I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And___1___otherwise assigned（指定）a seat by the teacher, I always___2___to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this___3___after I joined a sports team. It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was a crazy___4___because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the___5___to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “___6___for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the___7___of it! When I first
started___8___the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much___9___what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get____10____and take a shot at the wrong direction—which made me feel really stupid.____11____, I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to____12____on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I
didn’t____13____“just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the____14____and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive____15____in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the____16____— friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my____17____self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from____18____in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself,____19____raising my hand— even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent____20____I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
1. A. as B. until C. though D. unless
2. A. hoped B. chose C. meant D. agreed
3. A. changed B. continued C. settled D. started
4. A. plan B. idea C. belief D. saying
5. A. right B. ability C. chance D. patience
6. A. cheering B. looking C. going D. applying
7. A. point B. rest C. half D. basis
8. A. enjoying B. preparing C. watching D. attending
9. A. worse B. later C. less D. further
10. A. confused B. motivated C. embarrassed D. committed
11. A. Fortunately B. Interestingly C. Obviously D. hopefully
12. A. try B. act C. rely D. focus
13. A. want B. know C. support D. do
14. A. steps B. rules C. orders D. games
15. A. roles B. mind C. part D. value
16. A. situation B. operation C. movement D. process
17. A. improved B. expressed C. preserved D. recognized
18. A. dreaming B. hiding C. relaxing D. playing
19. A. by B. for C. to D. with
20. A. lucky B. happy C. sure D. satisfied
