One morning, I was jogging and I noticed a person in front of me about 1/4 mile. I could _________ that he was running a little slower than me and I thought, “Very well, I shall try to _________ him.” I had about a mile to go _________ I needed to turnoff, so I started running faster and faster. Every block, I was _________   getting closer to him just a little bit. Just a few minutes later, I was only about 100 yards from him, so I really sped up,   _________ I was running the last lap of London Olympic competition. I was determined to keep up with him. Finally, I did _________ it! I caught and passed him. I really felt good, “I beat.” Of course, he didn’t ever know we were _________.

After passing him, I realized I had been so focused on competing against him that I had _________ my turn. I had gone nearly six blocks past it. I had to _________ and go back. Isn’t it what happens in our life when we focus on competing with classmates, co-workers, neighbors, friends, trying to leave them behind or trying to prove that we are more important or more __________?

In fact, we spend our time and __________ running after other people and we miss out on our own paths to our destination. The   __________ with blind competition is that it’s a   never ending cycle. There will always be somebody __________ you, someone with better grades or a more satisfying job, etc. But be __________ that we can be the best that we can be. We are competing with no one. Take what we have been __________, such as the height, weight and personality. We should feel lucky with them, stay focused and live a happy life.

I got addicted to cigarettes about 11 years ago. As a smoker, I certainly realizes the _________ the cigarettes are causing to my body. I used to be good at running and other sports, but smoking made my physical activity a great _________. It was not that I never thought of quitting but just the _________ of a cigarette would make me go weak at once. Then I _________ another cigarette and started my day.

For so many years I always felt unrested after a night’s _________. The cough was making my life _________. Over and over again, I was _________ asking myself about my own condition: the nicotine in cigarettes not only made my teeth brown, but also _________ my fingers and nails as well. I _________ myself, “Is all this worth it?” I didn’t get an answer.

It was my birthday’s eve and I was back home by 10 pm. Usual birthday calls from friends made me __________ till 1 am. Throughout the day I was thinking of giving myself something as a __________, but I couldn’t think of anything. Suddenly an idea __________ me. I came up with the plan of quitting smoking. This time the __________ was much stronger. I wanted to quit smoking so I can run and __________ my son during soccer practice and have more energy. Habitually I turned to the cigarette pack and it was __________, which was probably a hint(暗示). Quitting smoking is a long and painful process, but I worked hard to fight the __________ to smoke again.

Today it’s exactly 526 days__________ I gave up smoking. I feel much more energetic and I am regaining my __________ which I lost in the past 11 years. All I want to say is that strong willpower and determination really __________ a great difference. Quitting smoking is the best birthday gift I __________ for myself and it makes me feel happy and proud.

It was no wonder I was not looking forward to entering the ninth grade. High school is well known for being a battleground, where everyone seems to be ______ through physical changes and emotional mood swings (情绪波动). For me,______ was my punishment.

I had always ______ insecure and out of place as one of the ______ members of my class, standing a head above the other girls and standing at the ______ of the line to avoid sticking ______.

I especially hate being around large groups of ______, like during the social hour after services at my church.______ the prayers were finished, I would ______ as quickly as possible so I could ______ some well - meaning congratulations, “Ruthie! Look how tall you’re getting!”

My grandfather would watch me ______ increasingly uncomfortable, but he did not ______ at my self-consciousness (自我意识) or try to comfort me, ______, he would remind me. “Stand ______ and tail,” he would say, as I ______ tried to shrink (缩) myself. Even at age 15, I understood that his advice was about ______ than just feet and inches.

My grandfather ______ in war-torn Europe. When German soldiers ______ his hometown, he joined the army to ______ his country’s freedom. “Stand straight, stand tall,” ______ something else back then.