helps you walk out of trouble, but also helps you know the real meaning of life.

Andrew Chilton was diagnosed with autism (自闭症) at age eight. There was a lot to _________. Would he ever have a job? Live _________? Doctors and school officials _________ that Andrew might not even graduate from high school.

Andrew’s family would do anything for him. Christy Chachere, the boy’s personal care attendant, saw the _________ right away. “You have to let him _________,” she told the family. “It’s the _________ way he learns to do things on his own.”

No longer would Andrew’s mother write his papers. His younger brother wouldn’t _________ him to operate the computer. Christy wouldn’t help him with homework either.

Andrew _________ loudly at times. But then what Christy expected began to _________. Andrew would come home from school, get a snack and start on his homework. Christy was ____________ there. She wouldn’t do his papers for him. But she showed him how to get organized. Best of all, Christy offered ____________ once his work was done. She’d ____________ him to a store where he could buy Pokémon cards. To the movies. Or out to eat his favorite food.

Christy has been with Andrew for six years. She has successfully helped ____________ the life of a boy with autism. One ____________ at a time, Andrew gained independence. He graduated from high school and entered community college. “Life has never been ____________,” said Andrew.

As Christmas is coming，there are presents to be bought，cards to be sent，and rooms to be cleaned.Parents are ______ with difficult jobs of hiding presents from ______ young children.If the gifts are large，this is sometimes a real ______ .On Christmas Eve，young children find the _______ almost unbearable.They are torn by the wish to ______ up late so that they will not miss the fun.The wish for gifts usually proves stronger.But though children go to bed early，they often lie ______ in bed for a long time，hoping to get a short ______ at Father Christmas.

Last Christmas，my wife and I ______ hid a few large presents in the store room.I ______ the moment when my son，Jimmy，would ask me where the new bike had come from，but ______ he did not see it.

On Christmas Eve，it took the children hours to go to sleep.It must have been early ______ when my wife and I went quietly into their room and began ______ stockings.Then I pushed in the ______ I bought for Jimmy and put it beside the Christmas tree.We knew that we would not get much ______ that night，for the children were sure to get up early.At about 5 o’clock the next morning，we were ______ by loud sounds coming from the children’s room—they shouted excitedly! ______ I had time to get out of bed，Jimmy came _______ into our bedroom on his new bike，and his sister,May, ______ close behind,pushing her new baby carriage.Even the baby arrived，he moved on his ______ and knees into the room bringing a large balloon behind him.Suddenly,it burst.That woke us up   ______ .The day had really begun with a bang(巨响) !