Our family enjoyed a beautiful house plant for over thirty years. It had stayed with us through _________ years and good times, pain and joy. I had never thought of_________ it.

However, two weeks ago, we _________ some changes in its leaves, which began to lose color. We watered and looked after it _________, but it just showed no sign of_________. We finally picked a few almost dead leaves and _________ replanting them in another small pot.

What _________ us was that these leaves planted in the new pot grew strong. In order to know the reason why the house plant died, we dug the dead plant out of the pot. Then, it became _________ to us — its roots were in disorder, completely tangling up. Our once-beautiful plant died because it grew out of its environment-it became root-bound (根满盆的).

People can become root-bound, too. Those who _________ personal growth or development often want to make __________ that can lead to greater achievements or much more happiness. However, they more often find they outgrow (增长得容不进…… ) their environment and want to __________. Their view becomes larger and they need __________ environment to live in. They need people who will make __________ for their growth. If they cannot be__________, some problems are sure to appear.

So if your new-found growth causes you to give up the old ways, you may need to __________ you are bigger now.

Last week, I flew to Atlanta for a business trip. As we were about to land, it was announced that there would be a slight______before setting down. High desert winds had______the airport to close all but one runway. The pilot said that we would be______the city for a few minutes waiting to______.We were also told to remain in our seats meanwhile with our seat belts fastened______there might be some severe bumps(颠簸). However, I did not expect that“a few minutes” turned out to be so long, with a ride that would make roller coaster(过山车) lovers______.

The movement was so sudden that several passengers felt______and had to use air-sickness bags(晕机

). That is not a good thing to happen in a(n)____space, because the smell only______to increase the discomfort of the situation.

About 20 minutes passed. The entire aeroplane became very______. I could______notice a sense of worry and fear. I guessed everybody else was holding their hands as tightly as me and worrying about dear life…except one. A______was having a good time! With each bump of the______he would let out a giggle(咯咯笑) of happiness. As I observed this, I_____that he didn't know he was supposed to be afraid and worried about his______. He neither thought about the past nor about the future. Those are what we grown- ups have learnt from______. He was_____the ride because he had not yet been taught to fear it. Having understood this, I took a deep breath and______back into my seat, imaging I was______on a roller coaster. I smiled for the rest of the flight. I even______to giggle sometimes, which was much to the anger of the man who was sitting next to me and holding the air-sickness bag.

Last month, I visited one of my old neighborhoods in New York. I had not been there for twenty years and as I walked along the street, my mind was ______ by memories of the past. I saw the old ______ building where I had lived and the playground where I had played. As I viewed these once ______ surroundings, images of myself as a child there ______. However, what I saw and what I remembered were not the same. I ______ realized that the best memories were those kept ______.

My old apartment building, as I remember, was bright and alive. It was more than just a place to live. It was a movie house, a space station, or whatever my young mind could ______. I would steal away with my friends and play in the ______. This was always exciting because it was so cool and dark, and there were so many things there to ______ among. There was a small river in the back of the building. We would go there to lie in the shade of trees and enjoy ourselves.

However, what I saw was ______ different. The apartment building was now in bad ______. What was once more than a place to live in looked hardly worth ______ in. The windows were all ______. The once clean walls were covered with dirty ______. The river was hardly recognizable. The water was polluted and the trees and flowers were all ______. The once sweet-smelling river now smelled ______. It was really heartbreaking to ______ all this.

I do not ______ having seen my old neighborhood. However, I do not think my ______ childhood memories can ever be the same. I suppose it is ______ when they say, “You can never go home again.”