“I don’t want to go, Miss White. I’m frightened (害怕的), very frightened.” Monica told her teacher.

Monica was a very ________ girl. She always sat at the back of the classroom ________ or taking notes. Every Monday morning, there would be a special show in her class and the teacher would ________ one student to make a speech about his or her dream. Miss White hoped that Monica could have a try the next week. But she said no.

“I know that it seems ________ for you, but it will help you build up your confidence,” said Miss White. Monica was lost in thought.

The next day, Monica came to Miss White’s office. Miss White was ________ that she would take the chance. Miss White red-penciled her manuscript (手稿) of speech, corrected her pronunciation (发音), and even ________ with her body language. She advised Monica to practice, to ________ that she was speaking confidently in front of her class. ________ a whole week, Monica practiced speaking in front of her imaginary (想象的) friends and teacher. Behind the locked door of her bedroom, she told them about her ________.

Finally, Monday arrived. ________ the teacher asked Monica to give her speech, she ________ and walked to the front of the class without any notes, in a show of confidence.

Monica’s successful performance brought everyone a great ________. The whole class clapped (鼓掌) for a full minute when she finished her speech. Miss White ________. She knew that Monica would make it when she ________ took her first step to overcome (克服) her fear of speaking in public.

From that day, Monica’s life changed for the better. At the age of 23, she became a news reporter. People who see her on television now will find it hard to ________ that she was once a shy girl and said no to speaking up in class.

I still remember the day when I reached my college. I met a special _______, a little old lady with a warm smile. She said, “Hi, young man! I’m Rose. I’m 87 years old. Can I give you a hug?”

I said _______. “Of course!”

“Why are you in college at such an age?” I asked.

She _______, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, have children, and then travel around the world.”

“No, take it seriously.” I said.

“I always dreamed of having a _______ education. Now I’m getting one!” she told me proudly.

After a year, Rose became _______. She could easily get on well with others wherever she went. She _______ to dress up and she enjoyed the attention from others.

At the end of the term we invited Rose to _______ at our party. I can still remember what she said.

“We do not stop _______ because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. Here are the secrets of staying young. You have to laugh and find humor every day.”

“What’s more, it’s never too late to learn. _______ you have a dream, it’s never too late to make it come true.”

Finally we graduated from the college with Rose. I’ll never ________ what she taught us.

“I don’t want to go, Miss White. I’m frightened (害怕的), very frightened,” Monica told her teacher.

Monica was a very ______ girl. She always sat at the back of the classroom, ______ or taking notes. Every Monday morning, there would be a special show in her class and one student would be _____ to make a speech about his or her dream. Miss White hoped that Monica could have a try the next week. But she refused.

“I know that it seems ______ for you, but it will help you build up your confidence,” said Miss White. Monica was lost in thought.

The next day, Monica came to Miss White’s office. Miss White was ____ that she would take the chance. Miss White red-penciled her manuscript (手稿) of speech, corrected her _____, and even helped with her body language. She advised Monica to practice, to ______ that she was speaking confidently in front of her class. ______ a whole week, Monica practiced speaking in font of her imaginary friends and teacher. Behind the locked door of her bedroom, she told them about her ______.

Finally, Monday arrived. ______ Monica was called upon to give her speech, she ______and walked to the front of the class without any notes, in a show of confidence. Monica’s successful performance brought everyone a great ______. The whole class clapped (鼓掌) for a full minute when she completed her speech. Miss White ______. She had known that Monica would make it when she ______ took her first step to overcome (克服) her fear of speaking in public.

From that day, Monica’s life changed for the better. At the age of 23, she became a news reader. People who see her on television now will find it hard to ______ that she was once a shy girl who refused to speak up in class.