Here is the story of Maria. There are some gaps in the story. Now fill in the blanks with appropriate non-finite verbs (Gerund, participles, and infinitive).

Maria was determined ______ (to finish/finishing) her project before the deadline. She knew that _______ (to manage/managing) her time well was crucial. After ________ (to plan/planning) her schedule carefully, she began_________ (to work/working) on the most challenging tasks first. 

While _____ (to complete/completing) the initial stages, Maria realized she needed some help. She called her friend, Sujon, _________ (to ask/asking) for advice. Sujon suggested _________ (to break/breaking) the project into smaller, more manageable parts. Maria found this advice helpful and decided _________ (to follow/following) it. As she continued _________  (to work/working), she felt more confident. By the end of the day, she was able ________ (to see/seeing) significant progress, which motivated her _______ (to keep/keeping) going.

Chulsoo was respected by the villagers because of his generosity, fairness, and dedication to helping others. He used the wealth from the magical golden tree to improve the village and support the poor, earning him their love and admiration. His selflessness and kindness made him a beloved figure in the community.

After the golden tree withered and died, Hyunsoo felt ashamed and regretful. He realized that his greed had led to the tree’s destruction and understood the consequences of his selfish actions. This remorse prompted him to apologize to his brother Chulsoo, admitting his mistake and asking for forgiveness. Hyunsoo’s feelings of guilt and regret reflected his recognition that greed had led to the loss of the magical tree, which thrived only through kindness and good intentions.

In the story, the golden tree symbolizes the rewards of kindness, generosity, and good intentions. It grew and flourished because Chulsoo nurtured it with care and used its wealth to help others, demonstrating that prosperity and success come from positive actions. On the other hand, when Hyunsoo, driven by greed, tried to take the tree without showing the same kindness, it withered and died, illustrating that greed and selfishness lead to destruction. The tree thus represents the contrast between selflessness and greed.

When Hyunsoo asked for forgiveness, Chulsoo embraced him and said, "Greed destroys, but kindness heals. Let's work together from now on." This statement reflects Chulsoo's wisdom and his belief that only through kindness and cooperation can they find true prosperity and harmony.

At the end of the story, the relationship between Chulsoo and Hyunsoo improved significantly. After Hyunsoo realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness, Chulsoo, in his kindness, forgave his brother and taught him that greed destroys while kindness heals. From that moment, the two brothers worked together in harmony, leaving behind their differences. Their unity and cooperation led to the prosperity of the village, symbolizing the positive change in their relationship.