When I was young, I used to hate running. In fact, I wouldn’t have become a(n) ________ if it weren’t for my former classmate Jane. She had been a(n) ________ runner for many years. After our graduation, she wouldn’t stop talking about how much she ________ it.

So she picked it up again, and after about a year, I started to join her at the ________. Just a few months later, she signed up for a five-kilometer race for both of us. I ________ about doing it for it was just too soon.

But on the race day, there I was.

The gun went off. Thousands of runners ________. The first kilometer was tough. I was already breathing ________and painfully aware of the group of runners ________ past me.

After another minute, I saw the three kilometer ________. All I could think of was that I was dying.

I ________ a corner, and saw both sides of the street ________ with people watching the race, all cheering the runners on: I willed my legs to ________ going.

Then I looked up and saw the clock. The ________ ticking away gave me an incentive (激励). I knew that if I ________finished this race, I would achieve something. So, I ________ up and made it.

I was struggling 11 months after I left China to pursue a Ph.D. in England. In the daytime, I kept myself _________ in my research. But at night I had to fight increasing _________. I turned to social media and even tried “talking” to Chat GPT, which _________ me for a few days. But when the novelty _________ I was back where I started.

When colleagues invited me for a coffee chat or lunch, I _________ to feel the urgency to get back to my long list of research _________, not taking time to build relationships. Eventually, my loneliness hit a breaking   _________. When I talked to my tutor about my feeling, she helped me see that _________ with the people around me would improve my state of mind. I began to chat with friends more and realized we were all dealing with _________, professionally and personally. Life isn’t about convincing colleagues that I can do everything   ____________, but about teaming up with friends on common goals and challenges.

These days, I’m working not only on my research, but also try to book ____________ with my friends for research discussion, and share ____________ into social issues through coffee chats. I feel much more ____________ when I come home with concrete memories and measurable milestones. And cooperating with my colleagues has helped me overcome some ____________ research challenges.

The nights are sill as ____________ as before, but I have seen the bright light in the day. I feel content to lie down and rest so I’m prepared for tomorrow’s new adventure.

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.”