I joined a band as a drummer in my middle school. I thought it would be fun playing the ________ and meeting new friends. At first it was easy, but a month later, it got ________. I was the only one who couldn’t keep pace(节奏) with the other players.

Our teacher, Angie, singled me out to keep practicing ________ everyone else got to relax. I felt ashamed as my teammates watched me fail so many times. Finally I got so tired of practicing that I didn’t care ________ doing it right.

“Are you giving up on me. Steve?” Angie asked.

“Yes, I am,” I shouted. Angie sent me inside the music room and I ________ out. Then she came in and said, “Don’t cry. I believe you can make it!” She told me ________ to give up. She left me alone and I realized Angie was right — by giving up myself, I was also giving up on the band and my teacher.

With her comfort, I decided to ________ practicing. However, I still couldn’t play well. Knowing my difficulties, my teammates gave me a ________. They spent about three more hours practicing with me every week. Thanks to their support and help, I began to keep pace with them. Later, we performed ________ in an important show.

In the whole process, I was taught that although we each had our own job to do in a show, it would take all of us to work together to make the show great. Thanks to their encouragement, I felt ________ and made great progress. I love everyone in the band. I can’t imagine what my school life would be like without them.

Have you ever done something silly that made you feel so embarrassed（尴尬的）? Well , I had a really bad Saturday morning.

I went shopping last week, but it began to rain ________ my way home, I quickly ran into a phone box because I didn’t have an umbrella. It was raining ________ heavily that I decided to stay in the phone box ________ it stopped.

________ minutes later, I saw a young man walk up to the phone box, wearing a yellow raincoat and holding a tool box. I didn’t want to go out into the rain, so I ________ the phone and pretended I was talking to someone. I thought he would go away. ________, he didn’t. He waited in the heavy rain and watched me talk loudly and acted as if I was deep in conversation.

Fortunately, it stopped ________ after about ten minutes. “OK. Mum,” I said into the phone, “I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye!” With these words I put the phone down and went out of the phone box. “I’m sorry to keep you ________ for so long,”I said to him.

“Oh, I don’t want to use the phone,” he ________to me politely.“I’ve just come to repair it. It doesn’t work .”

My face turned red and I quickly ran off with my head down. That was certainly the most embarrassing ________ of my life!

Annie was ten years old while her brother Derrick was only five. She felt that his brother should ______ listen to her. However, something happened one day and made her ______ her way of thinking.     

Annie was at home with Derrick when the telephone rang. It was a stranger ______ their mother. He said he was a friend of Annie’s mother and that he wanted to visit Annie. Annie told him her address, not knowing of the ______ that she was in.

Derrick said what Annie had done was ______, but Annie didn’t listen to him. Later, the doorbell rang and Annie let the man into the house. As soon as the door was closed, the man’s ______ smile was gone. He tied(系紧) Annie’s hands and feet with a rope. Annie finally ______ that she had been tricked (欺骗). Derrick hid under his bed in his bedroom. As ______ as he could, he called the police. With a bag filled with expensive things and money, the man opened the door, ready to go out. However, three policemen were waiting for him outside.

When Annie’s parents heard the story, they were glad that Derrick did the right thing. They told Annie the danger of ______ strangers. Annie knew she had made a big ______ and that her brother saved her.