I used to hate being called upon in class mainly because I didn’t like attention drawn to myself. And unless otherwise assigned a seat by the teacher, I always chose to sit at the back of the classroom.
All this _______ 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 _______ because I didn’t have a good sense of balance, nor did I have the ability to keep pace with the others on the team and they would tease me. But for the teacher who kept insisting on my “_______ for it”, I wouldn’t have decided to give a try.
Getting up the courage to go to the tryouts was only the half of it! When I first started _______ the practice sessions, I didn’t even know the rules of the game, much worse what I was doing. Sometimes I’d get _______ and take a shot at the wrong direction, which made me feel really stupid. _______ I wasn’t the only one “new” at the game, so I decided to focus on learning the game, do my best at each practice session, and not be too hard on myself for the things I didn’t _______ “just yet”.
I practiced and practiced. Soon I knew the rules and the “moves”. Being part of a team was fun and motivating. Very soon the competitive _______ in me was winning over my lack of confidence. With time, I learned how to play and made friends in the process-friends who respected my efforts to work hard and be a team player. I never had so much fun!
With my improved self-confidence comes more praise from teachers and classmates. I have gone from “_______” in the back of the classroom and not wanting to call attention to myself, to raising my hand——even when I sometimes wasn’t and not 100 percent ________ I had the right answer. Now I have more self-confidence in myself.
1.A.continued | B.changed | C.settled | D.started |
2.A.idea | B.plan | C.belief | D.saying |
3.A.going | B.looking | C.cheering | D.applying |
4.A.enjoying | B.preparing | C.attending | D.watching |
5.A.committed | B.motivated | C.embarrassed | D.confused |
6.A.Interestingly | B.Fortunately | C.Obviously | D.Hopefully |
7.A.want | B.do | C.support | D.know |
8.A.roles | B.part | C.mind | D.value |
9.A.dreaming | B.playing | C.relaxing | D.hiding |
10.A.lucky | B.happy | C.sure | D.satisfied |